Itinerary

1. Day 1: Hanoi Arrival (No Meals)

   • The car/van will pick you up from Noi Bai airport (in Ha Noi) and take you to get to the heart of the city. 
   • Arrive at the hotel after 40 minutes drive, check in and have a free day to walk around the Old Quarter, and the night market in Hanoi downtown.

   Overnight in Hanoi hotel

2. Day 2: Hanoi City - Train to Sapa (Meal: B, L)

   • 7.45 – 8.15 AM: Free pick up at your hotel. 

   • Then visit the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum to explore the architectural and historical aspects of Uncle Ho’s final resting place. 

   • Next door is Ho Chi Minh’s house on stilts and lying to one side of the Mausoleum is the One Pillar Pagoda, which King Ly Thai founded To in 1049 – the structure has become an essential symbol for the people of Hanoi. 

   • Then continue to the Buddhist Tran Quoc Pagoda at West lake (One of the oldest pagodas in Vietnam). 

   • Then visit Bat Trang pottery village (applied on Mon, Wed & Fri). 

   • Lunch at a local restaurant.

   • PM: After lunch, proceed to visit the Ethnology Museum (apply on Sun, Tue, Thu & Sat), the Literature Temple and Quoc Tu Giam, and see Vietnam’s first university, constructed in 1070 – its gardens and well-preserved architecture will offer a relaxing glimpse into Vietnam’s past. 

   • Take you past Hoan Kiem Lake to see the peaceful waters. And the beauty of Ngoc Son temple. In the end, journey through Hanoi’s Old Quarter, where you’ll have a chance for some shopping and exploration. 

   Tour ends around 15h30 – 16h00.
   Overnight on Train

3. Day 3: Sapa - Bac Ha Market (Sunday Only) (Meal: B, L, D)

   • Located 110km from Sapa, Bac Ha mountain town is well-known by travellers for the most colourful market of the hill tribes in North Vietnam. At least eight ethnic groups attend this every Sunday market and last from 9:00 AM until 2:00 PM. It is also a chance for tourists to discover the H’mong King’s palace (an old building built by the French & Chinese).
   • In the afternoon, we go for a light trek to visit Ban Pho, the village home to the flower H’mong minority. 
   • We are invited to enter several local houses to have some green tea and corn wine, listen to the host talking about their family, talk to them… and then enjoy landscapes on a roundabout way to Bac Ha to get back to Lao Cai to continue up to Sapa. 

   Overnight in Sapa

4. Day 4: Sapa Trekking – Then Limousine Back to Hanoi (Meals: B, L )

   • 7.00 – 7.45: Have breakfast at the hotel and prepare a light pack for trekking.
   • 7:45: Trek from Sapa to Y Linh Ho then trek through the rice terraces and along Muong Hoa Stream to the Black Hmong village of Lao Chai to see the spectacular landscape of Hoang Lien Son Mountain.
   • 11.00: Picnic lunch at Lao Chai Village.
   • 12:00: Head to Ta Van village – home of Dzay ethnic people.
   • 13.30: The bus picks you up at Ta Van Bridge to Sapa. Trekking distance is about 12 km and it lasts for 4.5 hours.
   • 14.00: Have a shower in the shower room of our hotel.
   • 15:00: A limousine will pick you up at the hotel back to Hanoi.

