Mild Adventure North Vietnam - Exploring Cuc Phuong National Park 10 Days/9 Nights

On arrival at Noi Bai Airport, you are met and transferred to hotel. Ha Noi, Vietnam’s capital, is one thousand year old city with peaceful lakes, French styled buildings, old quarter streets, three lined boulevards, brightly painted temples and pagodas. Enjoy a short cyclos ride around the old quarter streets. O/N in Ha Noi.

A morning sightseeing tour of Ha Noi includes Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, the One Pillar Pagoda, the Temple of Literature well known as Vietnam’s first university, the Fine Art Museum and the beautiful lake of Hoan Kiem with its sacred temple. Then, we travel by road to Ha Long Bay. Overnight in Ha Long

Ha Long Bay boasts one of Vietnam’s most impressive scenic sights. This morning, we enjoy a four hour boat trip which provides a great opportunity to explore the picturesque scenery blending with the sky and some 3,000 limestone islands rising amazingly from the clear and emerald water. Along the way we will anchor for a leisurely swim in a secluded cove. After a seafoodlunch on board we return to Ha Noi, arriving in time to see an evening performance of Ha Noi’s famous water puppets. Overnight in HN.

Go to Cuc Phuong National Park (82km) , meet local rangers and guides, listen to trip instructions and prepare for the expedition. Before entering the forest, we will visit the primate rescue area to understand more about the research and rescue work of Cuc Phuong National Park.

Get in the car and continue to Bong where we will have lunch at a restaurant in the National Park before entering the forest. Our expedition and discovery have no specific schedule or specific starting or ending point. The local guide will decide which route to follow, where to start and where to end based on time, weather and signs of wildlife in the forest. Our walking routes are not always on existing trails, many parts we will have to pave our way through. Many surprises may lie ahead.

After a few hours of walking into the core of the forest, we will reach the campsite to sleep overnight. Before dinner, the rangers will take us to see the tracks of wild animals. Along the walking route, local forest rangers and guides will share with you knowledge about flora and fauna in the forest and ways to survive in the forest.

Our overnight location will be chosen by a local guide. Enjoy a delicious dinner by the campfire before going to bed

Note: trek distance: 6km - 7km, meals include: lunch, dinner

Dawn with the sounds of birds and insects. Enjoy hot coffee or tea and a full breakfast before breaking camp to continue exploring deep in the forest. Our guide can identify many things that we do not know such as animal tracks, medicinal plants or edible fruits. In addition, local guides can also identify poachers or animal traps in that area to warn or avoid that area. Today we will travel about 8km - 10km of forest road to reach the edge of the forest at a different point from the starting point. After leaving the forest, we walked about 2km to Bong to have lunch before getting on the bus back to Hanoi. End the program when you return to Hanoi.

Note: trek distance: 8km - 10km, meals include: breakfast, lunch

A short morning flight to Da Nang. Sightseeing of Hoi An which was originally a Cham seaport but has been influenced down centuries by a myriad of traders from various cultures. The tranquillity and charm of this town with its low tiled houses of Chinese appearance, Japanese covered bridge, brightly painted temples and pagodas make it one of Vietnam’s most delightful places. Overnight in Hoi An.

Heading north of Hoi An is Hué, the former imperial capital of Vietnam. The scenic route passes through Da Nang before climbing over the spectacular pass of Hai Van and dropping down to the picturesque fishing village of Lang Co. On our journey we make stops at the sensational Marble Mountains and the display of Cham’s sculpture. Upon arrival we take a boat trip on the Perfume River, stopping at the beautiful pagoda of Thien Mu and the mausoleum of Emperor Minh Mang, in the tranquil setting garden and lakes. Overnight in Hué.

The Imperial Citadel and the elaborate mausoleum of Emperor Tu Duc are also visited this morning before we board a flight south. An afternoon city tour of dynamic Ho Chi Minh City, still called Saigon by many locals, includes the Nôtre Dame Cathedral, Old Saigon Post Office, a lacquerware factory, the bustling Chinatown and Giac Lam Pagoda. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh.

After two hours by road from Ho Chi Minh’s bustling streets, we start venturing into the watery world of the Mekong Delta. As a highlight of the trip, we take a cruise along narrow waterways through the lush vegetation to an orchard garden where we have the opportunity to visit local homes as well as enjoy a lunch followed with seasonal fruits. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh.

Transfer to Tan San Nhat Airport for departure.