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We designed this itinerary especially for travelers who want to stay close to nature during their journey through Vietnam. This trip doesn’t focus on big cities or typical tourist attractions, but rather on off-the-beaten-path excursions in stunning natural settings.
During your exploration of northern Vietnam, you will enjoy a cruise in Lan Ha Bay aboard one of our traditional wooden sailing junks, visit the natural sites of Ninh Binh, and discover the Pu Luong Nature Reserve. These three destinations will enchant you with their tranquility, breathtaking landscapes, and the warmth of the local people you meet.
Beyond the northern excursions, the journey will take you to Whale Island off Nha Trang and the Central Highlands in southern Vietnam. Still largely untouched by typical tourist routes, these regions offer landscapes very different from the North, yet equally impressive.
Your trip concludes with a flight back to Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City for your departure.
Arrival at Hanoi Airport. You will be welcomed by your driver and transferred to your hotel in the city center. (Rooms are available from 2:00 PM. Early check-in upon arrival is possible for an additional fee.) Free time for the rest of the day. Overnight at the hotel.
Included for the day: Airport pickup by driver, transfer to your hotel, overnight stay at the hotel.
After breakfast, you will spend the day exploring Hanoi with your French-speaking guide and driver.
Tran Quoc Pagoda: One of the oldest pagodas in Vietnam, located on a peninsula at the southern end of West Lake (Ho Tay), the largest lake in Hanoi.
Quan Thanh Temple: Also situated by West Lake, Quan Thanh Temple showcases architecture that reflects over a thousand years of history and culture.
Hanoi Cathedral: Located near Hoan Kiem Lake, this Gothic-style cathedral resembles Notre-Dame de Paris with its wide, curved arches reaching towards the sky.
Temple of Literature: Built in 1070, this temple is dedicated to Confucius and also houses Vietnam’s first university, opened in 1076, which trained scholars, mandarins, and aristocrats. Lunch is served near the Temple of Literature.
In the afternoon, visit the Ethnology Museum, the most beautiful and engaging museum in Hanoi, offering insight into the rich cultural heritage of the country’s 54 ethnic groups. The exhibits are varied, well-presented, and complemented by clear, concise information panels. The surrounding park features life-size reconstructions of traditional Vietnamese houses.
A walking tour with your guide follows through the Old Quarter, the historic “36 streets and guilds” area. You will also explore a lively local market, providing the chance to meet and interact with residents.
Dinner on your own and overnight at the hotel.
Included for the day: Breakfast, lunch, services of a English-speaking guide, private transport, entrance tickets, overnight at the hotel.
After breakfast, your driver and guide will pick you up at your hotel. Departure towards northwest Hanoi, into Muong country, a region covering a mountain range separating the Red River Delta from the Ma River basin. From Hoa Binh city, the road gains altitude, crossing the Muong Khen Pass and climbing a mountainous slope towards Thung Nhuoi Pass. Stop for a spectacular panoramic view over the Mai Chau valley from the pass.
Continue for about forty kilometers through highland landscapes towards Moc Chau. Arrival at the colorful Hmong village of Hua Tat, located on the mountainsides along a long valley. Most houses in the village are traditional, single-story, and made of wood. Around the village, locals cultivate cabbages, plum trees, and peach trees, and raise chickens and pigs that roam freely. Lunch is served in the village.
In the afternoon, enjoy a 2-hour easy hike along the valley, passing through various villages, cornfields, pine forests, and mountains. The scenery is especially breathtaking between January and early February during the plum blossom season. You will also have the opportunity to meet and interact with the Hmong ethnic community. Return to the homestay. Dinner and overnight stay.
Distance & Duration: 200 km – approximately 4 hours by road
Hike: 2 hours, easy level, minimal elevation
Included for the day: Breakfast, lunch, services of a English-speaking guide, private transport, entrance tickets, overnight at the homestay.
After breakfast, depart for Pu Luong. Enter the Pu Luong Nature Reserve via a breathtaking mountain pass offering panoramic views over the entire valley. Arrival in Pu Luong. Enjoy an easy walk around the most beautiful terraced rice valley in front of your accommodation.
Begin descending into the stunning valley in front of the homestay, walking among terraced rice fields. Then, follow small paths covered with vegetation that gradually reveal the picturesque village of Uoi, nestled at the foot of a high mountain. Your camera will be busy capturing the panoramic view of the village from above. Continue descending the hill to reach Uoi village, then on to Lan village.
Dinner and overnight stay with a local family.
Practical information:
Included for the day: Breakfast, lunch, services of a English-speaking guide, private transport, entrance tickets, overnight at the homestay.
After breakfast, your driver and guide will pick you up from your hotel and depart for Tam Coc. Arrive in Hoa Lu, the former capital of Vietnam in the 10th century, and visit two temples dedicated to Emperor Dinh Tien Hoang of the Dinh dynasty (968–980) and Le Dai Hanh of the Le dynasty (980–1009).
In the afternoon, visit the Thai Vi Temple. Enjoy lunch in Tam Coc. Then take a 1 hour 45 minute sampan ride through the limestone peaks of Thung Nham (less touristy than Tam Coc), offering a stunning natural landscape. This area is known as the “Inland Halong Bay” because its terrain resembles the famous Halong Bay, with numerous limestone hills covered in lush vegetation and a succession of natural cirques connected by erosion-carved tunnels.
