Mai Chau to Bai Tu Long: Vietnam's Hidden Gems
Leisure Hanoi package holiday 8 days featured with deluxe overnight Halong Bay cruise, Ninh Binh sightseeing, Mai Chau easy trekking, Hanoi city tour. Check it
From $502 / person (private tour, price per person drops as your group grows)
Leisure Hanoi package holiday 8 days featured with deluxe overnight Halong Bay cruise, Ninh Binh sightseeing, Mai Chau easy trekking, Hanoi city tour. Check it Fully private and customizable, with your own guide and driver, honest online pricing, and cabin & pickup confirmed within 1 hour.
Day-by-Day Itinerary
Click any day to expand. “Stay” shows the accommodation on this route. Prefer to upgrade a hotel or cruise cabin? We’ll tailor it — and the price — in your free quote.
Day 1 — Hanoi
Welcome to Hanoi, walking tour in the Old Quarter. Upon your arrival at Noi Bai Airport , you'll be greeted by our guide and driver at the pickup lobby. You'll then enjoy a 45-minute drive to the heart of Hanoi , passing over the Red River, where you can catch a glimpse of the city's unique architecture and its famously bustling traffic.
Stay: Conifer Grand Hotel ★★★ (Deluxe Room) *or similar hotel
35km – 0.75h
Day 2 — Hanoi
Visiting a World Heritage, a city's museum, travel to French Quarter & Ho Chi Minh complex, leisurely walk around West Lake, the Old Quarter, enjoying water puppet show. 9:00 AM: Get pick up by tour guide to Temple of Literature which was built under the Ly dynasty in 11th century for worshipping Confucius and teaching Royal children. Enjoy a walk in the garden to the city's symbol Khue Van Cac. You will then visit the World Heritage "s tone steles " which shows the name of outstanding students. Continue to explore the Quoc Tu Giam which is considered as the first national university of Vietnam.
Stay: Conifer Grand Hotel ★★★ (Deluxe Room) *or similar hotel
Day 3 — Hanoi – Mai Chau
Excursion to Muong village, exploring Thai culture in Lac – Na Phon – Poong Com villages. 8:00 AM: Meet tour guide and driver then depart to Mai Chau . On the way, visit a Muong village. Continue to Thung Khe pass where you can view magnificent panoramic views of the valley before arriving in Mai Chau town. Mai Chau is a beautiful valley located 145 km away from Hanoi. It is great place with harmonious landscapes, green mountain ranges, rice terraces and White Thai ethnic villages.
Stay: Mai Chau Valley View Hotel ★★★ (Deluxe Valley view) *or similar hotel
145km – 3.5h
Day 4 — Mai Chau – Ninh Binh
Peaceful & authentic village of Mai Hich, leisurely walking, transfer to Ninh Binh. Enjoy breakfast in the peaceful land then travel to Mai Hich . Explore by bike (optional) or walk along the trails and concrete roads. You will be seduced by the gorgeous landscapes such as the villages, rice fields, mountains and streams which are in the perfect harmony with one another. Do not miss the opportunity to communicate with the friendly local people who are always willing to welcome you into their house to enjoy a cup of tea. Distance : approx. 6 km (walking) or 12 km (cycling)
Stay: Lalita Boutique Hotel ★★★★ (Deluxe Room) *or similar hotel
150km – 3.5h
Day 5 — Ninh Binh
Admiring Bai Dinh the giant pagoda & the World' Natural Heritage in Trang An by boat. 8:00 AM: Get transfer from your hotel to Trang An , recognized by UNESCO in 2014 as the world's first mixed heritage site, is a true marvel of nature and culture. Upon arrival at the pier, you'll board a private traditional sampan , gently rowed by a local. Glide along a poetic river and pass through a series of caves , some stretching 300-400 meters in length. Each bend reveals a hidden world nestled in peaceful, isolated valleys. Step off the boat to wander through serene pagodas and temples dedicated to revered mandarins of the Tran Dynasty. Then, return to your sampan and soak in the breathtaking natural beauty as you head back to the pier.
Stay: Lalita Boutique Hotel ★★★★ (Deluxe Room) *or similar hotel
Day 6 — Ninh Binh – Hanoi
Boat trip in Tam Coc, hiking to Bich Dong pagoda & visiting Hoa Lu ancient capital. Have breakfast at hotel then travel to Tam Coc , which has been well-known as the " Halong Bay on land " and appeared in famous French movie "Indochina". On arrival at the pier, you will take a private sampan boat for a ninety-minute cruise along Ngo Dong River. Pass through three caves and witness a stunning landscape interleaved by small communities, rice fields, cemetery and temples.
