Travel for Good: Immersive North Vietnam - 8D7N

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

Hanoi, a city of contrasts, defies easy categorization. It's both modern and traditional, chaotic and serene, and always full of surprises. But one thing is for sure: it's a place that’s captivating, to all the senses. 

Be greeted upon arrival then transfer approx. 50-mins (35km) from Noi Bai Airport to central Hanoi in the comfort of a private, air-conditioned vehicle with a private driver and a guide.

Notes: 
If you’re unable to find the guide in the arrivals area, call the 24-hrs customer care number +84 917332246
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). 
 

Inclusions:

📍 Walking distance: 3-5km Routes can change subject to interest.

Starting at 08:00 with a stroll around Hoan Kiem Lake to the splendid St Joseph's Cathedral. This is the historic area of the city storied with countless tales both modern and ancient. 

The exploration continues with a walk through the old quarter along Phung Hung street which runs parallel to the railway track. This area offers the opportunity to delve into its historical significance, particularly during wartime. Originally constructed during the 1880s under French rule, these tracks continue to serve as an integral aspect of daily life in Hanoi. 

A section of the railway cuts through a narrow residential area, where locals have converted their homes into cafes. Depending on the current regulations, the train can be viewed from an upstairs cafe or with limited access to the train track, viewed from outside.

Escape the bustle in the quiet of a local home. Sip green tea (as the locals like it, strong) to learn more on the fascinating multi generational lives of the past and present inhabitants. 

Cap off the experience in true Hanoi style with unique coffee specialties like egg, salt, or coconut coffee in the heart of the Old Quarter, soaking in the slow pace amidst the bustling atmosphere; 

In the mid afternoon, hop on a vibrant cyclo ride from the Old Quarter leads to Dong Xuan Market, a bustling hub of trade and street food. 

Then continues to a serene garden house which offers a glimpse into ancestral traditions through its worship hall, fish pond, and herb garden. A culinary expert shares insights into Vietnamese flavors, followed by a cooking session to master traditional techniques.  

Learn the role of herbs, spices, and fish sauce in Vietnamese cuisine and the art of balancing flavors. Get hands-on with chopping, sautéing, and seasoning as  crafting authentic dishes like Hanoi fried spring rolls, beef noodle salad, and chicken pho, guided by expert instruction.

The experience concludes with a feast of homemade dishes, complemented by herbal drinks, rice wine (optional), and a special dessert, before returning to the hotel. 

Overnight in Hanoi

Travel for Good Category: Culture diversity; Arts, Food, and Creativity

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast, 🍗 Dinner

📍 Central Hanoi - craft villages (35km): 1.5 hrs

Depart at 08:00 for a 30km drive from Hanoi toward Chuong Conical Hat Village, a renowned village of traditional hat-making. The tour begins with a visit to the village’s ancient communal house and nearby market. Note vendors gather in more frequency on specific lunar days to trade hat-making materials like conical straw and sewing materials.          
                                          
Take a stroll through alleyways leads to a local family’s home, where the craft of conical hat-making has been preserved for generations. Here, the process is demonstrated, highlighting each intricate step involved.

Continue to Quang Phu Cau, an incense-making village known for vibrant red incense laid out to dry, creating picturesque scenes. The visit includes observing the full process of incense production, from bamboo chopping and dyeing to incense paste preparation, with opportunities for photographing artisans at work.

The tour then proceeds to a historic village for a local lunch prepared by a family, showcasing regional specialties. After lunch, explore the village’s ancient architecture by foot or bicycle, admiring its traditional Vietnamese elements such as pagoda, communal wells, courtyards, and age-old houses.

Mid afternoon, depart from the village and return to Hanoi. 

Overnight in Hanoi

Travel for Good Category: Culture diversity

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast, 🥘 Lunch

📍 Hanoi to Puluong (160 km): 4hrs Walking & sightseeing route: 3-5 km easy walking – approx. 2-3 hrs

Depart Hanoi at 0830 for the 4hour drive to Puluong located 160 km southwest of Hanoi. 

Puluong Nature Reserve is located on the cusp of Hoa Binh and Thanh Hoa provinces known for its stunning scenery, including cascading waterfalls, rice terraces, and lush forests. It is also home to a variety of hill tribe groups, including the Thai and Muong people.

