Nature Discovery Pu Luong – Ninh Binh – Halong Bay

Upon arrival in Hanoi, Vietnam's capital, you will be greeted by our tour guide and driver at the airport. They will then transfer you to the city center hotel for check-in. You'll have the rest of the day to relax and recover from jet lag, as well as explore the city at your own pace.

Starting at 8:00 AM this morning, our tour guide and driver will pick you up for driving to Mai Chau. 

11.00: Stop at the local market and Thung Khe Pass

We will stop at Thung Khe Pass – One of the most beautiful passes in Vietnam. You can try some special food of the local people there like boiled corn, grilled egg and interact with Muong People there.

Once arriving in Mai Chau, relax and have an authentic lunch with a local family of the White Thai tribe and enjoy some free time to acquaint yourself with the villagers.

In the afternoon, ride a bike or walk through narrow village path, see terraced rice paddies and small villages, discovering the natural beauty of the valley and encountering the culture of the ethnic minority Thai people on our visits to the Pom Coong and Na Phon villages.

After that, we drive to Mai Hich Village for stay overnight. Mai Hich which is located in the beautiful north-west mountainous area, brings forwards numerous scenes of what lies ahead for the night to come.

08:00 AM: After a morning at leisure, we will say goodbye to our hosts in Mai Hich village and transfer to Pu Luong Nature Reserve. 

Leave the car and on a trekking to Don Village near Pu Luong Retreat.

You enter Pu Luong Nature Reserve by road via a breathtaking mountain pass giving you a panoramic view of the whole valley. You arrive at your accommodation in time for a delicious lunch, followed by free time to explore the beautiful retreat, with its captivating panoramic views and tranquil setting.

In the afternoon, you will be transferred to a suspension bridge over the Cham River, where you begin your walk in search of stunning water wheels. Get up close to each wheel and discover how water is moved from river to handmade bamboo aqueducts via simple constructions of all sizes.

Arriving at a local fisherman’s house, you have a short rest to gear up for the bamboo river rafting with is team. Float along the calm river and enjoy the views, in between learning how to paddle and steer your handcrafted rafts.

Arriving at scenic Tan Lap bridge, you disembark to be transferred back to Pu Luong Retreat for dinner.

08:00 AM: After a morning at leisure, we will say goodbye to our hosts in Mai Hich village and transfer to Pu Luong Nature Reserve. 

Leave the car and on a trekking to Don Village near Pu Luong Retreat.

You enter Pu Luong Nature Reserve by road via a breathtaking mountain pass giving you a panoramic view of the whole valley. You arrive at your accommodation in time for a delicious lunch, followed by free time to explore the beautiful retreat, with its captivating panoramic views and tranquil setting.

In the afternoon, you will be transferred to a suspension bridge over the Cham River, where you begin your walk in search of stunning water wheels. Get up close to each wheel and discover how water is moved from river to handmade bamboo aqueducts via simple constructions of all sizes.

Arriving at a local fisherman’s house, you have a short rest to gear up for the bamboo river rafting with is team. Float along the calm river and enjoy the views, in between learning how to paddle and steer your handcrafted rafts.

Arriving at scenic Tan Lap bridge, you disembark to be transferred back to Pu Luong Retreat for dinner.

After lunch, enjoy some free time before coming back to the hotel to relax by the pool or to explore on your own the surroundings as the traditional Bang village.

Return to the retreat to stay overnight. Dinner on your own.

08:00 AM: Start the day with breakfast prepared by our friendly hosts and you can then continue trekking around the rural villages. Or just relax at the homestay and discover the daily morning life of the village as people start a new day. You may see the students on their way to school or local people setting out for the farm. We will transfer to Ninh Binh province by the Ho Chi Minh Road and have lunch on route.

Our first stop will be the Endangered Primate Rescue Centre, a non-profit organisation that aims to protect rare monkeys from the threats of poaching and deforestation. The monkeys are kept in roomy cages before becoming free to roam in a sectioned-off part of the jungle.  We will have lunch in a stilted house in the middle of the park, surrounded by nature.

After lunch, we will take a short walk through the jungle to a 1000-year old tree that stretches high above the canopy. On the way, our guide will show you some of the flora and fauna of the region and how the Muong hill tribe that live here use them in their daily lives.  As we head back towards the park entrance, we will cross the bridge and climb the steps to the Cave of Prehistoric Man, one of the earliest caves to serve as a residence for humans in the whole country.  We will leave Cuc Phuong and head to Tam Coc to stay overnight there.

