Tradition and ethnic groups of the North

Upon arrival in Hanoi, transfer on your own to the hotel for check-in. (private transfer available on request)

If you like, stretch your legs by taking a walk around Hoan Kiem Lake.
Hoan Kiem Lake (Lake of the Restored Sword) is located in the heart of the city and represents a fundamental symbol of it. Center of the daily life of the inhabitants of Hanoi, the lake is frequented from morning to evening and, regardless of the weather conditions, becomes a meeting place and pleasant walks. People go to the park for morning exercise, for a chat with friends, or a fishing trip with friends. As its name suggests, the Lake of the Sword is a place full of legends and shrouded in mystery; according to some stories, King Le Loi received a magic sword from the sacred turtle that dwells in the lake to chase the Chinese from Vietnam. Once its task was completed, the giant tortoise took back the weapon, to return it to its divine owners. Hence the name "Lago della Spada Restituita". You will also have the opportunity to visit the temple of Ngoc Son, the temple of the Jade Mountain, which stands proudly on a charming islet connected to the shores of the lake.

In the evening, your guide will meet your group in the hotel lobby and then head to a local restaurant for a welcome dinner. Overnight stay

Notes: the room is available from 02:00 pm

In the morning, start your visit to the capital with the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum (visit outside), a tribute to the Lenin Mausoleum in Moscow, its traditional stilt house, and the revered One-Pillar Pagoda dating back to the 11th century. After that, you will then visit the Ethnographic Museum, founded in 1997 during the Francophonie Summit, as a research center and public museum which presents 54 ethnic groups that populate Vietnam.

In the afternoon, you will explore the ancient Temple of Literature (Van Mieu in Vietnamese), known as the first university in Vietnam. Erected in 1070 by Emperor Ly Thanh Tong, it was used since 1076 as a university exclusively for princes, sons of nobles, and mandarins. With its ancient gardens, altars, and roofs, Van Mieu is a perfect emblem of the elegance of local architecture. Afterward, you will continue to the old town and the surroundings of Sword Lake.

In the evening, you will participate in a traditional water puppet show, an art form that was invented a thousand years ago by farmers in the Red River Delta area and then used as a form of royal entertainment under the dynasties Ly and Tran. This typical and enchanting art form often portrays scenes from everyday life and legends against a background of traditional music.
Free dinner.
Return to the hotel and overnight.

Notes:
• The Mausoleum is closed on Mondays and Fridays
• Each year, the monument will be closed between mid-September and mid-December for the regular restoration and preservation of the presidential remains contained within. The same period as the Lenin Mausoleum in Russia (exact dates to be checked every year)
• To be admitted inside the Mausoleum, it is necessary to cover the legs, in a double row in silence, without crossing your arms and putting your hands in your pockets.
• The Ethnographic Museum is closed on Mondays

Head north to the city of Ha Giang, built on the bank of the Lo River (a tributary of the Red River). Along the way, you will pass regions inhabited by ethnic groups of Viet, San Chay, and Dao and stop to visit the villages, take photos, and admire the landscape. You will then arrive at your eco-lodge at the end of the afternoon.

The eco-lodge is located in the heart of Chay Song mountain, adjacent to Yunnan. This natural fortress has long been a refuge for many ethnic groups who have fled persecution and famine. Take the opportunity to rest before the trek that will start tomorrow morning.
Overnight stay in the Lodge
Distance: 300 kilometers - 6 hours

Before starting your adventure and discovering the wonderful villages you will have the opportunity to enjoy breakfast at the Pan Hou Village restaurant, and if you are up early, we recommend that you visit the beautiful gardens of the eco-lodge. At 9:00 am, leave Pan Hou with your local guide to explore the mountains between tropical forests and rice terraces.

After three hours of walking, you will take a break in a Red Dao village for lunch. In this area, the local inhabitants, out of necessity, have carved the side of the mountain creating terraces and use its waterways to grow rice. These laborious adaptations have allowed the inhabitants to live at this altitude and have given life to unique and characteristic landscapes to contemplate. The cooler climate and abundant water also contribute to the growth of lush tea plantations. Before reaching another Red Dao village, continue with a two-hour walk that will allow you to discover the local vegetation, meet the locals in the fields and villages and observe them during their daily activities.

When you arrive at the village you will meet the host family and you will have dinner and sleep in a local house.
Overnight stay in private Homestay in Red Dao village, shared room
Distance and duration of the excursion: ~ 5 hours
Level: 2
Difference in altitude: +400 meters / -200 meters

After breakfast with the hosts, resume the trek through the cassava fields, the woods, the tea plantations towards the valley. Three hours of walking will take you to another Red Dao village where you will stop for lunch. After lunch, you will continue your hike, climbing the mountains through various tea plantations to arrive in the late afternoon at a home of a H'mong family where you will have dinner and spend the night.

Accommodation: overnight stay in private Homestay in H'mong village
Distance and duration of the excursion: ~ 5 - 6 hours
Level: 2
Difference in altitude: +600 meters / -400 meters

This morning enjoy the landscape, the tranquility of the high mountains, and an excellent breakfast with the local family around the fireplace.

After breakfast, continue your walk through bamboo forests, rice terraces to the Yen valley. This area is inhabited by the Red Yao ethnic group, and after a few hours of walking, you will arrive at a village where one of the local families will welcome you for lunch.

After lunch, set off following the river to return as the final destination of the trek to Pan Hou Village. You will arrive at the Eco-lodge in mid-afternoon and you can relax in your rooms.

Accommodation the lodge
Distance and duration of the excursion: ~ 5 hours
Level: 2
Difference in altitude: +100 meters / -300 meters

In the morning, return to Hanoi. Along the way, you will stop to visit villages, take photos, and admire the scenery before arriving in Hanoi in the afternoon.
Free dinner and overnight stay at the hotel

Distance: 300 kilometers - 6 hours

In the morning, you will leave for Hai Phong, where you will arrive around noon. Here you will embark on a magical cruise to discover the unmissable Lan Ha Bay, a still not very touristy part of Halong Bay. With its towering rocky peaks rising from the water, this bay, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1994, offers one of the most spectacular scenery in all of Vietnam. More than 1900 islands and islets cloaked in lush vegetation mirror silently in the crystal clear waters of the bay. Lunch and dinner will be served on board, with an exceptional choice of seafood caught in the bay.

Overnight stay in the junk
Distance: 122 kilometers - 2 hours

Early in the morning and depending on the season, you will wake up to enjoy the sunrise over the crystal clear waters of the bay. Then the cruise will go around the bay until it disembarks at the end of the morning. After that, you will return to Hanoi.

Distance: 122 kilometers - 2 hours

Today you will have a free day to visit Hanoi before heading to Noi Bai airport for your return flight. (transfer to the airport available on request).