Overview
Our tour is designed to allow people the opportunity to experience the best Northern Vietnam has to offer in a single package. This tour is ideal for those who work hard and only have limited time to get away from their hectic working days.
You will be staying in 3 Star, twin share accommodation, touring with qualified English speaking guides and have the security that only comes from knowing there is a highly experienced support team behind you every step of the way.
You will visit
Hanoi – Y Linh Hồ – Lao Chai – Ta Van – Giang Ta Chai – Su Pan – Halong Bay– Cat Ba Island.
Highlights:
Spend 3 days and 2 nights enjoying the breath taking scenery and waters of the world heritage listed Ha Long Bay traveling by luxury Junk. The bay features 1,960 – 2,000 islets and covers a total area of 1,550 Sq Kms.
You will visit a number of the larger caverns where you will be in wonder of the very beautiful formations of Stalactites and Stalagmites, created over the centuries and have the opportunity to go Kayaking on the calm waters of the bay.
Your comfortable and intimate luxury Junk features hand-crafted wooden interiors, a dining room and pleasant air-conditioned cabins with private baths.
Experience the magnificent views and the mountain landscapes of the beautiful Sapa Valley. You will have the opportunity to visit the village of the Black H’mong tribes and Trek through terraced rice paddies and minority villages along the Muong Hoa River. Receive and enjoy warm hospitality as you stay overnight in home stay accommodation before setting off to discover more of the area in the morning.
In Hanoi you will get to explore the exciting and vibrant city on a tour that will take you to a wide range of attractions in and around the old quarter of the city. You will visit the Ho Chi Minh complex, Hoan Kiem Lake and the museum of Literature which is the site of Vietnam’s first university and dates back to 1070 and many others. You will also get to cruise through the shopping streets of the old quarter riding in a cyclo which is a traditional cycle taxi. Lunch will be served at one of Hanoi’s many local restaurants.
All tours you will undertake are fully guided, deluxe group tours with licenced and highly experienced guides ensuring you are in safe hands all the way.
Itinerary
Day 1: Hanoi city tour – Lao Cai / Sapa (B/L)
0800h - Guide will meet you at your hotel & you will depart to visit:
Ho Chi Minh Complex: Completed in 1975 the complex contains Ho Chi Minh’s mausoleum, his former stilt house residence, the Presidential Palace and the Ho Chi Minh museum.
Next stop is a visit to the Temple of Literature: Originally built as a temple to Confucius, this is the site of Vietnam’s first university dating back to 1070. Inside are the stone steles used for ceremonies and mounted on the backs of turtles and inscribed with the names of the university’s graduates. The complex is divided into five courtyards which originally would have been reserved for the Emperor and his mandarins. One of the courtyards contains the statue of Confucius guarded by two beautiful bronze storks standing on turtles. The temple highlights the importance Vietnamese society has placed on education.
1200h - A delicious set menu lunch will be provided for you in a local restaurant.
1300h - Your tour recommences with a visit to the Museum of Ethnology which is widely acknowledged as the best in Vietnam and has an extensive display dedicated to Vietnam’s 54 Ethnic minority peoples.
Then it is on to the Ngoc Son Temple and Hoan Kiem Lake: The Ngoc Son temple is set on a tiny island on the Hoan Kiem Lake and was erected in 18th century. The temple is reached by crossing the Huc Bridge which literally means “Place Touched by Morning Sunbeams”. Hoan Kiem Lake is a focal point of the city and the source of many legends including the legend of the returned sword which dates back to the 15th century and refers to a magical sword used to free Vietnam from Chinese rule.
The Old Quarter, also known as the 36 streets, is a bustling area of narrow streets home to literally thousands of small businesses and street vendors, selling a wide variety of goods. Originally each of the 36 streets names’ were related to the products being sold there. Hence you can walk from Fish Street to Tin Street to Bamboo Street and you will enjoy exploring the area while riding in a traditional cyclo.
1730h - Back to your hotel where you will have free time to have dinner and a short rest.
20.00 - Our driver will pick up from your hotel and transfer to Hanoi train station.
21.00 - Train departure and sleep the night in a soft sleeper cabin on board the train. Travel time approx 9 hrs.
Day 2: Sapa – Y Linh Ho – Lao Chai – Ta Van (B, L, D)
Arrive at Lao Cai railway station at 0600h where you will be met and transferred by shuttle bus to the township of Sapa which takes approx one hour.
0800h - After breakfast, a morning shower and leaving your main luggage at the hotel, we will walk from Sapa towards Muong Hoa valley. Here you will discover the wonderful scenery of the Hoang Lien mountain range and meet people of the Black H’mong tribes before Trekking through terraced rice paddies and minority villages along the Muong Hoa River.
