Vietnam · Cave Exploration

11-Day Tour of Quintessential Destinations in Vietnam from Hanoi

11 Days Round trip from Hanoi Easy pace

The journey

Trip highlights
  • 01 Ride a kayak to Ba Trai Dao beach for swimming and time on the bay
  • 02 Relax on the Lan Ha Bay cruise and try onboard activities such as squid fishing
  • 03 Join an early morning Tai Chi session before visiting Dark & Bright Cave
  • 04 Catch splendid views from Heaven's Gate at 1,500 m in Ha Giang
  • 05 Visit the Vuong Palace built by the Mong people for their King
  • 06 Take in panoramic views of Tam Coc and Ninh Binh City from Ngoa Long mountain
  • 07 Explore Paradise Cave and the famous Phong Nha Cave
  • 08 Travel by motorbike from Hue to Hoi An along a scenic coastal route

Embark on an 11-day journey through Vietnam, combining a Lan Ha Bay cruise, mountain landscapes in Ha Giang, cultural encounters in Dong Van and Meo Vac, and cave exploration in Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park. Cruise past extraordinary limestone karsts, kayak and swim at Ba Trai Dao beach, and join a Vietnamese cooking demonstration on board. Continue through Heaven's Gate, Vuong Palace, Tam Coc, and Mua Cave before exploring Paradise Cave and Phong Nha Cave. The tour ends with a scenic motorbike ride from Hue to Hoi An along the coast and over the Hai Van Pass.

Cruise past extraordinary limestone karsts, kayak and swim at Ba Trai Dao beach, and join a Vietnamese cooking demonstration on board.

From the itinerary

At a glance

What this trip includes

Duration 11 Days
Tour type Private
Activity level Easy
Accommodation Not included
Transport Not included
Wheelchair access Not applicable
Cities Hue, Dong Hoi, Halong, Hanoi, Hai Phong, Hoi An, Ha Giang, Ninh Bình, Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park, Hoa Lư, Tam Cốc-Bích Động
Languages English, Vietnamese

Day by day

The itinerary

1
Day 01

Hanoi - Halong Cruise

  • 09:00 – 09:30: Wait for your transfer vehicle to collect you from your hotel in Hanoi and send you to Hai Phong at around 11h30.

  • 12:00: Get taken on the tender from the wharf and make your way out onto the bay to board the luxurious craft. Welcome aboard and get greeted with a complimentary drink. The crew will conduct a compulsory safety procedure session and then you are free to check into your cabin and freshen up. Take some time to have a look around the vessel or watch the magical landscape go by.

  • 13:15: Relish a special lunch of fresh seafood and an assortment of appetizing favourites.

  • Set sail for Lan Ha Bay passing to Da Chong islet and see a lighthouse built by the French over 100 years ago.

  • 15:00: Cruise enters through Cua Van area to Lan Ha Bay (as part of Halong Bay). The area is surrounding by a lot of extraordinary limestone karst landscapes.

  • Explore Ba Trai Dao beach, take the kayak to get immersed in the crystal clear waters of the bay and/or enjoy swimming.

  • 17:00: Return to the main boat.

  • 17:30 - 18:30: Enjoy Happy Hour with a special drink menu- buy one get another one free.

  • 18:00: Attend the Vietnamese cooking demonstration, a great way to learn how to prepare delicious appetizers as the crew guides you through the process.

  • 19:15: Relish a special dinner in the restaurant.

  • 20:45 – 12:00: Have some free time to relax with an exotic cocktail or whatever you fancy. The bar has a wide range of wines, beers and liquors which is always a welcome sight for guests after a day on Bay.

  • Order a Spa service or take any activities on boat cruise such as watching documentary movies, squid fishing or simply relaxing on the rooftop deck under the cover of a star filled sky.

2
Day 02

Halong Bay Cruise - Hanoi

  • 06:30: Head to the upper deck to participate in the daily Tai Chi sessions.

  • Relax with an early morning cup of tea, coffee or juice anywhere you wish on the boat and watch the never-ending miraculous scenery unfold before you.

  • 07:00: Eat a light breakfast served in the restaurant (pastries, tea, coffee).

  • 7:30 – 9:15: Enjoy the last stage of your trip to Dark & Bright cave and islets by local rowing boats which is a wild and mysterious beauty. Return to the mainboard afterwards.

