Today you will explore Hanoi sitting at the back of the vintage Vespa bike. Your guide will meet you at your hotel and take you for a ride through the narrow streets of the Old Quarter, admiring its famous landmarks such as the Opera House and the train street.

Head toward Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, where you will overview the President’s Place, Parliament House, and other government offices, while your guide tells you the history of Hanoi.

Our next stop will be at Huu Hiep Lake to see the B52 Crash site. This US bomber was shot down during the 1972 bombing raids of Hanoi, a poignant reminder of recent history. Then ride along calm and beautiful West Lake to see the Monument of John MC Cain and the place where he got shot down.

Later visit a hidden village, located on the island of the Red River. See how locals are farming and living on this island. Your guide will take you to visit a local family so that you can understand better the life of locals here. Then ride through the banana farm enjoying the spectacular view, and visit Kumquat farm. These little trees are a traditional gift for the New Year, symbolizing luck, health, wealth, fertility, and peace.

Have a stop at the local coffee shop where you could try famous egg coffee. Then head back to Old Quarter passing by the Long Bien Bridge. It is a magnificent structure built over a hundred years ago which spans the red river and connects the Hoan Kiem and Long Bien districts.

Have lunch at a local restaurant and get back to your hotel.

Overnight in Hanoi.

Have breakfast at the hotel and get ready for your trip to Mai Chau. Your private driver will meet you at the hotel and take you on 4 hours trip to Mai Chau. Upon arrival at Mai Chau check-in the hotel. The rest of the day is free to explore the valley at your own pace. Have a walk around the village and admire the beauty of this place and see the unique culture of the local minorities. Or you could relax in the infinity swimming pool and other resort facilities.

Overnight in Mai Chau.

Today you will have a great opportunity to discover Da River ( Black River) and enjoy the scenic landscapes with limestone islets sprinkled all around. Jump on a kayak and explore the true beauty of nature in Northern Vietnam. Visit the fishing village, where you will meet and talk to the local fishermen to know more about their lifestyle. Paddle through islets and explore the fairy pond.

Have lunch with local meals and spend more time kayaking. Later you will be back at your hotel. 

Overnight in Mai Chau.

Get up early in the morning and get ready for your adventure to Sapa. We will pick you up from the hotel around 6:0 am and transfer you to Sapa by bus. 

Upon arrival in Sapa, your guide will meet you and take you to the hotel to check in and have lunch. After that, we will have a short trek to the gate of Cat Cat village which is home to Black Hmong ethnic people and is located near the bottom of a deep valley at the foot of Fansipan Peak. You will see the daily life activities of the locals which are kept the same for centuries. Then trek down to the valley bottom to the waterfall to see an old Hydraulic Power Station built by the French during colonial times. Spend some time making amazing pictures with the waterfall, station, and bridge and taking some rest in this picturesque place before walking uphill to the road. When you reach the road you will be transferred to your hotel for some rest and have dinner. 

Overnight in Sapa

The trekking distance is about 3.5 km

Difficulty level - easy

Have breakfast and check out of the hotel. TBetween 07:30 to 08:00, the guide and driver will pick you up at your hotel in Phong Nha town and take the group to the Oxalis office in Tan Hoa Village, which is 70km from Phong Nha. At the office, the guide will give you a short briefing about the trekking itinerary and safety regulations; pack your bag, sign the Release Form and receive essential safety equipment (The transportation cost to Tan Hoa is included in the price of Tu Lan 2 days 1 night trip).

The group will hike around 2.5km through corn and peanut fields to reach the Rao Nan River bank. From there, you will need to cross the river and climb over a small hill (around 50 m) which is rocky in places. Continuing down the other side the group will reach the flat Hung Ton Valley. After crossing the valley, the group will rest and enjoy lunch at the entrance of Hung Ton Cave. After lunch the trek is a bit more challenging with some steep hills leading to the Tu Lan Valley campsite by the waterfall.

Afternoon activities include swimming and exploring Ken Cave, which is located close to the campsite. Then return to the campsite and enjoy a wonderful dinner prepared for you by the chefs. As you immerse yourself in the peaceful natural scenery of mountains and forests as well as the sound of the waterfall, you will feel calm and have a peaceful night’s sleep.

The next day, you will trek, explore and swim through Hang Tu Lan and Hang Kim to reach To Mo Valley, two spectacular caves. You will have lunch at To Mo campsite before swimming into Hung Ton Cave, at the side of the waterfall. Inside the cave, the group will have to climb up a 10m high ladder with safety harnesses. A short hike leads to the cave entrance. In front of the cave entrance is the beautiful scene of the Hung Ton Valley, a great spot for beautiful photos. From there the group will return to Oxalis Tan Hoa office along the Hung Ton Valley, crossing the Rao Nan River and the peanut corn fields one last time. At Oxalis Tan Hoa office, everyone can relax, take a shower, enjoy a drink and say goodbye to your team before getting on the car back to Phong Nha town.

The group goes back to Phong Nha and the Tu Lan Cave Encounter tour ends at about 18:00.

Please note that: Due to the weather and to give the Tu Lan cave system a rest time to balance the ecosystem, the Tu Lan cave trekking tour only operates from November to the end of September every year.

Transfer back to Phong Nha Lake House.