Itinerary Brief:
Day 1: Hanoi Arrival
Day 2: Hanoi – Moc Chau Plateau
Day 3: Moc Chau – Dien Bien Phu
Day 4: Dien Bien Phu – Phong Tho
Day 5: Phong Tho – Sapa
Day 6: Sapa Trekking (Home-stay)
Day 7: Sapa – Tuyen Quang - Mac Citadel
Day 8: Tuyen Quang – Ba Be Lake - Pac Ngoi Village (Home-stay)
Day 9: Ba Be Lake – Cao Bang - Ban Gioc Waterfall
Day 10: Cao Bang – Lang Son - Mau Son
Day 11: Mau Son – Halong Bay Cruise
Day 12: Halong Bay – Hanoi
Day 13: Hanoi Departure
Summary:
Starting in Hanoi, this tour combines the history, culture and the unbelievable scenic beauty of the Vietnamese north. Reaching Mai Chau we trek to traditional H'mong villages, and then continue driving to Moc Chau for the night. The drive the next day is through beautiful mountains to Dien Bien Phu, the site of the famous French defeat. After touring the historic battle sites the next day, we journey on to Phong Tho for overnight.
The long and winding road to Sapa takes us through stunningly beautiful landscape and over the highest mountain pass in Vietnam where we stop to take-in the breathtaking view. After leaving Sapa, we hike along terraced rice fields through beautiful countryside to the traditional house of a Ziay family for our home-stay experience. In the morning we have a traditional home-made breakfast, and then we are off to Tuyen Quang, and see the remains of the Mac Citadel. Then it is on eastward to beautiful Ba Be Lake where a small boat takes us to an ethnic Tay village for our second home-stay.
The drive today takes us to the spectacular Ban Gioc Waterfall on the Chinese border, and we have lunch by the falls before going to Cao Bang for overnight. Then it’s on to the historically important Dong Khe, and a stop at Lang Son to visit the caves there. The drive up the winding road to the Mau Son Mountain resort is most impressive, and if we have time, we go trekking to some small ethnic H’mong villages.
From Mau Son we drive to Halong Bay for a deluxe cruise through this natural wonder of limestone crags and islands floating on emerald-green water. We enjoy a fantastic lunch and dinner, and spend a relaxing night on board. The morning starts with the sun rising over the tranquil bay as we savor our breakfast, and then more cruising on this out of this world seascape. After a delicious lunch, it is the end of our cruise, and we drive back to Hanoi to our hotel, and our departure the next day.
Trip Grade:
Moderate - Suitable for travelers with an average level of fitness and mobility. However, some walking and hiking is required.
East-West Grand Traverse - 13 Days
Itinerary Details:
Day 1: Hanoi Arrival
When you arrive in Hanoi, you will be welcomed by our expert staff and transferred to your hotel. There will be a brief meeting regarding your travel in Vietnam, and then you enjoy a special welcome dinner at an excellent Vietnamese restaurant.
Overnight in Hanoi hotel. Dinner included. Day 2: Hanoi – Moc Chau
After breakfast in the hotel we get ready to travel by road to the green northwest. We reach Mai Chau where we have lunch, and then spend an hour or so trekking through H'mong villages. From there we continue our drive to the town of Moc Chau for overnight.
Overnight in Moc Chau guesthouse or mini hotel. Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner included.
Day 3: Moc Chau – Dien Bien Phu
In the morning we continue our drive through the incredibly beautiful mountainous region to reach Dien Bien Phu, the site of the battlefield where the French finally surrendered to Vietnamese nationalists forces. When we arrive, we check into our hotel.
Overnight in Dien Bien Phu hotel. Breakfast included.
Day 4: Dien Bien Phu - Phong Tho
After breakfast in the morning we take a tour of the historic sites of the famous French defeat there. You learn about the struggle for independence against the French by visiting the Museum, redoubts, trenches, tunnels and bunkers. In the afternoon we go on the drive to Phong Tho.
Overnight in Phong Tho hotel. Breakfast included.
Day 5: Phong Tho – Sapa
In the morning we start out on the long and windy road through stunningly beautiful landscape to the highest pass in Vietnam, the Hoang Lien Son Pass, known as the "doorway to the skies". We stop at the top of the pass to enjoy the breathtaking views, and we also stop at other scenic spots along the way. We arrive in picturesque Sapa and check in to our hotel.
Overnight in Sapa hotel. Today Breakfast included
Day 6: Sapa - Home-stay
This morning we leave Sapa and hike along buffalo tracks along terraced rice fields and through breathtakingly beautiful natural countryside. The area around Sapa is home to many different ethnic groups, and in the evening our hosts will be a Ziay family, and we stay in a traditional Ziay house.
Overnight in home-stay. Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner included.
Day 7: Sapa – Tuyen Quang
After a traditional breakfast, we say farewell to our host family and walk for about half hour to the nearest road where our vehicle will be waiting. We drive to Tuyen Quang, arriving about 3pm in the afternoon. We check into our hotel, and then we have time to walk around and see the town, and the remains of the Mac Citadel.
Overnight in Tuyen Quanghotel. Breakfast included.
