15 Days Vietnam Happiness Road Expedition Culture Food and Nature

What's Included

Meeting and pickup

Itinerary

Day 1
Day 1: Arrival – Noi Bai Airport → Hanoi Old Quarter
1 stop
1
Hanoi
• 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
2 hours • Admission ticket free
Day 2
Day 2: Hanoi Free Day + Night Food Motorbike Tour (B, L – dinner on tour)
1 stop
2
Hanoi
• 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.
4 hours • Admission ticket free
Day 3
Day 3: Duong Lam Ancient Village & Ba Vi National Park → Overnight bus to Ha Giang (B, L)
1 stop
3
Hanoi
• 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.
10 hours • Admission ticket free
Day 4
Day 4: Ha Giang Loop Day 1 – Quan Ba – Yen Minh (L, D)
2 stops
4
Ha Giang
• 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.
5 hours • Admission ticket free
5
Quan Ba Heaven Gate
• 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
5 hours • Admission ticket included
Day 5
Day 5: Yen Minh – Dong Van – Lung Cu – Ma Pi Leng – Meo Vac (B, L, D)
2 stops
6
Dong Van
• 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.
5 hours • Admission ticket free
7
Ma Pi Leng Pass
• 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.
5 hours • Admission ticket included
Day 6
Day 6: Meo Vac – M Pass – Yen Minh – Ha Giang → Night bus to Hanoi (B, L)
1 stop
8
Yen Minh
• 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.
10 hours • Admission ticket free
Day 7
Day 7: Hanoi Free & Leisure (B)
1 stop
9
Hanoi
• 05:30: Arrive Hanoi, transfer to hotel, early check-in rest. • All day: Spa, shopping at Dong Xuan, or optional Cyclo Old Quarter.
6 hours • Admission ticket free
Day 8
Day 8: Hanoi → Halong Bay – Le Journey Cruise (B, L, D)
2 stops
10
Hanoi
• 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
4 hours • Admission ticket free
11
Lan Ha Bay
• 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
6 hours • Admission ticket included
Day 9
Day 9: Halong Bay → Hanoi → Flight to Da Nang (B, L)
2 stops
12
Hạ Long Bay
• 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
5 hours • Admission ticket free
13
Hanoi
• 12:30 – 16:00: Transfer to Hanoi, flight HAN → DAD (approx 1h20). Evening arrival Da Nang.
4 hours • Admission ticket free
Day 10
Day 10: Marble Mountains – Bay Mau Coconut Forest – Hoi An Ancient Town (B, D)
3 stops
14
The Marble Mountains
• 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 hours • Admission ticket included
15
Bay Mau Coconut Forest
• 16:45 – 17:30: Bay Mau Coconut Forest (7 Mau) – basket boat ride through nipa palm waterways, crab fishing show.
1 hour • Admission ticket included
16
Hoi An Ancient Town
• 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.
3 hours • Admission ticket included
Day 11
Day 11: Hoi An Countryside Morning Bicycle Tour (B, L)
1 stop
17
Hoi An Ancient Town
• 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.
6 hours • Admission ticket included
Day 12
Day 12: Free & Leisure in Hoi An (B)
1 stop
18
Hoi An Ancient Town
Free day: Beach day at An Bang, or tailor fitting.
6 hours • Admission ticket included
Day 13
Day 13: Da Nang → Phu Quoc Island (B)
1 stop
19
Phu Quoc Island
• Morning flight DAD → PQC (via HCMC). Transfer to 3-star beach hotel. • Afternoon free.
6 hours • Admission ticket free
Day 14
Day 14: Phu Quoc Free Day (B)
1 stop
20
Phu Quoc Island
Free day: Optional: snorkeling, VinWonders, night market.
6 hours • Admission ticket free
Day 15
Day 15: Phu Quoc – Departure (B)
1 stop
21
Phu Quoc Island
• Morning leisure. • Airport transfer for international flight. End of services.
6 hours • Admission ticket free

Additional info

• 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

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