Northern Vietnam day-by-day itinerary

Hanoi is a wonderful city that will thrill all members of the family with its chaotic streets, busy markets and peaceful temples. Rise early to see the locals doing a spot of tai chi by the lake or take an evening stroll through the Old City (dodging motorbikes as you go) to stop at a busy local restaurant for a plate of steaming spring rolls. There are endless narrow streets full of children playing games and old men playing chess that just beg to be explored.

This afternoon you will start to explore the city, including an afternoon cyclo (cycle rickshaw) tour through the busy streets of the Old Quarter.

Day 2 Hanoi
This morning head off the beaten track in Hanoi, visiting a suburb on the banks of the Red River. The area escaped much of the bombing during the war and is home to many old houses and temples. You will explore the back streets, stopping to visit a charming small temple, and getting an insight into a very different side of the city. Finish at a traditional courtyard house where you will join the host family for lunch, helping to make spring rolls.

In the afternoon continue your tour of the city. You can choose exactly what you want to see but perhaps visit Ho Chi Minh lying in state in his mausoleum or visit Ngoc Son Temple. This is a beautiful temple, situated on a tiny island in the centre of Hoan Kiem Lake.

Day 3 Hanoi – Pu Luong Reserve
Today you leave Hanoi to head west into the remote Pu Luong Nature Reserve. The drive takes around 4.5 hours and as the journey progresses you head deeper into the hills and the views are absolutely stunning. Here the sides of the mountains are carved into steep rice terraces and small traditional villages dot the landscape.

This afternoon visit a local family who live in the village at the base of the valley.

You will stay in a new lodge which is situated in a magnificent location with beautiful views. If you prefer, there is also the option to stay in a traditional stilt house homestay.

Day 4 Pu Luong Reserve
This morning take a walk through the local area, passing through friendly villages and enjoying the views. This can be tailored to your fitness levels but could take up to 4-5 hours if you are ready for the challenge.

In the afternoon you will head to the river that runs through the base of the valley and will take a bamboo raft past the traditional water wheels. These are still used to get water into a network of bamboo irrigation canals that provide water to the rice terraces. This bucolic scene is one of the most picturesque in Vietnam.

Day 5 Pu Luong – Ninh Binh
After breakfast leave the mountains behind for a 2.5-3 hour drive to Ninh Binh province. Here you can see the remains of one of Vietnam’s earliest capitals at Hoa Lu. Although little remains from the original buildings, this is a pleasant place for a wander and you can also visit the nearby village.

From here you will drive the short distance to Trang An, a beautiful area of steep sided limestone mountains, lazily flowing rivers and lush green paddy fields. Over the millennia the rivers have carved a route through the ancient limestone cliffs and your boat will follow the course of the river through caves up to 300m long. The route is very narrow and low in areas, and your ‘rower’ will give you frequent instructions to duck so as to avoid some of the low hanging stalactites.

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