Northern Vietnam With Mai Chau

Spend the day exploring Hanoi's essential sights. After passing by the French colonial Presidential Palace, you will visit the unique stilt house where Ho Chi Minh once lived. Then, step into the Vietnam National Museum of Fine Arts to appreciate a wide range of sculptures, lacquer work, and paintings, followed by a cyclo ride through the atmospheric Old Quarter.

Spend the afternoon visiting the home of a traditional water puppet artisan for an immersive experience that moves from observation to hands-on participation. From the origins and stories behind water puppetry to the craftsmanship and its presentation on stage, this visit offers a complete introduction to the art form.

Begin in the family living room, where you will hear about the art form's heritage and the family's legacy, while viewing a collection of performance materials from Vietnam and abroad. This is followed by an exclusive 30-minute performance by the artist. Afterwards, step into the workshop and, with guidance, you can try your hand at operating the puppets yourself.

Depart early in the morning and drive on the hilly road to Mai Chau, enjoying the rural scenery of green mountains, farm fields, and tribal villages. You can optionally stop to see Hoa Binh Hydropower Station, the biggest one of its kind in Vietnam. At noon, take a break at a local family and have a picnic lunch, followed by a one-hour boat cruise to enjoy the tranquility of Hoa Binh Lake.

Arriving at Mai Chau at about 3 pm, cycle to see some villages of Thai people for their stilted houses, the unique product Tho Cam, and idyllic rice paddy. Closing out the day, indulge in a traditional music show and a special local wine.

Spend the night in the Thai hill tribe village of Poom Coong. Though the facilities may not be as good as the hotels in the city, it is a great way to get deep into local hill tribe life.

After breakfast, hit the road again for a 3.5-hour drive to Hoa Lu, the former capital of Vietnam during the 10th and 11th centuries.

On arrival, spend an hour visiting the Dinh and Le sanctuaries, two remaining temples of the ancient citadel of Hoa Lu. Continue on the transfer (about 20 minutes) to Tam Coc, enjoying the stunning karst landscapes along the way.

After lunch, board your sampan for a relaxing cruise to relish the idyllic countryside scenery. Next, take a light walk through rice fields to visit the sacred Thai Vi Temple or drive to explore the Bich Dong Pagoda featuring Buddhist buildings and caves. Finally, drive about 2.5 hours back to Hanoi for the night.

For anyone who visits Vietnam for the first time, Halong Bay is a must-see place, boasting thousands of limestone islands in various shapes. Arrive at the dock of Halong Bay after about a 2.5-hour drive and board your ship for a two-day cruise.

You can partake in many activities during your cruising, such as kayaking, cooking demonstrations, and squid fishing. Or you can just enjoy a sauna on the boat to relax.

Tip: As you'll board the cruise with all your luggage, we recommend placing the items you'll need during the cruise in an easily accessible spot, so you can avoid repeatedly packing and unpacking.