Upon arrival, check in the hotel then refresh. 
In the afternoon, depart at 14:00 for a guided walk to Don Village, venturing off the beaten path into the surrounding jungle. Along the way, learn about traditional knowledge of medicinal plants and herbs, as local gatherers identify and explain the uses of up to 50 native species—a practice passed down through generations and integral to community health and wellbeing.
The walk continues along the scenic “S-shaped” road, winding through terraced fields and offering glimpses into daily village life.
In Leo Village, visit a traditional Thai stilt house to observe time-honored practices such as handwoven textile production, local rice wine fermentation, and the preparation of herbal ingredients for therapeutic foot baths. These activities reflect the cultural richness and self-sufficiency of the community, and their inclusion in the itinerary helps sustain local traditions through tourism.
Return to the hotel on foot or by transfer (1 km).
Overnight in Puluong

Travel for Good Category: Community-Based Tourism; Low carbon
 

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast, 🥘 Lunch

📍 Walking & sightseeing route: 8-10 km moderate walking – approx. 5 hrs

Wake up to the sounds of nature and enjoy a simple yet tasty breakfast among the tranquil setting of fields and mountains. 

After breakfast, embark on a 3-hour trek along beautiful mountain trails. See traditional wooden stilt houses of the Thai and Muong Hill Tribe groups en-route. 

Depending on the season, see various farming activities including rice planting and harvesting as well as buffalos, ducks and chickens in the fields and villages.

Optional: As an alternative to trekking, seasonal agricultural activities are available in the morning. Depending on the time of year, participants can assist local farmers with planting, harvesting, or tending to vegetables.

As the morning trek concludes, arrive at a local house for an experience in preparing "Cơm lam"—sticky traditionally cooked in bamboo tubes over an open flame. This hands-on culinary experience, guided by local hosts, reflects the deep-rooted food traditions of the Thai and Muong people and highlights sustainable practices that utilize local resources. Lunch is then served, featuring regional dishes often made from homegrown ingredients.

In the afternoon, explore Bat Cave, navigating its intricate passages while admiring the striking rock formations and stalactites. The exploration offers both geological interest and an opportunity to connect with the natural heritage valued by local communities.

The journey continues towards Bang Village, following picturesque trails through tranquil countryside landscapes. The trek concludes upon reaching the main road, where a transfer awaits for the return to the hotel.

Overnight in Puluong.

Travel for Good Category: Community-Based Tourism; Low carbon; Cultural diversity

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast, 🥘 Lunch

📍 Puluong to Ninh Binh (130 km): 3.5hrs

Depart Puluong early this morning at 08:00 for a 3.5-hour drive to Ninh Binh. Delve deeper into Vietnam's past with a visit to picturesque Ninh Binh. Explore ancient sites as well as a relaxing sampan cruise through 'Halong Bay on Land'. 

On arrival in Ninh Binh check into the hotel then enjoy a lunch of local specialties. 

In the afternoon, 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’. 

Then take a scenic bike ride around the village, 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. Transfer back to the hotel after visiting the pagoda. 

Overnight in Ninh Binh
 

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast, 🥘 Lunch

📍 From Tam Coc town to Cuc Phuong (57 km): approx. 1h45 From Cuc Phuong to Hanoi (130 km): approx. 3hrs

Depart the hotel at 08:30 for the 1 hour drive to Cuc Phuong National Park. 

Upon arrival, visit conservation centre, the Endangered Primate Rescue Center where some of the rarest primate species in Asia including langurs and gibbons can be seen (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 (lives in deep burrows during the day and usually comes out at night), 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.

Afterward, transfer to Bear Sanctuary and enjoy a fresh vegetarian lunch at the centre. 
Bear Sanctuary is 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, transfer back to Hanoi

Travel for Good Category: Nature & Wildlife Protection

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast, 🥘 Lunch

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

Transfer approx. 50 mins (35 km) from Hanoi Hotel to Noi Bai Airport in the comfort of a private, air-conditioned vehicle with a private driver and a guide.  

Notes:
- A surcharge applies between the following hours: 21.30-10:30
- Please note the standard check-out time for hotels in Vietnam is from 12:00.
 

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast