Best of the North

Be welcomed at the airport by our Authentik Travel's tour guide and transfer to your hotel in the city center.

Check in at your hotel (after 12:00pm) or leave your luggage at the hotel and enjoy a walk in the old quarter. The city was built in the 10^th century by the villagers near the Red River Delta. You can see the special architecture in the houses with their narrow width and deep length. You will be able to discover some popular streets such as Ma May, Hang Ma, Hang Dong, Hang Bac and Hang Gai and for tourist sites stop at Dong Xuan market, the biggest market in the northern Vietnam, Bach Ma temple (White horse temple) and the traditional ancient house at 87 Ma May Street. 

Return to the city center and take a break before attending the water puppet show, a unique performance that originated in the 11th century. These shows depict the daily life, culture, and beliefs of the Vietnamese people through puppets moving on water. The performance often includes traditional music as well. 

Come back to the hotel. End of the day​.

Exploring the Temple of Literature or Van Mieu-Quoc Tu Giam, the outstanding Vietnam Museum of Ethnology, visiting the French Quarter, and discovering the Hanoi Old Quarter

9:00 AM: Get picked up by tour guide to the Temple of Literature which was built under the Ly dynasty in the 11th century for worshipping Confucius and teaching Royal children. Enjoy a walk in the garden to the city’s symbol Khue Van Cac. You will then visit the World Heritage "stone steles” which shows the names of outstanding students. Continue to explore the Quoc Tu Giam which is considered the first national university of Vietnam.

The next stop is the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology (closed every Monday) which offers a deep insight into Vietnamese culture through traditional costumes, tools, musical instruments, and traditional houses of many ethnic groups. To fully explore this interesting museum, it takes you around two hours. 

In the afternoon, visit (outside) Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum before continuing the day with a walking tour in the Hanoi Old Quarter. Start with a small pagoda named Ba Da quietly located in a small alley - only a few steps from the Hanoi Great Cathedral, built by French colonialism in the 19th century. Your tour guide takes you to typical streets of Hanoi, such as Lan Ong Street, which sells traditional medicine, and Lo Ren Street, where metal items are produced. Stop to visit the Dong Xuan Central Market - the largest in Hanoi. Continue walking to the famous area for night activities and street food - Ta Hien Street, where you can see the vibrant streets with a lot of amazing local foods and drinks. Try to taste some for an unforgettable experience.

In the late afternoon, take a night train to Sapa.
Overnight on Train (Share 4 Berth AC cabin).

Arrive in Lao Cai in the early morning, our local guide will pick you up at the railway station and transfer to Sapa town. 

Enjoy breakfast at local restaurant and start a full day of trekking from Cat Cat Village of the Black Hmong. Visit its beautiful waterfall then follow the path to Y Linh Ho village.
Arrive at Y Linh Ho bridge. Stop to relax a little bit then resume trekking along the buffalo path through the hills. You will have chance to enjoy the splendid view over the rice terrace valley considered one of the most fantastic of the world.
Lunch will be served on the way.
After lunch take a short break before trekking to the Lao Chai village of the black Hmong and Ta Van village of the Zay people.
At 16.00 meet our driver and transfer to Sapa
Overnight in Sapa.

After breakfast at your hotel, our guide will meet you for a visit to Silver Water fall. This is one of the highest and most beautiful falls in Sapa.

Transfer further 3 km to reach Tram Ton Pass – 2000m from the sea level. You will feel the drop of temperature but the views are so gorgeous.
It time for you to relax and take photos before driving back to Sapa town for your own lunch, relax then checkout the hotel before exploring the Dragon Jaw Mountain. Walking up to the mountain is the way to enjoy the beauty of the landscapes and alot of flowers on the way.

From the top of the Dragon Jaw Mountain, you will able to view all charming Sapa town and the Peak of Fansipan from distance.
Dinner is on your own then transfer to Lao Cai railway station for night train to Hanoi.
Overnight on train ( Share 4 berth AC cabin).

