Best of Northern Vietnam 7 Days

Best of Northern Vietnam 7 Days

(7 Days - Departs Daily on a Private Basis)
Hanoi, Sapa, Ha Long Bay
   
Overview Itinerary
 
Day 1 Arrive Hanoi (D)
Day 2 Hanoi City Tour - Lao Cai (B/L)
Day 3 Lao Cai - Sapa (B/L)
Day 4 Sapa - Lao Cai - Train back to Hanoi (B/L)
Day 5. Hanoi - Halong Bay (B/L/D)
Day 6. Halong Bay - Hanoi (B)
Day 7: Hanoi Departure (B)

Day 1: Arrive Hanoi (D)
You will be warmly welcomed upon arrival Hanoi airport and transferred to your hotel. In the afternoon you will take a private walking city tour to visit local markets and Hanoi's Old Quarter, known for its 36 streets and former craft guilds. In the evening you will enjoy a water puppet performance before a welcome dinner at a local restaurant and an overnight stay in Hanoi.
 
Day 2: Hanoi City Tour - Lao Cai (B/L)
The post-colonial capital city of Hanoi is a unique Asian city with tree-lined boulevards, French colonial architecture, numerous lakes, pagodas and temples. This full day tour takes you around Hanoi's most interesting sights. Begin with an exploration of the vast Ho Chi Minh Memorial Complex. Visit the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum which contains the embalmed body of Ho Chi Minh (closed Mondays, Fridays and during September and October); and Ho Chi Minh's Stilt House where Ho Chi Minh lived from 1958 until his final days in 1969. Preserved in the same condition as during his life, it may be viewed through the windows. Continue to the miniature 11th century One Pillar Pagoda which was rebuilt after being destroyed by the French in 1954. The next stop is the Temple of Literature with its walled courtyards and graceful gateways. Founded in 1070 and dedicated to Confucius, this was also the site of Vietnam's first university. Afterwards head to the Museum of Ethnology (closed Mondays and during Vietnam New Year). This museum showcases art, traditional clothing and reconstructions of traditional longhouses from 54 different ethnic groups. Your adventure trip to Sapa will then begin with an overnight train from Vietnam 's capital city to the border town of Lao Cai.
 
Day 3: Lao Cai - Sapa (B/L)
The train arrives at Lao Cai train station at approximately 6:00 a.m. and there will be a vehicle waiting to transfer you to Sapa. The drive to Sapa is only 33 km, but it takes around 1.5 hours.  

Once at Sapa, you will check in to your hotel (early check-in subject to availability). You will have breakfast at the hotel restaurant then enjoy a free morning to explore around town. In the afternoon there will be a walking tour to the hill tribe villages of Cat Cat, home to the H'mong hill tribe minority peoples. As you walk to the villages nestled in the valley below Sapa, you will meet some of the local minority people on their way to and from Sapa. Here you will have the opportunity to share cultural experiences with the families that live in the area. You will stay overnight in Sapa.
 
Day 4: Sapa - Lao Chai & Ta Van Village - Night train to Hanoi (B/L)
Breakfast at hotel, before starting our trek through the beautiful Muong Hoa valley in Sapa. We will reach the picturesque Lao Chai village home to the Black H'mong ethnic minority and Ta Van village inhabited by Dzay. Enjoy stunning views of rice terraces curving around the hillside, winding rivers and streams glistening in the sunshine. Lunch at local restaurant. We spend time looking around the village, you have the opportunity to share cultural experiences with the families that live in the area. Finally, we head back up the valley to meet with our car for the return trip to Sa Pa. Optional visit around Sapa town or independently explore the town and local market before heading to the train station for the night train back to Hanoi. Overnight on train in a superior 4-berth compartment sharing with other passengers.
 
Day 5: Hanoi - Halong Bay (B/L/D)
Arriving in Hanoi around 5 a.m, you will be pick up and go to the mini hotel to have shower and have breakfast. Following breakfast, travel to the spectacular World Heritage site of Halong Bay in the Gulf of Tonkin (approximately four hours). Arrive at your jetty in Halong City towards noon and proceed with check-in formalities. After your welcome onboard, a lunch will be served while cruising towards the bay itself. In the afternoon, enjoy some visits and/or activities (depending on each boat’s itinerary) or just spend some time relaxing on board. Towards the end of the day the boat sets anchor for the night among the karst formations. Dinner is served on board. Overnight aboard on Halong Bay
 
Note: 2 days cruise itinerary is subject to change bases on each cruise company, english speaking guide is available on board.
 
Day 6: Halong Bay Cruise – Hanoi (B/-/-)
Enjoy your fresh morning in the middle of the bay, the sun rises on Halong in the morning and breakfast is served (brunch on some boats) while the vessels cruises slowly through the magnificent rock formations and back towards port. Disembark and transfer back to Hanoi. Accommodation at hotel in Hanoi.
 
Day 7: Hanoi Departure (B)
There is no activity planned for today so you are free to enjoy your free time souvenir shopping until transfer to the airport for your onward flight.

Prices are quoted in US dollars per person base on minimum two travelers
 
Rates vary depend on group size, travel time, accommodation level, transportation and other service. Please contact us to get the best price!