Vietnam - The North Tour - full itinerary

Day 1:
Arrival in Ha Noi
We will arrange for you to be picked up from the airport and transferred to our hotel. There will be a pre-tour meet ‘n’ greet with Nathan at the hotel starting at around 6pm.

Day 2:
Ha Noi — Quang Phu Cau — Hanoi
This morning, we meet our guide and driver and head to Quang Phu Cau village, where incense sticks are made. We venture further into the village workshops, shooting images of the incense-making process, including bamboo chopping, dipping the sticks in dye, and creating incense paste. We take more images of the friendly locals who have worked on producing incense in this village for generations. When the villagers have set out incense to dry in various formations, we take pictures of people working among this sea of red.

We head back to Hanoi to have lunch with the city’s traditional bun cha noodle dish, made with grilled pork and rice noodles. Afterwards, we visit the Temple of Literature, built in 1076, where Vietnam’s first university was established to educate Vietnamese royalty, mandarins, and elite members – a fascinating glimpse into the country’s past. From there we head to Hanoi’s Old Quarter to see some of the French colonial architecture of former times, including St. Joseph’s Cathedral – a French gothic building constructed in 1886.

Last but not least, we visit a street where the tracks of Hanoi’s railway pass only metres from the entrance to the local people’s homes. With our guide, we can walk along the tracks and take beautiful photos of the city. The day finishes with a refreshing glass of draught beer at a local bia hoi spot – a chance to mingle with the locals.

Day 3:
Hoan Kiem Lake — Lao Cai — Bac Ha
At sunrise, we head to Hoan Kiem Lake for some enchanting moments and a great chance to take photographs of the local people starting their day by practicing tai chi, aerobics and all manner of exotic rituals. After breakfast, we depart for the long drive to Bac Ha town, stopping en route as and when photographic opportunities present themselves. After checking in to our hotel, we visit the former Hmong palace and try to arrange some models for you from within the grounds.

Day 4:
Bac Ha — Can Cau Market — Bac Ha
We meet around 6am today, and drive to Can Cau Market, where we stop for breakfast. The market will be crowded with several different ethnic minorities, as every Saturday morning they come to trade their products including buffaloes, horses, pigs, chickens, fabrics, food and more, all from villages in the surrounding mountainous areas. Tribes who visit the market include the Flower Hmong, Black Dzao and Tay, all dressed in their colourful traditional dress.

After visiting the market, we head back to the hotel in Bac Ha where we have time to relax and walk around before lunch. Around mid-afternoon, we transfer to Ban Pho village for an afternoon shoot of the daily life of local Hmong people working in their rice fields, and meet local people as we walk through the village. We return to the hotel after sunset, after which we are free to spend the rest of the evening as we wish.

Day 5:
Bac Ha — Hoang Su Phi
This morning, after breakfast we spend a couple of hours at Bac Ha’s Sunday market, then leave for our resort in the district of Hoang Su Phi. On the way we see the surrounding villages with wonderful views of the rice terraces, formed hundreds of years ago by ethnic groups such as the La Chi, Dao and Nung. Year by year, layer by layer, they have built these imposing terraces, and the local people continue to work on them today. We stop for some sunset photos on the terraces before driving to the retreat for check-in and dinner.

Day 6:
Hoang Su Phi
This morning, we enjoy breakfast at our retreat, followed by a walk through Panhou village. We return to the retreat where Nathan will run a Lightroom session. After lunch, we check out and take a short drive to our lodge in Hoang Su Phi. In the afternoon we walk to visit a Red Dao family in a local village with a magnificent sunset spot.

Day 7:
Hoang Su Phi — Quan Ba
We begin our day with some sunrise shots over the stunning rice terraces with local Red Dao models. We have breakfast at the lodge, after which we start heading to Quan Ba town. En route, we pass through Ha Giang city and stop for a local lunch. After lunch, we continue our journey to Quan Ba, stopping frequently to take pictures of the rice terraces and scenes of local life in the villages along the way.

Notably, we pass a viewpoint known as Heaven’s Gate, which affords a spectacular panorama of the Tam Son Valley. The valley opens wide below green rice fields and colourful flower farms, especially the Twin Hills which are set amongst immense and walled-up limestone mountains.

We then drive a little further and check in at a local Dzao guesthouse where we take some time out to recover after the drive. We meet again late afternoon and spend an hour or so walking and exploring the local villages around the Quan Ba area. We visit the village of the Zao Ao Dai (Zao with long dresses) whose occupants live in a very traditional way in a beautiful village at the foot of the Quan Ba mountain range. In the evening we enjoy a traditional show.

Day 8:
Quan Ba — Yen Minh — Dong Van
After breakfast, we start our journey to Dong Van. On the way, we pass through Yen Minh, enjoying the breathtaking scenery of the terraced fields, probably among the most beautiful in Vietnam. We continue driving uphill towards Dong Van, on a windy road up and down the steep mountains and with many sharp bends, but the spectacular scenery makes it worthwhile.

We see some magnificent landscapes en route and visit some highlights of the region including: the ancient townlet of Pho Bang featuring clay-walled, yin-yang roofed houses built centuries ago; Sung Muoi village with its traditional way of life among the Hmong people; the historical relics of the Vuong Palace from when the Vuong family ruled over the region and controlled the local opium production and trading.

