North Vietnam Bird Watching & Adventure Tour – 10 Days

Day 1: Hanoi Arrival (D)

On arrival at Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi, you will be our Cozy Vietnam Travel’s guide and driver then transfer to hotel for check-in. The rest of the day is your leisure. Overnight in Hanoi

Day 2: Hanoi – Tam Coc – Hoa Lu – Cuc Phuong National Park (B, L, D)

After breakfast, you will be transferred to Ninh Binh in the south of Hanoi. Stop at Tam Coc to enjoy lunch at a local restaurant. In the afternoon, sit on a sampan paddling downstream the river to behold the sensational sceneries of the “Halong Bay on the ground”.

Return to the boat dock and travel to Hoa Lu – the Vietnamese ancient capital in the 10^th century for a sightseeing tour at old temples and historical constructions. Then move to Cuc Phuong National Park. Overnight at the park.

Day 3: Cuc Phuong National Park – Bird Watching (B, L, D)

Spend this day watching rare birds preserved in Cuc Phuong National Park by traveling about 20km through tropical rain forests to Bong Station. Here you can see not only endangered bird species but also giant trees of more than 1000 years old. Overnight in Bong Bungalow.

Day 4: Cuc Phuong National Park Adventure Tour – Hanoi (B, L)

Wake up this morning among the ambiance filled by the sound of birds. Continue the trip by a trekking tour through the lush rainforest to find other bird species. Explore the endangered primate rehab center with over six species of gibbon from Vietnam forests and then the turtle endangered species rehab center with both water and forest turtles being saved and bred. Then get back to the vehicle and overnight in Hanoi.

Day 5: Hanoi Free Day (B)

The morning is your free day. Then transfer to Pan Pacific Hotel to sit the 20^th-floor of its restaurant and enjoy the panoramic view of Hanoi in the sunset. After that, immerse the cultural values through the music show at the hotel.

Day 6: Hanoi City Tour (B, L)

After breakfast, visit Tran Quoc Pagoda considered as the biggest pagoda in Hanoi. Then move to Temple of Literature originally built as the construction to Confucius and the first university in Vietnam. Its yard is now maintaining the name of people passing the Ph.D. examinations in over 700 years which are engraved in stone monuments.

In the afternoon, visit Hoa Lo Museum, the “Hanoi Hilton” used for nearly 100 years by French to imprison and torture Vietnamese people. Afterward, sightsee Hanoi Ethnology Museum to see the long-established history and diverse cultures of more than 50 Vietnamese ethnic minority groups. Overnight in Hanoi.

Day 7: Hanoi – Halong Bay Cruise Trip (B, L, D)

After breakfast, you will be picked up at the hotel and transfer to Halong Bay, the World Natural Heritage Site recognized by UNESCO thanks to its beautiful limestone mountains and miraculous caves.

Upon your arrival at Tuan Chau pier, you will be welcome by the cruise’s team and served by lunch of seafood. In the afternoon, move to a small boat trip or a kayak to explore the Rocky Dog, Incense Burner, and Fighting Cock Islands. Stop at Surprising Cave and explore its hundreds of gorgeous stalactites.

After exploring the caves, reach Titop Island for swimming and climbing up to the top of its mountain to get the panoramic view of Halong Bay. Return to the cruiser at about 5 pm. Take a short rest before ending the excursion at Tuan Chau Wharf at 6 pm. Travel back to Hanoi then. Overnight in Hanoi.

Day 8: Hanoi – Perfume Pagoda (B, L)

Leave the hotel this morning to journey west to Perfume Pagoda. It is the vast complex of Buddhism shrines and temples constructed in the Huong Tich limestone mountain. The main and most important festival of Perfume Pagoda begins in the first three months of the Lunar New Year with a lot of pilgrims and traditional activities.

First, take a sampan paddling downstream Yen River to get to Thien Tru Pagoda and the peak of the mountain. The heart of Perfume Pagoda, Huong Tich cave, is situated inside the Inner Temple owning a dragon’s mouth with the Chinese words translated into English “The best cave of the Southern country”. This mysterious cave is the rich mix of a variety of stalactites and stalagmites throughout millions of years of formation and development.

Afterward, chose a cable car to reach the top of the mountain to enjoy the scenic beauty from the height of Perfume Pagoda. Get in the vehicle and transfer back to Hanoi after lunch. Overnight in Hanoi.

Day 9: Hanoi – Mai Chau (B, L)

After breakfast, drive 160km out of Hanoi to Mai Chau Valley, the rustic district of Hoa Binh province. Enjoy the welcome lunch on a traditional stilt house of Thai ethnic minority group at Pom Coong Village, which is made from bamboo and timber and listen to interesting stories of their cultures and traditions told by the locals.

In the afternoon, stroll around the village to visit paddy fields, schools to see hardworking farmers as well as friendly and lovely students. Continue to explore the pristine villages and untouched nature then get in the car at the sunset and return to Hanoi. Overnight in Hanoi.

Day 10: Hanoi Departure (D)

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel today then move to the airport for your homecoming fight. 10-day north Vietnam tour ends.