DAY 01: HANOI - ARRIVAL (-/-/-)

Upon arrival into Noi Bai Airport Hanoi, we will be welcomed by our local English speaking guide and transfered to our hotel.

Hanoi is a charming and richly historic city of lakes, shaded boulevards and verdant public parks, with a population of 4 million. The city centre is like an architectural museum, with blocks of ochre buildings retaining the air of a provincial French town from the 1930s.

Meals: None

Overnight: Sheraton Hotel – Deluxe room

DAY 2: HANOI - CITY TOUR (B/L/D)

This morning after breakfast, we will be met by our local guide in the hotel lobby for sightseeing of Hanoi.  Today we will visit Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum, which sits in Ba Dinh Square and is where Ho Chi Minh Declared independence from French rule in 1945.  (Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum is closed on Mondays and Fridays and from September to December year round. During this time we are unable to enter the Mausoleum; however we can view it from the exterior.)In the same complex we will see the humble house of stilts from which “Uncle Ho” ruled Vietnam until his death in 1969; we will also see the One Pillar Pagoda. 

Lucnh will be served at Koto/Pot’s&Pan restaurant.

We will then be transferred to the Temple of literature, Hanoi’s first university dating back to 1070 and a historical centre of learning, now dedicated to Confucian worship. Afterwards we will visit HoanKiem Lake and will enjoy a walking tour of Hanoi’s Old Quarter. This area of crowded market alleys is still laid out as it was 300 years ago and is also known as the ‘36 streets’.Traditionally in Vietnam, all the shops on a single street were devoted to selling one product. Hang Gai, meaning ‘Gold Street’ is still the place to find jewellery and money exchange shops.  You can also see rope, button, copper and herbal medicine streets.

Afterwards, enjoy our set-menu dinner at Japas Restaurant at before our transfer to the Railway station for our overnight train to Lao Cai.

Overnight on train

Meal include: Breakfast at hotel

                    Lunch at local restaurant

                    Dinner at local restaurant

DAY 3: LAO CAI - COC LY MARKET - SAPA (B/L/D)

Arrive into Lao Cai station at 5:00am and take time to relax a little bit and enjoy the breakfast.

Then you will travel 2 hrs from Lao Cai Station to the hilltop Coc Ly Tuesday Market. Here you will find good opportunity for photography, with the colourful Flower Hmong, Giay, Tay and Tu Du ethnic groups. Enjoy your time at the market, walk around, bargain and take in the sights and sounds of local life. After exploring the market take a short drive to the Chay river.  Sail down the gently flowing waters, lined by corn and vegetable fields,  passing beautiful villages, impressive waterfalls, gorges and caves as you journey downriver (note: local boat standard with lifebuoys arranged). 

You can visit a village of the Flower Hmong or Tay people, and enjoy a meal in a local restaurant.

After that, drive back to Sapa, check in your hotel at around 15:00

Take time to relax or wandering around before having dinner at nice restaurant in Sapa.

Breakfast at local restaurant in Lao Cai

Lunch at local restaurant after Coc Ly market visit

Dinner at Chapa Garden Restaurant http://www.chapagarden.com

Overnight: Victoria Hotel Deluxe room

Meal include: Breakfast at hotel

                    Lunch at local restaurant

                    Dinner at local restaurant

DAY 4: SAPA - BAN KHOANG - TA GIANG PHIN - SAPA (B/L/D)

The day start at 8:30 with a drive to the mountain area, several stops for magnificent landscapes of Fansipan.Mt, Sin Chai valley and especially amazing flower and vegetable farms. Continue for half and hour getting through wild region with thick rain forest covering walled-up mountains, passing a beautiful waterfall before arriving to Ban Khoang commune, home to the Black Hmong & Red Zao ethnic peoples who live their unique way of life and well maintain their traditional values. The villages here are prosperous thanks to the combination of wet rice cultivation on the terraced fields with cardamom farming under the shade of thick rain forest. Spend over an hour walking to explore this remote village for a brief understanding of local life.

