9 Days North Vietnam tour of cultural and natural highlights

Xin Chao! Welcome to Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam!
Get pick up at the airport upon arrival and transfer to the downtown of Hanoi for hotel check-in.
Remainder of the day is at your leisure to rest and/or explore the central area at your own pace.

Boasted as one of the liveliest and loveliest city in Asia, Hanoi – the capital city of Vietnam with its thousand year history retains in it a deep sense of tradition and at the same time containing very sparky character of a fast growing city.
The city is home of tree-lined boulevards characterized by yellow painted colonial buildings, the Old Quarter with a maze of narrow streets where you can get lost among thousands of colorful shops, traditional guilds, ancient temples, food venues, street café, sounds and smells.
What an interesting experience to join with local for morning exercise around lakes, strolling around capturing scenes of people daily life or just sitting back sipping café au lait watching fast moving currents of the city’s traffic. Night market in the town center is available on the weekend.

Summary of inclusions

Start your sightseeing day of Hanoi with the visit to Ho Chi Minh Memorial Complex that includes the Mausoleum, the Presidential Palaces, Ho's humble house on stilts.  Next is the iconic One Pillar Pagoda that built from 1049 by King Ly Thai Tong then followed by the Temple of Literature, the first University of Vietnam where remains nearly a hundred of huge stone stelas standing on turtle back, bearing names of country's prominent men who received Doctor Laureate through Royal examinations.

This afternoon we will spend time to explore the Hoa Lo Prison - nicknamed Hanoi Hilton by American pilots who detained here during the war.
Continue with one of following museums: National History museum with huge display of National history and culture artifacts, the Army History Museum, the Women Museum or the Ethnology museum with colorful display and exhibits of Vietnam various ethnic groups.
Later, visit the Ngoc Son temple built on a little island of the Hoan Kiem Lake where the legendary turtle got back the magic sword from the King Le Loi after the national victory against foreign invaders hence named the lake.
Spend the remainder of the day for a leisurely walking tour of Hanoi Old Quarter, a maze of colorful streets with thousands of photo opportunities around you.
Along the way, you will sightsee local street life, traditional guilds, local markets, shopping areas, food venues, ancient houses and temples.
Enjoy tasting some Hanoi specialties and end the day with a cup of Hanoi special egg coffee in a hundred years old family shop.

Summary of inclusions

08.30AM – 09.00AM: Get picked up from hotel and leave Hanoi for a drive to Hon Gai pier where you board the boat for cruise on spectacular Halong Bay & Bai Tu Long Bay. 

Said to be one of the most beautiful nature wonders in the World, Halong Bay consists of thousands of limestone islands soaring up from the emerald water of the bay. The different shape of islands here is the result of the work of wind and water through millions of year. With dotted pristine beaches, floating villages, amazing natural caves and fascinating scenes, Halong and its surroundings is the must-see for travelers to Vietnam.

Check in on board upon arrival at noon time.
Have lunch while leisurely cruising to the core of the bay amongst thousands of dramatic lime stone islands.
In the afternoon you will enjoy kayaking through the karsts and breathtaking nature or swimming on one of the beaches
Enjoy sunset party while your cruise is sailing to the overnight anchorage.
Dinner and overnight on board amongst islands and under star live sky.

Note: The cruise itinerary can be different depending on tide condition, boat and route assigned.

Summary of inclusions

Early risers will have chance to catch stunning sunrise over the Bay’s spectacular landscape and take part in a Taichi class on the rooftop ground.   
After breakfast, take a rowing boat tour around to visit to a floating village and natural tunnel, lagoon. Back to the mother boat and cruise to visit another part of the Halong Bay.
Lunch is served on your way cruising back to the harbor. Disembark the boat at early noon and drive back to Hanoi.

Enjoy some free time to wander around for sightseeing and dinner before getting a pick-up and transfer to the train station for an overnight train ride to Lao Cai, gateway of Sapa mountain retreat.
Overnight on train in AC soft sleeper cabin

Summary of inclusions

Arrival in Lao Cai in early morning.
After breakfast, drive your way uphill to visit to one of very colorful weekly hill tribe markets of mountainous North Vietnam.
Here you’ll see local people from different mountains gather to exchange their products, showing up their best costume and find their partners in one of the most colorful weekly fairs of the highland. Wander through, enjoy the atmosphere, try some local specialties and get for you some best photos.

Drive downhill to visit the Vietnamese – Chinese border gate before going uphill to Sapa. Check in hotel and remainder of the day is free to explore the lovely mountain town at your own pace.

Lies on the slope of Hoang Lien Mountain range at the elevation of about 1500m above sea level, right at the foot of the Fansipan peak which is the highest peak in Indochina, Sapa is endowed with moderate climate, stunning landscapes of mountains, forests and sloping terraces dotted by rustic villages of different hill tribe groups who remain strong unique living style, traditions and appearance.
Found as an ideal summer retreat by French from early 20th century, Sapa now remains a great interesting travel destination for people far and wide and is one of must-see places in Vietnam.

Summary of inclusions

Today you will take a light trek along one of the most beautiful trekking route in Vietnam.
Start from Sapa, you will trek downhill along the Muong Hoa River through spectacular mountains, forest and hillside terraces to quaint hill tribe villages. Enjoy the great scenery along the way and your interaction with the locals. 
Get to the village of the Dzay minority in the mid-afternoon, check in home stay and the rest of the day is to wander around for sightseeing and local interaction.
Home diner and enjoy sound sleep to the total peace of village night in local house.
Your accommodation is based on multi shared basis with mattress, blanket and mosquito net provide. There are shower and hygiene facilities for use at convenience. 

Note: You can choose to stay a lodge if local house homestay is not an experience you expect.

Summary of inclusions

After breakfast, venture out for another wonderful trekking day.
Today we will take about 8 km trek on the dirt trail along rolling hills, bamboo forests and jungle, passing and visiting village of H'mong, Red Dxao...
Get picked up at the ending point and transfer back to Sapa town.
Enjoy some free time for lunch and more sightseeing or just simply ease your sore muscles in one of the foot massage shops before taking bus drive downhill along the highway back Hanoi.

Check in hotel in Hanoi early evening.

Summary of inclusions

After breakfast, depart Hanoi center for a 1.5 hour drive to Ninh Binh province that is famous with spectacular karst landscapes and rustic countryside.
Visit to Hoa Lu ancient capital dating back 10th century and surrounded by a nature wall or high limestone mountains, visiting temples dedicated to National heroes and Kings of the Dinh and Early Le Dynasties then climb up the Ma Yen Mountain for the beautiful view over the karst landscape in the area. Following, take a bicycle ride along country road passing rice paddies, villages and mountains to Tam Coc.

After lunch, take a boat rowing on stream amongst jutting mountains of Tam Coc, passing through lush rice fields and 3 nature caves. The scenery along the gentle row is stunning and it is deserved to be the highlight activities of the day.
Later, spend some time to explore the Bich Dong Pagoda on the nearby Ngu Nhac Mountains, comprising three structures built on mountain cliff, dating back 15th century.

Drive back Hanoi and remainder of the day is at your leisure.

Summary of inclusions

Breakfast at the hotel.
Enjoy your free time at leisure until getting transfer to the airport for your onward flight.  Safe travel and see you again!

Summary of inclusions