Stay: Conifer Grand Hotel ★★★ (Deluxe Room) *or similar hotel
100km – 2h
Day 7 — Hanoi – Halong Bay
Transfer to Halong bay, exploring Luon cave, swimming & hiking Titov Island, taking panoramic views. 8:00 AM: If transport is included, our driver will pick you up from your hotel in the heart of Hanoi. From there, we'll begin our journey to Halong City, enjoying a scenic drive through the picturesque Red River Delta. The trip takes approximately 2.5 to 3 hours, with a convenient stop along the way for restrooms if needed.
Cruise: Gray Line Cruise – 2D1N
160km – 3h
Day 8 — Halong Bay – Hanoi
Exploring spectacular Sung Sot cave, relaxing in the middle of the bay, getting back Hanoi, departure. 06:00: Waking up at dawn for morning exercise ( Tai Chi Quan ) or enjoying beautiful moments when a blazing sunrise breaks the clouds of the island on the bay (exercises are upon desire). 07:00: Light breakfast will be ready with cakes, bread, tea and coffee, noodle soup, etc. 07:45: Tender boat will pick us up to visit the Surprising (Sung Sot) Cave, discovered in 1901, and now being a must-to-see tourist attraction for its extensive space. After the rock formation and millions years of water erosion, the cave is now featured by hundreds of marvelous stalactites, stalagmites and grandeur stone chambers which are incomparable with any cave in Gulf of Tonkin. (Shoes, sandals and convenient clothes are recommended to visit the Cave). 09:15: Coming back to our cruise for freshening check-out. We can enjoy drink and sunbath on the half-open-air sundeck of the Gray Line. 10:30: Enjoying a tasty farewell buffet lunch while the boat continuously cruises back the harbor. 11:30 : Time for us to say good bye with the Crew, check out the cruise.
Cruise: Gray Line Cruise – 2D1N
160km – 3h
What’s Included
Included
- Accommodation as listed, with daily breakfast
- Halong Bay cruise: Gray Line Cruise – 2D1N
- Private English-speaking guide throughout
- Private air-conditioned car & driver
- Entrance fees & permits in the itinerary
- Meals: Breakfast: 07, Lunch: 06, Dinner: 01
- 02 bottles of water per person per day on tour
- 24/7 WhatsApp · cabin & pickup confirmed within 1 hour
Not Included
- International flights
- Vietnam e-visa (~$25)
- Travel insurance (required)
- Drinks, tips & personal expenses
- Optional activities not listed
- Meals not specified
Pricing
Private tour, price per person — it drops as your group grows (your own guide & car are shared). Pick your group and room type for an indicative from-price; your exact price for specific dates (seasonal, only ~7% either way) is confirmed within 1 hour on WhatsApp.
| Group size | Sharing twin/double | Private single |
|---|---|---|
| 1 traveller (solo) | — | $1,440 |
| 2 travellers | $776 | $985 |
| 3 travellers | $669 | $878 |
| 4 travellers | $590 | $799 |
| 5 travellers | $557 | $766 |
| 6 travellers | $523 | $731 |
| 7 travellers | $502 | $711 |
| 8 travellers | $516 | $725 |
Indicative from-prices (season varies ~7%). Single traveller = private single room. Child (2–11, sharing): reduced rate · Infant (<2): free — confirmed in your quote.
Good to Know
Is 8 days enough to enjoy this route?
Yes — this 8-day private itinerary is paced so you see Hanoi and more without rushing. We can shorten or extend any part to fit your dates.
Best time to travel?
March–April and October–November are the most reliable nationwide. Northern Vietnam is cool and dry December–February. We’ll advise the best dates for your route.
Can I customize it?
Fully — change hotels, upgrade your cruise cabin, add or remove stops. It’s a private tour built around you.
How do I pay?
After we agree your itinerary we send a secure online payment link. Cabin & pickup confirmed within 1 hour, honest local pricing.
Get your free, no-obligation quote
Tell us your dates and what you’d like — Ava replies within 1 hour with a tailored itinerary and honest pricing. No payment now; you only pay online once you’re happy.
— or get an instant reply on WhatsApp —