Leaving Ban Khoang and process along the road for about 10 km to Ta Giang Phin valley inhabited by the Black Hmong who live in several hamlets scattering along a peaceful stream. Enjoy an hour lunch break on the bank of a stream. In the afternoon, you walking along village path which connects hamlet to hamlets witnessing daily activities of local life. The walk ends in mid afternoon, picked up for the road ride back to Sapa.

Overnight: Victoria Hotel – Deluxe room

Meal include: Breakfast at hotel

                    Lunch at local restaurant

                    Dinner at local restaurant

DAY 05: SAPA - MA TRA - SUOI HO - LAO CAI (B/L/-)

This morning is free at your leisure to wander around the town. After checking out of your hotel you will enjoy lunch at a local restaurant.

Your vehicle will take you to Ma Tra valley at 1:30PM

Your walk starts from drop off point downhill and cross the stream to the other bank where Suoi Ho village beautifully sits on the top of a low hill. Spend half an hour to visit several local homes for understanding of local life before continue walking along a large path on hillsides which is paved with rock to get through Ma Tra village. This portion of the walk offers beautiful scenery of the valley and terraced paddies as well as flower farm. Paying visiting to a ruined of the French Catholic church at the end of the walk, then picked up at about 5:30 PM and transfer by road to Lao Cai railway station. You can have dinner is at a local restaurant nearby (Dinner is at your own expense) before boarding your overnight sleeper train back to Hanoi.

• Road transfer:  Easy walk and visiting local homes about 5 hours.

Trekking path is on local road, field paths and dirt road.

Sun hat, trekking shoes or sandals with good grips are recommend.

Walking pole could be advance support

• No special request on equipment or health condition.

Overnight on train

Meal include: Breakfast at hotel

                    Lunch at local restaurant 

DAY 6: ARRIVAL IN HANOI (B/L/D)

Arrive at Hanoi railway station early this morning and transfer to your Hanoi hotel for relax a bit and enjoy breakfast. Free at leisure in the morning.

Later this afternoon, we will visit the Ethnology Museum (closed on Mondays). And enjoy a performance of the famous Water Puppets. Vietnamese Water Puppets were invented thousands of years ago by farmers in the Red River Delta region near Hanoi, as a means to entertain themselves when the rains flooded their paddy fields.

Dinner will be served at Press Club Hanoi http://www.hanoi-pressclub.com/

Overnight: Sheraton Hotel – Deluxe room and early check-in at around 05:30 AM

Meal include: Breakfast at hotel 

                    Lunch at local restaurant

                    Dinner at local restaurant 

DAY 7: HA NOI - HA LONG ON CRUISE (B/L/D)

This morning we drive to the area that is regarded as the ‘Jewel in the crown of Vietnam’, Halong Bay. Halong Bay has been compared with the landscape of limestone islets of Guilin in China and Krabi in Southern Thailand.

Upon arrival in Halong Bay, we board our boat for a cruise around the 3,000 islets that rise from the clear emerald waters of the Gulf of Tonkin. This province shares a common border with China in the north and harbours some of the most stunning scenery in Vietnam. Bizarre rock sculptures jutting dramatically from the sea and numerous grottoes have created an enchanted and timeless world; the sails of the junk boats and sampans add further to the scenic beauty. 

The first day of your cruise provides an introduction to the amazing scenery of Halong Bay and Bai Tu Long Bay. Cruising through Halong Bay will literally take your breath away. After cruising to the east of Halong Bay, enjoy a relaxing tour of the floating village of Vung Vieng by rowing boat before cruising into the geological park of amazing Bai Tu Long Bay.

At dinner time, the boat will anchor for the night in Cong Do area.

Overnight: Au Co Cruise (Deluxe Cabin)

Meal include: Breakfast at hotel 

                    Lunch at local restaurant

                    Dinner at local restauran

DAY 8: BAI TU LONG - CAT BA ISLAND (B/L/D)

Start the day with Tai Chi - physical movements designed for relaxation, balance and health - on the sundeck of the boat while enjoying the panorama. 