Dinner on your own account.

8h30: Our tour guide and driver will meet you at the hotel for the trip to Trang An.

Take a rowing sampan boat to visit Trang An Complex, rowing along the exquisite river through numerous caves: Hang Toi (Dark) Cave, 320 meter long, Sang  (light) cave, 90 meter long, and Hang Nau Ruou (Cooking wine) cave, 250 meter long…  All passages bring new surprise of mystery hidden inside isolated valleys of tranquility that likely transformed to the other world and time. The fauna and flora are rich and a scene of a goat jumping from one cliff to the other is a common sight.

Have lunch at local restaurant.

In the afternoon, car transfer to visit Thien Ha Cave ( Galaxy Cave), on arrival at the Nha Le Pier, you will take 30 minutes of rowing boat in the dark night, enjoy the stars on the sky, and in summer you will see a lot of fireflies flying around.

Arrive in the pier, our guide take you to visit dry cave about 200ms length, after that, small sampan will take you along Water cave about 200m then back to the pier, take the rowing Sampan back to Nha Le Pier for the car transfer back to your hotel.

Stay overnight in Ninh Binh.

08:00 AM: Start to drive to Halong Bay to join overnight cruise.

11:30 AM: Arrive in Tuan Chau Harbor. Check-in and get on cruise.

12:00 - 12:30: Transfer to V’Spirit Cruises by a tender boat. Embark V’Spirit Cruises and enjoy a welcome drink while listening to cruise briefing and safety introductions.

13:00: Have lunch at The Dawn Restaurant while V’Spirit Cruise takes you through some of the most breathtaking sceneries from Halong Bay to its secretive “neighbour” called Lan Ha Bay.

14:45: Explore the Tra Bau area by kayaking, get closer to the rocky islands and admire the stunning nature of the bay. You have chance to kayak pass by a hidden temple of the fishing villagers if weather permits.

16:15: It’s time for swimming and water activities, immersed in the green water of the Bay with floats.

17:00: Join a cooking demonstration to get to know Vietnamese cuisine and create your own special flavors.

17:30-18:30: Enjoy a Sunset party with some complimentary while waiting for twilight over limestone islands. Take the chance of HAPPY HOUR to have your favorite drinks.

19:00: Dinner at the restaurant. Fine dining setting with degustation expedience will create your memorable moments.

21:00: Enjoy evening views of the bay on the top deck, join some game show at the top deck bar to get some nice local gifts. Optional: Try your luck with squid fishing.

06:15: Enjoy relaxing moment with sunrise minutes combining Tai Chi session on sundeck.

7:00: A light breakfast is served at the Dawn Restaurant.

8:00 – 8:30: You will be transferred to the day tour cruise to visit the bay to go further than Lan Ha Bay.

09:00: Arrive at the pier, you’ll choose to take a ride by bicycle or electric car to Viet Hai village. The 6km-ride takes you along a beautiful lagoon and a lovely cave to the hidden village of Viet Hai. 11:30 Return to the day tour cruise and enjoy your lunch.

14:00: Start exploring the fish farms at Viet Hai pier by kayak.

15:00: Transfer to Ba Trai Dao, it’s time for more swimming or just lying on a small & pristine beach and watching the clouds drift by (If weather permits).

16:30: Back to the cruise to relax and wait for the sunset, maybe with a cocktail in hand.

17:30-18:30: Time to take a shower or lazy in the bathtub to refresh energy. Take the chance of HAPPY HOUR to have your favorite drinks at the top deck bar.

19:00: Enjoy a delicious dinner at the restaurant. After dinner, indulge in drinks at the open bar on the top deck, try squid fishing, a spa treatment or relax in your cabin.

06:15: Enjoy a relaxing moment with sunrise minutes combining a Tai Chi session on sundeck.

7:00: Have a light breakfast on board.

7:30 - 8:45: Explore Bright Cave on a traditional rowing bamboo boat with locals.

9:00: Return to the cruise, check-out.

9:30: Enjoy a luxury Set menu brunch at the restaurant while cruising back to Tuan Chau Port.

11:00: Disembark at Tuan Chau port. Our driver will take you to Hanoi. 

Check-in hotel and stay overnight in Hanoi.