  • 09:30: Check out of your cabin as the cruise draws closer to the mainland.

  • After a final early brunch and a last goodbye from the crew at 11:30, board the tender and head back to the wharf where you will be met by your return trip vehicle to transfer you to Hanoi.

  • 12:10-12:30: Get on luxury van and get back to Hanoi.

  • Arrive hotel in Hanoi around 3:30 pm. The trip ends in Hanoi! Goodbye and see you again on the next trips!

3
Day 03

Hanoi – Ha Giang

  • Depart at 06:00 from your hotel in Hanoi by limousine bus.

  • Take 7 hours to get to Ha Giang city. 

  • Wait for the Vietnamese tour guide to pick you and go to the Homestay for lunch.

Overnight at Homestay based on Private Room.

4
Day 04

Ha Giang - Dong Van

  • Drive 155 km and walk for around 1 hour.

  • Meet Mong people and see their lifestyle. On the way, you have enough time to stop at beautiful places to take a photo or just enjoy the landscape.

  • Visit The Heavens Gate, 1500m high and over the clouds.

  • See the famous twin mountains in Quan Ba.

  • After that, have lunch in a small restaurant in Yen Minh. 

  • Drive down to Ha Giang.

  • Stop 15 km west from Dong Van to visit the Vuong palace built by the Mong people for their own King.

  • Reach Dong Van at 5 pm and go on the small market in the old quarter. Dong Van is a quiet village which is nice to walk around.

Stay in a hotel and have dinner. 

5
Day 05

Dong Van - Meo Vac

  • Visit the flag tower and the Chinese border after breakfast.

  • Drive through the Dong Van Geopark. The Ma Pi Leng Pass is considered the "king" of Vietnam's passes. On top of this pass, the 20 km long happiness road is handmade by the local people and has a romantic atmosphere. 

  • See one of the most beautiful landscapes of the country in Meo Vac. 

  • Arrive at 5 PM and stay in the town of Meo Vac.

6
Day 06

Meo Vac - Lung phin - Mau Due - Du Gia

  • Drive for 100 km to Mau Due and Du Gia to see a lot of terrace rice fields.

  • Around 13.00, arrive in Du Gia and have lunch with a family of Tay people.

  • Go trekking for 2-3 hours to see villages and beautiful vistas.

Overnight at the homestay.

7
Day 07

Du Gia - Bac me - Ha Giang

  • Visit Du Gia and go for a short trek.

  • Visit a local white Mong family and see a lot of different views.

  • At 15:30, head back to Ha Giang. 

  • Drop off at the Homestay in Ha Giang, where you can take a rest.

  • Take a Bus Limousine to come back to Hanoi. 

  • Arrive in Hanoi the same evening at 22:00.

8
Day 08

Hoa Lu - Tam Coc - Mua Cave

  • 08.10: Pick up at hotel or meeting point in the Old Quarter by the driver and tour guide to get to Ninh Binh province which is located in the south of Northern Vietnam.

  • 09.30: Visit Hoa Lu- the ancient capital of Vietnam from 986–1010. Visit Ding King temple and Le King temple from the 10th century, and find out the heroic histories of these two Kings in the Chinese War.

  • 10.30: Visit the Mua Cave (Dancing cave), and get an impressive panoramic view of Tam Coc and Ninh Binh city when you reach the top point of Ngoa Long mountain (about 500 stone steps).

  • 12.00: Enjoy the set menu of Vietnamese cuisine at Wonderland bungalow. (A cooking class activity is available)

  • 13.00: Discover Tam Coc (Three water caves) on the sampan (bamboo boat) in almost 2 hours passing through 3 caves: Hang Ca- first cave, Hang Hai- second cave, Hang Ba- the third cave by boat which will bring to you excited feeling.

  • 15.00: Be amazed by the beauty of the countryside in the North of Vietnam by cycling.

  • 15.30: Attend a sunset party at the swimming pool, after discovering the amazing beauty of Ninh Binh by walking, hiking, or cycling, tourists can relax by swimming, drinking local tea, fresh fruits while the sun is setting. (Swim in an allowable condition.)

  • 16:00: Have a pick-up to the homestay in Ninh Binh - Ham Rong Homestay for dinner, and take a rest.

