Vietnam doesn't run through you. It goes through you.
Our expedition of trip to Vietnam in November is designed for those looking to feel the real contrast of the country in 16 days: from the vibrant chaos of Hanoi to the rice paddies of the north and the respite of Ha Long Bay.
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Together with a small group of people who arrive as strangers...and leave as part of something difficult to put into words.
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A trip for those who feel that traveling
it's not just a change of location...
NOVEMBER
From November 01 to 17
SMALL GROUPS
Minimum group size: 6 Travelers
Maximum group size: 13 travelers
Invisible logistics SunZen
Before you read on, there is something important you need to know.
This trip is not meant to see the country through the glass of a bus. Vietnam is a fascinating mix of deep history, wild nature and a non-stop pace.
We are not going to avoid the intensity of its cities; we are going to live it. From the hustle and bustle of the Hanoi Old Quarter to the silence of the ethnic villages in Sapa.
You should know that:
- We will live the night train experience: We will cross the north in bunk beds, sharing the space as the locals do. It is not a five-star hotel on wheels, it is the soul of the trip.
- We will walk the earth: The trekking through the rice terraces of Nam Cang and the paths of Ma Tra are to enjoy them calmly, feeling the mud and the fresh air.
- We will surf chaos and peace: We will go from the roar of the motorcycles in Ho Chi Minh City to the absolute peace of a cruise ship in the Ha Long Bay or the calm of the dunes of Mui Ne.
It is not a pretentious luxury trip. It is not a journey of backpacking and hardship.
It is an expedition designed to discover the essence of Vietnam with charming hotels, The careful logistics and the curious look of those who want to return home with a real story to tell.
If you are looking for this, this is NOT the trip for you
- A tour of 10 temples a day and quick photos.
- An overcrowded and superficial trip.
- Pay the minimum even if you lose the experience.
If you are looking for this, WELCOME
- Real adventure, but with calm and awareness.
- High-quality hotels, well-kept esthetics and private relaxation.
- Space to connect with yourself, the group and the place.
«We are looking for 13 people. Not one more. Because true connection only happens when the group has room to breathe.»
Must-see places you will experience in Vietnam
Hanoi: Magnetic Chaos
Vietnam cannot be understood without the roar of its motorcycles and the aroma of coffee in its alleys. We will walk through the Old Town, We will cross the Bridge of the Rising Sun and live the surrealistic experience of the Train Street, where life stops just centimeters from the tracks.
Sapa: The Heart of Ethnicity
We leave the asphalt behind to sink our boots in the sacred mud of the north. We will trek through the valley of Muong Hoa, discovering the cascading rice terraces and sharing the road with the ethnic groups. Red Dao and H'Mong. It is the most rural, authentic and profound Vietnam.
Ha Long Bay: Sailing among Giants
It is one of the 7 natural wonders of the world for a reason. We will sleep aboard a traditional cruise (Junco), We wake up with a Tai Chi class on deck while sailing among thousands of karst islets, hidden caves and a sea in absolute calm.
Hoi An: The City of a Thousand Lanterns
It is undoubtedly the most photogenic and romantic corner of the country. We will walk among its yellow facades, we will cross the iconic Japanese Bridge and enjoy a free day to get lost in its silk market or watch the canals light up at sunset.
Hue: The Legacy of the Emperors
A journey into Vietnam's feudal past. We will tour the imposing Imperial Citadel, World Heritage Site, and we will sail through the Perfume River by boat to visit the royal tombs. It is the place where history is felt in every stone.
Mui Ne: The Desert in front of the Sea
The epic end of the trip. We exchanged the jungle for the White and Red Sand Dunes, an unexpected desert landscape in Southeast Asia. We will walk barefoot through the Arroyo de las Hadas and watch the sunset between fishing villages and endless beaches.
What you will experience in Vietnam
- Immerse yourself in the mystique of the North walking among ethnic villages and endless rice terraces in Sapa.
- Feeling the pulse of living history from the Imperial Citadel of Hue to the legendary Cu Chi tunnels.
- Waking up in the heart of Ha Long Bay, sailing among stone giants on a traditional cruise ship.
- Getting lost in Hanoi's markets and alleys to discover flavors and corners that do not appear in the guidebooks.
- High standard and aesthetically pleasing accommodations, selected so that your private rest is the refuge and as important as the adventure.
- Walking barefoot on the dunes of Mui Ne and feel the energy of the desert merging with the sea at the end of the day.
The group and laughter
You don't just come here to meet people, you come to be part of a traveling family. Toasts with local beer in the streets of Hanoi, improvised dinners in Hoi An and that complicity that arises after a shared night on the night train.
Temples with history
Places that impose a natural silence. From the elegance of the Hue Citadel even the pagodas hidden among mountains, are corners that force you to put away your cell phone and listen, at last, to your own mind.
