13 DAYS OF MYSTIQUE VIETNAM VACATION
Mystique Vietnam Vacation in 13 Days by Realistic Asia provides experiences on a breathtaking landscape of mountainous areas that located in the north of Vietnam. Hanoi warmly welcomes your very first footsteps into the enticing streets named after their craft guides in the past with a bunch of delectable food and drink. After your relaxation, turn over a new leaf to the intact beauty of nature. All immense and imposing views of mountainous areas unable to be captured by any photograph or packed into a word, will show up at a single glance and absorb any travelers. Ba Vi, Mai Hich, Pu Luong, Nghia Lo, Mu Cang Chai, Sapa, and Bac Ha will be the names staying for a lifetime. Return to the capital of Vietnam, the journey will enormously appeal to you by boat and cruise excursions. Ultimately, Hanoi is saying the biggest farewells to its new fellows.
Day 1: Welcome to Vietnam - Hanoi Arrival
Your trip begins with your arrival in Vietnam. Our driver will meet and greet you at the airport. You will be escorted to the hotel by private transportation. Check in to the hotel and get over the jet lag. After enjoying the first day yourself and return to the hotel for a relaxing sleep.
Overnight in Hanoi.
Day 2: Ba Vi Eco Tour (B/L)
Enjoy a hearty breakfast at the hotel then our experienced English-speaking guide escorts you on the trip to Ba Vi, a countryside located on the outskirt of Hanoi.
Arrive at Ri village, enjoy the welcome drink and snacks and meet your first host - Mr. Duoc, who is a Vietnam War veteran and tea-farm owner. Listen to the stories of Mr. Duoc's life during the war while enjoying the drink and then visit his tea plantation. You will learn how to pick the best tea leaves to make the most wonderful beverage in Vietnam. Carry on with the tea production at his small workshop, where most of the work is manual.
Then have a short drive to Moc village, where you will meet your next host Mrs. Chin, who will teach you how to cook local Vietnamese dishes. Later have the meals you made for lunch in a beautiful tropical garden.
Have a short break after lunch, and join Mrs. Chin for a walk around the village. You will visit some local families to understand the rural lifestyle and learn how tofu, conical hats, and other local products are made. Then have a cycling trip through beautiful paddy fields.
Wrap up your countryside tour with traditional feet soak in warm water with herbs, following the traditional recipes of the Muong ethnic minority. It will relax you (and your feet) after cycling around the village.
Later, enjoy a transfer from Ba Vi back to your accommodation.
Overnight in Hanoi.
Day 3: Hanoi - Mai Hich (B/L/D)
Leave Hanoi at 8 am and travel towards Mai Hich, Mai Chau. The peaceful town of Mai Hich is situated in a stunningly beautiful valley surrounded by verdant green mountains and is famed for its breathtaking scenery and friendly hill tribe peoples. Enjoying the tranquility of the paddy fields and interacting with the local people. Limestone peaks climb in the background and banks of green line the road, and you’ll take regular stops to admire the view across the lush valleys. Upon arrival in Mai Hich, you will meet and be greeted by the village hosts at the local homestay.
In the afternoon, walking or cycling to discover the surrounding villages, and enjoy the beauty of surrounding nature, there's also the opportunity to help local farmers plant rice seeds in the fields.
Tonight you’ll enjoy local hospitality in a simple homestay in the village. You can join your host in cooking dinner or even have a chance to sample some of the local wines produced in the region.
Overnight in Mai Hich.
Day 4: Mai Hich - Pu Luong - Mai Hich (B/L)
You will leave Mai Hich for the Pu Luong Nature Reserve where the white Thai and Muong ethnic groups live. While strolling in the park, you will admire a very rich fauna and flora, composed of a multitude of birds and exotic plants. You will then settle into your lodge and have the afternoon free to enjoy the charming vibes around you. Ride through small towns and wave to friendly locals on your way through picture-perfect Vietnam – lush green fields, towering limestone mountains, tranquil waterways, and charming historic sites. This is a wonderful chance to see everyday rural life in action as well as take in the beautiful countryside.
Overnight in Mai Hich.
Day 5: Mai Chau - Nghia Lo (B)
Have departure towards Nghia Lo, Yen Bai. Some stops are planned on the way to visit ethnic villages, you will have an opportunity to meet Hmong and Thai people along the way. In particular, you will see fields of tea plantation as far as the eye can see and you can enjoy a picturesque landscape during the blossoms season of peach and plum trees, which takes place from late January - early February. You will reach the Muong Lo Valley, where the town of Nghia Lo is located in the late afternoon. Muong Lo is the second-largest rice granary in the northwest and is also the capital of the Thai ethnic group.
Overnight in Muong Lo.
Day 6: Nghia Lo - Mu Cang Chai (B)
Breakfast with the locals and departure by air-conditioned vehicle. The road winds along with the Hoang Lien Son range, where the tallest mountains of Indochina are found. Start the trekking from Tu Le, you will cross rice terraces and suspension bridges to reach the Thai and H’mông villages. The local people here will welcome you with open arms and wide smiles. After lunch at Tu Le, continue your trip to North Vietnam. You will reach the Khau Pha pass, one of the most winding passes in Vietnam, which is the ideal place to get the most beautiful photos of the rice terraces. The landscapes are of exceptional beauty with cultivated valleys and mountains with rice terraces. Mu Cang Chai is considered a unique paradise and one of the best places in Vietnam for landscape photographers.
Overnight in Mu Cang Chai.
