6 Days Trip including 2 in Ha Long Bay

A gorgeous tour off the beaten track, close to the country and its people. Stunning landscapes from the Northern Highlands to the Gulf of Tonkin. Lakes, rivers, jungles and ricefields, karstic peaks and the mythical beauty of Ha Long Bay. Freewheelin’tours proposes a unique loop tour for an intimate encounter with Vietnam.

Itinerary

North Vietnam discovery
 by Minsk 125 CC or car 6 days – 5 nights

Itinerary Distances / Timing Road Accommodation / Minorities
Hanoi – Vu Linh ~170km / ~5h Small countryside road Most of the way Dao Quan Trang Ecolodge
Vu Linh – Luc Yen ~ 80km

~3h

Small countryside road along

the meanders of the lake

Tay and Red Dao Homestay
Luc Yen – Bac Ha ~140km

~ 4h

Small countryside road Mountain road H’mong and Phu La Hotel
Bac Ha – Lung Phin – Lao Cai – Hanoi ~2x15km

~2h~80km

~3h

Night train

Mountain road 8km of tracks Night train

Departure 20h30 – Arrival 5h30

Hanoi – Ha Long ~170km

~3h30

Fast road Night on a junk
Ha Long – Hanoi ~170km

~3h30

Fast road
Description
  • Day 1 Hanoi – Vu Linh :

We then head towards Thac Ba Lake, the largest closed reservoir of northern Vietnam.

We are in the small village of Ngoi Tu on the bank of Thac Ba lake welcomed by the family and the students of our project : LaVieVuLinh, which includes education, culture, sustainable development and ecotourism.

In the afternoon, relax, enjoy the site, go boating on traditional Dao foot-rowboats or take a short walk around.

  • Day 2 Vu Linh- Luc Yen :

Less travel today, so there’s time to enjoy more of the lake this morning.

Afterward, we follow a magnificent road along the fjords of the lake, surrounded by sugar loaf hills and palm trees.

Then the road rises to the foothills around the lake providing stunning views, then descending to the valley of Luc Yen, located on the west end of the lake.

Luc Yen is a lively small town with its local economy activity based on mining and selling gems.

We stay overnight away from the city, in the stilt house of our Tay friends on the edge of a pond in the village below.

  • Day 3 Luc Yen – Bac Ha :

In the morning we pay a visit to friends, the Red Dao neighbors of the upper village, climbing 2 km on a path through jungle. This village has a matrilineal culture—don’t be surprised to see the men care for the children while the women drink rice wine!

Then we hit the road again, driving through Red Dao and Flower H’mong territories. Depending on the weather conditions, we drive on a dirt road along the Chay River.

We enter the magnificent mountain range between China and Vietnam.

  • Day 4 Bac Ha – Lung Phin – Lao Cai – Hanoi :

We drive to Lung Phin, 15 km from Bac Ha. We are developing a branch of our project LaVieVuLinh in partnership with a H’mong family there. Their house is located in the middle of a beautiful mountainous site, as yet undiscovered by other tours. This is an opportunity for you to discover the area from the inside while you give a boost to their local project.

At the end of the afternoon, we head towards Lao Cai. From there, we return comfortably to Hanoi by night train. Arrival around 5:30 am the next morning.

  • Day 5 Hanoi – Ha Long :

We leave Hanoi around 8 am by private car.

At noon, we board a comfortable wooden junk with double cabins and private bathrooms, a comfortable living room and deck with lounge chairs. We start the cruise with a delicious seafood lunch on the way to Bai Tu Long, the wilder, less touristic sister of Ha Long Bay.

The boat calmly glides between the karstic island of the mythical archipelago as you discover quiet, undeveloped beaches, caves and floating villages.

There you can enjoy kayaking and night fishing.

Spend the night on the boat.

  • Day 6 Ha Long – Hanoi :

Breakfast in a fabulous setting from another time.

We then cruise to Vung Vieng village, reaching the floating village by rustic rowboat where we meet the local people and visit their floating school and fish farm.

Then there’s time for a swim in the middle of the bay.

While we cruise back to Ha Long Harbor, lunch is served on board.

We disembark at noon, and return to Hanoi around 4 pm.

Services & Tariffs

Highlights :

  • 4 days motorbiking
  • 2 days cruise in mythical Ha Long Bay
  • Intimate encounter with the country
  • Wild and non-touristic itinerary
  • Most of the accommodations in homestay
  • Guide/mechanic

Accommodation in Hanoi the last night :

Double room + 50 usd

Single room + 40 usd

Visa :

Visa single entry 1 month + 70 usd

Airport transfer :

(Private car 4 seats + driver + petrol)

Noi Bai – Hanoi + 20 usd / car

Hanoi – Noi Bai + 20 usd/ car

Hanoi – Noi Bai – Hanoi + 40 usd / car

Optional complementary insurance (15 days):

Rate coverage

  • Option a: 55 usd until 35 000 USD
  • Option b: 70 usd until 65 000 USD
  • Option c: 85 usd until 100 000 USD

Price for 1 person by Minsk 125 CC or car*:

  • From 12 to 15 people : 540 usd

  • From 7 to 11 people : 610 usd

  • From 4 to 6 people : 630 usd

*car available only with a group bigger than 6 people

(possibility to ride a 250 CC motocross + 420 USD in addition of the price above – special mechanic in the car and spare parts)

From 7 to 15 people :

Included :

  • 1 guide + 1 mechanic
  • 1 car + driver + petrol + 1 extra motorbike + spare parts
  • 1 motorbike Minsk 125 CC each people + Insurance + petrol
  • Saddlebags 2×40 liters each motorbike + helmets
  • Accommodation during the trip and the cruise
  • Food during the trip and the cruise
  • 1 local guide in Lung Phin
  • Night train Lao Cai – Hanoi + motorbikes in the train
  • Transfer Hanoi – Ha Long – Hanoi
  • Private junk 2 days 1 night
  • All tickets and authorizations

Non included :

  • Drinks
  • Personal insurance
  • Personal expenses
  • Accommodation the last night in Hanoi (day 6)*
  • Transfer airport – Hanoi *
  • Visa*
  • All services not listed above

*Available if requested

From 4 to 6 people :

Included :

  • 1 guide/mechanic
  • 1 motorbike Minsk 125 CC each people + Insurance + petrol
  • Saddlebags 2×40 liters each motorbike + helmets
  • Accommodation during the trip and the cruise
  • Food during the trip and the cruise
  • 1 local guide in Lung Phin
  • Night train Lao Cai – Hanoi + motorbikes in the train
  • Transfer Hanoi – Ha Long – Hanoi
  • Private junk 2 days 1 night
  • All tickets and authorizations

Non included :

  • Drinks
  • Personal insurance
  • Personal expenses
  • Accommodation the last night in Hanoi (day 6)*
  • Transfer airport – Hanoi *
  • Visa*
  • All services not listed above

* Available if requested

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