Discover the northern part of Vietnam, exploring the wide, tree-lined streets of Hanoi, resplendent with French colonial architecture. The capital city of Hanoi is often referred to as the ‘Paris of the Orient’. Continue to visit the magnificent mountain ranges, stunning rice terrae fields, scenic rivers and waterfalls, breathtaking mountain passes and remote traditional villages. Pu Luong is truly a microcosm of Northern Vietnam.

Relax on a cruise to admire the beauty & natural wonder of the world with emerald waters and thousands of towering limestone islands topped by rainforests.

DEPARTURE/RETURN LOCATION	Hanoi
DURATION DAYS	10 Days
DIFFICULTY PRIMARY ACTIVITIES	Easy – Moderately Strenuous Trekking – Biking – Rafting – Sightseeing
BEST SEASON TRIP ROUTE	Jan, Feb, March, April, November & December HANOI – MAI CHAU – PU LUONG – NINH BINH – HALONG BAY – HANOI
INCLUDED	Accommodation with double/twin room with daily breakfast 02 days 01 night on cruise in Halong with twin/double room (sharing cruise, not private) Meals as mentioned (B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner) Private transfer and transportation on tour – except free and easy day Single entrance fees as in the itinerary Traditional Water Puppet Show & Cycle Tour in Hanoi Boat trip as mentioned Bamboo river rafting Sightseeing with local experience English speaking guides escort the whole trip Mineral water with 2 bottle of 500ml/tour day/pax
NOT INCLUDED	All international airport tax International flights & domestic flights Early check in or late check out (check in time: after 2:00 PM, check out time: before 12 PM noon) Travel insurance (Please make sure that you buy insurance before traveling overseas) Optional tours Visa arrangement & Visa stamp at international gate Drink & Beverage in meals TIPPING for local guide and van driver Suggested TIPPING for bellboy, boat crew, sampan driver: depend your budget. Other services not mentioned above
IMPORTANT NOTES	Our rate is quoted in USD per adult based on twin/double room and applied for a private tour. Minimum 2 participants. The above tour prices are based on our current transportation rates. Increasing petrol rates might affect our transportation and boat fees, in which case we reserve the right to revise our current rates. If any increase should arise we will, of course, keep you well informed. Minimum Notice to Guarantee Hotel Room & Pricing: We require a minimum of three months advance notice to guarantee hotel room and rates. Please purchase your ticket from ATAI as soon as possible so that we can block rooms to guarantee the room and rates in the period of high and peak season. All the above points of interest are open for a visit based on current updates. In case of closure for construction or any other reason, we will replace with a similar point of interest. Check-in time: after 2:00 PM – Check-out time: before 12:00 noon. The itinerary and schedule are subject to change due to weather, road condition, flight, type of class and operating conditions. Meals are fusion on local cuisine with daily normal buffet breakfast at the hotel. Guests should advise any special food preferences, allergies or dietary requirements at least one (1) week prior to the arrival date.

DAY 1: HANOI ARRIVAL (-/-/D)

Arrival in Noi Bai airport. Welcome to Hanoi city – the capital of Vietnam. On the way to the hotel, you will listen to a brief introduction on Hanoi, a traditional and cultural city, has thousand years of history. Transfer to hotel for rest time.

Overnight at hotel in Hanoi

Distance:

Noi Bai airport – Hanoi Centre: 30km / 18.64 miles → 45 minutes transfer

DAY 2: HANOI FULL DAY CITY TOUR (B/L/-)

You’ll have breakfast at your hotel. The guide and driver will pick you up at your hotel. Then visit the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum Complex to explore the architectural and historical aspects of Uncle Ho’s final resting place. Just next door is Ho Chi Minh’s house on stilts and lying to one side of the Mausoleum is the One Pillar Pagoda which was founded by King Ly Thai To in 1049 – the structure has become an important symbol for the people of Hanoi. We then continue on Literature Temple and Quoc Tu Giam. We’ll also see Vietnam’s first university, constructed in 1070 – its gardens and well-preserved architecture will offer a relaxing glimpse into Vietnam’s past. Go up a little bit visit Buddhist Tran Quoc Pagoda on the West Lake (One of the oldest pagoda in Vietnam). Lunch at a local restaurant

After lunch, we’ll proceed to visit the Ethnology Museum and then we will take you past Hoan Kiem Lake to see the peaceful waters and the beauty of Ngoc Son temple. You will then take a cycle tour and we’ll journey through Hanoi’s Old Quarter, where you’ll then have a chance to see the local life of Hanoian. Finish the day by enjoying the Water Puppet Show, the tradition of water puppet theater stems from a time when rice paddy fields were flooded and villagers would provide entertainment by standing in the waist-deep water with the puppets performing over the water. Transfer back to your hotel in the late afternoon.

