One-week Vietnam tour of amazing cities, mountains & bay

Xin Chao! Welcome to Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam! Get picked up from the airport and transferred downtown Hanoi for hotel check in.
Lies on the bank of Red River, this thousand years old city is home of vibrant Old Quarter dominated by thousands colorful traditional shops and ancient temples dotted along. Its French quarter with charming colonial buildings, tree lined boulevards, verdant parks and beautiful lakes was once called the little Paris in Asia. The great combination of East and West, old and new make it one of the loveliest place in Asia to explore.
The rest of the day is free at your leisure to relax or check out Hanoi vibrant streets. Walking streets around the Hoan Kiem Lake and Night market in the central area are opened on the weekend from Friday evening until end of Sunday. It is good to join in the exciting atmosphere and grab a local taste.

Before that, perhaps you may like to take a traditional massage from one of many spas around to ease your tired muscles after long flight or just get a ticket for a colorful and exciting water puppet show that is a typical performing art of the Northern Vietnam.

Summary of inclusions

This morning you will spend time to explore some main interesting sights of the city including: Ho Chi Minh Memorial Complex that is dedicated to the father of modern Vietnam consisting of the Mausoleum, Presidential Palace, Uncle Ho’s house on stilts; One Pillar Pagoda – an iconic symbol of the city that dated back from 1049; the ruin of the ancient Imperial Citadel of Thang Long; Temple of Literature - the first University of the country that built from 1076, where huge stone steles on turtle backs bear names of the country’s men who received Doctor Laureate through royal examinations.
In the afternoon, enjoy your visit toone of many interesting Hanoi’s museums, the charming Hoan Kiem Lake with the Ngoc Son Temple on the Jade mount, where a legendary turtle is reserved.
Afterwards, take a leisurely walking tour for sightseeing of the Hanoi Old Quarter, a maze of streets with thousands of photo opportunities around you.
Along the way, you will have chance to sightsee local street life, traditional guilds, food market, shopping areas, food venues, ancient houses and temples.
Enjoy tasting some Hanoi specialties such as Bun Cha, Banh Goi (Pillow cake), Nom bo kho (beef salad), Banh Cuon (rice paper rolls), Snail with tamarind sauce and so on.
End the day with a cup of Hanoi special egg coffee in a hundred years old family shop.
Get transferred to the station to take night train to Lao Cai, gate way to Sapa.

Overnight on the train in AC soft sleeper cabin.

Summary of inclusions

Arrive in Lao Cai in early morning. Have breakfast at a local restaurant then get on a drive uphill along sinuous mountain road to Bac Ha for your visit to an exciting weekly hill tribe markets.
Here you will see Flower Hmong, Phu La, Dao, Tay, Nung… all races of hill tribes there gathering around for trading, meeting up and finding their friends and partners, showing up their best costume and find their partners in one of the most colorful weekly fairs of the highland. It is an awesome experience of seeing colors, understanding traditions and feeling the atmosphere. The market offers a variety of local products includes colorful embroidery, handicrafts and all types of daily necessary stuffs. Here also available animal market where people sell and buy or barter animal such as dogs, pot-bellied pigs, cows, buffalos and so on...
Wander through, enjoy the atmosphere, try some local specialties and get for you some best photos.
Drive back down to Lao Cai then uphill to Sapa in the afternoon. Remainder of the day is at your leisure.

Locates in the middle height of the Hoang Lien Mountain Range, this former French hill station and its surroundings is famous for beautiful weather, spectacular natural landscapes of mountain, forest and hillside terraces. This is home to some of most colorful hill tribe communities in the country.

Notes: Depending on your arrival day and the market schedule, the visit to the hill tribe market can be swap to next day.

Summary of inclusions

After breakfast, you will get transferred to the trekking point for your wonderful day trek through the fascinating landscapes of the Muong Hoa River valley along towering mountains, terraced fields, bamboo forest, and rustic hill tribe villages of Black Hmong, Dzao and Dzay people. Along the way you will see minority people from some hill tribes with their typical appearance and colorful dress walking, working and playing. It is the chance for interesting local interaction, joining with locals at their farm work, visiting local houses to learn about their life style and traditions, getting for you some best photos of landscapes and daily life scenes.
Pick up and transferred back the town then enjoy some interesting shopping or simply pamper yourself with a massage to ease your muscles. 
Later, take a van drive downhill then along the highway back Hanoi.
Check in hotel in the evening and free at your leisure.

Note: If you do not want to take a long bus drive (4.5 hours), an overnight train ride back Hanoi is available at your choice.

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 (11.00 – 11.30 depending on boat and tide).
Drive back Hanoi and enjoy your time at leisure for exploring Hanoi at your own pace.

Summary of inclusions

Breakfast is at the hotel.
Today is departure day. Enjoy some free time for last purchases or simply relax before your transfer to airport for onward flight or continuing with more “Travel Authentic Asia” destinations.

Safe travel and see you again!

Summary of inclusions