Carbon Friendly Tour of North Vietnam

📍 Noi Bai Airport - Hotel in Hanoi (35 km): 50 mins

Upon arrival at Hanoi’s Noi Bai International Airport Terminal 2 (T2), once you've passed immigration and collected luggage from the carousel, proceed to Exit A1 then to Pillar 4 (P4), where the guide/ driver will be waiting for the 50-minute private transfer to central Hanoi. In the event that you can’t find the guide/ driver, please call the 24-Hour Customer CARE hotline: +84 917332246 

Notes: 
- The standard check-in time at hotels is 14:00.
- The itinerary can be flexible based on the arrival flight schedule; some sites can be visited today to have more time at sites or adding some other sites the next day (with small surcharge)

Overnight in Hanoi

Inclusions:

🥘 Lunch

📍 Walking distance: 3-5km

Start your day’s exploration of Hanoi on a walking tour at 09:00. 

From the southern end of the Old Quarter, kick off with a quintessential Hanoi favourite; egg coffee. Once your system is full, continue along backstreets to sample such delicacies as banh da tron (an unusual dish comprising of brown flat noodles), bun (vermicelli) with rice paddy crab which is typical from the north as well as other local favourites. Food sampled is adaptable depending on preferences and tastes, including vegetarian options throughout. 

The beauty of the Old Quarter is the connection of narrow alleys which are privately shared among the community. You’ll explore such areas usually hidden to outsiders. Continue walking these hidden alleys to sample popular tastes and treats before continuing to a historic home nested behind bustling shops. Meet the owner to learn more on life in the Old Quarter through the eyes of a resident.  

Continue through a streetside market to another hidden lane through houses to Dong Xuan market and its street food alley’s.  Walk around this area, then continue to a state-owned shop on Lan Ong ‘medicinal street’ to sample the traditional herbal rice liquor – considered the soul of the Old Quarter. 

Finally, visit a family operated pho noodle enterprise that supplies the area with the country’s staple ingredient. See the production line of this wholesaler (note the noodles will not be eaten here).  

Finish your exploration of one of Vietnam’s most fascinating districts with a last hidden alleyway, followed by more grazing. 

Afternoon at leisure. 

Notes: 
- Places mentioned are subject to change upon availability/weather.  
- Street food options for vegetarians are limited. Not recommended for vegans 
- While we check the standards of these popular local vendors, their facilities may not match international standards. Please be aware that consuming street food involves some risk.

Overnight in Hanoi

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast, 🥘 Lunch

📍 E-biking distance: 30-40 km .

This morning, transfer by electric taxi to the e-bike store, on the shores of West Lake. After picking up the bikes along the West Lake, cross one of Hanoi’s famous bridges over the Red River where quieter roads meet Hanoi’s high rises, visible in the distance. 

Continue along this rural setting to the site and legend of Cổ Loa, the first Kingdom of Vietnam, a place famous for all Vietnamese. During the 3rd century BC it was the centre of the civil and military capital of the state. We’ll take you to the main An Duong Vuong Temple, Ngự Triều Di Quy communal house and Princess Mi. Villages. You’ll also discover a unique ancient village en route, visiting a 280-year-old communal house and the local Phan clan Ancestral House which dates back over 400 years. 

Return to our West Lake over the iconic and historic Long Bien Bridge. Completed in 1902 by, once the longest bridge in Asia made famous once again, this time in the 1970s during the ‘American war’ as countless bombing raids attempted to disrupt the bridge as a vital supply line.  

Halfway along the bridge, dismount for a quick explore of Banana Island, an amazing area of quiet farmland in Hanoi’s bustling city named for the thirty species of banana grown there. Rich due to the fertile soil, this island floods each year during the rainy season, allowing rich silt to replenish the soil. 

Cycle back from the bridge through backstreets and along the city’s lake system before dismounting back at West Lake.

Enjoy a healthy, fresh vegetarian lunch before getting back to the hotel for leisure time. 

Room for late check out is included. 
This evening, transfer to Hanoi Train Station by electric taxi for overnight train to Lao Cai, the gateway to Sapa. 

Notes:
- Child seat for kids up to 28 kg. From 1m50 use the adult bikes
- The tour may be subject to change due to weather conditions as well as route change, due to road or bridge maintenance. 
- Be sure to wear comfortable clothes and footwear. 
- These bikes are cross functional, either peddle or just go! The unisex step-through frame allows for easy to get on and off. The 24 inch wheels allow for smooth riding excellence. 
- While we aim to showcase another side of Hanoi, please note that some areas along the route are currently undergoing urban improvements. These projects are part of a city-wide effort to enhance Hanoi's historic and modern landscapes. While they may be visible, they offer a unique glimpse into a capital in transition. 
 

Overnight on the train in a soft sleeper compartment.

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast, 🥘 Lunch

📍 Lao Cai Railway Station to Topas Ecolodge (60km): 2 hours / Walking & sightseeing route: 8-9 km easy walking – approx. 3-4 hours

On arrival in the border town of Lao Cai, have breakfast and short rest at day use hotel before transfer by shared transport to the former hill station of Sapa. Then head off into the beautiful Hoang Lien National Park, along the way get a chance to see big rice terraces and hopefully the high tops of the mountain range. Soon, be introduced to the biggest group of minorities in this area, the striking Black H’mong people, famous for their indo coloured clothing and silver necklaces.

Take a light trek on a good path for a few hours, with plenty of time to learn about history and traditional customs and enjoy the views. Then continue the transfer deeper into the valley and cross the beautiful Muong Bo River before reaching Thanh Phu village of Tay minority. Here, see the big difference in culture as the group wears lighter colours of silk clothing. 

