Discover Rural North Vietnam

Day 1 Depart the UK

Today depart the UK on the direct Vietnam Airlines flight to Hanoi. (N)

Day 2 Hanoi

On arrival in Hanoi be transferred to your hotel for a two night stay. A handsome city of tree-lined boulevards, temples, lakes, parks and a frenetic, vibrant old colonial centre, Hanoi’s charm lies in the preservation of a distinct North Vietnamese culture and way of life distinct to that of the south of the country. (B)

Accommodation in Hanoi: Silk Path Hotel

Upgrade option: Sofitel Legend Metropole Hotel

Day 3 Hanoi

Enjoy a full day of sightseeing in Hanoi with your guide today. Start at Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum before continuing to his house, in the compound of the former Presidential Palace. Later visit the interesting Temple of Literature which is the largest temple complex in the city. Nearly 1,000 years old, the temple was dedicated to Confucius and the cult of literacy and education. Later that afternoon explore the cobbled lanes of the atmospheric old quarter where you can experience local craftsman at work and find many artisanal souvenirs. (B)
Accommodation in Hanoi: Silk Path Hotel

Upgrade option: Sofitel Legend Metropole Hotel

Day 4 Hanoi to Ky Son – 55kms

After breakfast leave Hanoi and drive to the small village of Ky Son for an overnight stay at the charming Moon Garden Homestay. On arrival explore the village on foot then take part in a cookery class eating the results for lunch! In the afternoon take a guided cycling tour to discover the Ky Son, Tam Son, Van Minh and Cham farming communities as well as the ancient village of Duong Lam and Ngo Quyen tomb and temple – and unique and special opportunity to experience rural Vietnamese life. (B/L/D)

Accommodation in Ky Son: Moon Garden Homestay

Day 5 Ky Son to Hanoi – 55kms/ Depart Hanoi

Today you are at leisure before returning by road to Hanoi where a day room will be available for use at a local hotel. In the early evening transfer to the railway station and board the Victoria Express Train for the overnight journey to Lao Cai. Offering elegant accommodation, the Victoria Express transports passengers in two luxurious sleeping carriages between the Vietnamese capital and the country’s far north-west. (B)

Accommodation: overnight on train

Day 6 Arrive Lao Cai/ Lao Cai to Sapa – 40kms

Arrive into Lao Cai and transfer to Sapa where you will stay overnight. Developed as a hill station by the French during the 1930s, who left their stamp on the architecture of the town, Sapa was historically home to numerous minority groups including the Hmong and Dao. Today visit the Muong Hoa valley which has the largest concentration of rice terraces in the area and the Black Hmong village of Lao Chai. (B/L)

Accommodation in Sapa: Victoria Sapa

Alternative accommodation: Cha Pa Garden Boutique Hotel

Day 7 Sapa to Lai Chau – 75kms

This morning spend time in Sapa exploring the town and visiting the church. Later leave for Lai Chau which occupies a stunning setting in a wide forested valley and where you will stay overnight. (B/L/D)

Accommodation in Lai Chau: Muong Thanh Lai Chau

Day 8 Lai Chau to Dien Bien Phu – 200kms

Leave Lai Chau and drive south towards Dien Bien Phu on the Lao border stopping on the way to visit the minority villages of Hoang Ho and Ta Phin which are home to White Hmong, Thai, Lu and Red Zao. Continue to Dien Bien Phu where you will stay for two nights. Site of the decisive battle in 1954, it was the defeat of the French forces here in Dien Bien Phu which heralded the end the French occupation of Vietnam. (B/L/D)

Accommodation in Dien Bien Phu: Muong Thanh Dien Bien

Day 9 Dien Bien Phu

Today explore Dien Bien Phu and the places associated with the battle which commenced in March 1954 and ended with a decisive Viet Minh victory two months later. Visit museum, memorial cemetery, and command bunker of General Christian de Castries ending on ‘A1 Hill’ which saw some of the fiercest fighting. (B/L/D)

Accommodation in Dien Bien Phu: Muong Thanh Dien Bien

Day 10 Dien Bien Phu to Son La – 160kms

Passing Red and White Hmong villages on the way, follow the road out of Dien Bien Phu through spectacular scenery to cross the Pha Din Pass. Negotiating hairpins that hug the mountain-side, the descent is a breathtaking ride through an emerald landscape of bamboo forest and rice terraces to arrive at the colourful minority town of Thuan Chau. Resume your journey with an afternoon arrival in Son La which is home to Black Thai, Hmong, Muong and White Thai and where you will stay overnight. (B/L/D)

Accommodation in Son La: Sao Xanh 3 Hotel

Day 11 Son La to Mai Chau – 165kms

This morning leave Son La and continue on to Mai Chau for a two night stay. Sitting in the heart of the spectacular Mai Chau Valley, this is an area of towering limestone karst formations and lush rice paddies framed, in the distance, by the Annamite Mountains. Mai Chau and the surrounding villages are also home to numerous different ethnic groups and remains an excellent place to experience Vietnamese hill tribe culture. (B/L/D)

Accommodation in Mai Chau: Mai Chau Lodge

Day 12 Mai Chau

Today explore Mai Chau and the surrounding environs. Guided day walks can be arranged as can a cycling tour that explores the rural side of the Mai Chau Valley. The area surrounding Mai Chau is also predominantly home to the White and Black Thai and visits can be made to a number of villages and small farming communities. Alternatively, simply relax in the hotel and relish its remote location. (B/L/D)

Accommodation in Mai Chau: Mai Chau Lodge

Day 13 Mai Chau to Ninh Binh via Cuc Phuong National Park – 120kms

After breakfast drive towards Ninh Binh. En-route stop to visit Cuc Phuong National Park – a forested reserve home to nearly two thousand species of flora and numerous rare mammals including the clouded leopard, langur and Asian black bear. From here continue to Ninh Binh where you will stay for two nights. Later, time permitting, visit nearby Hoa Lu and the Temple of Dinh Tien Hoang which was the capital of Vietnam between 968 and 1010 AD. (B/L/D)

Accommodation in Ninh Binh: Emeralda Resort and Spa

Day 14 Ninh Binh

In essence an 'inland' Ha Long Bay, the watery landscape and limestone scenery of Ninh Binh is considered one of the most picturesque in the country. The best way to experience Ninh Binh is by boat and today board a traditional sampan travelling the narrow waterways that snake through lush fields of rice, past imposing karst outcrops and small farming villages. (B/L/D)

Accommodation in Ninh Binh: Emeralda Resort and Spa

Day 15 Ninh Binh to Hanoi – 90kms

This morning leave the hotel and drive north towards Hanoi stopping en-route to visit the beautiful Perfume Pagoda. One of a number of shrines built amongst a series of caves set on a hillside, this popular pilgrimage site is reached by a steep climb. Leaving the pagoda, continue on to Hanoi where you will stay overnight. (B/L)

Accommodation in Hanoi: Silk Path Hotel

Upgrade option: Sofitel Legend Metropole Hotel

Day 16 Hanoi to the UK

Today transfer to Hanoi Airport for the non-stop flight back to the UK. (B)

Discover Rural North Vietnam

16 days from £4370 per person

ITINERARY HIGHLIGHTS

CONTACT US TO DISCUSS YOUR HOLIDAY PLANS

Pettitts guide to price for this itinerary would be £4370 per person

Itinerary: Discover Rural North Vietnam

What's included

What's not included

Guide to Price

What To Do Next?

SPEAK TO ONE OF OUR TRAVEL SPECIALISTS TO START PLANNING YOUR TAILOR-MADE HOLIDAY