Northern Vietnam

Vietnam’s charismatic capital may be expanding and modernizing at an extraordinary pace, but it’s still a great city to explore on foot. Surrounded by parks and tranquil lakes, the heart of the city is a medieval Old Quarter – one of the most atmospheric square kilometres in all of Asia – where traditional craftsmen ply their trade in narrow alleyways lined with antique tube and shop-houses.

Uptown, colonial mansions and relaxing cafés flank the boulevards and leafy shores of Hoan Kiem Lake, but the prime attraction in the wider city is Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum, where the Great Leader’s remains are embalmed in a sombre marble tomb. Other iconic landmarks include the 11th century One Pillar Pagoda, and Temple of Literature a feast of medieval Vietnamese architecture erected in 1070 AD.

Set amid a maze of formal gardens and fig trees, the Temple of Literature is a particular delight in the morning, when you might see local students dressed in embroidered silk ao dai dresses praying for good exam results at the shrine of Confucius. Next up is the Mausoleum of Ho Chi Minh and his rather less imposing stilted home on the nearby lake.

After a busy day’s sightseeing, unwind in one of the city’s traditional Vietnamese restaurants, or catch a performance of old-style puppetry, where performers stand waist-deep in water wielding elaborate fire-breathing dragons and other ornate figures to a soundtrack of exotic live music.

The remote Mai Chau Valley, a couple of hours’ drive out of Hanoi in the lower reaches of the Truoung Son Mountains, makes an excellent base for treks into the nearby hills, inhabited by a mix of ethnic minority communities, including the H’mong and Thai. You’ll have opportunities to meet local people and go for extended cycle rides through rice fields and villages of wooden stilt houses in which the livestock are stabled on the ground floor.

In the evenings, be sure to sample rice wine, or ruou can, drunk communally from large jars using bamboo straws – the perfect primer for sessions of traditional music and dance.

Around six million minority people inhabit the northern provinces of Vietnam that border Laos and China. Amongst the most numerous are the Muong and Thai in the northwest. Originally migrants from southern China, they are distinguishable by their varied and colourful forms of traditional dress. Experienced guides are essential - apart from translating and advising on etiquette, they’ll also help you to learn a few phrases in the local dialects. Guides employed by TransIndus are chosen for their expertise on the region and its people.

This walk, approximately 4 hours, takes you along dirt tracks and paths through the surrounding villages and farmland. See people working the fields with their buffalo framed by scenic mountain landscapes with the occasional stop to talk to the friendly locals and perhaps even take a peek inside their homes.

Built into dramatic limestone outcrops in the middle of lush green rice fields, Thay Pagoda, known as Thien Phuc (Heavenly Blessing), is dedicated to Thich Ca Buddha. In front of the main pagoda is a small stage on stilts, where water puppet shows are staged during festivals. A small path leads up the rock to a smaller pagoda perched above. Tay Phuong Pagoda, also known as Sung Phuc Pagoda, consists of three buildings built in descending sequence on the hillside. The earliest construction here dates from the 8th century.

Often dubbed “Halong Bay on land”, Tam Coc is the area’s highlight. Meaning “three caves” you will pass under Hang Ca, Hang Giua and Hang Coi caves as your metal sampan, all rowed by women, glides past green rice fields and lotus ponds, with a backdrop of the spectacular karst mountains.

Also worth a detour are the ruins of Emperor Tien Hoang De’s imperial capital at Hoa Lu, where jungle-draped limestone hills serve as a backdrop for ancient citadels, temples and impressive fortifications.

Rising in majestic fashion from the northern shore of Vietnam, the karst limestone formations of Halong Bay create a unique, spellbinding landscape. Around 2,000 islands, islets, outcrops and towering mountains, draped in vegetation and riddled with grottoes, soar above the green-blue waters of the Gulf of Tonkin.

A fleet of converted junks guide visitors around the finest viewpoints and beauty spots, the most popular of them grouped on the western side of the bay, which is best visited on an overnight excursion from Halong City (the area’s main hub). However, to reach the lesser frequented caverns, lagoons and beaches on the more distant and quieter shores, we recommend a longer cruise of at least two nights and three days.

For early risers, there will be a Tai Chi demonstration on the sundeck at dawn, followed by breakfast in the restaurant as The Au Co cruises towards the centre of the bay and Cat Ba Island.

After a busy afternoon. return to The Au Co for some time at leisure to relax or try the jacuzzi and onboard spa. Later, participate in a cooking and fruit carving demonstration on the sundeck and enjoy a real highlight on the trip – a BBQ dinner on deck.

Trinh Nu Cave - one of the finest sunlight-filled caves in Halong Bay and covering an area of 2,000sqm - has a stunning assortment of stalactites and stalagmites. Enjoy a swim in the jade-coloured waters or sunbathe on a private beach nestled behind the cave.

As an alternative to heading straight back to Hanoi for your overnight flight, we suggest spending a night at the unique Yen Tu Mgallery, only an hour drive from Halong Bay. This superb mountain retreat is the perfect spot to relax at the end of your tour or explore the Yen Tu mountain, and allows you to maximise your time in Vietnam.

Situated within the immense arched mountain range of north-eastern Vietnam, the sacred Yen Tu Mountain is the cradle of Truc Lam Zen Buddhism in Vietnam and at its peak, 1,068m above sea level, stands the Dong Pagoda. The majesty of the mountains dotted with the peaceful ancient pagodas makes it a popular place for trekking and religious pilgrimages.