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Day 1: Hanoi
Arrival in Hanoi. Meet and Greet at the airport and transfer to the hotel in downtown Hanoi. Sightseeing in Hanoi, a city of lakes, shaded boulevards and verdant public parks, includes famous sights; temple of literature, History Museum. Highlight of the city tour is a short walking tour in the Old Quarter, where we will enjoy a short walk through the Old Quarter of Hanoi to observe the daily life of the locals on busy markets and narrow shaded streets.
Overnight in Hanoi
Day 2: Hanoi - Mai Chau 140km (B,D)
We will start our adventure with a 4-hours drive to Mai Chau. which is located in a beautiful valley with a patchwork quilt of rice, farms and stilt-houses. In the spring Mai Chau displays a riot of colors with blooming flowers and peach blossoms. It is home to the White Thai and H’mong hill-tribe people. We will have a stop in Hoa Binh for a refreshment before we continue to Mai Chau. The road gets smaller, winding and uphill after Hoa Binh. On the way we will pass scenic villages and terraces. We will spend tonight in Pom Coong village, a peaceful village of the White Thai hill-tribe people. Lunch will be served in Pom Coong, then drive 14 km towards the Ma river for an amazing cruise on the river to a White Thai hill-tribe village. Return to Mai Chau. In the evening dinner and folk show.
Overnight in Pom Coong village.
Day 3: Mai Chau - Son La 190km (B)
Enjoy a long drive today to Son La, the capital of the province with the same name. Mainly hill-tribe people, notably the Black Thai, H'mong, Muong and White Thai, populate this area. The drive is peaceful since the road is a bit winding but in good condition. We will pass lots of scenic hill-tribe villages and stop whenever we want.
Overnight in Son La
Day 4: Son La - Lai Chau 170km (B,D)
Early in the moing we will drive to Lai Chau, a small town nestled in a beautiful valley carved from spectacular mountains by the Da river. The drive today is a bit tougher since the road is almost abandoned (a new road linked Tuan Giao, Dien Bien Phu and Lai Chau has taken all vehicles away) but the scenery is stunning and there are a few trucks smokes before you.
Overnight in Lai Chau
Day 5: Lai Chau - Sapa 180km (B)
Today we will drive over one of the highest passes in Vietnam (2000m) and enjoy one of the most stunning sceneries on its summit, which is named "Gate of heaven". The road tus pumpy on the last 60 km but it does not prevent you from admiring the landscape.
Overnight in Sapa
Day 6: Sapa (B,L)
After the breakfast we will trek down hill to Lao Chai, a village of the Black H'mong minority. We experience one of the most spectacular treks in Vietnam, with buffalo paths up and down hill and stunning view of mountains, river and valley. In Lao Chai we come to see the village's catholic church and have a chat with the Black H'mong people before we continue trekking to Ta Van, a village of the Dzay ethnic minority. We visit a Dzay family and have a picnic lunch in their house, before we walk up to the main road to take a jeep back to Sapa.
Overnight in Sapa
Day 7: Sapa - Bac Ha (Sunday) 100km (B)
We have a short trip today. The drive covers 3 kilometers along the China border and 24 kilometers of the Bac Ha pass. Bac Ha is a small and quiet town, which is known for its colorful Sunday market. On arrival we will stroll around the market. We continue with a walk to some villages in the area.
Overnight in Bac Ha
Day 8: Bac Ha - Hoang Su Phi - Ha Giang 180km (B,D)
Today we drive off the beaten track. On the first 30 km we pass isolated villages of the Flower H'mong people. Lunch is served in Hoang Su Phi town. We continue to Ha Giang, which is one of the country's last frontiers provinces at the highest latitude in Vietnam and shares a border with China in the north. Its beautiful mountains and forests are home to twenty hill-tribes, the largest groups are the Dao and H'mong. Oveight in Ha Giang
Day 9: Ha Giang - Cao Bang 230km (B)
Today we cover a long distance from Ha Giang to Cao Bang, Cao Bang is a mountain province in North Vietnam, 317 km from Hanoi. It shares a border of 314 km with China to the North and East and is inhabited by over 25 different ethnic groups. Mountains and forests cover more than 90% of the province's natural area. The road winds along rivers and mountains, making your drive incredibly amazing.
Overnight in Cao Bang
Day 10: Cao Bang - Ban Gioc - Cao Bang 170km (B)
In the morning we will visit the Ban Gioc waterfall. Ban Gioc is probably the most beautiful and imposing waterfall in Vietnam. It is situated in the Dam Thuy commune, Trung Khanh district, near the Chinese-Vietnamese border. Water flowing from the Quy Xuan river cascades over the rocks and produce water droplet columns that can be seen in the distance. In the middle of the fall is a rock landing, covered by trees that divides the stream into three currents and creates a thin mist that cools down the temperature. Return to Cao Bang for another night
Day 11: Cao Bang - Lang Son 140km (B)
We leave Cao Bang for Lang Son. The road condition is quite good and landscape changes from high mountains to hills. Lang Son is a northern province of Vietnam with a stretching 253 Km borderline with China, situated on the left bank of the Ky Cung River. Therefore, its location is also very significant militarily, politically, economically and culturally. Several ethnic minorities live in Lang Son province: the Tay, the Dao, the Nung and the H'Mong. On arrival, we visit Dong Kinh market, the biggest border market in Vietnam.
Overnight in Lang Son
Day 12: Lang Son - Ha Long 190km (B,L,D)
We leave Lang Son early on our bikes to Quang Ninh. The province boasts of rich natural and mineral resources and a famous scenic spot of Halong Bay, which has been recognized by UNESCO as a world natural heritage. We will leave our motorcycles and board a boat in Cam Pha to cruise Halong Bay. Halong Bay belongs to the Bac Bo (Ton Kin) gulf (about 200km from Hanoi) and stretches an area of 1500 km2 with three thousand green islands that look like gems. Many islands bear names given by fishermen according to their shape: Cone-shaped Cookie, Banana, Small Fish, Tortoise, Nail, wading Ox etc. A delicious seafood lunch will be served on the boat.
Overnight on board in cabins with private bathroom
Day 13: Halong - Hanoi 180km (B)
After we reach back to Halong City we will drive back to Hanoi with a stop on the way for lunch break. On arrival we will check-in the hotel and have time at leisure.
Overnight in Hanoi
Day 14: Hanoi (B)
Day at leisure
Transfer to airport for departure
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