Vietnam: Hanoi, Halong Bay, Sapa

Xin chao! Welcome to Hanoi, Vietnam. Hanoi, one of Asia’s most enchanting cities, full of culture, history and the engaging contradictions of a rapidly developing and deeply traditional society. You are greeted by your guide and driver at Noi Bai International Airport for your transfer to the hotel (Check-in time at around 2.00 PM)

Overnight Hanoi

Breakfast at hotel

In the morning, we head out to the Temple of Literature. Dedicated to Confucius, it was built in the 11th century. It was the first university in Vietnam and students still come here to burn incense. We then walk along the beautiful Hung Vuong Avenue and its colonial houses to the Presidential Palace (formerly Palace of the Governor-General of French Indochina). View the outside of the Presidential Palace and then walk through the park to the Ho Chi Minh’s house-on-stilt and the nearby One Pillar Pagoda.

In the afternoon, we visit the Ethnology Museum where gives an excellent overview of the country’s ethnic groups, their customs and ways of life. The highlight here is the large, beautiful outdoor area featuring genuine houses and compounds as built and used by the many different ethnic groups. After that, we transfer to the Old Quarter, the bustling heart of Hanoi, which has been a commercial centre since King Ly Thai To built his palace there in the 11th century. Skilled craftsmen started to migrate and artisan guilds were formed on the famous “36 Streets”. Previously, each street carried the name of the item produced and sold there, and many still have the same names. This is a place you must see to experience Hanoi, where you will find shopping, cultural and historical sites all wrapped into one. Free at your leisure.

Overnight in Hanoi

Note: Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum is closed on Mon, Fri, & Public Holidays, & can visit in the morning only.

Breakfast at hotel

Hanoi Handicraft Villages (8 hours)

Begin the exploration with a visit to But Thap Temple, known for its four-storey stone tower dedicated to the venerable abbot and Zen master Chuyet Chuyet. The next stop is at Dong Ho, a village renowned for an age-old form of woodblock printing that dates back to the 11th century. Using paints and paper made from natural materials the paintings reflect the innermost feelings and desires of the artists. Once an important and popular part of the Tet holiday, several families in Dong Ho are now dedicating their lives to teaching this ancient painting technique to ensure the unique tradition continues for many more years. Visit the workshop and listen to one of the artisans talk about his career and his passion in introducing the painting technique to visitors and tourists. Continue to Bat Trang ceramic village. Although located just on the outskirts of the city on the far side of the Red River, the ancient village of Bat Trang seems a world away from the hustle and bustle of Hanoi. The entire population of this charming 14th century village uses traditional methods to produce high quality ceramic and pottery products. Enjoy lunch at a local house before wandering the narrow streets that take you past small shops and workshops piled high with pottery items. Pop into some of the workshops to chat with the locals and see how the artisans form, paint and glaze the products. You can even get hands-on and try making a clay mound or join a drawing class. Transfer back to Hanoi city center in the afternoon

Room late check-out till 18h00 included.

Transfer to train station

Overnight on train in a 4-berth cabin, soft sleepers.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch

Arriving in Lao Cai in the early morning, you will meet the local guide at the station before head out for breakfast at a local restaurant. Then, drive to visit a weekly tribal market. Bask in the vibrant colours of traditional hill tribe costumes. This is a good place for meeting friendly local people, taking photos and learning about the culture of the hill tribes living in the area. Continue to Sa Pa.

A picturesque town surrounded by majestic mountain landscapes and neatly terraced rice fields, the highlight of Sa Pa is unquestionably the friendly and colourful local hill tribe people. After reaching Sa Pa, you’ll check in to your hotel and enjoy your rest of day on your own. Overnight in Sa Pa.

Note: There’s no tribal market on Monday & Friday.

