10-Day Northern Vietnam Cultural Explorer

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Today, you'll experience the morning like a true Hanoian at Hang Be Market, one of the Old Quarter’s liveliest “wet” markets. Then, you'll head into an alley and pull up a tiny plastic stool for a breakfast bowl of bun ca and ca cuon. You'll then head to the Citadel to marvel at the ancient architecture. After visiting the Women's Museum, you'll head back to the Old Quarter for a tasty lunch before you soaking up the atmosphere of a favourite Vietnamese hobby, drinking coffee with friends.

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Appreciate the finer things this morning with a behind-the-scenes gallery tour with Sophie, a British expat who has conducted a substantial amount of research on Vietnamese art. You'll visit private collections, the Fine Arts Museum, and contemporary art spaces to gain insight into Hanoi’s distinct art scene as well as a unique perspective on local history. In the afternoon, you'll learn the ancient process (100 steps) of creating Do paper, a traditional type of material from the 18th century.

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This morning, you'll depart Hanoi for Hai Phong. Here, you'll board your cruise for an epic voyage through Lan Ha Bay, the pristine little sister of the popular Halong Bay. You'll spend the afternoon deep within Cat Ba National Park, hiking through Trung Trang Valley to Trung Trang cave, a 2000-year-old cavern filled with stalactites and stalagmites. You'll return to the ship for some downtime, enjoying a traditional Vietnamese cooking class and a delicious dinner onboard before retiring.

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As the sun rises over the bay, you can join the ancient practice of Tai Chi on the sundeck, a martial art known for its health benefits and meditational use. After breakfast, you'll reach Viet Hai Village by bike as there are no roads connecting it to the rest of Cat Ba Island. You'll spend time getting to know the history and traditions of the Vietnamese people who live there, enjoying lunch before setting off for Van Boi, a secluded beach area where you have time to swim, sunbathe, and kayak.

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Savour your morning in the Gulf of Tonkin with an excursion via bamboo boat to the Dark and Bright Cave, one of Halong Bay’s most atmospheric water caves. Back on the boat, you'll head to the mainland where you'll return to Hanoi for an afternoon at leisure for some independent discovery of the city. You may want to explore some of the parts that you have not yet been able to or relax at your hotel.

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This morning will take you just over three hours into the countryside of Hoa Binh district. Just in time for lunch, you'll arrive at Sung Village, a 300-year-old Dzao Tien minority establishment and meet the family of the homestay where you will be staying tonight. You'll learn about the intricate art of hand embroidery as well as how to dye fabrics naturally and go on a guided exploration of Sung Cave and San Tuyet tea plantations, home to some of the oldest tea trees in all of Vietnam.

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After breakfast, you'll start today’s 10-kilometre trek to Da Bia village, home to the Muong ethnic minority, through bamboo forests and other gorgeous scenery. Upon arrival, you'll sit down for a well-deserved lunch before participating in fun activities such as kayaking and bamboo rafting on the Da River or mountain biking on some off-road paths. You'll also visit a local school and chat with eager students before checking in to your homestay for a cultural art and dance show during dinner.

You'll depart from Da Bia this morning after breakfast and gently hike to Oi Noi Village where you’ll stop for lunch with the local Muong Ao Ta minority tribe. Then, you'll take a leisurely boat ride to Thung Nai, often nicknamed “inland Halong Bay” due to the karst limestone formations rising from the rice fields and lake. On the return journey to Hanoi, you'll stop at Muong Culture Museum, an excellent showcase of the Muong people with informative exhibits on art, culture and architecture.