Your Travel Experience with ARRIVAL
Day 1
Arrive Hanoi, Eat the Streets
Welcome to Hanoi – a thrilling tangle of scooters, sizzling street food and colonial charm. After a smooth pickup, settle into your hotel in the Old Quarter. As night falls, dive into the city’s food scene: tiny stools, cold bia hoi and dishes that don’t need translating. It’s chaotic, noisy, delicious.
Day 1 - 3
Tirant Hotel, Hanoi (or similar)
Set in the heart of the Old Quarter, Tirant is your comfy, air-conditioned base between adventures. Step outside into Hanoi’s chaos or retreat upstairs to the rooftop bar for skyline views and a sunset cocktail. Walkable to markets, cafés and train street – it’s location perfection.
Day 2
Hanoi Old Quarter Tour
Explore Hanoi’s buzzing heart on foot and by cyclo. You’ll weave through lantern-lit alleys, sip egg coffee, and sample street eats shoulder-to-shoulder with locals. Hear the city’s soundtrack of sizzle and scooters, visit temples and train tracks and experience the capital’s chaos in full colour.
Day 3 - 4
Renea Cruise, Bai Tu Long (or similar)
A boutique wooden junk boat that brings Bai Tu Long’s magic to life. Enjoy fresh seafood feasts, kayak to hidden lagoons and unwind with sunset drinks on deck. With cosy cabins and a slow travel pace, Renea is your floating home.
Day 3
Bai Tu Long Cruise
Cruise through Bai Tu Long Bay aboard a boutique junk boat. Paddle into quiet lagoons, visit limestone caves and try your hand at squid fishing. A cooking class offers a taste of Vietnamese flavours, while sundowners on deck set the mood. Less crowded than Halong, this bay is all about calm and beauty.
Day 4 - 5
VIP Sleeper Bus (Hanoi to Ha Giang)
Board your overnight VIP sleeper bus and glide north into the mountains. Expect lie-flat beds, privacy curtains, Wi-Fi and a surprisingly smooth ride. It’s not luxury, but it’s cosy and efficient – you’ll drift off to roadside scenes and wake up in a whole new world.
Day 5 - 6
Ecostone House, Dong Van (or similar)
Perched in the northern mountains, this rustic stay offers warm hospitality and stunning scenery. Share home-cooked meals with your hosts, swap stories with fellow travellers and wake to cool mountain air. Simple, soulful and right in the heart of Dong Van.
Day 5 - 8
Ha Giang Loop
Embark on Vietnam’s most epic motorbike ride with your guide at the handlebars. Wind through misty passes, past minority villages and rice-terraced valleys. From rugged peaks to warm homestays, this four-day ride brings wild landscapes, cultural encounters and a sense of freedom you won’t forget.
Day 6 - 8
Du Gia Panorama (or similar)
Valley-hugged bungalows with misty morning views, breezy balconies, and hammocks built for lazy hours. Dinner is home-cooked and shared family-style, while stars sparkle overhead. It’s peaceful, pared-back and the perfect reset after days on the road.
Day 6
Ma Pi Leng Skywalk Hike
Lace up for the Skywalk: a dramatic footpath clinging to the ridgeline above Tu San Canyon. It’s a thigh-burner with views that make your heart race – steep drops, river-carved valleys and sharp limestone spires all around. Not keen to hike? A gentler scenic route is available nearby.
Day 7
Du Gia Waterfall Chill-Down
Time to exhale. This relaxed day in the lush village of Du Gia is made for recharging – take a short jungle walk to a waterfall, dive into the clear water, or stretch out in a hammock with a book. Surrounded by rice terraces and quiet life, it’s a chance to soak in everything you’ve seen so far.
Day 8 - 9
VIP Sleeper Bus (Ha Giang to Hanoi)
After a final ride through the highlands, you’ll board your overnight VIP sleeper bus back to the capital. Lie back in your pod-like bed, pull the curtain and drift off as mountain roads give way to city lights. One last chance to reflect before Hanoi sweeps you back in.
Day 8
Lung Tam Weaving Encounter
Meet the weavers of Lung Tam, a H’Mong cooperative preserving age-old techniques. See how hemp is grown, spun, dyed with natural indigo and woven into beautiful, symbolic textiles.
Day 9 - 10
Tirant Hotel, Final Night (or similar)
Set in the heart of the Old Quarter, Tirant is your comfy, air-conditioned base between adventures. Step outside into Hanoi’s chaos or retreat upstairs to the rooftop bar for skyline views and a sunset cocktail. Walkable to markets, cafés and train street – it’s location perfection.