Tuesday: Coc Ly market

Wednesday: Cao Son market

Thursday: Lung Khau Nhin market

Saturday: Can Cau, Pha Long market

Sunday: Bac Ha market

Breakfast at the hotel

Leaving Sapa at about 08.30 am by vehicle heading northwards of Sapa along national road 4C for 8 km to O Quy Ho with several stops for magnificent landscapes of Fansipan.Mt, Sin Chai valley and especially amazing flower and vegetable farms. Then turn right to follow a narrow tarmac for half an hour, getting through wild region with thick rain forest covering walled-up mountains, passing a oangbeautiful waterfall before arriving to Ban Khoang commune, home to the Black Hmong & Red DZao 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. Enjoy about 2 hours walking along village path which connects hamlet to hamlets witnessing daily activities of local life such as plough and harrow the fields, growing, harvesting or doing house works. In leisure months men often gather to built new houses or repair parts of old ones while women stay home making their traditional costumes. The walk ends in mid-afternoon, picked up for the road ride back to Sapa.

Spend the night in Sa Pa

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch

Approx: 2 hours driving/ 4 hours walking/ 1-hour lunch.

8.00 AM, meet up at your hotel in Sapa by local guide and driver for a short road transfer along the national road 4D northeastwards to the trekking point. Trekking uphill on a large and rocky path for 2 hours along the narrow valley which runs between two high mountains passing two hamlets of the Black H’mong of Sa Pa Commune: Sau Chua and Sa Seng. The H’mong peoples here have just recently change their living way from sifting style into the sedentary one. So there are still a lot traces of the past time can be seen: rudimentary houses, stone wall around homes… Lunch break in the village.

After lunch, continue along the same trail gradually uphill the Den Thang mountain for an hour to Hang Da Village of the H’mong which sits at 1,800m height and over looking down the Muong Hoa Valley. Paying visit to several local homes. Leaving Hang Da and enjoy easy walk on high elevation for half an hour which offers great view of Muong Hoa Valley until arriving to Thao Hong Den, another village of the Black H’mong. Paying visiting to several local homes. This portion of the trek offers chances for taking the best photos of landscapes. Getting downhill for another hour along a dirt track to Pho Village at the center of Hau Thao Commune. Picked up and transfer back to Sapa.

Hotel late check-out till 18h00 included.

Transfer to Lao Cai for overnight train to Ha Noi.

Approx: 1-hour driving/ 4-5 hours walking/ 1-hour lunch

Upon your arrival to Ha Noi railway station, meet your guide and transfer to a simple hotel for shower and breakfast.

At 8.30 AM, we gather in the lobby for our departure to Halong Bay. We drive across the Red River delta and reach the coast a little before noon. We embark on a beautifully crafted wooden junk for an overnight cruise in the legendary seascape of Halong Bay. Once on board, we are served a delicious seafood-based lunch, while the limestone rocks set the décor. In the afternoon, we reach a less travelled area and will devote ourselves to relaxation, sunbathing, and a visit to a cave. The program is not fixed and depends on the time of the year and weather. We end the day on the sundeck while the sun sets. Enjoy an aperitif or attend a cooking demonstration before dinner. Overnight in a comfortable private cabin with attached bathroom.

Note:

– Cruise itinerary and schedule are subject to change due to weather, tide levels and operating conditions. Swimming or kayaking excursions may be cancelled due to poor weather.

– No guide on board with guests; in-house English-speaking guide on board will be arranged by the cruise.

One of the most special experiences for travelers in Vietnam is to watch the sunrise over Halong Bay. Rise early to watch this spectacular and peaceful scene. After a light breakfast we continue cruising through the bay to visit Sung Sot, a beautiful cave but also an archaeological site. We enjoy brunch on board before we arrive at the wharf in the late morning and return to the dock, where you will be met and transferred back to Hanoi.

Spend the night in Hanoi

Meals included: Brunch

Transfer by air conditioned vehicle to airport for your return home flight.

Meals included: Breakfast

Check out at 12:00 PM. No late check out included.