Non Touristy North Vietnam private tour – Discover hidden gems in Northern Vietnam

Day 1 : Hanoi city tour – Off the beaten track

Today, we’ll see the REAL Hanoi, away from the main tourists sites

8.00am : Take a car to the west part of the city.

Walking around the local areas to see backstreets, hidden cafes, old apartment buildings with only locals know. 

Check out the old and most famous pagodas in Hanoi to pray for love. You can also learn about Buddism in Vietnam through the eyes of a local. 

Your first glimpse of Hanoi local life starts there as you walk through a less-popular market where locals sell different items like flowers, plants, Bonsais shrubbery, birds, fish, other pets, and many more.

Wandering leisurely through the famous maze of crowded alleys and narrow streets that would eventually lead you to B52 lake. This is where you will find the Vietnam War wreckage of Captain Lewis’ crashed B52 and learn in-depths about Vietnam war for history lovers. 

Having lunch with local signature dishes that you can’t find in the Old Quarter of Hanoi.

After lunch, there are 2 options to choose from 

Option 1 : Kids-friendly option

If you have kids, this option is a great fun for them 

Then take a short drive to travel like a local on a fun local sky train ride for half an hour to see local sights from the windows of sky train.

Join tons of fun games and activities at Kidcity

Option 2 : Hanoi Old Quarter and French Quarter

If you walk along Phan Dinh Phung Street you will get a chance to view the gorgeous architecture of the French buildings. Further down you will be able to walk on the oldest bridge in Hanoi, the Long Bien Bridge also built by the French.

Check out narrow alleyways of the Old Quarter and learn more about the local living of Hanoians

If you are into local history, we can take you visit a local family who is living during the Vietnam war and learn more about the wall from the local sites.

Option 3 : For lovers, couples

See an amazing panoramic view of Hanoi at the top floor of Lotte Observation deck.

See Hanoi train street at less touristy spots.

Walk along lotus flower pathway (Sumertime from May to July only)

Day 2 : Hanoi farm tour in rural area – ZERO TOURISTS 

8.00am : Meet your tour guide and drive 45 minutes to our tour location

Stroll around the wet market to see fresh vegetables, fruits, herbs and meats.

Arrive in a host family and have a cup of green tea and enjoy fresh fruit with our host family.

Hands-on cooking experience and learn to make Deep fried spring roll (Nem Ran) . Then enjoy some local rice liquor and a tasty Vietnamese lunch with our host.

After lunch, short bike/walk 10 minutes to the fishing location.

You will learn how to fish with a fishing rod at a local farm with 10,000 square meters

After that, ride a bike ride around this quaint village to explore local life unfold, see some of the vegetable farms along the way.

Take a short walk around the bustling local wet market where you can see locals sell chickens and ducks in the cage, fresh meats and vegetables, family households and more.

A short walk/bicycle to the farming location

Get your hands dirty and join our farmers working on their vegetable field and take part in farming activities such as raking, sowing, and watering.

You can also learn about their technique of cultivating and growing techniques.

After farming, getting back to the hotel for an authentic Vietnamese lunch.

2.45pm Hop on the car and get back Hanoi in the afternoon around 3.30pm to finish this awesome  Hanoi farm tour

Day 3 : Less touristy Ninh Binh day trip )Lunch) 

7.30am : Pick up from Hanoi and drive 2 hours 40 minutes including 15 minutes toilet break along the way. Our first stop is
• Phat Diem Stone Cathedral. This stunning cathedral is particularly interesting as it incorporates European and local styles. You can also walk around the village around the cathedral and see “Mau Dich cafe” – a place that recalls the communist system subsidies in Northern Vietnam in the early 1970s. some of the buildings are closed during the weekdays. It may closes, if so, we will find nearby cafe. 

• Have lunch in a tourist-standard restaurant in the Galaxy Grotto area

• Board a sampan boat ride on a river for half an hour to reach the Galaxay cave area. Walk to explore the stunning beauty of the stalagmites and stalactites in different shapes and colors.

• Take another boat ride through the wet cave in a tranquil setting area.

3pm : Leave for Hanoi. Arrive in Hanoi around 6 pm (more or less the tour ends). 

Day 4 : Non touristy Bai Tu Long private day tour from Hanoi (Lunch) 

6.30 am : Pick up from your hotel in Hanoi and drive 3 hours and 15 minutes including a toilet break along the way to get to Ao Tien port. 

9.45 am : Arrive at the port. Show your original passport and visa for registration.
Board on a traditional junk to explore magnificent Bai Tu Long, cruise amongst amazing rock formations dated back 500 million years ago.Along the way, you could see lots of oyster farmsArrive at Ban Sen village after 2 hours cruising, Walk 10 -15 minutes around the pier area for taking photos and back to the cruise

Cruise to the nearby spot to take a kayaking around the area then swim around the floating house.
After that having late lunch around 1.30pm to 1.45pm. Then cruise over 1 hour

Enjoy lunch with local seafood onboard while the boat is cruising to Dong Trong island 

From the island, you can walk around the island and see some of floating houses on the otherside of the island.

For the view of top, you have to climb over 300 steps (but the steps is stepped and harder when you walk down) don’t suggest to go if it is raining and you don’t have a good health
3.45 to 4pm : Disembark Cai Rong port.
3.5 hours drive to get back Hanoi. Tours end around 7.30 to 8pm depending on the traffic

Note : If you do not wish to do kayaking, we can spend another hour to sit on the back of the motorbike to get around the island..

Day 5 : Hanoi – Mai Chau cycling (Lunch)
08h30: Depart from Hanoi, about 4 hours on the bus through National Road No 6. On the way, we have some stops for toilet break, roadside markets, viewpoints. The actual driving is only 3 hours and 15 minutes.
Arrive in Mai Chau, having set menu lunch in a local family (White Thai people) with local specialities
After that, going to your hotels check in and rest. Actually, it is quite hot during summertime, when you checkin, you can take a nap.
3.30pm. We are out for 2 hours bicycle ride along pathways via villages, rice fields, amazing limestone mountains.
Back to your hotel. Relax and have dinner on your own account.

Day 6 : Mai Chau – Pu Luong trekking (Lunch)
At around 8:00 am, Our guide will pick you up at your hotel in Mai Chau to go to Pu Luong Nature Reserve by bus, After 45 minutes of driving, you will reach Hang Village where you will have the first impression about Black Thai ethnic who have lived here since the 14th century. A group of immigrants from China and has variety in culture and stilt house is the most unique architecture. From Hang Village, you will keep going on the winding road with an impressive natural landscape to get Eo Ken Village where you can learn many interesting things about wet rice civilization on the terraced fields.
Having lunch in a local family
The car take you to Bang vilage, . This journey takeone and a half hour trekking, and we will arrive at Don village. Walking around Don village. (Pu Luong)
Trekking 5h to 5.5 hours.

Day 7 : short trek, Bamboo rafting, water wheel – Hanoi (Lunch)
8am : Take half an hour’s drive to Suoi Cham for bamboo rafting and short trek to waterwheels and see the waterwheels that Pu Luong is the most famous for.
Take 5 hours transfer (including 1 hour lunch break,toilet break).
Arrive Hanoi around 4.30pm to 5pm. Tour ends.

Included

Experienced English-speaking guide

Meals as mentioned itinerary (05 lunches)

Private boat in Bai Tu Long bay

Private car/minibus which is based on the group size

Entrance fees & activities 

Excluded

Drinks

Personal expenses

Tipping for tour guide and driver

Other meals not mentioned above