We then cross the suspension bridge towards the Zay village, arriving at Ta Van, where we have dinner cooked on a wood fire and enjoy the hospitality of a local Zay family.
Overnight in Home stay accommodation.
Day 3: Ta Van – Giang Ta Chai – Su Pan – Sa pa (B/L/D)
Enjoy views of the magnificent landscape with your sunrise coffee and enjoy a delicious breakfast.
Once we have said our goodbyes, we will set off to trek through bamboo forests towards Giang Ta Chai waterfall, cross over a rattan suspension bridge and enter Giang Ta Chai village which is inhabited by the Red Zao minorities.
Here we will experience daily life before crossing over Muong Hoa River up walk up the mountain to visit Supan village, the home of the H’mong people. We then board the bus back to Sapa where you can take shower in the hotel and have dinner before transferring to Lao Cai train station for the night train back to Ha Noi.
Overnight is in a soft sleeper cabin on board the train. Train departs 2115h.
Day 4: Lao Cai – Ha Noi – Ha Long Bay ( B/L/D)
05.00 - Arrive at Hanoi train station and transfer to the hotel where you can have a shower and enjoy breakfast.
Between 0745h-0830h - Your transport will pick you up at your hotel and you will depart for |Ha Long Bay. You will stop for a short break at the Humanity center situated approximately half way on to the bay and enjoy local specialties.
12.00 - Arrive Ha Long Bay and transfer by tender to your luxury Junk where the captain will welcome you on board the boat.
A delicious lunch will be served for you as the boat passes through many of the thousands of islands and islets within Ha Long Bay.
15.30 - You will have the opportunity to explore what is commonly thought to be the biggest and most amazing cave in Halong Bay, the Surprise Cave.
17.00 - Kayaking for an hour around the fishing village and observe the daily life of the local community there. Then back to boat for Sunset Party.
19.30 - Enjoy a dinner of local or western food and spend a romantic night on board the Junk.
DAY 5: Ha Long Bay – Cat Ba Island (B/L/D)
0730h - Enjoy your breakfast while complimentary tea and coffee is served.
After breakfast the boat will stop at Van Gia fishing village for you to take photos. Then after a short trip on the smaller day boat to Viet Hai harbor, you will ride 30 minutes by bicycle to Viet Hai village, which is part of Cat ba National Park. Once you have taken a short break it will on to get a brief look into the lifestyle of the local villagers.
1300h - Lunch is served on day boat while cruising to Monkey Island to observe the monkeys and weather permitting, you will have the opportunity to go swimming.
15.30 - Arrive Cat Ba Island and check into your hotel and enjoy some free time before dinner.
19.00 – Dinner will be provided in the hotel and after you will have more free time to explore Cat Ba town in the evening. Overnight in Hotel on Cat Ba Island.
DAY 6: Cat Ba Island – Hanoi (B/L)
0630h - Your new day will starts with joining the Taichi class or simply enjoying the scenery. Breakfast is at the hotel before you board the shuttle bus to Cai Beo harbour where you will meet the day boat and cruise back to the Junk.
10.00: Visit Ba Hang Fishing Village to experience the lifestyle of local people. After returning to the boat, it will be time to join the cooking class in the on board restaurant and enjoy what you have cooked for lunch.
12.00: Disembark and transfer back to Hanoi.
16.00: Arrive in Hanoi. End of tour.
Children policy:
Children under 4: free of charge, sharing bed and room with two full paying adults.
Children from 4 to 6 years old - 50% of the tour price, sharing bed and room with two full paying adults. Limited to one child per two adults.
Children 7 and above: Normal price
Tour price includes:
• Cookery demonstrations ,Tai Chi Session.
• Boat, kayaking.
• Train tickets Ha Noi/Lao Cai return
• 2 way airport transfers
• Meals as indicated in the tour itinerary (B= Breakfast, L= Lunch, D= Dinner).
• Transport as tour program.
• English speaking tour guide.
• Twin share accommodation, entrance fees & security permits.
PLEASE NOTE
1) Twin share hotel accommodation for your first night in Hanoi is included in the tour package.
2) Hotel and breakfast on your return from Sapa on Day 4 is included in the tour price based on twin share.
3) Accommodation and group tour upgrades available at additional cost on request.
4) Please bring along a good pair of walking/sport shoes, raincoat or small umbrella, jackets, insect repellent and Sunscreen.
Excludes:
Flights, Drinks, Tips, Phone calls, Other private expenses.
