Northern Vietnam — Ba Be, Cao Bang and Ha Long Bay

Welcome to Hanoi

Noi Bai International Airport · Hanoi Old Quarter

Flights from the UK are arranged separately, so how much you see today depends on your arrival time.

• Arrival · Met at Noi Bai

  Your group is welcomed by your local guide at Noi Bai International Airport and transferred by private coach to the hotel in Hanoi.

• Afternoon · A first look at the capital

  Time permitting, a gentle introduction to Hanoi and a walk through the Old Quarter, with its busy markets, small shops and centuries-old streets.

• Evening · Welcome dinner

  The first meal together at a local restaurant.

History and craft in the capital

Ba Dinh · Temple of Literature · Bat Trang Pottery Village

• Morning · Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and One Pillar Pagoda

  A visit to the mausoleum of Vietnam's founding leader, then the nearby One Pillar Pagoda, one of the most recognisable temples in the country.

• The Temple of Literature

  Founded in the 11th century as Vietnam's first university. Its courtyards and the stone stelae listing successful scholars tell the story of the country's long respect for learning.

• Afternoon · Bat Trang Pottery Village

  Lunch, then out to Bat Trang on the Red River, where ceramics have been made for more than 700 years. Local artisans show students how pottery is made, and each student tries shaping a piece of their own.

• Evening · Dinner in Hanoi

  Back to the city in the late afternoon for dinner at a local restaurant.

Into the mountains

Hanoi · Ba Be National Park

• Morning · North to Ba Be

  A five-hour drive (about 250 km) north to Ba Be National Park: limestone mountains, dense forest and Ba Be Lake, one of Vietnam's largest natural freshwater lakes. Several ethnic minority communities have lived here for generations.

• Afternoon · Kayaking on Ba Be Lake

  After lunch, students take to the water among dramatic karst scenery. The session can run as a friendly team challenge, with a small environmental task built in: collecting floating litter from the lake as they paddle.

• Evening · Settle in at Ba Be

  Check in at the lodge and dinner together.

The Tham Phay Cave expedition

Ba Be National Park

The trek suits students with a reasonable level of fitness. We'll share full details so you can prepare your group.

• Morning · Trek and cave exploration

  With experienced guides, students trek 8–10 km along jungle trails and through limestone cave passages at Tham Phay, one of the most impressive cave systems in the region. Along the way they learn about rock formations, underground rivers and the local environment. It is a real physical challenge, and a great test of teamwork.

• Afternoon · Life with local families

  Back at the lodge near the cave entrance, students join local families for hands-on activities, such as basic farming or a Vietnamese cooking session.

• Evening · Dinner together

  A well-earned dinner with the group.

A day in the community

Villages around Ba Be National Park

• Morning · A village school visit

  Students spend the morning at a local school, meeting children of their own age and learning about daily life and education in rural Vietnam. Depending on what the school arranges, activities may include games, simple English exchanges, cultural sharing and small group tasks.

• Afternoon · Village life

  After lunch, more time in the village, learning about the traditions and daily routines of local ethnic minority families.

• Evening · Dinner at the lodge

  The last evening at Ba Be.

The craft villages of Quang Uyen

Ba Be National Park · Cao Bang · Quang Uyen

• Morning · Deeper into the north

  A four-hour drive (about 150 km) towards Quang Uyen in Cao Bang province, past limestone peaks, farmland and small villages.

• Afternoon · Traditional crafts, still in daily use

  Students visit several craft villages and meet the artisans who keep these traditions alive. Visits may include incense makers, a blacksmiths' village forging knives and farm tools, handmade paper from natural materials, and the yin-and-yang roof tiles seen on old houses across northern Vietnam.

• Evening · A village homestay

  Dinner and overnight at a homestay in the village area.

Ban Gioc Waterfall

Quang Uyen · Ban Gioc · Lang Son

• Morning · A waterfall on the border

  Ban Gioc is one of the largest waterfalls in Southeast Asia, cascading through limestone and forest on the border between Vietnam and China. Students walk the area and learn about the geography of the region and the falls' role as a landmark on an international border. If conditions allow, a short bamboo raft ride takes the group close to the base of the falls.

