DAY 1 : HA NOI- BUT THAP PAGODA- DONG HO- HA NOI

08H00. Departure by road to the Bút Tháp Pagoda which is located 30km from Hà-Nội in the province of Hà Bắc. It means tower shaped brush to write for calligraphy. It was built during the Lý dynasty. Its restoration was undertaken in 1990 with the help of Germany. It is the most beautiful and largest Buddhist temple in Việt-Nam. It is here that we find the most beautiful pieces of wooden sculpture of the 17th century (the statues of Tây Thiên Ðông Ðỗ Lịch Ðại Tổ and Quan Âm). After lunch on the spot. Continuation of road to visit the village of Dong Hoi which is famous for its popular engravings. His prints retrace the daily and spiritual life of the Vietnamese people. They are treated sober, sometimes naive, but still alive. This style is explained by the fact that these craftsmen were peasants who practiced this art only between two harvests. They engraved the images on wooden boards rotproof modest size. Some large prints require more than twenty boards assembled together. The printing was done on paper of different colors, obtained from bamboo, mulberry bark or rhamnonuron (giấy dó). Return by road to Hanoi. End of the excursion.
 

DAY 1 : HA NOI- PERFUME PAGODA (70km/ 1,5h drive)

08h00. Departure by road to the perfume pagoda, one of the most beautiful sites of Vietnam. Arrival and boat trip on the river. On the side of a limestone mountain are perched pagodas and temples whose architecture blends perfectly with a very lush nature. Depending on the itinerary, from the pier, a paddling sampan takes you to the Yen River in 1 hour at the foot of the Perfume Mountain, but according to the rules of the pilgrimage, you have to make a stop at temple of the Presentations to ask the genius-guardian of the places permission to continue the journey. Then it will take you 3 hours to climb up the stairs and reach the pagoda of the Scented Footprint, a huge cave where stalactites and stalagmites form candelabra and altars. Lunch on the spot. Return road to Hanoi. Arrival and end of the excursion.

08.00. Departure by road to Tam Coc. Arrival and boat trip on the river that meanders between karst hills and rice fields in a wonderful landscape "Halong Bay on land". Lunch on the spot. Continue to Nho Quan, from where you take a boat trip to the Kenh Ga floating village in the middle of a vast flooded area all year round. Visitors are seduced by the peaceful surroundings of the landscape and the authenticity of the isolated life of local people. Return road to Hanoi. Arrival and end of the excursion.

DAY 1 :

08.00. Departure by road to Hoa Binh Valley. We leave definitely the flat country delta for the mountainous region. The first rice terraces appear, lined with banana groves. The habitat is also changing radically. The countryside is dotted with thatched cottages, among which the Muongs house, which is recognizable by its sloping roof and low stilts. Continuation of road and arrival to the valley of Mai Chau towards noon, serene and splendid, below the road: it is a beautiful puzzle that looms the rice fields cultivated by white Thais, whose hamlets are scattered around the borough. Visit of the two villages Van and Lac. The expert fingers of white Thai women perform all kinds of weavings. Those in their group are based on combinations of lozenges or variations on wild bristles. Lunch at the inhabitant. Return road to Ha Noi. Arrival and end of the excursion.
 

Day 1: HANOI- HOA BINH- MAI CHAU (140km/ 3h drive)

08.00. Departure by road to Hoa Binh Valley. We leave definitely the flat country delta for the mountainous region. The first rice terraces appear, lined with banana groves. The habitat is also changing radically. The countryside is dotted with thatched cottages, among which the Muongs house, which is recognizable by its sloping roof and low stilts. Continuation of road and arrival to the valley of Mai Chau towards noon, serene and splendid, below the road: it is a beautiful puzzle that looms the rice fields cultivated by white Thais, whose hamlets are scattered around the borough. Visit of the two villages Van and Lac. The expert fingers of white Thai women perform all kinds of weavings. Those in their group are based on combinations of lozenges or variations on wild bristles. Lunch; dinner and overnight at the inhabitant (basic comfort). Option in the evening: show with Khene sound dances, and plenty of rice alcohol.
 
Day 2: MAI CHAU- HA NOI (140km/ 3h drive)

After breakfast at the inhabitant, departure by bike to visit the Mai Chau market, the villages of Thais and Daos. Lunch on site and return to Ha Noi. Arrival and end of the excursion.
 

