HA GIANG,
SCHOOLS
IN THE MOUNTAINS
ITINERARY IN BRIEF
DAY 1: ARRIVAL IN HANOI
DAY 2: HANOI - HA GIANG
DAY 3: HA GIANG - DONG VAN
DAY 4: DONG VAN - NAM DAM
DAY 5: NAM DAM - THAI NGUYEN
DAY 6: THAI NGUYEN - NINH BINH
DAY 7: NINH BINH - LAN HA
DAY 8: LAN HA - HANOI - DEPARTURE
DAY 1 - HANOI
Arrival in Hanoi, welcomed by our guide at the airport and transfer to the hotel (rooms are usually available from 14.00). Starting the tour with the discovery of Ha Noi, a thousand-year-old city: Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum (outside part) where the old wooden house on stilts and its bucolic garden are located (closed on Monday afternoon), One Pillar Pagoda dating back to 11th century and linked to the legend of the Ly Dynasty, founder of Hanoi the capital, the Temple of literature - the first university in Vietnam. Following is the water puppet show. Overnight stay in hotel.
DAY 2 - HA GIANG
Departure from Hanoi and transfer to Ha Giang through beautiful landscape. Arrival after about 7 hours, accommodation in homestay. Then stroll around the village of Tha of the Tay ethnic group in the middle of the rice fields. Dinner and overnight in Ha Giang.
DAY 3 - DONG VAN
After breakfast, transfer by car to Dong Van. Stopover on the way to visit Sung La village and Pho Cao village, whose houses are characteristically built in clay by the white H'mong people, some of which date back to 200 years ago.
DAY 4 - NAM DAM
Breakfast at the hotel. Departure to visit a local market (opens according to the zodiacal day) - a meeting point for the various minorities. Then transfer by car to Nam Dam, a municipality in the Ha Giang province, where the Dao ethnic groups live, known for their songs and different types of festivals and for their specialization in the production of traditional clothes. Accommodation in homestay in the afternoon and walk around the villages of different minority ethnic groups (of Dzao, of white Hmong). Dinner and overnight in Nam Dam.
DAY 5 - THAI NGUYEN
Transfer by car to Thai Nguyen. Arrive after about 6 hours to visit green tea hills, then try out farming tea together with the locals, discover the processes of making tea and then taste it. If time allows, walk around the Thai Hai village where you could learn about Tay culture. Accommodation and dinner in booked lodging. Overnight in Thai Nguyen.
DAY 6 - NINH BINH
After breakfast, transfer to Ninh Binh. Departure for Trang An, considered as terrestrial Halong Bay for the boat trip along picturesque landscapes through natural caves carved in the karst rock, which are seemingly still untouched by mass tourism. Continue by car to visit Hoa Lu, the ancient capital of Vietnam between the tenth and eleventh centuries. Also in Hoa Lu, visit of two very important temples dedicated to two first Vietnamese emperors: Dinh and Le. Accommodation in hotel. Overnight stay in Ninh Binh.
DAY 7 - LAN HA
Departure from Ninh Binh to Hai Phong. Arrival at the port at noon and accommodation on cruise boat. Key delivery, comfortable cabin equipped with hot water, air conditioner and bay view. Meal served on board. Cruise through Lan Ha Bay - less well-known section of the extraordinary Halong Bay, passing the islet of Da Chong and through the most beautiful and quiet areas of Cat Ba Island (you could swim if the weather allows). Return to the boat. Free time to participate in the cooking demonstration and enjoy some traditional Vietnamese dishes. Special dinner and overnight on board. Peaceful night in the idyllic bay.
DAY 8 - DEPARTURE
Wake up at dawn for Tai Chi and admire the sunrise. After breakfast, continuation of the cruise to visit the caves. Brunch on board and check out the room. Disembarkation at 11.30 am and return to Hanoi. Transfer directly to the airport for your flight back home.