The 7-Day Mai Chau, Pu Luong, Ninh Binh & Ha Long Bay Tour from Hanoi begins in Hanoi and ends at Noi Bai International Airport, connecting the capital with Mai Chau Valley, Ba Khan Lake, Pu Luong Nature Reserve, Ninh Binh, Ha Long Bay and Lan Ha Bay.
Explore Hanoi’s historic landmarks and Old Quarter before travelling into Mai Chau for a guided cycling experience through Pom Coong and Lac villages and an overnight stay in a traditional White Thai stilt house. Continue with a Ba Khan Lake boat trip, a Thai village walk, Hieu Waterfall and Pu Luong’s traditional bamboo water wheels. In Ninh Binh, enjoy the classic Tam Coc boat trip along the Ngo Dong River and an optional climb to the Mua Cave viewpoint.
The journey finishes with an overnight Ha Long Bay and Lan Ha Bay cruise, featuring kayaking or bamboo boating, a Vietnamese cooking demonstration and an optional Tai Chi session. Guided sightseeing, comfortable transfers and thoughtfully placed free time make the itinerary varied without feeling rushed.
After breakfast, meet your guide and begin a full-day exploration of Hanoi. Start at Ba Dinh Square, where you will see the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum from the outside, before continuing to Tran Quoc Pagoda, set beside the peaceful waters of West Lake.
Continue to Hoa Lo Prison, a historic site that offers insight into important chapters of Hanoi's modern history. Afterwards, make a brief stop near Hanoi Train Street, subject to permitted access and local railway safety regulations.
Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant before beginning an afternoon walking exploration of the capital.
Start near Long Bien Bridge and continue towards Dong Xuan Market, then walk through some of the characteristic streets of the Hanoi Old Quarter, including Hang Ma, Luong Van Can, Lan Ong and Hang Buom. Along the way, visit Bach Ma Temple, one of the Old Quarter's long-established religious landmarks.
Finish the afternoon with a hands-on egg coffee experience, learning how Hanoi's distinctive coffee speciality is prepared before enjoying your own cup. The guided program ends in the late afternoon, leaving the evening free for independent dining and exploration.
Overnight in Hanoi
After breakfast, leave Hanoi and travel into the mountains towards Mai Chau Valley, a peaceful rural region surrounded by green hills, rice fields and villages inhabited by White Thai communities.
Along the way, pause at a scenic viewpoint overlooking the valley. Additional countryside photo stops may be made where seasonal scenery and roadside conditions allow. Continue to your local homestay and enjoy lunch.
In the afternoon, set out on a guided cycling experience through Pom Coong and Lac villages. Follow quiet village lanes between rice fields, traditional stilt houses and rural homes while learning about aspects of everyday life within the local White Thai community.
The terrain is generally flat and suitable for travellers with basic cycling experience. Return to your accommodation in the evening for a locally prepared dinner and an overnight stay in a traditional White Thai stilt-house homestay.
Activity level: Easy cycling on mostly flat countryside roads; comfortable clothing and secure footwear recommended.
Overnight: White Thai stilt-house homestay in Mai Chau.
After breakfast, leave Mai Chau for Ba Khan Lake, a peaceful reservoir surrounded by mountains and rural landscapes. Take a local boat trip across Ba Khan Lake, enjoying the tranquil scenery from the water.
After the boat journey, walk through a nearby Thai village, where your guide will introduce you to aspects of local countryside life. Enjoy lunch before continuing by road towards Pu Luong Nature Reserve.
In the afternoon, visit Hieu Waterfall, one of Pu Luong's attractive natural settings. Take a guided walk through the surrounding countryside to reach the waterfall area, with time to enjoy the peaceful mountain environment.
Continue to see the area's traditional bamboo water wheels, an impressive example of local ingenuity used to channel water from streams towards nearby agricultural land. Afterwards, continue to your accommodation and enjoy dinner in the quiet mountain surroundings.
Activity level: Easy to moderate, with walking on rural paths and potentially uneven or slippery surfaces around the waterfall; supportive footwear is recommended.