From there we drive about 20km to Dong Van town and check in to our hotel. We can relax for a couple of hours after which our guide takes us for a short trek on a hidden uphill road to a nearby Hmong village where we can take some sunset pictures. We can spend the rest of the evening at our leisure in Dong Van town, enjoying a coffee at an ancient café or a drink at a bar in the local ancient market.

Day 9:
Dong Van — Meo Vac
This morning after breakfast, we drive to Lung Cu to see the Lo Lo tribe, stopping en route to take in the breathtaking views close to the border with China. After the visit and a local walk, we drive back to Dong Van town for lunch and a rest.

In the afternoon, we set off to Meo Vac via the Ma Pi Leng Pass, located in the Dong Van Geoparks. The road along the mountainside has spectacular scenery and the pass is considered to be a unique regional heritage in terms of landscape and geomorphology. The peak area is considered to be one of the most beautiful panoramic viewpoints in the country, the “King” of Vietnam’s passes, the Great Wall of Vietnam or the Pyramid of Meo..

Late afternoon we drive to the bottom of Geopark and take a boat ride on the Nho Que River, right through the heart of one of the most unique tectonic valleys in Vietnam.

Day 10 :
Meo Vac — Bao Lac— Bao Lam — Ba Be National Park
This morning, we continue our journey to Bao Lac where we drive through some more spectacular scenery. Along the way we stop for some refreshments and take pictures of the local Tay, Nung and Man people. In the late afternoon or early evening we arrive at our resort in Ba Be National Park, check in and enjoy dinner together.

Day 11:
Ba Be National Park
The day starts with a walk to a small pier where we take a motorboat for a cruise on Ba Be Lake, where we have a local hill tribe model to photograph whilst fishing on the lake. The lush forest clinging to the surrounding mountains provides a colourful backdrop as we explore the lake.

During the boat trip, we visit the Puong Grotto and the Dau Dang waterfall. The scenery surrounding the lake is simply breathtaking, with the vast old forest dominating the landscape.

During our walk in the afternoon, we observe the local communities going about their daily life, including buffaloes and their owners tending the fields. By late afternoon, we return to our local Tay ethnic minority house.

Day 12:
Ba Be National Park — Thai Nguyen — Ha Noi
We wake early and enjoy breakfast at our homestay, after which we head out of the high hills, stopping en route to take photos of the tea plantations. We have lunch at a local restaurant, then continue our journey to Hanoi, stopping from time to time to take pictures of local people, markets and other opportunities that present themselves along the way.

We arrive in Hanoi early in the afternoon and have the rest of the afternoon free to relax or stroll around the city’s Old Quarter. The evening is also at our leisure to enjoy a meal in the city or just relax at the hotel.

Day 13:
Ha Noi
This morning you have free time until our driver transfers you to the airport for your flight home, unless you are joining the optional extension to Halong Bay. For those joining the cruise, we leave the hotel after breakfast and depart for Cat Ba island, where around noon we check into our cruise boat and enjoy a welcome drink and a briefing from our local guide.

We leave port via a fascinating floating village, then enjoy lunch together while we cruise to the charming Halong Bay and admire the fascinating formations along the way. We spend the rest of the afternoon relaxing on the sundeck, with an endless procession of seascape photographic opportunities. After the sun sets, we can relax with a few drinks at the bar before our specially prepared local dinner.

…or join our optional Halong Bay extension

We drive directly for two hours to reach to departure point for Halong Bay, one of the most spectacular UNESCO World Heritage Areas and the world’s largest marine limestone ‘karts’ landscape. At Hon Gai harbour, we embark on our cruise boat, where we start with a welcome drink and gather in the dining room for a safety orientation briefing followed by an overview of the journey.

After the briefing and check-in, we take photos leaving port until a sumptuous lunch is served. At the same time, we cruise into the untouched Bai Tu Long Bay with its thousands of extraordinarily shaped limestone islands, considered heaven on earth by the Vietnamese.

In the afternoon, we explore the Lom Bo area and be charmed by this outstanding masterpiece of Mother Nature. We visit Me Cung Cave, one of the most beautiful caves in Halong Bay, and climb up to see the panoramic view of the Bay from above. There you can also enjoy some swimming in the peaceful, crystal water of the bay (optional).

We then return to our boat to line up the best angles as the sun sets over this unique seascape. Coffee, tea, and fruit are available on the sundeck, or we can order a drink while the boat cruises to the Cong Dong area, where we anchor overnight. After dark, we watch a cooking demonstration in the evening and enjoy a traditional Vietnamese dinner. Later, we can enjoy the still of the night from the top deck.

Day 14: Halong Bay – Ha Noi
We start our day with sunrise photos from the sundeck, after which we enjoy the views of the Bay and surrounding islands while enjoying a continental breakfast. From there, we visit Vung Vieng Fishing Village to discover the daily life of the fishing communities by bamboo boat, with the option of kayaking if the group feels up to it.

We then return to the boat to enjoy the last Halong Bay scenery over lunch as the boat cruises back to shore. We transfer to the pier by tender at noon and then drive for three hours back to Hanoi. The afternoon is free for you to explore Hanoi on your own until you transfer to the airport for your flight home, or let us know if you would like any additional nights’ stay in our Hanoi boutique hotel.

We hope you will have had an enjoyable and memorable experience!