At 8.00am, meet our tour guide and driver for a transfer from Hanoi to Ninh Binh, driving through the picturesque countryside of the Red River Delta, painted by rice and vegetable fields.

After a 1.5 hour drive, you will arrive in Van Long (100km from Hanoi) where you will meet a typical rural family. Be welcomed to their home with a cup of tea and learn about their idyllic local lifestyles through intimate conversation.
Take a 15km bike ride ( or by car) and walk through the villages. A journey along the dyke will offer you gorgeous landscapes of rice fields, a river and limestone mountains. There are several stops for you to take beautiful photos or encounter the locals then walk to discover Thung La temple, dating back to the 11th century. Meet Mr Tuong, the temple guardian, and enjoy an authentic conversation as well as a 20 minute drum show. 

Later, take a sampan boat trip along the stream and among the limestone mountains to discover the beauty of Van Long Nature reserve. If lucky, you might get to see white monkeys and egrets on the cliffs.
After the boat trip, visit an embroidery village and take part in an embroidery course under the instruction of local craftswoman, Mrs Lam. She will proudly explain the techniques of her traditional craft. This will be a good opportunity for you to practice on fabric like a real craftsman.
Overnight at Hotel in Ninh Binh.

Enjoy breakfast at hotel and enjoy a trip toThung Nham, Ninh Binh through the luxuriant vegetation of the Red River Delta.

Arrive at Thien Ha Pier and embark a small, bamboo sampan boat to start a fantastic two hour boat trip with a local rower. The trip will lead you into the mystical limestone mountains as the picturesque rural countryside unfolds in front of your eyes: Buffaloes, ducks, and simple houses under the foot of the mountain all make this an idyllic rural picture.

Walk up to the Thien Ha cave (Celestial river Cave). This is a large cave that was only discovered in 2007. It is about 12,000 square meters in total and contains a lot of magnificent stalagmites and stalactites with different mystical shapes. Walk for the first 200m then take another boat trip inside the cave to discover its paradisaical beauty.
After visiting Thien Ha, travel to Thung Nham. Take a bike to ride through the rural villages, limestone mountains and impressive rice paddies to Tam Coc.

Lunch will be served at a local restaurant.
In the afternoon, transfer to Hoa Lu, the ancient capital of Vietnam for 41 years under the Dinh and Le dynasty (968AD – 1009AD) and visit two temples that are dedicated to the Dinh and Le Kings.
Overnight in Ninh Binh

08:00 - Meet our driver for a transfer to Halong. Extensive rice fields as far as your eyes can see will follow you along the way.
12:00 - Embarkation at Hon Gai port, relax with a welcome drink.
13:00 – Enjoy a seafood lunch on the boat while cruising in to the bay through the enchanting landscapes of Bai Tu Long Bay ( Small Dragon Bay).
15:30 - Take part in activities according to the boat such as: visit Thien Canh Son cave, go kayaking, take a bamboo sampan ride to the Vang Vieng fishing village or simply just relax on the boat.
18:00 - Return to the boat, shower and take a rest.
19:00 - Enjoy a delicious dinner on the boat.
Stay overnight in a private cabin (with air conditioner and shower)

You are advised to get up early to enjoy the fresh air and sunrise in the beautiful scenery of Bai Tu Long.
Breakfast on the boat.
08:30 - Enjoy activities. Either visit the cave or embark a small bamboo sampan to visit Vung Vieng Fishing village, one of the spectacular floating villages in Halong. Encounter the locals and fishermen’s farm as well as a floating school (depends on the boat’s activity schedule)
09:30 - Return to the boat and check out of the cabin.
10:00 - Cruise back to Hon Gai port. On the way back, we will enjoy lunch on the boat. Last look at the legendary bay where dragons once descended.
11:45 - Arrive at the pier and transfer back to Hanoi
On arrival, Check in hotel and relax.
Note: Cruise’s activities order will be depend on each cruises and tide. It is adjustable.

Overnight in Hanoi.

Enjoy your breakfast at hotel and free till transfer to airport for your flight home.

Tour ends.