Overnight at hotel in Hanoi.

DAY 3: HANOI – MAI CHAU (POM COONG) – PU LUONG (B/L/D)

Have breakfast at your hotel and then depart early for the Mai Chau area, southwest of Hanoi. Shortly after leaving the city behind, the scenery starts to take on an altogether different look with endless stretches of farmland and hills and mountains looming in the distance.

Arrive in Mai Chau and fuel up with lunch at a local restaurant before beginning the first trek. Depart on foot for Pom Coong, a village inhabited by the White Thai minority people. Enjoy a warm welcome by the hospitable locals and get a taste for their culture with a local meal and traditional dance performance. Then continue to transfer to Pu Luong, on the way you will have the chance to see the breathtaking mountain with panoramic views of the whole valley. Take some time to explore the beautiful retreat, with its captivating panoramic views and tranquil setting.

Check-in and overnight.

Overnight at Pu Luong Retreat

Distance:

Hanoi – Mai Chau (Pom Coong): 150km / 93.21 miles → 4-hour transfer
Treeking in Pom Coong: 2.5 hour, Difficulty: Easy.
Mai Chau (Pom Coong) – Pu Luong Retreat: 54km /33.55 miles → 2-hour transfer

DAY4: PU LUONG FULL DAY TREKKING TOUR (B/L/D)

Water wheels walk and rafting | 3 km / 1.86 miles easy walk → 1.5 hours | 1 km / .62 miles rafting → 1 hour.

AM: Free at leisure

PM: You will be transferred to a suspension bridge over the Cham River, where you begin your walk in search of stunning water wheels. Get up close to each wheel and discover how water is moved from the river to handmade bamboo aqueducts via simple constructions of all sizes.

Arriving at a local fisherman’s house, you have a short rest to gear up for the bamboo river rafting with Dinh and his team. Float along the calm river and enjoy the views, in between learning how to paddle and steer your handcrafted rafts.

Arriving at scenic Tan Lap bridge, you disembark to be transferred back to Pu Luong Retreat for dinner.

Overnight at Pu Luong Retreat

Distance and trekking difficulty:

Water wheels walk and rafting | 3 km / 1.86 miles easy walk → 1.5 hours | 1 km / .62 miles rafting → 1 hour

DAY 5: PU LUONG FULL DAY TREKKING TOUR (B/L/D)

AM: Start early to descend into the beautiful valley facing the Retreat where you walk around tumbling rice terraces. Trek through small paths shrouded in vegetation to slowly reveal a picturesque village sitting at the base of a towering mountain. Your camera will not be able to sit still!

Continuing to the base of the valley, you weave between roads and farmland, villages and wild fields, ponds and rivers, mountains and open land. Savor the ever-changing scenery as you trek to a beautiful spot to enjoy a simple picnic lunch.

PM: After enjoying a delicious lunch, you have free time to explore the refreshing water to the nearby river, before moving to our pick up point to be transferred back to the Retreat.

Overnight at Pu Luong Retreat

Distance and trekking difficulty:

Enthralling trekking routes | 19 km / 11.81 miles easy walking → 6 hours

DAY 6: PU LUONG – NINH BINH (B/L/D)

AM: You have the chance to get close to village life and interact with locals living in the hills above the Retreat. A glimpse at daily life, walk around working farmland and rice fields and learn about making weaving colorful textiles, followed by lunch at the Lodge.

12:00 noon: Check out the Lodge. Proceed to transfer to Ninh Binh.

Ninh Binh arrival, check in hotel. Have dinner.