A vegetarian lunch will be served in a local restaurant. After lunch, the tour continues to the small village of My Son and an interesting afternoon walk. This remote tribe is the smallest minority group in the Sapa area and home to Xa Pho people. 

In the afternoon, arrive at spectacularly located Topas Ecolodge. This lodge has perhaps the most breathtaking location and finest views of any in Vietnam! From the bungalow’s balcony, enjoy an aerial view over the mountainous area. 

Your hotel selection is a remotely located, sustainable and community employee friendly lodge that practises eco-friendly practices, from building materials, renewable energy to the food supply chain. 

Notes:
- Trekking route adaptable for fitness levels.
- Appropriate footwear must be worn on treks. 
- The program may change depending on weather conditions.
- From late July to October, mountainous areas (such as Sapa, Mu Cang Chai, Ha Giang, Ba Be and Cao Bang) are at their best with beautiful rice fields. However, seasonal typhoons and heavy rains may cause landslides and itinerary disruptions, requiring flexibility for travel during this period.

Overnight in Sapa

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast, 🥘 Lunch

📍 Walking & sightseeing route: 6-7 km easy walking – approx. 2.5-3 hours

Lech Dao village is located in the hilly mountains of Thanh Kim Commune, inhabited by Red Dao people. This half-day walk offers a chance to meet local people, visit their homes and learn about Red Dao culture. Enjoy the magnificent view of rice valley and take some great pictures of the landscape. 

The walk commences from Topas Ecolodge on a quiet road with a great view of the rice terrace below. You then take a slight ascent to Lech village. You will visit a local house, meet the friendly Red Dao hosts and experience their daily way of life. The Red Dao women got their hair and eyes brows shaved like their ancestors and wear very colourful customs. They are famous for beautiful handmade embroidery and basket weaving. 
On the way back to Topas Ecolodge, walk on small trails passing rice terraces and cross a suspension bridge. The tour guide will explain the interesting cultivating culture of the local farmers. 

Notes:
- Trekking route adaptable for fitness levels.
- Appropriate footwear must be worn on treks. 
- The program may change depending on weather conditions  

Overnight at Sapa

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast

📍 Topas Ecolodge to Lao Cai Railway Station (60km): 2 hours

The day is yours at leisure at Topas Ecolodge. Simply enjoy the lodge grounds and its incredible dual mountain infinity pools and views. The lodge spa is also available, alongside a selection of restaurants with local and international options (on own account). 
In the afternoon, transfer back to Lao Cai station for the night train to Hanoi. 

Overnight on the train in a soft sleeper compartment.

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast

📍 Hanoi to Cuc Phuong (130 km): 3 hours / Cuc Phuong to Tam Coc Town (57 km): 1 hour 45 minutes

Arrive in Hanoi in the early morning, have breakfast and refreshment. 
Depart the hotel at 08:00 for the 3 hours drive through urban northern Vietnam to Ninh Binh Province. 

Upon arrival, visit a Bear Sanctuary established by Four Paws, the global animal welfare organisation for animals. The sanctuary is not only a new home to bears rescued from bile farming and the illegal wildlife trade in Vietnam, but an unforgettable experience for learning and exploring in a natural setting.
Follow the representative of the centre to explore the bear kitchen, vet clinic and bear semi wild enclosures where rehabilitation processes and bear healthcare happen. The tour guide will share bear stories and give insightful information about the bears.

After the visit, enjoy a fresh vegetarian lunch at the centre. 

Continue to Cuc Phuong National Park to visit a second conservation centre, the Endangered Primate Rescue Center where some of the rarest primate species in Asia including langurs and gibbons can be seen (not primates are not always active during the hotter parts of the day).  

More wildlife discovery at the Carnivore and Pangolin Education Centre. The current permanent resident animals include Pangolin, Binturong, Mask Palm Civet, Leopard Cat, Owston’s Civet, and Common Palm Civet. Listen to their rescue stories and find out why they sadly cannot return to the wild.

Continue further into Cuc Phuong National and visit the ‘Cave of Prehistoric Man’, where human skeletons and stone tools dated to some 7.500 years old have been found.

Conclude the day with a drive to Tam Coc Town.

Note: Please note that the Bear Sanctuary is closed every Tuesday.

Overnight in Ninh Binh

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast, 🥘 Lunch

After breakfast, transfer from the hotel to the Tam Coc River. Tam Coc means ‘three caves’’ in Vietnamese. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, here board a private sampan through ‘Halong Bay on Land’. Admire the views of enormous limestone karsts jutting out of fields while the boat cruises along the calm waters, through the ‘three river caves’. 

Enjoy a Vietnamese lunch at a local restaurant. 

In the afternoon, immerse in the rich culture and traditions of a Vietnamese village with a visit to a local house. Experience the warmth of a large family with four generations living together, and learn about their daily lives and how they keep the traditional embroidery of their ancestors alive.

Then take a scenic bike ride around the village, local market, alongside rice fields nestled amidst limestone mountains. A visit to Bich Dong Pagoda awaits, where an ascent of 200 steps leads to Ngu Nhac Mountain. This path unveils three cave pagodas dating back to 1428, revealing captivating views over the countryside.

Notes:
- Some women on boats may try to sell local products or drinks. Refer to the guide as needed.
- The boat cruise location is subject to change due to conditions beyond our control (flooding due to weather or other issues).
- Bikes are suitable for children from 7 years old. Child seats are also available for children under 5 years old.

Overnight in Ninh Binh 

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast, 🥘 Lunch

📍 Ninh Binh to Hanoi (110 km): 2.5hours

Free day at leisure then drive back to Hanoi or next destination in the late afternoon. 

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast