Northern Vietnam - The Green Pathway
10 Days

Upon arrival at Noi Bai Airport, after clearing customs procedures, proceed to the exit gate and look for your driver, who will be waiting at the lobby holding a Lux Travel Vietnam signboard with your name on it. Your driver will meet you and transfer you to the hotel for check-in. The rest of the day is free at leisure, and you are invited to explore the local markets and food stores on your own.

Overnight in Hanoi.

Begin your day in the heart of Hanoi's Old Quarter with a morning heritage walk along Phan Dinh Phung Street, where you'll admire the elegant French villas and the historic Northern Gate of the Old Citadel. Visit the World Heritage-listed Hanoi Ancient Citadel, the War Invalids Monument, and the nearby General Giap House. As you pass the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, housed in a colonial-era building with distinctive drum-like architecture, you’ll also see the National Assembly House and the Ho Chi Minh Museum.

Continue your journey to the imposing French colonial building, once the High School of Indochina, now the Communist Party's central office. From quieter spots, you'll enjoy unique views of the Presidential Palace and Ba Dinh Square. Turning right, visit Quan Thanh Temple, dedicated to Tran Vu Saint, one of the four guardians of Hanoi's Citadel, with the temple overlooking West Lake and its surrounding greenery. Enjoy the fresh air and serene atmosphere along Thanh Nien Street, which separates two lakes, and end your walk at Tran Quoc Pagoda, Hanoi’s oldest pagoda.

Start your journey to Duong Lam Village to trace the origins of Vietnam’s culture and traditions, passing by the Ancient Citadel in Son Tay. Upon arrival, explore the architecture of ancient houses while wandering through narrow alleyways. This village, known as the "museum of laterite," features ancient houses that are up to 400 years old and is the birthplace of two famous kings, Phung Hung and Ngo Quyen, who led resistance wars against China’s Sung and Southern Han troops.

Take a walk or bike ride around the village to discover the traditional architecture, culture, and customs that have been well-preserved for centuries. After a local lunch, visit Mia Pagoda, built during the Tran Dynasty in 1632, which still houses many ancient artifacts. Mong Phu is the largest and most famous commune in Duong Lam, where you can admire ancient houses made of laterite and mud, stroll along small lanes, and observe the daily life of the villagers.

Next, head to Van Phuc Village, renowned for its silk-making tradition and silk products. Located in Ha Dong District, this village has been producing silk for over a thousand years, and the sound of looms fills the air. Visit a Vun Art shop, where disabled artists turn fabric scraps into beautiful silk paintings. These paintings, often inspired by Dong Ho, Hang Trong, Kim Hoang, and Sinh village art, are created by cutting, assembling, and shaping discarded fabric pieces into artwork.

Afterward, transfer to Hanoi Station for your overnight train journey.

Arrive at Lao Cai Station in the early morning and transfer to Sapa. After breakfast at a local restaurant, start your day with a journey to Fansipan Cable Car Station, where you'll board the world’s most modern 3-wire cable car system to begin your ascent to Fansipan Peak, standing at 3,143 meters above sea level—the roof of Indochina. Enjoy breathtaking views of rice terraces and mountains covered by rainforests, all protected by Hoang Lien National Park.

After lunch, return to the station and begin your trek to Cat Cat Village, inhabited by the Black H’mong tribe. Here, you can see the hydroelectric power station built by the French in the twentieth century and experience the tribal lifestyle of ethnic minorities. Enjoy views of the terraced rice fields and the waterfall while learning about local culture, customs, and traditional crafts like weaving, silver carving, and forging agricultural tools.

Overnight in Sapa.

You will begin with a short drive south toward Muong Hoa Valley, the largest rice paddy terrace in the Sapa area. The trek starts from Ta Van Village, home to the Black H’mong and Day people. Along the way, you'll learn about traditional rice cultivation, from sowing the seeds to harvesting and preparing rice for your table. The journey offers a chance to meet the Black H’mong, Giay, and Red Dao minorities and discover their unique cultures.

This portion of the trek provides stunning views of Muong Hoa Valley and offers an opportunity to experience the lifestyle of tribal peoples by visiting their homes. Continue through a bamboo forest to Giang Ta Chai, a village of the Red Dao and Black H’mong ethnic minorities. Take a rest near a waterfall to refresh before continuing. After exploring the rock field, follow a dirt trail uphill to a rattan bridge, then transfer back to your hotel, where you can enjoy free time to swim or relax.

Overnight in Sapa.

In the morning, transfer to an ethnic market that takes place once a week to explore the beauty of nature and local ethnic cultures. Witness how ethnic people enjoy their lives, dressed in traditional costumes. Besides regular market goods, each mountain market offers unique local products for sale. After lunch, transfer back to Lao Cai Station to board the train.

Overnight on train.

Pick up and transfer to visit a lacquerware workshop in Ha Thai village to meet with an artist who is skillful of making finest lacquer works, learn about our centuries-old technique of applying and polishing layer upon layer of varnish. Take a look around the workshop and learn about lacquer making procedures, how local people doing their craft works every day. Then roll up your sleeves and immerse yourself in an interactive and funny making a folk artwork under instructions of the host, a skillful artist, from beginning choosing materials, drawing, painting, sharpening and polishing. You will see how your product turning into an artwork.

Let your creativity soar and make an ideal gift or memento of your journey to Vietnam. After lunch, keep riding to board the small rowing boat to explore the incredible scenery of Tam Coc - a beautiful natural setting boasts endless rice paddies surrounded by towering limestone karst mountains. The boat floats through the fields and three natural caves - a precious chance to capture the breath-taking scenery and enjoy watching the water-plants underneath

Overnight in Ninh Binh

Start the day with an excursion to Cuc Phuong National Park, home to an extraordinary variety of species. Established in 1962, it is considered one of Vietnam’s most important nature reserves. Before entering the park gates, stop at the Endangered Primate Rescue Centre, where nearly extinct primates are rescued from hunters and medicine seekers. The center is run by German and Vietnamese biologists and is home to various gibbons, langurs, and lorises before they are reintroduced to the wild.

Head to the park's center to explore an ancient human cave and enjoy lunch at the stilt-house there. Take a short trek into the National Park for sightseeing and learn more about the fauna and flora in this oldest forest in Vietnam. Don't miss the chance to take a picture of the one-thousand-year-old tree before returning to the center.

Overnight in Ninh Binh.

In the morning, enjoy a leisurely breakfast before your transfer to the pier. Upon arrival, you will be welcomed at the cruise lounge before boarding. Once the cruise sets sail, lunch will be served on the main deck. Savor delicious Vietnamese cuisine while taking in the breathtaking beauty of the bay.

The cruise then approaches a spectacular cave, rich in historical and archaeological value tied to Ha Long Culture from 10,000 years ago. Be enchanted by its magnificent structure filled with stalactites and stalagmites, along with one of the most diverse ecological systems in Halong Bay.

In the afternoon, guests have free time to paddle kayaks across the stunning seascape. Back on board, unwind with afternoon tea and live music on the sundeck, then take part in a cooking demonstration and try your hand at traditional Vietnamese dishes in a picturesque setting.

Enjoy a delightful dinner while experiencing the serene charm of Halong Bay by night.

Overnight on board.

Start the day with a Vovinam session on the sundeck, followed by a light breakfast. Then, take a bamboo boat to explore the Dark and Bright Cave. After the excursion, return to the ship for checkout.

Enjoy a relaxing brunch while cruising back to the harbor. Upon arrival, unwind at the lounge as you wait for your transportation, which will take you back to Hanoi for your onward flight home. We hope you have had a memorable trip and wish you pleasant onward travels!