Vietnam Trail Adventure

Itinerary

Key Features

• Run an ultra marathon (70km) marathon (42km)/half marathon (21km) ​or 10km in Moc Chau, surrounded by tea plantations, ethnic ​communities, and peach blossom forests.
  
• Overnight cruise in Lan Ha Bay.
  
• Experience the scenic beauty of Mai Chau's valley.
  

Ideal for

• Loved ones accompanying a Vietnam Trail Marathon participant.
  
• First- or second-time visitors to Vietnam.
  
• Those seeking a perfect blend of vibrant city life and unspoiled natural ​landscapes in Northern Vietnam.
  

Xin Chao and Welcome to Hanoi. Upon arrival, welcome you to the ​capital before heading straight to your hotel in the heart of the city. ​After freshening up at your hotel, the rest of your day is yours to ​explore or relax.

Included meals: N/A

Distance: 45 minutes transfer

Overnight at Silk Path Hotel Hanoi

8th Jan

Day 2: Hanoi- Half Day Hanoi Highlight & Hidden Gem on ​Vintage Jeep

Visit the top attractions of Hanoi – Ho Chi Minh Complex, Temple of ​Literature, French Quarter, Old Quarter, Long Bien Bridge, Westlake.

• Explore the hidden gems of Hanoi, featuring with the maze of tiny ​backstreets and local people’s daily life.

• Diving into the local culture where local people live and work.

• Experience the REAL Hanoi as it is what it is, featured with the ​Good, the bad & the weird of the places.

Part 1: Hanoi Highlights: (2 hours)

7:30 AM You will be greeted by the tour guide and driver at your hotel lobby ​we then ride to Ho Chi Minh Complex to have a quick visit to Ho chi Minh ​mausoleum – the Mecca of Vietnamese, Ba Dinh square, Presidential Palace, ​Ho Chi Minh Residential area and One Pillar Pagoda. After that, we move to ​Temple of Literature, a 1000-year-old iconic architecture of Hanoi to learn ​about Vietnamese long-standing culture and history.

Part 2: Hanoi Hidden Gems: (2.5 hours)

Explore the parts-unknown of Hanoi by riding through the maze of ​zigzagging backstreet and narrow alleyways and markets. Diving into the ​rivers of motorbikes and Hanoi street symphony. Traveling with all your ​senses heightened: Watching, Hearing, Touching, Tasting and smiling. ​Experiencing the GOOD, the BAD, and the WEIRD of the city as it is what it is. ​Experiencing different slides of life behind the scene, the hidden part of the ​iceberg. Meeting people where they live, work, learn and pray. Building ​personal connections and culture exchanges.

Afternoon is free for your own exploration in the city

Included Meals: Breakfast

Overnight at Silk Path Hotel Hanoi

9th Jan

Day 3: Hanoi- Mai Chau

8 AM Leave the city behind as your journey 3 hours southwest ​through the verdant rice fields, shallow mountains, and lush ​valleys of Hoa Binh Province. Pause at the Muong Culture ​Museum, an excellent showcase of the Muong people with ​informative exhibits on art, culture, traditions, and architecture. ​There’s even a playground on-site made entirely from bamboo–a ​perfect way for kids to work off some energy before the remaining ​90-minute journey to Mai Chau.

Upon arrival to Mai Chau, check-in to hotel. Rest of the day is free ​and relaxation.

Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Distance and activities: 3h transfer – 1h museum visit

Overnight at Mai Chau Hideaway

Spend the morning at leisure in Mai Chau.

Early afternoon transfer to the highlands of Moc Chau, where the ​Vietnam Trail Marathon (VTM) will take place.

Collect your bib package from the VTM EXPO at Muong Thanh Luxury ​hotel, and then join the carb-load party from 18:00-20:00.

The opening ceremony for the Vietnam Trail Marathon will run from ​19:00-21:00, with music, dancing and a bonfire as well as a race briefing, ​giving you more opportunities to meet your fellow runners.

Included meals: Breakfast

Distance and activities: 1h20′ transfer – 2h opening ceremony

Overnight at Glenda Tower Moc Chau Hotel

6:30AM Transfer from your hotel to Muong Thanh Holiday Moc Chau ​Hotel

07:00 AM - START 21km race from Muong Thanh Holiday Moc ​Chau Hotel

Enjoy the run through tea plantations, flowering peach blossoms, pine ​trees, and ethnic minority villages on your 21k run.

The Winners’ and Farewell ceremony will take place between 13:00-​17:30 depending on the race you’ve run.

Đồi chè Trái Tim (the heart-shaped tea-hill) - Finish Area:

10:00 Winner Ceremony: 10km & 21km Đồi chè Trái Tim - Finish Area

12:00 Winner Ceremony: 42km & MALE 70km Đồi chè Trái Tim - Finish Area

16:00 Winner Ceremony: FEMALE 70km Đồi chè Trái Tim - Finish Area

Transfer from Finish Area back to your hotel to rest your muscles after such ​an eventful day.