Finally, visit Bich Dong Pagoda, discovering along the way the local life and typical landscapes of the region. Overnight at the hotel in Tam Coc.
Included for the day: Breakfast, lunch, services of a English-speaking guide, private transport, entrance tickets, overnight at the hotel.
Your driver will pick you up at your hotel around 7:00 AM and drive you to Cat Ba Island. First, you’ll take a ferry to reach the island. After the ferry, to get to Cat Ba town (about 30 km away), where our traditional junk awaits, we suggest a one-hour motorbike ride with a local driver along off-the-beaten-path roads. If you prefer, you can take the car instead of trying the motorbike experience.
Around 12:30 PM, you’ll board our traditional boat, the Quatre Saisons. The junk first passes through the fishing village of Hang Vem in Lan Ha Bay. Sailing is possible depending on the wind. Take this time to relax, swim, and enjoy the sun on deserted beaches (weather permitting). You also have the option to go kayaking and visit a local fishing village.
Lunch and dinner are served on board and feature fresh seafood (fish, shrimp, squid, shellfish) purchased the same day from local fishermen. You’ll spend the night on board in a secluded cove in the middle of Lan Ha Bay.
Included for the day: Private transport, cruise on the Quatre Saisons, breakfast at the hotel, lunch and dinner, kayaking, overnight on the Quatre Saisons.
Breakfast is served on board the junk before starting the morning program: a 2-hour bike ride to reach the village of Viet Hai. You’ll return to the junk around 11:00 AM, where a brunch will be served.
Return to Cat Ba Island around 12:00 PM to continue your journey by bus or private car, according to your choice.
Included for the day: Cruise on the Quatre Saisons, breakfast, brunch, bike rental, private transport back to Hanoi.
Transfer (without guide) to Hanoi airport (40 km, about 1 h) for your flight to Buon Ma Thuot (2 h 10 min flight). Upon arrival, your French-speaking guide and driver will meet you at Buon Ma Thuot airport and transfer you to your hotel to rest.
Later, depart for Lak Lake, located 30 km from Buon Ma Thuot, then visit Dray Nur and Dray Sap waterfalls. Return to the hotel to relax. Overnight at the hotel.
Included for the day: Breakfast in Hanoi, transfer to Hanoi airport, flight to Buon Ma Thuot, airport pick-up and transfer to the hotel, guide services, entrance tickets, overnight at the hotel.
Breakfast at the hotel. You will begin the day’s visits with your guide and driver. The program includes a visit to the Ethnographic Museum, followed by departure for Lak Lake. On the way, stop at a coffee farm and its processing workshop. Relax and enjoy a cup of coffee.
Ride an elephant through the lake area and ethnic villages to discover the daily life of the local people. Continue with a scenic ride in a traditional dugout canoe on Lak Lake to observe local fishing activities. Visit the villages of Buon M’lieng, Jun, and Yang La to learn about the daily life of the Mnong ethnic group. Return to Buon Me Thuot for the night at your hotel.
Included for the day: Breakfast, lunch, English-speaking guide, private transportation, activities, overnight stay at the hotel.
After breakfast, depart for Nha Trang by private car (without guide). Upon arrival at the Dam Mon pier, the hotel’s boat will take you to Whale Island in about 15–20 minutes. Whale Island is one of Vietnam’s most beautiful islands, with pristine and peaceful landscapes. Covering approximately 40 hectares, the island is uninhabited. Forbes magazine ranked it among the top 10 must-visit destinations in the world for 2020. With an average temperature of 28°C, Whale Island is particularly famous for its lush soft corals, making it ideal for diving. Overnight at the hotel.
Included for the day: Breakfast, lunch, private transportation, boat transfer, activities, overnight stay at the hotel.
Free time.
Included for the day: Breakfast, overnight stay at the hotel.
Free time.
Included for the day: Breakfast, overnight stay at the hotel.
Transfer (without guide) to Nha Trang airport for your flight to Hanoi (2h flight). Arrival in Hanoi. Pick-up by our driver and transfer to the hotel. Overnight at the hotel.
Included for the day: Breakfast, transfers, flight to Hanoi, overnight at the hotel.
Breakfast at the hotel. Private transfer (without guide) to Hanoi airport for your return flight.
Included for the day: Breakfast, transfer to Hanoi airport.
All our tours are private. You will travel with your own vehicle, driver, and guide, ensuring maximum comfort and flexibility throughout your journey.
Private tours for solo travelers are significantly more expensive, and most guides are unwilling to lead one-person tours. Therefore, this itinerary is available starting from 2 travelers.
If you’re traveling alone, we can offer day trips or short excursions instead.
No, our tours begin upon your arrival in Vietnam.
However, we’re happy to assist you in booking your international flights if needed.
You’ll find the ideal travel period in the “Practical Info” section, based on the climate in the regions visited.
That said, this tour is available year-round, with a few adjustments depending on the season.
This itinerary is perfect for travelers seeking cultural discovery and immersion in nature.
It can be adapted for couples, families, or groups of friends of all ages.
Absolutely! All our tours are fully customizable.
You can modify the duration, change accommodations, add activities, or adjust the pace according to your preferences.
Simply send us a request using the contact form on this page.
One of our travel advisors will get back to you quickly to finalize your itinerary and provide a personalized quote.
Let’s talk and tailor it to your wishes.
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info@parfumdautomne.fr
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