After breakfast on board, enjoy a guided kayaking tour, or refresh yourself with a swim, in the Vung Ha area, a remote part of the Gulf of Tonkin, boasting isolated beaches and nature at its best. Savour a delicious lunch in the Halong Restaurant while the ship cruises towards Lan Ha Bay and Cat Ba Island.
Cat Ba island is the largest in the Gulf of Tonkin, covered by a dense rainforest with numerous indigenous species of flora and fauna. The secluded village of Viet Hai, situated in the middle of this pristine environment, is easily accessible via a short walk or cycle trip. Bhaya Cruises is developing an organic farm in the village that guests can visit.

Overnight: Au Co Cruise (Deluxe Cabin)

Meal include: Breakfast on cruise  

                    Lunch on cruise

                    Dinner on cruise

DAY 9: HALONG BAY - HA NOI (B/L/-)

Earlyrisers may again start the day with a Tai Chi lesson on the sundeck or enjoy the breathtaking views of the bay as the boats starts cruising quietly in BaiTu Long Bay.

This morning we enjoy a guided visit of Sung Sot (Surprise) Cave. After our farewell brunch we will disembark in Tuan Chau.

Upon disembarkation we will be met at the wharf and transferred back to our hotel in Hanoi.

Late lunch will be served at Ngon Restaurant in Hanoi at around 03:00 PM. http://ngonhanoi.com.vn  Clients can have various choices of Vietnamese culinary for their light lunch.

Please note: The cruise itinerary is subject to change depending on weather, tidal and operational conditions

Meal include: Breakfast on cruise

                    Light lunch on cruise

DAY 10: HANOI - DEPARTURE (B)

This morning after breakfast and checkout we will have the day at our leisure until our transfer to the airport in time for our departure flight home.

Meal include: Breakfast at hotel 

HOTEL LIST (subject to availability): below hotel or same categories:

TOUR PRICE INCLUDES:

• 7 nights’ shared Accommodation in twin/double room with daily breakfast at the below indicated room types (see hotel category list below) (check in and check out around noontime)
• Early check-in included breakfast on day 6 after the night train in Hanoi.
• 3Days/2 Night cruise on board the Au Co Cruise in Ha Long Bay (shared cabin on shared boat)

• All transfers and transportation with air-con vehicles (types of vehicles depending on the number of pax):
  • 1-2pax: car of 4 seats
  • 3-7pax: van of 16 seats
  • 8-12pax: coach of 25-29 seats
  • 13-15pax: coach of 30-35 seats
  • 16-24pax: coach of 45 seats

In Sapa:

            20-25pax: separate into 02 groups, using 02 29-seat-buses and 02 guides

            26-30pax: separate into 02 groups, using 02 25-seat-buses and 02 guides

• Train tickets Hanoi – Lao Cai – Hanoi by Victoria Express Train – Superior cabin

04 berths A/C cabin for 04 clients using, one person per berth (joined cabin)

Single use: 01 private cabin of 04 berths

• Local ENGLISH speaking guides:

FIT GROUP under 10 paxs:

• North (Hanoi – Halong Bay): 1 guide

Guide from Hanoi will escorts the roundtrip transfers Hanoi – Halong - Hanoi.

English speaking staffs, in-house guide and Cruise Manager available on board in Halong Bay

• Sapa: 01 guide

GIT GROUP above 10 paxs:

01 National Escort throughout escorts the group Hanoi – Sapa – Halong as tour leader.

• All entrance fees as program
• Meals (B/L/D) (Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner) as indicated in the program (Local food):
  • Daily breakfasts at hotels
  • 01 breakfast after night train in Lao Cai on day 3 in the hotel or at local restaurant.
  • 06 lunches + 04 Dinners at local restaurants as above stated
  • 01 dinner at Victoria Sapa resort
  • The Au Co Cruise Package: 01 breakfast, 01 brunch, 02 lunches, 02 dinners
• 02 bottles of mineral water per person per day on bus on days of transfer and sightseeing only

TOUR PRICE EXCLUDES:

• Airfares (international and domestic)
• Tipping
• Meals (other than mentioned in the program)
• Drinks
• Visas to Vietnam
• Mineral water beyond that supplied
• Early check in or late check out
• Insurances
• Optional excursions and activities
• Additional transfer required due to any emergency situation
• Items of a personal nature (Phone calls, laundry, beverages…)
• Peak season surcharges if any
• All not mentioned above