gill_beaulac

"My cousin and I just landed in Hochiminh City last Saturday. It seems we're just in time for the tourist season here, everyone is packing and traveling.
We are staying with my friend, a university lecturer I befriended when doing cultural exchange years ago. He is packing, along with his family, for a northbound vacation. He told me he was going to Hanoi, which has a cool and soothing weather this time of the year. I asked if he would visit anywhere besides Hanoi, he said he would consider going further north to the mountainous area if time permits. He said this time of the year is the buckwheat season and the scene is superb.
To be honest, I didn't think of going north. We went to HCMC mainly to visit friends. Yet what he said really enticed me and I started to do some research. I came across a travel agency when touring around and I dropped by, hoping they could give me some ideas. They got a lot of options for group tours, some of which will start soon. They recommended a 4-day itinerary: Tuyen Quang - Ha Giang - Meo Vac - Lung Cu - King Hung Temple for less than $200. They said we will have to pay for our domestic airfare since it isn't included in the prices. I asked for sometimes to give it a thought.
My cousin also did her research and yesterday she found some options from an agency in Hanoi. They provide private tours so the costs would be higher. What interests me is that they can personalize itineraries to our demand and they can also book air tickets for us if we want. They propose a little different itinerary: Ha Giang - Quan Ba - Dong Van - Meo Vac - Ha Thanh. The price would be nearly $300 each person, still excluding the airfare.
I'm quite at a crossroads now, which one do you think I should take?