After arrival, ease into Hai Phong with a slow stroll through Du Hang Square and the adjacent colonial streets to soak up local life and grab a strong Vietnamese coffee; follow this with a visit to the atmospheric Co To Market (early stalls) to sample fresh seafood snacks and tiny street-side specialties. Mid-morning, hire a cyclo or motorbike taxi to explore the peaceful waterfront at Do Son Peninsula, stopping at the secluded Tien Lang Beach and the riverside fishing hamlets for candid encounters with fishermen and a chance to watch nets being mended.
Wander the quieter lanes to the east and discover Viet Hai Village, a tranquil riverside settlement reachable by a short boat ride where you can cycle between stilt houses and salted-fish drying racks while chatting with local families. Later, head to Beo Wharf to join a late-afternoon fishing-boat outing-try hand-line fishing or help haul in small nets-and finish with sunset views and fresh grilled squid at the rustic Cat Ba-style floating eateries clustered near the pier.
As twilight falls, wander the atmospheric lanes toward Hang Kenh Night Fish Market to watch local traders and taste freshly grilled shellfish at stall-side tables, then follow with a mellow stroll along the illuminated riverfront promenade near Tran Phu Park, stopping for a coconut shake at a street vendor. Finish the night with a short motorbike ride to Do Son Night Fishing Village where lantern-lit boats return with the day's catch-join a small family-run eatery to try a homemade fish hotpot and swap stories with fisherfolk under starlight.
Start your day with a sunrise paddle from Ben Beo Harbor into the quieter coves of Lan Ha Bay, gliding past limestone islets and stopping at the secluded Vung Thuong Beach for a swim and cliffside photos. After kayaking, cycle inland to Cát Bà Town's local market to sample fresh seafood noodle bowls and then take a short hike up to Nui Beo Viewpoint for sweeping morning light over the archipelago before a seaside coffee at a family-run café.
After a morning on the water, head inland to explore the quieter south coast starting with a swim and sunbathing session at Monkey Island Beach (Bai Cat Dua), followed by a short trek through shady trails to the secluded Cao Trai Lagoon where you can paddle a rented double kayak amid mangroves and take lunch at a family-run seaside shack serving grilled mackerel and rice. Later, visit the peaceful fishing hamlet of Vung Ong to wander between stilt houses, learn about seaweed drying, and finish the afternoon with panoramic views from the low cliffside path above Ben Beo Village, watching local boats drift home as the light softens.
As the light softens, take a short motorbike ride to the quiet coves around Ben Beo Village Pier and join a small family-run boat for a twilight seafood barbecue on the sand, tasting freshly grilled mackerel and tamarind dipping sauce. After dinner, wander the lantern-lit paths to Phu Long Fishing Hamlet to watch fishermen mend nets and try a late-night cup of local chè at a roadside stall, then finish with a slow stroll up to the low ridge by Cua Bay Lookout for a peaceful panoramic view of moonlit limestone silhouettes returning you gently toward Ninh Binh the next day.
Begin with a gentle sunrise cycle through rice paddies to Tam Coc Riverside Village, stopping at a family-run homestay for a fragrant bowl of local cơm cháy and green tea; from there, join a small, non-touristy sampan from Thung Nham Pier to glide through narrow waterways, past towering karst cliffs and into hush-lit caves where bats flit above. After the boat, climb the short stone steps to the peaceful hilltop shrine at Mua Cave Viewpoint for sweeping valley panoramas and a quiet coffee at the roadside stall while watching farmers tend water buffalo, a perfect continuation from Hai Phong and Cat Ba's coastal mornings into inland rural life.
After the morning boat and viewpoint, pedal or take a short transfer to the less-visited Van Long Nature Reserve for a peaceful sampan through reed-lined channels beneath low limestone karsts, watching waterbirds and the mirrored paddies. Later, head to the atmospheric riverside hamlet of Thien Ha Village to meet local farmers, try a homemade chè or bun rieu at a family kitchen, and stroll the raised footpaths to reach the silent grotto of Hang Mua East Cave, where a gentle late-afternoon walk along the cliff trail rewards you with soft light over winding river valleys before heading on toward Phong Nha the next day.
As dusk falls, wander into the peaceful lanes of Tam Coc Village to catch golden light on the rice paddies, then join a small, local trawler from Ngo Dong West Pier for a quieter, lantern-lit glide through narrow caves and under low karst overhangs where the river mirrors cliff faces. Finish with a table at a family-run riverside home near Bich Dong Hamlet, tasting goat hotpot and warm rice wine while sharing stories with your hosts and listening to frogs and night birds - a calm, rural close to a day that moved from coastal mornings to inland serenity.
Wake early and head upriver to the quiet Paradise Cave Trailhead, where a short forest walk leads to the rarely crowded entrance and a cool exploration of its high, cathedral-like chambers before most day-trippers arrive; follow this with a guided trek to the mossy rim of Tu Lan's Hidden Gorge for a splash in freshwater pools and dramatic limestone walls far from main routes. After the gorge, meet a local guide at Phong Nha Farmstay Pier for a slow bamboo-raft float through shaded backchannels to a hill-tribe homestead, sampling smoky house-made rice wine and homemade cassava cakes-an inland continuation from Ninh Binh's quiet valleys that keeps the itinerary moving from paddies to wild karst country.
After a morning in cathedral caverns and bamboo rafts, head for a shaded lunch at Phong Nha Farmstay then set out on a guided motorbike loop to the quiet karst edges, stopping to wade beneath the mossy falls at Con Mooc Stream and cool off in its natural plunge pools. Continue to the remote Hang Toi (Dark Cave) back-entrance for a muddy spelunking session and zipline over jungle gullies, then finish the afternoon with a slow riverside coffee at Chay Lap Farm while watching local children fish from bamboo rafts-a relaxed, adventurous bridge toward tonight's campsite near the valley rim.