Day 7: Mu Cang Chai (B) - Sapa
Depart from Mu Cang Chai to Sapa via Than Uyen. Stop at the top of the pass to enjoy the freshness and see the roof of Indochina, Mount Fansipan (3143m). Once you arrive in Sapa, enjoy some free time to rest your legs. The afternoon is devoted to hiking in the Hoang Lien Son valley, passing through rice terraces, and local villages, and meeting black Hmongs, and Red Daos.
Overnight in Sapa.
Day 8: Sapa - Bac Ha Market (B)
After breakfast at your homestay, trek to Giang Ta Phin village – home to the Red Dzao and Black Hmong people. Push through 18 kilometres of terraced farmland and bamboo scrub for excellent views of emerald valleys and rushing waterfalls as you stroll. Take a picnic lunch along the way, then depart to Bac Ha.
Overnight in Bac Ha.
Day 9: Bac Ha Market - Hanoi (B)
After breakfast at your homestay, visit the Bac Ha fairground market. This is a great place to pick up locally dyed fabrics, hemp plants, and handmade textiles. Depending on your availability, you can witness the extraordinary atmosphere of the ethnic markets around this region:
Tuesday: Coc Ly market
Wednesday: Sin Cheng market
Thursday: Cao Son market Lun Khau Nhin market.
Saturday: Can Cau market
Sunday: Bac Ha market
After that, hop on the bus and travel back to Hanoi
Overnight in Hanoi.
Day 10: Hanoi - Ninh Binh (B)
Today you will experience the ancient culture and history of Vietnam together with seeing the stunning landscape and beautiful scenery when we travel to the Ninh Binh Province. Your guide will pick you up from your hotel around 7:30-8:00 am and depart to Ninh Binh province. The first destination to visit is Hoa Lu ancient capital. Here you will explore the outstanding architecture of King Dinh and King Le temples, the first emperors of ancient Vietnam. Then move to Tam Coc wharf, where you will have lunch with Vietnamese food. And then board the rowing boat and cruise along the river through the limestone caves. After the boat trip, you will take a cycling trip around the idyllic village through the rice fields to explore the surrounding sceneries. Then come back to the shuttle bus to return to your hotel in Hanoi.
Overnight in Hanoi.
Day 11: Hanoi - Halong Bay - Overnight on Cruise (B/L/D)
In the morning, check out of the hotel, and get picked up by the Cruise team. Take the most scenic route to reach Halong Bay, taking you across the Red River Delta with emerald green rice paddies stretching for as far as the eyes can see. On arrival at the pier, you will board the cruise and enjoy the fantastic views of limestone rocks and the karst grottoes. Have an utterly delicious seafood lunch and enjoy the time at the sundeck exploring the Bay. The cruise will stop in a secret place where you will spend time kayaking or swimming, so you can explore the karst grottoes closer. Towards the evening, you will return to the boat for an early dinner, followed by some time at leisure. You can optionally attend the activities taking part on the boat or just relax.
Overnight on cruise.
Note: In case of bad weather (the boat is not allowed to push off or not allowed to overnight in the sea), the Ha Long bay tour could be cancelled without notice. We will consider other replacement tours or a refund based on the specific circumstances.
Day 12: Halong Bay - Ha Noi (B/L)
Rise early today to view the sunrise at the wonder of nature with breakfast served in the dining room. A Tai Chi class on the sun deck will awaken your mind and muscles. Then head off to visit the limestone cave full of stalagmites and stalactites. After your exploration return to the boat to check out and enjoy the brunch while the cruise is sailing back to the harbor. Later you will be transferred to your accommodation in Hanoi.
Overnight in Hanoi.
Day 13: Time to Say Goodbye - Hanoi Departure (B)
Relish a healthy breakfast on the final day of your trip to Vietnam. Complete the hotel check-out formalities, after which you can visit the local markets to buy souvenirs for your loved ones. Later your private driver will transfer you to the airport to take your flight back home.
Trip Ends.
What's Include
Accommodation
3-star hotels
Hanoi: Mina Hotel or similar
Mai Hich: Homestay
Nghia Lo: Homestay
Mu Cang Chai: Homestay
Sapa: Sapa Panorama Hotel
Bac Ha: Bac Ha Homestay
Halong Bay: Le Journey Cruise or similar
4-star hotels
Hanoi: Tirant Hotel or similar
Mai Hich: Homestay
Nghia Lo: Tu Le De Charm
Mu Cang Chai: Mu Cang Chai Ecolodge
Sapa: Amazing Sapa Hotel
Bac Ha: Bac Ha Homestay
Halong Bay: Renea Cruise or similar
Check-in room at 14:00 // Check-out room at 12:00 noon (Except Early check-in or Late check-out mentioned in the program)
Guide
Experienced English-speaking guide
French/German/Spanish/ Russian/ Chinese speaking guides are available upon request. The surcharge will be applied
Meals
As per the tour program:
B=breakfast
L-Lunch
D-Dinner
Transport
- Door-to-door pick-up & drop-off services by private car
- Private car for excursions
- Air-conditioned bus between Hanoi and Halong Bay (2-way)
Other included
– All sightseeing tickets according to the itinerary
– Tissues and water on coach
– Service charges and government tax
– 24/7 hotline support guaranteed
Insurance
Other not included
X International flights and departure taxes
X Beverage, Personal expenses, tips, and gratuities
X Early check-in and late check-out (If not mentioned)
X Compulsory Gala Dinner on 24 Dec, 31 Dec and 21 Jan (Tet)
X Public holiday surcharge (Christmas and New Year, Tet holiday in Vietnam) if applicable
X Surcharge for airport cabs from 12:00 am – 05:00 am
X Evisa to Vietnam
X Services not mentioned above