   Overnight in Hanoi

5. Day 5: Ha Noi - Ha Long Bay (Meal: B, L, D)

   • 7.45 – 08.20 approx: Our guide will meet you at your hotel, the shuttle bus or private car pick up.
   • Enjoy the peaceful scenery as we travel through the countryside, farmlands and Red River delta. 
   • You will have a chance to take photos. Comfort break. The time from Hanoi to Halong bay is approximately 3 ½ hours.
   • 12 – 12.30 noon approx: Arrive at Tuan Chau Marina. Welcome aboard the cruise. Meet the captain and crew and join us for a welcome cocktail as we tell you about life onboard. Check into your cabin. Time to refresh and unwind
   • Set sail as lunch is prepared by our chef.
   • Join us for a relaxing lunch in the restaurant or the outdoor dining area. Enjoy the stunning views of the Bay and its dramatic limestone islands as we sail through the calm waters.
   • In the afternoon, while we make our way to the unique Van Gia fishing village, relax on the sundeck and watch the world go by or take an afternoon nap in your cabin. Mid-afternoon, arrive at Van Gia floating fishing village.
   • Drop anchor.
   • Our guide will give you some information and interesting facts about this fascinating village and its local community.
   • Disembark and choose which options when you visit the village by Kayak or local bamboo boat to visit the village. They will be your guides through their fishing village, where you can meet the locals and see first-hand what life is like living on the water. We are proud of our working partnership with and support of this community.
   • Our cruise will take you to the Soi Sim natural beach for swimming and snorkelling. You can enjoy our exciting games such as football and basketball. On the way cruising, you will enjoy with us the sunset party with fruits and wine as our compliments.
   • Back onboard the cruise, we head towards the sleeping area.
   • Early evening: Take an opportunity to refresh and join friends for a pre-dinner drink in the bar. Dinner is served in the restaurant or outdoor dining area if the weather is permitted, which is a gastronomic delight. After dinner, unwind in the bar where there is a selection of books, magazines and board games or watch a movie on our plasma TV; join some of our team to go cuttle fishing at night.

   Accommodation and overnight on boat

6. Day 6: Ha Long Bay - Hanoi (Meal: B, L)

   (Tai Chi – Breakfast – Surprising Cave – Cooking Demonstration – Lunch – Your hotel and Farewell)

   • 06:30 am: Join us for a Tai Chi session on the sun deck for the early risers. Tai chi helps focus the mind and condition the body, and there is no better environment to practice this than amongst the limestone peaks and islands. Breakfast, coffee, and tea are served.
   • After breakfast, we sail through the waters, pass by several caves, and drop anchor at Surprising (Sung Sot) Cave.
   • Disembark and visit Surprise Cave, located on Bo Hon Island. It is one of the widest grottoes in Ha Long Bay, with thousands of stalactites and stalagmites.
   • 09:30 am: We board the cruise again. Take time to refresh and relax before checking out. Bags can be left in the luggage store. You will join us for our short class Cooking demonstration on making spring rolls before an early lunch is served.
   • Noon: Return to the shore and disembark from the cruise as our crew says farewell. 
   • Transfer to minibus or private and return to Hanoi. 
   • Arrive back at your hotel at approximately 16:30/17:00.

   Overnight in Hanoi

7. Day 7: Hoa Lu - Trang An - Mua Cave (Meal: B, L)

   • 07:45-08:15: Our tour guide and driver will pick you up at your hotel in Hanoi to depart for Ninh Binh province (120 Kms). 
   • Start Hoa Lu/Trang An full-day tour.
   • Hoa Lu: Visit Hoa Lu – the historic capital of Vietnam, and the famous ancient temples of Le and the Dinh Dynasties.
   • 13:00: Depart to visit Trang An tourist attraction, take a boat trip to visit cave complex: Sang Cave, Toi Cave, Ba Giot Cave, Nau Ruou in mystery and wildness, see the scenery of mountain and rivers Halong Bay on the land of Ninh Binh.
   • 15:30: Visit Mua Cave – the highlight attraction in Ninh Binh. Challenge yourself to 500 steps up the cave mountain, where you will have a great panorama view of Tam Coc and the rice field.
   • 18:00: Leave Ninh Binh for Hanoi.
   • 20:30: Tour Trang An. Full-day tour ends.

   Overnight in Hanoi

8. Day 8: Hanoi Departure (Meal: B)

   • Free for leisure in Hanoi's old quarter, shopping, and walking until your flight.
   • Our driver will pick you up at the hotel and transfer you to the airport. 
   • Finish the journey in Vietnam and fly back home.