  • Around 20:30, the car will take you to the train station to take the night train from Ninh Binh to Dong Hoi (Phong Nha National Park), which departs at 21:47.

9
Day 09

Phong Nha & Paradise Cave

  • 07:30 – 08:00: The Vietnamese driver and guide will pick you up at Dong Hoi station, airport, bus station or hotel at Dong Hoi city or Phong Nha town to go to Phong Nha- Ke Bang National Park. 

  • 09:00: Visit Paradise cave, which was discovered by scientists of the British Caving Research Association in 2005 and has a length of 31 km. 

  • 12:00: Eat lunch at a restaurant with local specialities.

  • 13:00: Continue the journey to visit the Phong Nha Cave.

  • 13:30: Visit Phong Nha Cave, considered a "First Cave Wonder".

  • Take a boat about 5 km along the Son River to Phong Nha Cave (river cave). Children will have fun on the waterfront and have the opportunity to experience the daily life of the neighbourhood riverside village bearing the Vietnamese country soul.

  • Return to the boat station.

  • 16:00 – 16:30: Take the vehicle and transfer to Phong Nha town or Dong Hoi City.

  • 17:00 – 17:30: Go back to Nam Long Plus Hotel to stay overnight.

10
Day 10

Train from Dong Hoi - Hue

  • Transfer to the train station after breakfast to catch a train to Hue. The train departs at 08.05 and arrives in Hue at around 11.05.
11
Day 11

Easy Rider from Hue to Hoi An

  • 08.00: Pick up from Hue hotel by the tour guide. Go from Hue to Hoi An by motorbike through a Scenic Coast route.
  • Stop at the Elephant Springs and wade in the rock pools.
  • Pause at the Lang Co Beach for photos before travelling over the Hai Van Pass. Hai Van means “Sea of Clouds”, and when crossing the top of the Pass, you are surrounded by clouds on one side with stunning ocean views on the other.
Lan Ha Bay, Ba Trai Dao beach, Heaven's Gate

Where this trip takes you

Lan Ha Bay, Ba Trai Dao beach, Heaven's Gate

The route

Where you'll travel

Tour route map
Round trip from Hanoi 11 cities · 11 Days

The fine print

Trip details

What's Included

  • Lunch x 10

  • Breakfast x 5

  • Dinner x 6

  • All entrance fee

  • English speaking Vietnamese tour guide

What's Not Included

  • Personal expense

  • Beverage

  • Tip for the tour guide

Know before you go

  • Please be ready and wait in your hotel lobby 15 minutes before your scheduled pickup time.

  • Hotel pickup is available from most centrally located Old Quarter hotels.

  • Pricing is per person but based on two-person occupancy. 2 person minimum.  

  • Substitutions on boats or transportation may need to be made. If so, comparable to a higher value will be chosen.

  • Travelling on Dec 24th and Dec 31st will incur a higher price.

  • The 11- Day Vietnam tour package gives you an essence of these quintessential destinations along a stretch of 1000km from North to Central Vietnam. Get to indulge your senses in the rich history of cities, unique nature. You will have unforgettable moments on the stunning mountain roads & passes, and you will see fantastic views of rock, waterfalls, and rivers. Eating, staying & chatting with locals is the best way to visit the real Vietnam.

  • **11 DAY package!: La Paci 2D1N - Ha Giang 5D4N - NB - Phong Nha-(Hue - Hoi An)

  • Paradise cave: It is the longest dry cave in Asia. You will be taken by electric car from the parking to the foothills of the cave (2 km). You will be in the jungle, see many kinds of trees and hear the sound of animals. Explore the shelter about 1 km on the wood floor and see a lot of stalactites with different shapes. With naturally primitive features, Paradise Cave looks like a landscape painting, making it very attractive to visitors. There are a series of white crystal stalactites resembling glass pillars and many other spectacular formations.

  • Conquering the Phong Nha Cave: The longest wet cave, enjoy spectacular limestone, underground river system and unique stalactite in the world.

  • Caving Fairy & Imperial: admire the beautiful stalactite blocks created by nature over millennia.  

Logistics

Meeting & route

Meeting point
Hanoi, Vietnam
Tour start
Hanoi, Hoàn Kiếm, Hanoi, Vietnam
Tour ends at the same location as the start point.
End of the journey

Your 11 days finish where they began, in Hanoi.

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