Meals: Lunch, dinner | Accommodation: in Mai Chau​

8:00 AM – pick up from your hotel. On the morning drive to Mai Chau, we'll leave the city behind and pass through the craggy, mountainous landscape. We drive up a massive pass and end in the mountainous circus of Mai Chau around noon time. Lunch will be served in a local Thai house.

In the afternoon, a small walk around Mai Chau valley before getting a quick transfer to the small remote village of Mai Hich, we'll check in to the traditional guesthouse of a Thai ethnic minority family, wooden and on stilts, as we love them. Then we'll take a warm-up cycling ride around the green hills letting your guide point out and explain the wonders along the way. Afterward, we return for dinner and overnight in the stilt house with our friendly Thai hosts.

The accommodation is provided by a local family in their traditional house-on-silts. There’s no private room and you’ll sleep on the floor in a large communal area. The sleeping corner is set up with a single mattress (thin, but adequate), blankets (ditto), pillow, and mosquito net. The restroom is at the international standard and a few steps from the main house.

Upgrade accommodation to a private bungalow at the Sol Bungalow (or similar resort) is available with a surcharge.

Meal: Breakfast, lunch, dinner | Accommodation: in Pu Luong

We leave our hosts after breakfast and drive East for about 15 km before entering the Pu Luong nature reserve. We'll then get down the car for 2-hours of trekking on a single trail through Thai villages and rice terraces, with the opportunity to take a break at local houses en route.

Meet our car again for a quick transfer to our lunch stop at a small lodge. In the afternoon, we step into the wild with an awesome hike on trails across the second half of the reserve to reach its Western edge. The hike is not too hard and lasts 3 to 4 hours. It makes it an intermediate-level trek. Plan to bring along good shoes and batteries for your camera.

Back to our resort before sunset for dinner and overnight accommodation.

Today's accommodation is at the same standard as the previous night in Mai Chau. 

Upgrade accommodation to the Pu Luong Retreat (or a similar eco-lodge) is available with a surcharge.

Meal: Breakfast, lunch, dinner | Accommodation: in Tam Coc  

After breakfast, we say goodbye to Pu Luong and head to Tam Coc via Pho Doan to catch a different view of the amazing giant bamboo water wheels. Upon arrival at Tam Coc village, we'll enjoy lunch at one of the village’s local houses.

In the afternoon, we'll hop on our bicycles for an easy-paced ride to a local pier to board a rowing sampan for about one hour, sailing through the less-traveled canals of the region, whose beauty has nothing to envy the busiest ones. We'll visit the famous Bich Dong pagoda on the Ngu Nhac mountains, exploring the unique cave pagodas dating back to the 15th century. The view from the mountains over the rice fields and karst formations is very beautiful too.

We come back to the hotel and get ready for dinner.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner | Accommodation: Onboard the Treasure Junk 

We depart early for an approximate 4-hour drive to Halong City through the Red River Delta region. Upon arrival, we will give farewell to our guide and driver, since they will bring us to join our little group cruise. 

Upon arrival, we will board the Treasure Junk and start to cruise towards the boundaries of Halong bay while a delicious lunch with fresh seafood is served (vegetarian and kid’s menus available).

Make yourself at ease and just relax after lunch. Hundreds of emerging limestone rock formations will parade all around us for about 2 hours before our first stop. We will reach then the perfect spot, where the waters of Halong and Bai Tu Long hit and wave together. Let's get ready for a closer look at the water and explore the bay in depth paddling on our own kayak.

We’ll get back on the Treasure before sunset when we will be able to enjoy a cocktail on board while we will sail to the anchorage area where we will spend the night offshore. The dinner will be served either inside or outside on the deck, depending on weather conditions. Overnight on board in our cozy air-conditioned cabin with en-suite bathroom. 

Meal: Brunch | Accommodation: not included

Wake up smoothly while witnessing the silence of the beautifully misty bay. From 6:30 am, coffee, tea and cakes will be served. We will be free to join a 30-minute Tai Chi session at the first light of dawn, organized by our Tai Chi master on board, so we will have the chance to energize our body, mind, and soul, although if we prefer, we can simply enjoy a sunbath with a cup of coffee.  

We will hop later on a bamboo boat to visit a secluded floating village surrounded by mountains. We will trace our way among numerous floating houses and small rowing boats that are used in everyday life as a vehicle, itinerant shops, fishing utility, and even sometimes as an overnight shelter.

We will be back on the Treasure before 9:00 am to start cruising back to the pier. From 9.30, a brunch will be served. Take a last glance at the emerging rocks, standing still as the eternal guardians of a kingdom, we are about to reach the pier.

Once in Terra Firma, we will be transferred back to Hanoi, where we will get in the late afternoon.

Note: On our way to Hanoi, we will stop at a place with food, beverages, and souvenirs for sale. Please bear in mind that we are not trying to incite you to buy any product. This is just the only place on the way with proper facilities that our travelers, guide, and driver can use without being forced to buy anything. Thanks for your understanding.