15 Days Vietnam Happiness Road Expedition Culture Food and Nature

Day 1: Day 1: Arrival – Noi Bai Airport → Hanoi Old Quarter

1. Hanoi
   2h
   • 14:00 – 15:00: Land at Noi Bai International Airport (HAN). Immigration and baggage.
   • 15:00 – 16:00: Private transfer (45 mins) to hotel in Hanoi Old Quarter. Check-in 3-star hotel.
   • Evening: Free leisure. Walk around Hoan Kiem Lake, try pho ga nearby.
   • Overnight: Hanoi

Day 2: Day 2: Hanoi Free Day + Night Food Motorbike Tour (B, L – dinner on tour)

1. Hanoi
   4h
   • Morning – Afternoon: Free time.
   • 17:30: Hotel pickup for street-food motorbike tour
   • 18:00 – 18:30: Cross Long Bien Bridge
   • 18:30 – 19:00: St. Joseph's Cathedral – neo-Gothic cathedral built 1886, Hanoi's Catholic heart, stop 15 minutes. Photo stop.
   • 19:00 – 19:15: Hanoi Opera House – French colonial icon (1911), stop 15 minutes.
   • 19:15 – 20:00: First tastings – Bánh gối (pillow dumpling, crispy pork-mushroom), Nem rán (fried spring rolls), Bánh tôm (shrimp cake from West Lake).
   • 20:00 – 20:40: Drive over Chuong Duong Bridge to Long Bien District (non-touristy local area). Eat Bánh cuốn (steamed rice rolls with wood-ear) or Phở bò/gà.
   • 20:40 – 21:10: Pass West Lake again, stop at Hanoi Train Street (5-10 mins photos).
   • 21:10 – 21:50: Continue hopping 2-3 local eateries – grilled skewers, bun cha, papaya salad until full.
   • 21:50 – 22:00: Final stop – Egg coffee or Hoa quả dầm (mixed fruit shake). Drop-off around 22:00.

Day 3: Day 3: Duong Lam Ancient Village & Ba Vi National Park → Overnight bus to Ha Giang (B, L)

1. Hanoi
   10h
   • 07:00: Pickup Old Quarter. Tour duration 8-9 hours.
   • 08:30 – 12:30: Ba Vi National Park (4 hours). Drive by Vietnam Army Jeep through rainforest to 1,100m peak. Visit French colonial church ruins, Uncle Ho Temple, panoramic views of Red River Delta.
   • 12:30 – 13:30: Authentic countryside lunch cooked by local family – grilled pork, bamboo shoots, sticky rice.
   • 13:45 – 15:45: Duong Lam Ancient Village (2 hours) – 1,200-year-old laterite houses. Visit Mong Phu Communal House, Mia Pagoda (287 Buddha statues), temples of King Ngo Quyen and King Phung Hung.
   • 16:00 – 17:30: Return to Hanoi.
   • 20:30: Transfer to bus station. Sleeper bus Hanoi → Ha Giang (7-8 hrs). Overnight on bus.

Day 4: Day 4: Ha Giang Loop Day 1 – Quan Ba – Yen Minh (L, D)

1. Ha Giang
   5h
   • 03:30: Arrive Ha Giang, rest at Jasmine Hostel dorm.
   • 10:00: Briefing at hostel.
   • 10:30 – 12:00: Ride Bac Sum Pass – first dramatic climb, limestone karsts.
   • 12:00 – 13:00: Lunch in Tam Son Town.
2. Quan Ba Heaven Gate
   5h · Admission ticket included
   • 13:15 – 14:00: Heaven Gate & Quan Ba Twin Mountains – viewpoint over fairy-like twin hills.
   • 14:30 – 16:00: Lung Khuy Cave – large cavern with stalactites.
   • 18:30: Arrive Yen Minh. Check-in homestay, dinner with host family. Evening: local music, card games, "happy water" rice wine

Day 5: Day 5: Yen Minh – Dong Van – Lung Cu – Ma Pi Leng – Meo Vac (B, L, D)

1. Dong Van
   5h
   • 07:30: Breakfast, checkout.
   • 08:00 – 08:30: Tham Ma Pass viewpoint – nine hairpin bends.
   • 09:00 – 09:45: Lao Xa village – H'Mong houses with clay walls near China border.
   • 10:15 – 11:00: Sung La village – "Pao's House", filming site, ancient H'Mong architecture.
   • 11:30 – 12:30: Vuong's Royal Palace (Sa Phin) – stone palace of H'Mong king, early 20th century wealth.
   • 12:30 – 13:30: Lunch in Dong Van.
2. Ma Pi Leng Pass
   5h · Admission ticket included
   • 14:00 – 15:00: Lung Cu Flagpole & Lo Lo Chai village – northernmost point Vietnam.
   • 15:30 – 17:00: Drive Ma Pi Leng Pass – "Happiness Road", deepest canyon in Vietnam, stop at Ma Pi Leng Canyon viewpoint.
   • 17:30: Arrive Pa Vi village, Meo Vac. Sunset party.

