Vietnam, the roads of the North

MAI CHAU
Morning arrival in Hanoi and immediate departure with your driver and guide for Hoa Binh province and Muong country, before reaching the Mai Chau valley, land of the Thai people.
You will stop for lunch at Mai Hich, a large Thai village set against the mountains and opening onto a wide valley of rice paddies, to share a meal of local specialities with a Thai family.
In the afternoon, you will reach your guesthouse, tucked away in the heart of nature. You will then have free time to explore the Thai village of Mai Hich by bicycle, before returning to the guesthouse for dinner.

The following day, on the edge of the Pu Luong nature reserve, you will take a roughly 5km hike with your guide, along a flat path running beside the Suoi Pung stream and its narrow valley. You will cross the river and climb gradually towards the upper valley, to the Thai villages of Lung and Au Khen. On arrival at Au Khen, you will meet the local community before returning by vehicle to the Mai Hich valley.

You will spend 2 nights in the Mai Chau valley.

NINH BINH
At daybreak, before breakfast, we strongly recommend taking the bicycles available to you to wander through the Mai Chau valley, just as the day is beginning but the locals are already hard at work in the rice paddies.

Then drive to Ninh Binh, known as “Halong Bay on land”.
On arrival, lunch at Mrs Dung’s house, nestled among the karst mountains. A simple, delicious meal of local specialities.

In the afternoon, a ride in small rowed sampans to venture into the heart of a maze of limestone peaks. Explore on foot and then by light boat this tangle of countless stalactites and stalagmites of strange shapes, a refuge for numerous bats thriving away from view. The sampan winds through caves and then along a reed-lined waterway, snaking between the karst mountains. After around 1.5 hours on the water, you will reach your lodge, set in the heart of nature.
Late afternoon at the lodge to enjoy the fine swimming pool and gardens before an excellent dinner.

The next morning, head to Yen Mac, right at the heart of the Red River delta.
Arrival in the village and meeting with the host family before heading to the village market with the head of the household.
Continue with a visit of the village before helping prepare lunch, which you will share with the family.
In the mid-afternoon, return to your lodge.

The following day, several options are available depending on your interests: a visit to the Fairy Cave, a climb of around 450 steps to the top of a limestone peak offering a panoramic view over the whole region, or a bicycle ride to discover the Jade Pagoda, the Sun Valley and the village of Dam Khe in turn.
Discover the Thai Vi temple before sunset. The temple stands amid rice paddies and limestone peaks, in a peaceful setting. Its original stone architecture follows the principles of oriental geomancy.

You will spend 3 nights in Ninh Binh province.

HALONG BAY
Depart for Halong Bay, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
This is probably one of the most beautiful natural sites in the world, and even if — for our taste — it is now far too crowded, it remains very much worth seeing.
Board a traditional wooden junk for a cruise on Halong Bay. Lunch and dinner are served aboard the junk, featuring excellent fresh seafood from the bay.
The next day, we recommend waking at dawn to make the most of the bay.
After breakfast on board, continue your cruise through the bay before returning to Halong port.
Disembark around midday and return to Hanoi along the road that crosses the vast rice paddies of the Red River delta.

You will spend 1 night in Halong Bay.

HANOI
Late-day arrival in Hanoi and check-in at your hotel.
The next day, a full day to discover the city with your private guide: notably the picturesque Old Quarter of 36 streets and guilds, the Temple of Literature and the area around Hoan Kiem Lake.
For lunch, don’t miss trying a bowl of Pho at a neighbourhood restaurant. And in the evening, you can attend a water puppet show — a Hanoi essential!
Dinner is left free, at a restaurant we can book for you according to your preferences.

You will spend 2 nights in Hanoi.

SAPA
Early morning departure for Sapa by road, with the Topas Ecolodge team, arriving in the late morning.
We suggest what we feel is an excellent combination: 1 night at the Topas Riverside Lodge, fairly rustic and set on the riverbank, and 1 night at the Topas Ecolodge, with its striking view over the valley.
It is also possible to extend your stay here by one or more nights.

During your stay, walks with the lodge guides take you to meet local ethnic groups, crossing these magnificent landscapes that mark the border with nearby China.

On the last day, return to Hanoi by car.
International flight in the late afternoon.