Embark on an exploration to Vietnam in 16 days, where nature and adventure await at every turn. This extensive journey takes you through Vietnam’s Northeast loop and the captivating Central Highlands. Over your 16 days in Vietnam, experience breathtaking hikes and engage with genuine local communities from the northern highlands to the southern plains. This immersive adventure offers a deep dive into the diverse cultures, traditions, and ways of life of the ethnic minorities residing in Vietnam’s most secluded areas.
Upon your arrival at Hanoi airport, your guide and driver will welcome you.
As soon as you leave the airport, you will be immersed in a different world. On the way from the airport to the city center (about 45 min-1h from the airport), you will observe the unique traffic rules, a big surprise for foreigners setting foot in Vietnam for the first time. Your driver and guide will take you directly to your hotel to rest.
Then, your guide will introduce you to your excursion and take you to a good restaurant in Hanoi. Vietnamese cuisine is very rich, and you will have the opportunity to discover and taste a wide variety of specialties throughout your trip.
Overnight at a hotel in Hanoi.
Included: Transportation, Accommodation, English-speaking guide, Meals: Welcome dinner.
After breakfast, get ready for a long journey to Ha Giang province, in the far north of the country. You will pass through the cities of Thai Nguyen and Tuyen Quang. Stop in Thai Nguyen to visit the Museum of Ethnic Cultures.
Breathtaking Scenery of Ha Giang
The journey is long, yet the landscapes are beautiful. You will cross valleys, rice fields, and dense jungles. Then you will meet many ethnic groups along your route: Nung Ing, Tay, Red Dao, La Chi, and Co.
Overnight at a hotel in Ha Giang.
Included: Transportation, Accommodation, English-speaking guide, Entrance fees, Meals: Breakfast, lunch.
Dong Van and Meo Vac are in the most remote region of Vietnam. At an altitude of 1,100 m, it is a border district, the extreme north of the country, with the Lung Cu Peak (1,600-1,800 m). You will travel on a road that winds through the landscape of imposing mountains.
Dong Van Karst Global Geopark
Stops are planned along the way to visit villages or markets of ethnic minorities. Along the way, visit Pho Bang village with its typical mud-walled, thatched-roof houses, an old H’Mong royal house in Saphin, the “Co Tien” mountain – “Fairy Mountain” in Quan Ba.
You will arrive in Dong Van in the late afternoon. A walk in the old quarter awaits you.
Overnight at the hotel.
Included: Transportation, Accommodation, English-speaking guide, Entrance fees, Meals: Breakfast, lunch.
After breakfast, you will visit the town of Dong Van, before heading to Meo Vac, where you can admire the grandiose mountainous landscape, the impressive Ma Pi Leng pass.
Ma Pi Leng Pass
Meo Vac, conquered by the Lo Lo and Pu Peo ethnic groups, retains its ancient cultural traditions, and the ethnic groups are distinguished from each other by their costumes.
Despite rudimentary living conditions, the isolation and simple lifestyle of the inhabitants are an interesting point of the journey and a reflection on our own way of life.
After Meo Vac, you will continue the road to Bao Lac, arriving in the mid-afternoon, transferring to the village of Khuoi Khon, inhabited by the black Lo Lo ethnic group. A short excursion in this village for about 1.5 hours.
Return to Bao Lac then check in at the hotel.
Overnight at the hotel.
Included: Transportation, Accommodation, English-speaking guide, Entrance fees, Meals: Breakfast, lunch.
You will leave early in the morning from Ha Giang to reach Ba Be by late afternoon. You will pass through isolated towns, and picturesque landscapes, meeting H’Mong, Dao, Tay, and Nung minorities working in the fields.
This region is one of the most preserved in Vietnam and therefore one of the most beautiful!
Your arrival is expected in Cho Ra in the late afternoon. This town is located about twenty kilometers from the lake. You can quietly enjoy your evening in this small town.
Overnight at a hotel in Cho Ra.
Included: Transportation, Accommodation, English-speaking guide, Entrance fees, Meals: Breakfast, lunch.
Although its name means “three lakes,” Ba Be Lake is a single stretch of water that you will explore by boat.
Ba Be Lake
This relaxing cruise will allow you to enjoy the tranquility of the countryside. You will explore Ba Be National Park, visit Puong Cave, cross some ethnic minority villages in the park, and hike to the beautiful Dau Dang Waterfalls.
In the afternoon, you will take the road to the city of Cao Bang.
Overnight at a hotel in Cao Bang.
Included: Transportation, Accommodation, English-speaking guide, Entrance fees, Meals: Breakfast, lunch.
After breakfast, you will head to the magnificent Ban Gioc Waterfalls. You will stop along the way for a walk to Nguom Ngao Cave, a still-preserved cave with natural stalactites (appropriate clothing is required as the place is very humid). You will then continue your journey to Ban Gioc Falls, located on the Chinese border.
Ban Gioc Waterfall
Take a boat to the waterfalls where you will likely meet many visitors from China who also come to admire this relaxing atmosphere.
Return by road to Cao Bang. Overnight at a hotel in Cao Bang.
Included: Transportation, Accommodation, English-speaking guide, Entrance fees, Meals: Breakfast, lunch.
This morning, you will take the road to the city of Lang Son, located on the Chinese border. This city has become a major commercial city since the normalization of relations between China and Vietnam in the early 1990s. After lunch, you will visit Nhi Thanh Cave, Tam Thanh Pagoda, and Dong Kinh Market, the largest market in the region filled with Chinese products.
Lang Son from above
Overnight at a hotel in Lang Son.