Included meals: Breakfast, Finisher's Meal

Distance and activities: Depends on race distance

Overnight at Glenda Tower Moc Chau Hotel

12th Jan

Day 6: Moc Chau- Ninh Binh

8:30 AM Depart Moc Chau after breakfast and make the journey to ​Ninh Binh, arriving in the early afternoon.

Check-in to your Hotel and enjoy the rest of the day at leisure.

Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Distance and activities: 5h transfer

Overnight at Emeralda Tam Coc

13th Jan

Day 7: Ninh Binh- Hoa Lu- Tam Coc

8:30 AM Ninh Binh remains one of Vietnam’s most captivating ​locations, combining stunning natural splendor with an engrossing ​history that spans a millennium.

Hoa Lu, established a thousand years ago, was the capital of Vietnam ​under the Dinh and Le dynasties. The sights and smells still evoke the ​atmosphere of a lost kingdom, with stunning temples and pagodas ​built by the different dynasties and elaborate tombs to ​commemorate them. You’ll also uncover evidence of ancient palaces ​and royal pavilions that reference an ancient era, surrounded by ​towering karst mountains and vivid jungle. Take a bicycle and dive ​into Tam Coc and adjacent countryside, passing small villages and ​bright green rice paddies along the way.

Ninh Binh is famous for its river cruises – and with good reason. ​Various snaking rivers meander around sky-high karst mountains ​covered in lush jungle. Some parts of the river are home to birds and ​butterflies, whereas other sections are designated spots for water ​farming. Take small sampan rowed by a local in Tam Coc Cave.

You will be transferred back to your hotel in Ninh Binh for overnight.

Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Overnight at Emeralda Tam Coc

7:30 AM the driver will pick you up at hotel and transfer you to Halong.

12:00 The crew members of Peony Cruises will welcome you at No.34, ​Tuan Chau.

12:30 You will be taken aboard our support vessel and travel from the ​wharf via the bay to board our luxurious craft, Peony Cruises. Itinerary ​briefing is announced during this time.

13:00 Welcome fresh drinks, wet towels and a special lunch of fresh ​food and an assortment of appetizing delicacies will be served. You ​will be enchanted when decadently dining on our luxury junk. Life just ​doesn't get better than this!

We then set sail for Lan Ha Bay - A member of the World’s Most ​Beautiful Bays. Enjoy the delicious luncheon of fresh seafood and an ​assortment of appetizing. delicacies while cruising along Lan Ha bay ​with the breathtaking scenery.

15:30 Visiting Tra Bau area where has known as an area famous for its ​unspoiled, poetic natural beauty and attractive seascape of Lan Ha Bay. ​This is the best time for kayaking to discover the truest beauty of the ​limestone islands. Immerse yourself in the emerald green water of the bay ​or enjoy the Jacuzzi pool on the Peony Cruises.

17:30 - 18:30 Joining us for Cooking demonstration to learn how to make ​one of the most famous Vietnamese cuisines, the spring rolls. Or reach the ​top deck of cruise where the guests can admire the magnificent sunset ​over the Gulf of Tonkin.

Enjoy a Happy Hour time – BUY ONE GET ONE FREE at the bar. It is an ​ideal time for photography enthusiasts to capture the greatest moment of ​sunset over Lan Ha Bay.

19:30 Enjoy delicious local food prepared and served by our skillful ​chef. This is a delightful meal in an intimate romantic setting.

21:00 - 22:00 Relax and sip the exotic cocktails and drinks at the sky ​bar (with surcharge). Indulge yourself with spa service (optional) or ​simply relax on the top deck just under the cover of a brightly ​illuminated sky. Or try to get your luck at the squid fishing on the main ​deck.

Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Distance and activities: 5h transfer

Overnight at Peony Cruise

6:00 Begin the day full of energy with the Tai Chi session and ​enjoy the sun just rising up beyond the horizon.

6:45 - 7:15 Breakfast is served while cruising back to Gia Luan ​jetty. (Breakfast time maybe adjust and follow updated itinerary)

7:30 - 9:00 You will join the tour of Cat Ba World Biosphere by ​transshipment. It takes 30 minutes to transfer from Gia Luan to ​Trung Trang – one of the most impressive caves in Cat Ba island, ​Vietnam. The limestone cave has thousands of talactites in ​various shapes, offering geological values with a typical cave ​ecosystem.

9:30 Return to the main boat from the cave and the guests will ​do the cabin check out. Luggage is placed outside of the cabin. ​Lunch is served at the restaurant. Settle the bar bill by the desk ​at the restaurant (if any).

10:30 - 11:00 Disembark the Peony Cruises and transferred back to Block ​#34, Big Bay group terminal, Tuan Chau Marina. Relax and wait for the ​luggage.

11:30 - 12:00 The guests are ready at Tuan Chau Marina.

Transfer back to Hanoi for overnight.

Included meals: Breakfast, lunch

Distance and activities: 2.5h transfer

Note:

- The itinerary is subject to change without notice, in accordance with ​the weather and other operating conditions.

Overnight at Silk Path Hotel Hanoi

Transfer from your hotel to the airport for departure flight.

Included meals: Breakfast

Distance: 45 minutes transfer