As dusk falls, take a short transfer to the quiet riverside hamlet of Phong Nha Bungalow Village to join a local family for a lantern-lit dinner of charcoal-grilled river fish and spicy rau răm salad while listening to stories of cave explorers. After dinner, head to the nearby Sunset Ridge-a low limestone outcrop popular with locals-for a slow, starlit walk and panoramic views over the valley, then finish with a nightcap of warm honeyed tea at Riverside Homestay Pier, where you can watch fireflies flicker over the water and plan tomorrow's transfer toward Quang Nam.
Begin with a slow bicycle ride from your homestay to Tra Kieu Paddy Loop, where you can join a local farmer to learn traditional water buffalo ploughing and try your hand at transplanting rice before the fields heat up. Afterward, pedal to the nearby Cam Thanh Coconut Village for a basket-boat tour through narrow coconut canals, watch basket fishermen demonstrate unique net-casting, then refresh with a home-cooked breakfast of cao lầu and herb salad at a family-run riverside kitchen-an earthy, village-scale morning that continues the itinerary's shift from karst caves to pastoral, human-scaled landscapes.
After a village-style morning, set off on a gentle motorbike loop to the upland terraces of Tra Kieu Ridge, pausing to walk among patchwork rice benches and chat with elder farmers about seasonal planting techniques; continue to Thanh Ha Clay Village to try hand-molding a small pottery piece under a local artisan's guidance and learn about traditional kiln firing. Finish the afternoon with a slow boat glide through the reed-lined canals of Cau Ngang Hamlet, where you can visit a family-run house garden for herbal tea and watch children practice traditional bamboo basket weaving as the light softens, linking the day's hands-on village experiences back to the rural rhythms you've followed since Phong Nha.
As dusk settles, wander through the lantern-lit lanes of Thanh Phu Tay Village to join a family where you'll learn to prepare a simple village-style dinner of clay-oven grilled fish and herb-packed fresh rolls while listening to stories of seasonal planting. After dinner, take a slow pedal or short motorbike ride to Bach Ma Viewpoint Terrace to watch the valley lights come alive and finish with a relaxing stop at My Son Riverbank for a riverside cup of jasmine tea as dragonflies flicker and local musicians play soft folk tunes, a gentle close that ties together your days of coastal karst, inland paddies and village life.
| Place / Activity | Cost |
|---|---|
| Du Hang Square (stroll & coffee) | $2 |
| Co To Market (street snacks) | $3 |
| Cyclo or motorbike taxi (short local hire) | $5 |
| Do Son Peninsula / Tien Lang Beach (beach visit) | Free |
| Viet Hai Village (boat + cycling) | $8 |
| Beo Wharf fishing-boat outing (hand-line fishing / small-net experience) | $20 |
| Cat Ba-style floating eateries (grilled squid dinner) | $8 |
| Hang Kenh Night Fish Market (street tasting) | $6 |
| Tran Phu Park (promenade & coconut shake) | $1 |
| Do Son Night Fishing Village (family-run fish hotpot) | $10 |
| Ben Beo Harbor sunrise kayaking (shared kayak rental / guided) | $18 |
| Vung Thuong Beach (swim & beach access) | Free |
| Cát Bà Town local market (seafood noodle bowl) | $3 |
| Nui Beo Viewpoint (short hike) | Free |
| Monkey Island Beach (Bai Cat Dua) (beach access) | Free |
| Cao Trai Lagoon double-kayak rental | $10 |
| Vung Ong fishing hamlet (visit) | Free |
| Ben Beo Village Pier twilight seafood barbecue (family boat event) | $22 |
| Phu Long Fishing Hamlet (chè at roadside stall) | $1 |
| Cua Bay Lookout (evening viewpoint) | Free |
| Tam Coc Riverside Village (cycle & local breakfast) | $4 |
| Thung Nham Pier sampan boat (small non-touristy boat ride) | $10 |
| Mua Cave Viewpoint (entrance fee) | $2 |
| Van Long Nature Reserve (sampan reserve boat) | $8 |
| Thien Ha Village (homestay visit / chè or bun rieu) | $3 |
| Hang Mua East Cave (walk & viewpoint) | $2 |
| Ngo Dong West Pier lantern-lit trawler (evening boat) | $12 |
| Bich Dong Hamlet family riverside dinner (goat hotpot & rice wine) | $9 |
| Paradise Cave (entrance fee) | $8 |
| Tu Lan Hidden Gorge guided trek (local guide & permit) | $25 |
| Phong Nha Farmstay bamboo-raft float & homestay tasting | $10 |
| Con Mooc Stream plunge pools (access / swim) | Free |
| Hang Toi (Dark Cave) back-entrance (mud trek + zipline) | $20 |
| Chay Lap Farm (riverside coffee) | $2 |
| Phong Nha Bungalow Village lantern-lit dinner (family meal) | $8 |
| Sunset Ridge (starlit walk / viewpoint) | Free |
| Tra Kieu Paddy Loop (buffalo ploughing experience) | $6 |
| Cam Thanh Coconut Village basket-boat tour & demonstration | $7 |
| cao lầu breakfast at family kitchen | $3 |
| Tra Kieu Ridge upland terraces (walk & talk with farmers) | Free |
| Thanh Ha Clay Village pottery experience (class) | $5 |
| Cau Ngang Hamlet boat glide & house garden visit | $4 |
| Thanh Phu Tay Village cooking with family (village dinner) | $10 |
| Bach Ma Viewpoint Terrace (evening viewpoint) | Free |
| My Son Riverbank (jasmine tea & local music) | $2 |
| Estimated Total (per person) | $353 |