Included: Transportation, Accommodation, English-speaking guide, Entrance fees, Meals: Breakfast, lunch.
After your morning meal, your journey takes you to the enchanting Halong Bay, where you’ll uncover the legends that enhance its allure. Arriving at Halong port around noon, a welcoming drink awaits you.
Embark on your cruise, where the captain will introduce you to the crew. Make yourself comfortable in your private cabin.
Halong Bay Cruise
The cruise kicks off with a sumptuous seafood lunch, featuring exquisitely prepared dishes, beautifully presented, and served by a dedicated team.
As the cruise progresses, feast your eyes on the stunning array of islets dotting the seascape. The sheer beauty of Halong Bay will captivate you.
In the afternoon, explore the quaint Thien Canh Son cave. Weather permitting, seize the chance to swim, unwind on the beach, or enjoy an hour of kayaking.
As evening approaches, return to the cruise for a delightful dinner.
Afterward, relax or join the crew for some squid fishing.
Included: Transportation, Accommodation, Cruise guide, Entrance fees, Kayak, Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner.
Wake up early to enjoy the fresh morning air in the bay.
Have a good tea or coffee and breakfast before visiting the floating village of Vung Vieng for 1 hour by rowboat. Observe the fish farming.
Disembarkation around 11:30 AM.
Return to Hanoi. Along the way, you will visit But Thap Pagoda, one of the most typical pagodas in the North. Then you will discover the Dong Ho folk paintings.
Included: Transportation, Accommodation, English-speaking guide, Entrance fees, Meals: Breakfast, lunch.
In the early hours, your driver will escort you to the airport for your flight bound for Pleiku. Once you land in Pleiku, a vehicle will be ready to transport you to the Jarai village of Phun.
Your journey will proceed to Kontum, culminating in the village of Konkotu. Here, you’ll enjoy dinner and stay overnight in a Rong house, which serves as the communal hub of the village.
Rong house in Pleiku
Included: Transportation, Accommodation, English-speaking guide, Entrance fees, Hanoi – Pleiku flight, Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
In the morning, you will embark on a 6-kilometer hike through the forest, crossing the Kon Ba suspension bridge, walking to the village of Jolong, and up to the source of the Dakbla River.
Dakbla River
Then you will start a rafting descent of the Dakbla River, stopping along the way for a picnic lunch by the river.
After lunch, you will continue to raft down the river for a few more hours, then return to the village of Konkotu where your driver will take you back to Kontum.
Overnight at a hotel in Kontum.
Included: Transportation, Accommodation, English-speaking guide, Entrance fees, Meals: Breakfast, lunch.
In the morning, you will take the road to Buon Ma Thuot.
Upon arrival and after checking into your hotel and having lunch, you will admire the Gia Long Waterfall. You will cross the river on a simple raft and walk through the primeval forest. You can then swim in the “Fairy Pool,” a small natural lake with a sandy bottom.
Gia Long Waterfall
You will then return to Buon Ma Thuot to spend the night.
Included: Transportation, Accommodation, English-speaking guide, Entrance fees, Meals: Breakfast, lunch.
After breakfast, you will head to Yok Don National Park, Vietnam’s largest park, home to many species. Upon arrival, you will take a boat across the Serepok River to the park’s entrance.
Yok Don National Park
Start your hike in the forest to discover a wide variety of flora and fauna. You are likely to see birds, small animals, and several species of orchids, or meet the Ede, Giarai, or M’nong peoples along the way. Picnic lunch.
In the afternoon, you will continue hiking and take a one-hour boat ride on the Serepok River. You will visit a Jarai minority village. You can observe the lifestyle of this minority that has preserved itself in the face of the country’s development. You will then return to Buon Ma Thuot around 4:00 PM.
Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Included: Transportation, Accommodation, English-speaking guide, Entrance fees, Meals: Breakfast, lunch.
You can enjoy your free time while waiting for your transfer to Buon Ma Thuot airport for your flight to Ho Chi Minh City.
Upon arrival in Ho Chi Minh City, your driver will be waiting to take you to your hotel.
You can then enjoy your free time to explore the bustling city of Saigon.
Overnight at your hotel in Ho Chi Minh City.
Included: Transportation, Accommodation, English-speaking guide, Buon Ma Thuot – Ho Chi Minh flight, Meals: Breakfast.
Free time until your transfer to the airport for your return flight or the continuation of your journey.
Included: Transportation to airport, Meal: Breakfast
Prices are in USD, per person.
This tour can be customized to fit your own demands. Best price and value guaranteed!
| Hotel / Group | 2 guests | 3~4 guests | 5~6 guests | 7~8 guests | 9~12 guests | Single surcharge |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 Star | 1,943 | 1,435 | 1,237 | 1,182 | 1,085 | 438 |
| 4 Star | 2,234 | 1,729 | 1,533 | 1,474 | 1,379 | 742 |
| 5 Star | 2,317 | 1,811 | 1,616 | 1,555 | 1,459 | 823 |
– There may be cancellation fees charged by suppliers (hotels, airlines, boats, trains…) once these bookings are made and paid. These fee shall by paid by travelers.
– These are maximum cancellation fees to be flexible applied:
Are you interested in this tour or would you like to customize your own trip?
Call our local experts: +84913.000.858
Layla Baudin
According to my timeline, there will be 14 days in Vietnam only. Can you re-arrange this tour program a little bit and cut down on the package price as well?
Idctravel
@Layla Baudin: Hi, I have sent you an email. Please let me know more about your preference and I will customize the trip accordingly. Of course, the tour price will be adjusted as well.
