THE NORTH - BEAUTY OF NATURE
As Vietnam fans out above Hanoi towards the Chinese and Laos borders, it attains its maximum width of 600km, the majority of it a mountainous buffer zone wrapped around the Red River Delta. Much of the region is wild and inaccessible, yet it contains some of Vietnam’s most awe-inspiring scenery, sparsely populated by a fascinating mosaic of ethnic minorities. Most popular for visitors is the northwest region where the country’s highest mountain range and its tallest peak, Fan Si Pan. Within the shadow of Fan Si Pan lies Sapa, an easily accessible former French hill station, famous for its minority peoples and for its superb scenery with opportunities for trekking out to isolated hamlets. If you follow the scenic route back to Hanoi, passing through Son La, Moc Chau and Mai Chau, the atrractions of these places are consideres as a big reward for your precious driving time
The little-travelled provinces east of the Red River Valley also deserve attention, especially the stunning scenery and mountain people in the border area of Ha Giang and Cao Bang provinces. The northeast region also features Ba Be National Park, where Vietnam’s largest natural lake hides among forested limestone crags and impenetrable jungle. Not surprisingly, infrastructure throughout the northern mountains is poor. However, this area is becoming increasingly popular with tourists as we organize new tours and independent travellers venture into uncharted terrain by jeep or motorbike. Whether you travel by public transport or with your own vehicle, you need to allow around six days’ actual travelling time to cover the northwestern region. Touring the entire northeast also requires at least six days including Ha Giang Province, but more if you want to spend time on Ba Be Lake, or visit Pac Bo Cave or Ban Gioc Waterfall near Cao Bang. Combining the northwest and northeast loops gives you an unforgettable two weeks of exploration
Down to the East from Hanoi, Ha Long Bay, located in the Gulf of Tonkin, is about 165 km from the capital city. Covering an area of 43,400 ha and including over 1600 islands and islets, most of which are uninhabitated and unaffected by humans, it forms a spectacular seascape of limestone pillars and is an ideal model of a mature Karst landscape developed during a warm and wet tropical climate. The property’s exceptional scenic beauty is complemented by its great biological interest. If you have a limited time, a day trip with 4 hours crusing on bay will be fine. Otherwise, There is no better way to experience the most stunning scenery of one of the bays by a journey of 2-3 days cruise. This trip will include sightseeings to the magnificiant Bai Tu Long bay, Vung Vieng Floating Fishing Village, Lan Ha islet, Titov beach... Further, a short trekking trip to Cat Ba National park can be combined if you get generous timetable
Go to the south from Halong about 90KM, you will meet a beautiful natural setting in Ninh Binh province known as the Ha Long Bay on land and Tam Coc. This is a zone of Vietnam that elapses between rice paddies, bathed by the Ngo Dong River punctuated by karstic rock formations and limestone caves. More accessible than her older sister, Halong Bay, Tam Coc which squanders spectacular landscapes and exoticism, do not get to seize the throne of the major tourist attraction of Vietnam for travelers.
The Tam Coc experience begins with a sailing in small rowing boats, called sampan, with capacity for 4 persons, by the Ngo Dong River. By touring through the natural park will contemplate rock formations, we go through caves, visit pagodas and remains of monuments and buildings of times of the Vietnam's legend.