Day 8: Tuyen Quang – Ba Be Lake - Pac Ngoi Village
In the morning after breakfast in the hotel, we head east, driving first to the Ba Be National Park and the beautiful Ba Be Lake. Here we take a small boat on the lake to the ethnic Tay village of Pac Ngoi for overnight in a clean and well-established home-stay.
Overnight in Pac Ngoi home-stay. Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner included. Day 9: Ba Be Lake – Cao Bang - Ban Gioc Waterfall
Today in the morning we drive toward the town of Cao Bang. First we go to the spectacular Ban Gioc Waterfall on the border with China. We may have lunch in Trung Khanh on the way, or we may have lunch later at the falls. After visiting this beautiful waterfall, we head for Cao Bang to check into our hotel.
Overnight in Cao Bang hotel. Breakfast and Lunch included.
Day 10: Cao Bang – Lang Son - Mau Son
After breakfast we leave Cao Bang and travel southeast to Dong Khe. This place is important in Vietnamese history because it is the site of a Viet Minh victory over the French in The Battle of Dong Khe in the First Indochina War in 1950.
We will take a short break in the town of Lang Son and visit the caves of Nhat Thanh, Nhi Thanh, and Tam Thanh. We then drive up the winding road to Mau Son Mountain resort and check in to our hotel. Mau Son was a French hill station, and the remains of French villas can still be seen. It is also famous for its delicious specialty wine. Time permitting, we may go trekking to visit small ethnic H’mong villages about 2 to 3 km from the hotel.
Overnight in Mau Son hotel. Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner included. Day 11: Mau Son – Ha Long Bay In the morning we leave Mau Son and head for the coast. We arrive at Halong Bay around lunch time, and we transfer to our deluxe cruise boat and enjoy a fantastic seafood lunch as we embark on our cruise of this magnificent natural wonder. We cruise through the multitude of limestone crags and islands floating on this tranquil bay of emerald green water. We visit spectacular caves with stalactites and stalagmites, go for a swim from our boat, and go kayaking to explore hidden coves. After dinner on board we relax and enjoy the evening before retiring to our deluxe cabin for a peaceful night on board.
Overnight in deluxe cabin. Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner included.
Day 12: Ha Long Bay – Hanoi
A wonderful day of cruising starts with the sun rising over the glistening water. We enjoy an early breakfast and then we are off for more kayaking to other tunnels and caves. We continue our cruise through Halong Bay to Bai Tu Long Bay and see the Turtle Islets, Man Head Islet, Teapot Islet, and we can even see Bai Tho Mountain near Halong City. After another delicious lunch onboard, we bid farewell to our cruise, and drive back to Hanoi.
Overnight in Hanoi hotel. Breakfast and Lunch included. Day: 13 Hanoi Departure
After breakfast, it is time to get ready for your departure. You will have free time until you leave for your departure transfer for your onward travel, or for your flight home.
Breakfast included.
Note: Please be aware that hotel check-out time is 12:00pm.
End of Trip. This is a suggested itinerary. We specialize in custom tours designed to fit your needs and requirements. Let us know how we can design an individual Indochina tour for you.
East-West Grand Traverse 13 - Days
Trip Price Includes: - English speaking guide (Other languages available on request)
- Private transfer and transport in safe, clean, well maintained vehicles
- Breakfast in hotel, and other meals as noted in the itinerary in restaurant
- All entrance fees & permits during guided tours - Private boat trip on Babe Lake
- Halong Bay Cruise
- Accommodation (as indicated below) w/ 2 person room share. Tax included
(Hanoi: 3-star hotel. Moc Chau: Guesthouse, or Mini hotel, Dien Bien Phu, Phong Tho: 2-star hotel, Sapa: 3-star hotel, Home-stay, Tuyen Quang: Mini hotel, Ba Be Lake: Home-stay, Cao Bang, Lang Son: Mini hotel, Holong Bay Cruise: Deluxe cabin)
Not Included in Trip Price:
- Airfare and all taxes not included in tour
- Food and drink not noted in the itinerary
- Visa fees
- Entrance fees and permits not part of itinerary
- Personal travel insurance (Compulsory for all travelers)
- Personal expenses (ex. telephone, laundry charges, souvenirs, etc.)
- Tips and gratuities
* Please Note: Hotel accommodation is subject to change due to availability or other conditions. However, in the event that hotel accommodation is changed, the same level of accommodation will be maintained.
Contact us for current costs regarding this tour. We will price the tour according to your particular tour details and your travel period (Low & High season).
Cambodia
defeat. After touring the historic battle sites the next day, we journey on to Phong Tho for overnight.
home-stay.
night on board. The morning starts with the sun rising over the tranquil bay as we savor our breakfast, and then more cruising on this out of this world seascape. After a delicious lunch, it is the end of our cruise, and we drive back to Hanoi to our hotel, and our departure the next day. 
reach Dien Bien Phu, the site of the battlefield where the French finally surrendered to Vietnamese nationalists forces. When we arrive, we check into our hotel. 
check into our hotel, and then we have time to walk around and see the town, and the remains of the Mac Citadel. 
Vietnamese history because it is the site of a Viet Minh victory over the French in The Battle of Dong Khe in the 