• Afternoon · South to Lang Son

  Lunch, then a scenic drive south through mountains and rural villages, arriving in Lang Son in the late afternoon.

• Evening · Dinner in Lang Son

  Dinner at a local restaurant and overnight in Lang Son.

A night on Lan Ha Bay

Lang Son · Ha Long · Lan Ha Bay

• Morning · To the coast

  The drive to Ha Long Bay, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Vietnam's best-known natural wonders.

• Afternoon · All aboard

  The group boards its boat and sails into Lan Ha Bay, a quieter and equally beautiful neighbour to Ha Long, with lunch on board among limestone islands and hidden lagoons. In the afternoon, activities may include kayaking, swimming, or exploring caves and beaches, all with an eye on the bay's unique marine environment.

• Evening · Overnight on board

  Dinner on the boat, then an evening together on deck as the bay goes quiet.

Cat Ba Island

Lan Ha Bay · Cat Ba Island

• Morning · Sunrise on the bay

  An early start to catch the calm of the morning, then a gentle cruise through the limestone formations with brunch on board.

• Afternoon · Free time on Cat Ba

  The group comes ashore on Cat Ba, the largest island in the bay. The afternoon is free to relax on the beach, swim, or explore the small town and island life.

• Evening · Dinner on the island

  Dinner at a local restaurant and overnight on Cat Ba Island.

Hospital Cave and the road to Ninh Binh

Cat Ba Island · Ninh Binh

• Morning · Hospital Cave

  A visit to Hospital Cave, which served as a secret hospital and shelter during the Vietnam War.

• Ngu Lam Peak, or the beach

  Students who enjoy a climb can take an optional trek through forest to the summit of Ngu Lam Peak in Cat Ba National Park, with panoramic views over the limestone hills. Others can spend a relaxed morning at the beach.

• Afternoon · Across to Ninh Binh

  After lunch, the group leaves the island for Ninh Binh, a region of dramatic limestone landscapes and quiet countryside, arriving in the late afternoon.

• Evening · Dinner in Ninh Binh

  Dinner at a local restaurant and overnight in Ninh Binh.

Cuc Phuong National Park

Ninh Binh · Cuc Phuong National Park

• Morning · The Endangered Primate Rescue Center

  Vietnam's oldest national park is a centre for biodiversity conservation. At the rescue centre, students learn how rare primates are rescued, rehabilitated and returned to the wild.

• The nature museum

  Displays on the park's ecosystem, wildlife and conservation work, bringing biodiversity and habitat protection to life.

• Afternoon · Into the forest

  After lunch, time permitting, a short walk along one of the park's forest trails to look for the plants and wildlife of the tropical rainforest.

• Evening · Back to Ninh Binh

  Dinner at a local restaurant and a second night in Ninh Binh.

Hoa Lu, Tam Coc and Mua Cave

Hoa Lu · Tam Coc · Mua Cave · Hanoi

• Morning · Hoa Lu, the ancient capital

  The temples of King Dinh and King Le at Hoa Lu, Vietnam's capital a thousand years ago, and fine examples of ancient Vietnamese architecture.

• Afternoon · Tam Coc by sampan

  Lunch in Tam Coc, then a two-and-a-half-hour boat trip by small sampan along a glassy river, past limestone cliffs, rice paddies and through the "three caves" that give Tam Coc its name.

• Cycling and Mua Cave

  A 45-minute cycle around the village to see local life, then almost 500 steps up Lying Dragon Mountain above Mua Cave for a panoramic view over Tam Coc.

• Evening · Last night in Hanoi

  Back to Hanoi in the late afternoon for a final dinner together.

Homeward bound

Hanoi · Noi Bai International Airport

• Morning · Free time in Hanoi

  Breakfast, then free time until the airport transfer: a chance to relax at the hotel or take a last walk around the neighbourhood.

• Departure · Transfer to Noi Bai

  Your driver takes the group to Noi Bai International Airport for the flight home.