Authentic flavor
Vietnamese cuisine is a festival of freshness. Crunchy, aromatic and surprising. Try a Phở at a street stall or an egg cafe in a hidden alley is the best way to connect with the real pulse of the country.
The embrace of the wild
We leave the asphalt behind to lose ourselves in the infinite green of the Sapa or the silence of the Ha Long Bay. You will feel how the wild nature of Southeast Asia gives you back the energy that routine had taken away from you.
You have not come to watch. You came to vibrate.
Forget the viewpoints from the window. This is the night train rattling heading for the mountains, the kayaking among the stone giants and the astonishment of descending to the Cu Chi tunnels to understand the strength of a people.
Calm when the mist of Sapa envelops us, but intensity whenever we can. Because to return transformed, we must first feel alive.
Travel is not just about getting around.
There are trips that you forget when you land. And there are trips that stay with you.
It is not for the monuments or for the photos. It is for what happens between one place and the next: that conversation in the van crossing the jungle, the silence that assaults you in front of a temple or the moment when the sea forces you, finally, to breathe slowly.
This trip is designed for that.
So that for 15 days you not only change your scenery, but also your rhythm and energy. So that the routine fades effortlessly and you remember, at last, what it feels like to be exactly where you want to be:
Sea. Jungle. Energy. And you, finally, in your place.
We are not a travel agency. We are your travel companions.
SunZen was not born in an office or a travel agency.
It was born out of a very simple need: to breathe again.
Behind SunZen we are Rakel and Toni.
Two people who one day decided to stop, get out of the routine and create the way of traveling that we had always missed.
We don't come from the world of tourism. We come from the real world: rigid schedules, weeks that go by too fast and that feeling of needing to really disconnect when a few days off finally arrive.
The mountains, the beach, nature and animals have always been our refuge. And one day we understood that we wanted to share that feeling with other people.
Because every time we looked for group travel we felt that something was missing.
We wanted adventure, yes.
But also comfort.
A space of its own.
A trip where you share moments with the group... but also have your own corner to disconnect.
From that idea SunZen was born.
We organize trips where the adventure is still present, but the rest is private, comfortable and at your own pace. Where everything is taken care of so that the trip flows: from the route of the day to the hot shower at the end of the day.
Because vacations are not for suffering or for following rigid schedules.
They are there to live, breathe and come back different.
If you've had enough impersonal travel, maybe it's time to try something different.
You don't come to see Vietnam. You come to live it.
Vietnam is not a destination to look at through a glass. It is an experience designed to get to know the true essence, the ancient culture and the real pulse of the country. If you're looking to discover more than the typical tourist route, you're in the right place.
Here you don't come just to move from one city to another: you come to overcoming challenges, discover a new world and grow as a person. Whether going down to the Cu Chi tunnels or sharing the road with the ethnic groups of the north, you will do it together with people with the same values as you, because traveling in a like-minded group brings incalculable value to the experience.
This is not your typical trip. It's so much more: the perfect combination of adventure, human connection and a different form of touring Vietnam from the inside.
The Energy Route: Day-by-Day Itinerary
A tour designed for you to experience Thailand with calm, depth and authenticity.
DAY 1 - The Beginning of the Journey
Meeting in Madrid. We meet at the airport for our first real hug. Here the magic begins: we leave the routine behind to fly to the exciting Southeast Asia. Night in flight.
DAY 2 - The Heartbeat of Hanoi
Arrival and first contact. Private transfer to our classy hotel in the heart of the capital. We will start strolling around the old quarter to taste the real flavors of Vietnam. Overnight in Hanoi.
DAY 3 - The Time Train
Temples and night train. We will visit the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and the famous «Train Street». At nightfall, we will experience the bunk bed adventure: heading north on the night train to Lao Cai. Overnight on the train.
DAY 4 - Between Clouds and Rice Fields
Trekking in Nam Cang. Arrival in Sapa and walk in the Muong Hoa valley. We will explore the rice terraces and share a table with the Red Dao ethnic group in a traditional home. Overnight in Sapa.
DAY 5 - Roots and Tradition
Ma Tra and Ta Phin. We will discover the life of the H'Mong and their artisans before returning to the station. A last quick shower and back to the rattling train back to the capital. Overnight on the train.
DAY 6 - The Natural Wonder
Boarding in Ha Long. Transfer to the port and welcome aboard our traditional cruise. We will sail among stone giants, visit the Surprise Cave and dine under the stars of the bay. Overnight on board.
DAY 7 - The Awakening of Tai Chi
Ha Long Bay and flight to Da Nang. Tai Chi class at sunrise on deck and visit to Titov Island. After brunch, we fly to the center of the country to fall in love with Vietnam's most beautiful city. Overnight in Hoi An.