Day 6: Day 6: Meo Vac – M Pass – Yen Minh – Ha Giang → Night bus to Hanoi (B, L)

1. Yen Minh
   10h
   • 07:00: Breakfast.
   • 07:45 – 08:30: Ma Pi Leng Skywalk trekking – cliff walk over Nho Que River.
   • 09:30 – 10:30: M Pass (cung chữ M) – iconic winding road at Mau Due.
   • 12:00: Lunch in Yen Minh.
   • 17:00 – 18:00: Arrive Ha Giang – Jasmine Hostel.
   • 20:00: Sleeper bus Ha Giang → Hanoi. Overnight.

Day 7: Day 7: Hanoi Free & Leisure (B)

1. Hanoi
   6h
   • 05:30: Arrive Hanoi, transfer to hotel, early check-in rest.
   • All day: Spa, shopping at Dong Xuan, or optional Cyclo Old Quarter.

Day 8: Day 8: Hanoi → Halong Bay – Le Journey Cruise (B, L, D)

1. Hanoi
   4h
   • 07:30: Shuttle pickup Old Quarter
   • 11:30: Check-in at Tuan Chau Harbor Lounge
   • 12:15: Board transfer boat to Le Journey Elegance
   • 13:00: Lunch while cruising Lan Ha Bay – pass Turtle Islet, Candle Islet
2. Lan Ha Bay
   6h · Admission ticket included
   • 15:00: Kayak & swim at Tra Bau – Kong Skull Island filming site
   • 17:00: Sunset Party on sundeck
   • 17:30: Cooking class – fresh spring rolls
   • 19:00: Romantic candlelit dinner
   • 21:00 – 22:00: Squid fishing, herbal foot bath. Overnight on board

Day 9: Day 9: Halong Bay → Hanoi → Flight to Da Nang (B, L)

1. Hạ Long Bay
   5h
   • 06:15: Tai Chi sunrise
   • 06:30: Light breakfast
   • 07:15: Tender to Gia Luan, drive to Hospital Cave
   • 08:00: Explore Quan Y Cave – wartime secret hospital inside limestone
   • 09:00: Return to cruise
   • 09:30: Checkout
   • 10:00: Brunch while sailing back
   • 11:00: Arrive Tuan Chau Harbor
2. Hanoi
   4h
   • 12:30 – 16:00: Transfer to Hanoi, flight HAN → DAD (approx 1h20). Evening arrival Da Nang.

Day 10: Day 10: Marble Mountains – Bay Mau Coconut Forest – Hoi An Ancient Town (B, D)

1. The Marble Mountains
   2h · Admission ticket included
   • 13:00: Hotel pickup – afternoon tour start
   • 13:30 – 14:00: Linh Ung Pagoda (30 mins)
   • 14:00 – 14:20: Lady Buddha statue viewpoint
   • 14:30 – 16:30: Marble Mountains (2 hours) – climb Thuy Son, explore Huyen Khong Cave, Tam Thai Pagoda (19th century), local stone carving village.
2. Bay Mau Coconut Forest
   1h · Admission ticket included
   • 16:45 – 17:30: Bay Mau Coconut Forest (7 Mau) – basket boat ride through nipa palm waterways, crab fishing show.
3. Hoi An Ancient Town
   3h · Admission ticket included
   • 17:45 – 19:45: Hoi An Ancient Town (2 hours) – Phuc Kien Assembly Hall, Tan Ky Old House, Japanese Covered Bridge (20 mins).
   • 19:45: Dinner with Cao Lau, white rose dumplings.

Day 11: Day 11: Hoi An Countryside Morning Bicycle Tour (B, L)

1. Hoi An Ancient Town
   6h · Admission ticket included
   • 08:00: Pickup Hoi An.
   • 08:30 – 12:30: 9km guided ride. Itinerary includes:
   o River ferry crossing
   o Traditional boat-building yard
   o Mother-of-pearl inlay workshop
   o Mat weaving demonstration
   o Basket boat builder & test paddle
   o Rice wine family distillery
   o Floating bamboo bridge (seasonal)
   o 40-minute boat trip on Thu Bon River delta
   • 12:30: Home-cooked lunch at local family house.
   • 13:30: Return by boat to Hoi An.

Day 12: Day 12: Free & Leisure in Hoi An (B)

1. Hoi An Ancient Town
   6h · Admission ticket included
   Free day: Beach day at An Bang, or tailor fitting.

Day 13: Day 13: Da Nang → Phu Quoc Island (B)

1. Phu Quoc Island
   6h
   • Morning flight DAD → PQC (via HCMC). Transfer to 3-star beach hotel.
   • Afternoon free.

Day 14: Day 14: Phu Quoc Free Day (B)

1. Phu Quoc Island
   6h
   Free day: Optional: snorkeling, VinWonders, night market.

Day 15: Day 15: Phu Quoc – Departure (B)

1. Phu Quoc Island
   6h
   • Morning leisure.
   • Airport transfer for international flight. End of services.

Pickup details

For private tours, we can pick you up from anywhere within Hanoi city center, as well as from Noi Bai International Airport.

For group tours, pickup is available from hotels located in Hanoi Old Quarter only.

If you arrive at Noi Bai Airport, the driver will be waiting for you at the arrival hall holding a sign with your name on it. If you are staying at a hotel, we will confirm the pickup time with you in advance and collect you directly from your hotel.

• Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
• Service animals allowed
• Public transportation options are available nearby
• Specialized infant seats are available
• Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
• Not recommended for pregnant travelers
• Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
• Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness