Essence of the Northern Vietnam (SIC 9 Relaxing Days)

Itinerary

Day 1: Hanoi Arrival

Stop At: Old Quarter, Hanoi 100000 Vietnam
Day 1: Noi Bai Arrival

Upon arrival at Noi Bai Airport, pick you up and transfer to Hanoi center. Check in hotel and then free time at your leisure. Overnight at hotel in Hanoi.

Duration: 1 day

No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Stay overnight in Hanoi and second night on train

Day 2: Hanoi City tour – Night Train to Lao Cai (B, L)

Stop At: Old Quarter, Hanoi 100000 Vietnam
Day 2: Hanoi City tour – Night Train to Lao Cai (B, L)

08.00-08.30 Pick you up at your hotel in Hanoi Old Quarter. Start visiting Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and Museum and One Pillar Pagoda. Continue to visit the Quan Thanh Temple and Buddhist Tran Quoc Pagoda on West lake. Local lunch in the restaurant. After lunch, visit the Ethnology Museum then the Temple of Literature and Quoc Tu Giam. Stop by Hoan Kiem Lake to visit Ngoc Son temple. Free for shopping and dinner on your own.

20.30 Pick up at your hotel and transfer to Hanoi Railway station by taxi for the night train to Lao Cai. Overnight on train
Duration: 24 minutes

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
Accommodation included: Overnight on train

Day 3: Day 3: Lao Cai – Sapa (B, L, D)

Stop At: Sapa Market, Dien Bien Phu Road, Sapa Vietnam
05.30 Arrive early in the morning, our tour guide picks up at the station. Have a short for showering and having breakfast before the tour begins.

6km of walking down to the south east of Sapa along the side of Muong Hoa valley to Y Linh Ho village of the Black H’mong. Continue on 2km of trekking down to Lao Chai village of the H’mong. Lunch at a local family, and then walk through terraced rice fields to Ta Van village of the Dzay minority people where we stay for the night. It gives you a worth chance for you to learn about the local house architecture which is full of their daily life styles and exclusive custom. Enjoy the landscapes.

Home stay overnight at Day local house.
Duration: 1 day

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Dinner
• Lunch
Accommodation included: Home stay overnight at Day local house.

Day 4: Day 4: Ta Van – Giang Ta Chai – Su Pan – Sapa (B, L, D)

Stop At: Ta Van Village, Sapa 330000 Vietnam
After breakfast, continue on 14 km of trekking to visit 2 villages of the red Dzao, the H’mong. Visit a beautiful waterfall and rattan bridge. Enjoy landscapes… through bamboo forest to the main road to catch the jeep to return to Sapa.

Overnight at hotel in Sapa.
Duration: 1 day

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight at hotel in Sapa.

Day 5: Day 5: Sapa – Lao Cai (B, L, D)

Stop At: Cat Cat village, Sapa 330000 Vietnam
A walk down to the South-west of Sapa (around 4 km) to visit Cat Cat village of the Black H’mong. Relax at the food of the stunning waterfall and the vestige of a hydroelectric power station that was constructed by the French during the colonial time in Vietnam. Enjoy picnic lunch by the side of the river, and then next 6 km to Sin Chai, the village located at the foot of Fansipan Mountain, “the roof of Vietnam and Indochina”. From here you can enjoy huge stunning landscapes before climbing up on the way a jeep to return to Sapa.

Free time to explore Sapa Town before heading to Lao Cai Station and getting on the train. Sleep on the train.
Duration: 1 day

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Sleep on the train.

Day 6: Day 6: Hanoi - Halong (B, L, D)

Stop At: Halong Bay Vietnam
Train arrives Hanoi around 05.30 AM, take the taxi back to your hotel to store the luggage and free time until breakfast (breakfast included, no room).

After breakfast, pickup and transfer to Halong Bay.

08.00 – 08:30 Pick-up at your hotel (in old quarter only) and depart for Halong.

Upon arrival, welcome on board, check in your cabin and have delicious lunch at the restaurant. Afternoon activities might include a visit to one of the most beautiful cave in Halong bay, a floating village for bamboo boat riding, an island for relaxing/swimming and a lagoon for kayaking. Back to the boat, you will be able to join a cooking class or a sunset cocktail party before dinner time. Evening is free at your leisure or you can join a squid fishing trip with the crew. Overnight in private cabin on a sharing cruise.
Duration: 1 day

Meals included:
• Lunch
• Dinner
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight in private cabin on a sharing cruise.

Day 7: Day 7: Halong Bay cruise (B,L,D)

Stop At: Halong Bay Vietnam
Morning: Breakfast, fruits, coffee and tea will be served. After that join some activities: visit pearl farm to sea real pearl cultivated by local fisherman, floating village or cycling trip around Viet Hai village, kayaking, swimming in blue water.

End of the day, come back to cruise, have happy hours and enjoy dinner on boat. Evening activities: go squid fishing, relax on sundeck, listen to sea wave at very peaceful and quite place. Have second night on cruise.
Duration: 1 day

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Have second night on cruise.

Day 8: Day 8: Halong Bay – Hanoi (B,L)

Stop At: Halong Bay Vietnam
Morning tea and coffer will be served early. Optional to join a Tai Chi Class on the sundeck or photo hunting in the early morning.

After breakfast, other activities might include (if not arranged on the first and second day): visiting the cave, cooking class or climbing to the top of an island for panoramic view of Halong Bay. Then check out and enjoy a fantastic view on the bay and have farewell lunch while passing many islands and islets (karst formation) on the way back to habor. Arrive at harbor around 12 and get on the bus back to Hanoi

Around 17:00 - Transfer you back to your hotel. Overnight at hotel in Hanoi.
Duration: 1 day

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
Accommodation included: Overnight at hotel in Hanoi.

Day 9: Day 9: Hanoi – Departure (B)

Stop At: NoiBai Private Transfer, Hanoi 100000 Vietnam
Breakfast at the hotel. Free time on your own activities before transfer to the airport for for the onward flight. End of services.
Duration: 45 minutes

No meals included on this day.
No accommodation included on this day.