Day 1: HA NOI- BA BE (250km/ 6h drive)

08H00. Departure by road for Ba Be through the mountainous regions of Tonkin. Stunning wild mountain scenery with terraced rice paddies, bamboo paddlewheels on both river banks. Lunch en route, then arrive at the pier Puocluong, boat trip on the Nang River which sneaks into a cultivated countryside before entering a landscape of Ba Be limestone cliffs, on the flank of which cling small wild gardens from which hang lianas and long roots in search of land. Sometimes earthy mounds are swallowed by the jungle, stained with blood-red cannas, marbled with silvery trunks, and old trees twist to lean over the river. The other attraction of navigation is the spectacle of fishing. Nasses line the course of the river, men throw the sparrowhawk, others hit the rocky banks to dislodge tiny shrimps. We enter the Puong cave-tunnel bank. The river runs only on one side, leaving a bank to admire on foot the stalactites of this avenue. Continuation of a boat trip in the enchanting scenery of Ba Be Lake; the lake "of the three seas" which stretches for 9 km long and a width of 100 to 1800 m, is at 145 m above sea level. It is at the end of 3 valleys that meet in an arc. Ba Be is not only a site for the imaginative, but also for nature lovers. Nearly forty species of mammals live there, as well as over a hundred species of birds and many butterflies. Visit Dau Dang waterfalls. Then continue boat to the village Pac Ngoi des Tay located not far from the lake on the hillside. The Tays who settled there live from fishing, rice growing and maize. Their houses on stilts, with thatched roof, pleasantly decorate the austere surrounding landscapes. Dinner and overnight at the inhabitant.

 
Day 2: BA BE- HA NOI (250km/ 6h drive)

After breakfast at home, walk to the village of Pac Ngoi des Tay. Then departure by road to visit a beautiful cave Hua Ma located 7 km from the lake. Continuation of road to Hanoi. Stops at pleasure to extend the legs, take pictures, or make contact with the villagers. Lunch en route Arrival and end of the excursion. 

Day 1: HA NOI – BA BE (250km/ 6h drive)

08H00. Departure by road for Ba Be through the mountainous regions of Tonkin. Stunning wild mountain scenery with terraced rice paddies, bamboo paddlewheels on both river banks. Lunch en route, then arrive at the pier Puocluong, boat trip on the Nang River which sneaks into a cultivated countryside before entering a landscape of Ba Be limestone cliffs, on the flank of which cling small wild gardens from which hang lianas and long roots in search of land. Sometimes earthy mounds are swallowed by the jungle, stained with blood-red cannas, marbled with silvery trunks, and old trees twist to lean over the river. The other attraction of navigation is the spectacle of fishing. Nasses line the course of the river, men throw the sparrowhawk, others hit the rocky banks to dislodge tiny shrimps. We enter the Puong cave-tunnel bank. The river runs only on one side, leaving a bank to admire on foot the stalactites of this avenue. Boat trip in the enchanting scenery of Ba Be Lake; the lake "of the three seas" which stretches for 9 km long and a width of 100 to 1800 m, is at 145 m above sea level. It is at the end of 3 valleys that meet in an arc. Ba Be is not only a site for the imaginative, but also for nature lovers. Nearly forty species of mammals live there, as well as over a hundred species of birds and many butterflies. Visit Dau Dang waterfalls. Then continue boat to the village Pac Ngoi des Tay located not far from the lake on the hillside. The Tays who settled there live from fishing, rice growing and maize. Their houses on stilts, with thatched roof, pleasantly decorate the austere surrounding landscapes. Dinner and overnight at the inhabitant (basic comfort).
 
Day 2: BA BE

After breakfast, we go for 2-hour walk to the villages of Lung Quang Tay and Keo Mo Dao. On the road there are beautiful landscapes of rice terraces, houses on stilts, buffaloes, ducks ... Then we continue to walk 2 hours on a small forest to Ban Lom, Ban Qua. At noon: Picnic. Then we continue 2 hours of walking through the villages Ban Chay, Coc Lung to find our village Pac Ngoi. Dinner and overnight at the inhabitant (basic comfort).
  
Day 3: BA BE- HA NOI (250km/ 6h drive)

After breakfast at home, departure by the small road that borders a small river to visit a beautiful cave Hua Ma located 7 km from the lake. Continuation of road to Hanoi. Stops at pleasure to extend the legs, take pictures, or make contact with the villagers. Lunch en route Arrival and end of the excursion.