Overnight at resort in Ninh Binh

Distance and trekking difficulty:

Village life and the community | 4,5 km / 2,80 miles easy walk → 2 hours

DAY 7: NINH BINH - BIKING TRIP AROUND TAM COC – MUA CAVE(B/L/D)

Have breakfast at your resort. Then transfer to Tam Coc to get bicycles to bike around and visit Mua Cave and climb up to 500 steps to the peak of Mua Cave to have spectacular views over Tam Coc and Ninh Binh’s stunning countryside are well worth the effort. Then biking around Tam Coc and stopping for lunch at a local restaurant.

In the afternoon take the boat trip to visit Trang An scenic landscape complex. Trang An is the battlefield where Kong destroyed the helicopters to protect his Kingdom from the US-Army in the movie. You will join in a boat trip in Trang An for a peaceful cruise on the river to explore Trang An grottoes such as Light Cave, Dark Cave. Transfer back to your resort.

Overnight resort in Ninh Binh

Distance and biking difficulty:

Emeralda Resort – Tam Coc: 25 km / 15.53 miles → 30 minutes transfer
Distance biking: 20 – 30km / 12.43 – 18.64 miles → 1-2 hour biking

DAY 8: NINH BINH –HALONG BAY (B/L/D)

Breakfast at the hotel, check out, and then depart to Ha Long Bay. It takes around 3.5-4 hours to drive to Halong Bay.

11:45 Arrive at Tuan Chau pier and boarding operations

12:45 The Cruise Manager will give a welcome speech with all the cruise information and Safety instructions.

13:15 Enjoy the lunch with the best products of the Bay.

14:45 Visit the Vung Vieng floating fishing village by kayaking 15:30-16:30 If you want to relax on the boat instead of participating in other activities feel free to use our sauna at no extra cost.

17:00 -18:30 Happy Hour: Buy 1 – Get 1 Free.

17:30 The Cooking Demonstration is waiting for you to discover the secrets of Vietnamese Cuisine.

19:00 Enjoy set menu dinner on board.

21:00 Join the Squid Fishing activity. Free time on the boat.

The bar is open late to serve you. Overnight at Cong Do Area.

Overnight on a cruise at Halong Bay

Distance:

Ninh Binh – Halong Bay: 170 km / 105.63 miles → 3.5-hour transfer

Note: Cruise Itinerary could be changed based on weather and which cruise you choose.

DAY 9: HALONG BAY - HANOI (B/L/D)

06:30 Practice one of the oldest traditions of East Asia: Tai Chi – A beautiful and relaxing experience on the open deck. Tea and coffee are served.

07:00 Light breakfast is served.

07:30 Explore Thien Canh Son cave in Ha Long Bay. Witness its beautiful stalactites and stalagmites. Note: there are about 200 steps to get up to the cave.

09:00 Check out time. Please put your luggage outside the cabin and the key at the reception desk. Our staff will transfer your luggage to our lounge for you. Bill settlement at the reception desk.

09:30 Brunch is served at the restaurant on the 2nd deck.

10:45 The boat arrives at the pier. The driver is waiting for you to transfer you back to Hanoi

Overnight at hotel in Hanoi.

Distance:

Halong Bay – Hanoi: 165 km / 102.53 miles → 3.5 hour transfer

DAY 10: HANOI DEPARTURE (B/-/-)

Have breakfast at your hotel then your free time until check out and transfer you to the airport to get your onward flight.

Distance:

Hanoi centre – Noi Bai airport: 30 km / 18.64 miles → 45 minutes transfer

Peak physical condition is required to do trekking in Vietnam. We recommend doing extensive training for the up and down routes of any trekking trip. We suggest running, walking, hiking in the hills, and climbing stairs rather than using elevators to help you prepare for the trek. Daily base training can also include swimming, rowing, biking.

Basic Training to Experience our Trekking Tours

One should be able to hike for 6-7 hours a day.
One should be able to carry a 35lb backpack.
We suggest you run about 4/5 miles at home with some load on your back for 2 to 3 months in preparation for this trek.
You may also use a treadmill (with incline adjustments) for everyday running and walking training.
If you have an uphill location/mountain, then once a week you should go hiking with a loaded/packed backpack.
If you do not have mountains or nearby high hills, then use stairs to go up/down whenever you can, rather than using elevators.

2019 AVAILABLE DATES

February 16-25

March 9-18

April 6-15

October 5-14

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