DAY 8 - The Color of Lanterns
Free day in Hoi An. A parenthesis of calm. Stroll along the Japanese Bridge, visit the houses of the old merchants or simply enjoy the magic of its yellow facades along the river. Night in Hoi An.
DAY 9 - The Mandarin Route
Paso de las Nubes and Marble Mountains. We cross spectacular landscapes towards the ancient imperial capital. We will visit sacred caves and Buddhist deities before arriving in the city of perfume. Overnight in Hue.
DAY 10 - Imperial Splendor
Hue Citadel and Perfume River. A journey into the feudal past. We will tour the majestic UNESCO Citadel and sail by boat to visit the Thien Mu Pagoda and the royal tombs. Overnight in Hue.
DAY 11 - Heading to Old Saigon
Flight to Ho Chi Minh City. We landed in the most cosmopolitan and vibrant city. It is time to feel the pulse of the south, its colonial architecture and its inexhaustible energy 24 hours a day. Night in Ho Chi Minh City.
DAY 12 - The Ingenuity of a People
Cu Chi tunnels. We will descend into the Viet Cong subway network to understand Vietnam's resilience. In the afternoon, we will visit the Notre Dame Cathedral and the mythical Eiffel Post Office. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.
DAY 13 - The Desert by the Sea
Transfer to Mui Ne. We leave the asphalt behind to take refuge on the coast. Mui Ne welcomes us with its dunes and its fishing atmosphere to begin our most zen stage of the trip. Night in Mui Ne.
DAY 14 - Fairy Brook
White and Red Dunes. A day to walk barefoot. We will explore the Fairy Creek between colorful cliffs and see how the sun hides behind the giant dunes. Overnight in Mui Ne.
DAY 15 - The Last Sigh and Return
Farewell and departure flight. Last moments of sunshine before the transfer to Ho Chi Minh airport. We return home with renewed energy and a suitcase full of stories. End of the SunZen expedition.
Your space with class
We have selected each accommodation to make your rest sacred. From the colonial and boutique charm in the bustling heart of Hanoi, to the absolute peace of our traditional cruise in Ha Long Bay.
You will sleep in classy double rooms, spacious and aesthetically pleasing, designed to make closing the door at the end of the day as rewarding as the adventure itself. Because in Vietnam, your private retreat is not an extra: it's a priority.
You decide if this trip remains a wish... or becomes your next great experience.
Step 1: First Contact (2 min)
Fill in the application form.
It does not commit you to anything.
It helps us to better understand your expectations, your way of traveling and to ensure that this trip fits you.
Step 2: The Human Connection (10 min)
We will schedule a short video call to get to know each other.
We will answer your questions and see if there is a good fit with the type of group we are creating.
Our goal is not to fill seats, but to create a group of people with the same way of traveling.
Step 3: Now the good stuff starts.
If we both feel it is the right time, we will formalize your place. From then on, we stop being organizers and become your companions on the road. We help you with the flights and start building the team in the WhatsApp group.
Completing the form does not imply any reservation.
Only 13 places available. The adventure begins the moment you decide to take the step.
What YES is included in your SunZen experience
✅ Classy hotels: 13 nights in selected accommodations (4* category on average) and one night aboard a traditional cruise ship in Ha Long Bay. Rooms selected for a real rest.
✅ Native Spanish-speaking guides: At each stage of the trip we will be accompanied by local guides who speak our language perfectly. They are the ones who will open the doors to the real history and culture of Vietnam without barriers.
✅ The train experience: 2 nights by night train (shared berths) to cross the north as the locals do. This is the heart of the adventure.
✅ Breakfast included: To start every morning with energy in all hotels and on the boat.
✅ SunZen Logistics: We take care of all the hard stuff. It includes internal flights, private land transfers and the boats we will use on the route.
✅ 24h accompaniment: Rakel and Toni will be with you during the whole trip. We are your companions on the road, not an agency that leaves you alone in the face of unforeseen events.
✅ Tickets and activities: Included access to Hue temples, Cu Chi tunnels, trekking in Sapa and all natural parks on the itinerary.
✅ Attention to detail: Inputs, coordination and constant presence so that you only have to worry about enjoying yourself.
What NOT included (for total clarity)
❌ International flights: Madrid - Hanoi / Ho Chi Minh City - Madrid (we advise you to buy the best flight and match the group).
❌ Lunch and dinner: Except those marked in the plan. We want you to be free to try the local cuisine wherever you feel like it.
❌ Travel insurance: It is mandatory to travel with medical insurance (we will give you the contact information of the one we always use for confidence).
❌ Vietnam visa: The cost of the fee (about USD 25) and its technical management.
❌ Your personal extras: Drinks, additional massages, tips or the purchases you decide to make in the markets.
Travel to Vietnam
The rewards of authenticity
2.595 €
+Flights (taxes and VAT included)
We don't compete on price. We compete on care, authenticity and the value of your time.
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