Overnight: Pu Luong, in a traditional stilt house or private bungalow depending on the selected accommodation category.
After an early breakfast, leave Pu Luong and travel towards Ninh Binh, where rivers, rice fields and limestone mountains create one of northern Vietnam's most distinctive landscapes.
On arrival in the Tam Coc area, enjoy lunch at a local restaurant and take a short break before beginning the afternoon's sightseeing.
Board a traditional rowboat for an approximately two-hour Tam Coc boat trip along the Ngo Dong River. Glide between limestone cliffs, farmland and natural caves while experiencing the tranquil waterways for which Ninh Binh is well known.
Later, continue to Mua Cave and make the uphill climb to its mountain viewpoint for panoramic views across Tam Coc and the surrounding karst landscape. The climb is optional for travellers who prefer a more relaxed visit.
Return to Tam Coc afterwards, where the evening is free for independent dining.
Activity level: Easy boat trip followed by a moderate uphill climb at Mua Cave; good walking shoes are recommended.
Overnight: Tam Coc, Ninh Binh
After breakfast, leave Tam Coc and travel to Tuan Chau Harbour for your Ha Long Bay overnight cruise.
On arrival at the harbour, complete the boarding procedure and transfer to the cruise by tender or speedboat where required. Enjoy a welcome drink and a brief safety orientation before settling into your cabin.
Lunch is served as the vessel begins cruising through the spectacular limestone seascape of Ha Long Bay and Lan Ha Bay.
In the afternoon, explore the Dark and Bright Cave area by kayak or local bamboo boat. Swimming may also be available at a designated location when weather and water conditions permit.
Return to the vessel in time to enjoy sunset over the bay before joining a Vietnamese cooking demonstration. Dinner is served on board, followed by a relaxed evening with squid fishing, board games or time to simply unwind on deck. Optional spa services may be available at additional cost depending on the confirmed vessel.
Activity level: Easy; kayaking is optional and requires basic mobility.
Overnight: On board the cruise in Ha Long/Lan Ha Bay.
Begin the final morning with an optional Tai Chi session on the sundeck, followed by a light breakfast while cruising through Lan Ha Bay.
Subject to the confirmed cruise itinerary, weather and operating conditions, join the morning excursion to Trung Trang Cave on Cat Ba Island.
Return to the vessel afterwards to pack your belongings and complete cabin check-out. Enjoy brunch on board as the cruise makes its way back towards Tuan Chau Harbour.
After disembarkation, meet your private driver and travel directly from Ha Long Bay to Noi Bai International Airport, without returning to Hanoi city. Sufficient time should be allowed between cruise disembarkation and your onward flight to accommodate road and traffic conditions.
Your seven-day journey through northern Vietnam ends on arrival at Noi Bai International Airport.
If you need help arranging anything beyond the program, our team will be happy to assist.
Optional: snacks, a camera, and a small daypack for daily excursions.
Don’t worry — we’ll guide you with more details before your trip.
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Everything you need to know about this tour
The tour starts in Hanoi with pickup from Noi Bai International Airport and a transfer to your hotel in the city centre. On Day 7, after completing the Ha Long Bay and Lan Ha Bay cruise, you travel directly from Tuan Chau Harbour to Noi Bai International Airport without returning to Hanoi city.
The Hanoi program includes Ba Dinh Square, an outside view of the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, Tran Quoc Pagoda, Hoa Lo Prison and a brief stop near Hanoi Train Street when access is permitted. You will also explore Dong Xuan Market, Old Quarter streets and Bach Ma Temple before finishing with a hands-on egg coffee experience.
The guided cycling experience through Pom Coong and Lac villages is rated easy and follows mostly flat countryside roads and quiet village lanes. The route passes rice fields, traditional stilt houses and rural homes within the White Thai community. Basic cycling experience is sufficient, while comfortable clothing and secure footwear are recommended.
This customizable tour can be tailored to your travel style, dates, and preferences.
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A Memorable First Experience of Northern Vietnam
A Truly Unique Week in Northern Vietnam
Breathtaking Scenery from Mai Chau to Lan Ha Bay
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