Day 1:
Departing Hanoi at 8am and avoiding the A1, enjoy the astonishing country winding back roads with hardly any traffic, this journey is a wonderful introduction to the real Vietnam. 17km outside Hanoi we will take a short break to visit Sam Xuyen village for tea and to admire the 500 year old bonsai tree known as the gate tree. After admiring the rice paddies and the locals way of life we continue south. During the afternoon and just before arriving in Hoa Lu, we will enjoy lunch in a local restaurant, eating traditional dishes.
Continuing on the back roads we will eventually join onto the A1 for about 5km. We visit the relics of the ancient capital of Hoa Lu which contains the remains of the temples dedicated to King Dinh and King Le, two heroes who lived in 10th century and chose Hoa Lu to build the citadel of the capital city.
From here Tam Coc is only 25km and is a spectacular drive, characterised by precipitous old limestone that rise to elevations of around 400m. Scattered amongst these ridges are narrow valleys and pockets of igneous rock formations. After a long drive it’s just a matter of sitting in a boat rowed by one or two local people along Hoang Long River, which will run in total for several kilometres from Tam Coc and back. Tam Coc means three caves. The river banks are covered with the lush green grass that provide a delicious meal for the goats bred by the local
people. If you are lucky sometimes you can see mischievous monkeys. The river trip is wonderful for photo hunters, especially when local people come to harvest the water rice planted along the river or when they transplant some seedlings for the next crops. Visitors often compare Tam Coc to Guilin in China or to the limestone islets of Halong Bay in the Tonkin Gulf due to their similar geological structures and shapes. As a result Tam Coc is also known as Halong-Bay-On-Land.
We will spend the night in a local hotel.
Day 2:
Tam Coc - Phat Diem - Cuc Phoung 120km
At Phat Diem we can enjoy some of the local coffee and stroll around the home of a celebrated cathedral (1891), which is characterised by its vast dimensions and superb Sino-Vietnamese architecture, with a dash of European dressing for good measure.
We continue our journey to Cuc Phuong, stopping off for a local BBQ lunch in Sen Thinh. Cuc Phuong boasts an engaging cultural, wildlife, heritage and enchanting scenery. Upon arrival we visit the Primate Rescue centre then we ride 20km, through dense jungle to the park centre. On the way we have the opportunity to visit a cave where prehistoric people once lived. Through the exit of the cave there is a stunning view point of the surrounding jungle gripping to the waves of magnificent limestone mountains which rise up majestically from the green rice-terraces.
Spend the night in a stilt house.
Day
Day 3:
After Lunch we continue back to Hanoi via the Ho Chi Minh trail. The road is clear of traffic and is well maintained. The last part of the trip is surrounded by the dramatic bountiful harvest of soaring limestone mountains. There is a small off road track that runs for 1km and leads to a cave, that was used during the French war by the generals and their soldiers. It’s an easy climb up to where you can admire inside the cave itself and the view overlooking the farmland. We will arrive just before the rush hour of Hanoi’s busy traffic.
Tour Includes:
- Motorbike BT School (Basic Training)
- Motorbikes: Manual (Minsk-125cc) or Automatic (Scooter) – Semi automatic (Scooter): 01 bike/ person
- Helmet
- Motorbike jacket
- Rain gear
- Water proof bag for belongings
- Baggage rack
- English Speaking guide
Tour Excludes:
- Petrol
- Meals
- Accommodation
- Other personal expenses.
- Entrance fees
What to Bring:
It's best to keep it light. In general, the bag you take with you should be no more than 7 kilos/15 lbs and overall length around 50 cm.
- Sunglasses
- Good shoes for walking
- Cash with plenty of small change
- Other personal needs
