HE8: North Vietnam experience 8 days - From $436

Day 1 : Hanoi arrival

Arrival at Noi Bai Airport, you will be warmly welcomed and transferred to city center, checkin, relax.( Room may not be available till 12:30 PM )

 

Optional tours: Street food tour including dinner

Time frame: Around 3 hours

At around 17:30, we start walking around Hoan Kiem Lake and the old quarter "36 streets" to visit some famous and specialized- food families or stalls/ local restaurants, shops where they run their business everyday. Special thing that tour guide would like to introduce some popular authentic food in lovely mini restaurants (not luxury restaurants) where you feel comfortable to sit down and enjoy some favorite dishes and nice drinks too.

It's interesting to taste some local food stalls and mini restaurants in hidden alleys and sidewalks, to learn about Vietnamese cuisine, culture, people and language. 

Street food tour will give you an unique experience to try the foods of the local Hanoi people, kow how a Hanoian cook the meals. What’s a great way to discover Vietnam culture.

Price: 28 USD/ person

 

Day 2 Hanoi – Ninh Binh – Hoa Lu – Trang an, the UNESCO World Heritage Site ( B, L )

Morning 8:00 AM depart from Hanoi to Ninh Binh, located in the marshy Red River delta, featuring a network of waterways coupled with spectacular limestone formations rising up from rice paddy fields. Spend one hour visiting the Dinh and Le temples of the Ancient Capital Hoa Lu which are dedicated to King Dinh and King Le, the founders of the ancient capital during the 10th century.

Lunch at local restaurant.

Afternoon, continue to visit Trang An Scenic Landscape complex nearby which recently recognized as an UNESCO World natural heritage, get on a rowing boat (small sampan) traveling along the small river with scenic mountain and green fields landscape. Boat takes you to visit cave complex of Trang An: Sang Cave, Toi Cave, Ba Giot Cave, Nau Ruou in mystery and wildness, the scenery of mountain and rivers – Halong on land of Ninh Binh.

Transfer back Hanoi for overnight at hotel.

 

Day 3: Hanoi city tour – night train to Sapa( B, L )

Breakfast at hotel, This morning we start city tour with Ho Chi Minh Complex from outside. This famous site contains the mausoleum of the nation’s founder Ho Chi Minh (Close on every Monday, Friday & from June 15 to August 15 as annual maintenance), the Presidential Palace and the Ho Chi Minh’s house on stilts. Close to this complex is the One Pillar Pagoda, whose origins date back to the foundation of city. We follow this with the Temple of Literature, which is well known as the first university of Vietnam, Vietnam’s first university.  Constructed in 1070, the gardens and well-preserved architecture offer a relaxing glimpse into Vietnam’s past.

Lunch at local restaurant. 

Afternoon, We continue to visit the Restored Sword Lake (Hoan Kiem Lake) and Ngoc Son Temple, do a cyclo tour around the 36 streets of the Hanoi old quarter to learn more about simple life of Hanoian. Enjoy water puppet show- a remarkable Vietnamese art form that combines traditional music, fireworks, underwater puppeteers, and elaborate puppets floating gracefully over water. Time for shopping in the Old Quarter, Dong Xuan Market, Hang Gai Street, Hang Bong Street, Hang Ngang Street…

Free until transfering to the train station for night train to Sapa. The train leaves Hanoi at around 9:00 PM. Overnight on train with soft sleep 4 berth / cabin.

 

The little free time before night train trip is the great chance to experience the local life here in Hanoi. You can:

- wander around the crowded streets in the Old Quarter. Hanoi is well known for Paradise of Street food, very cheap, fresh and tasty. Try the casual local food stalls. It’s not only meals. It’s also culture. Oh don’t miss our “PHO” – the most delicious Hanoi beef noodle soup

- enjoy “ Bia Hoi” – the way Hanoian and tourists sit on a small plastic chair enjoy local fresh beer on the corner of street, drinking beer and chatting

- try egg- coffee served in the small and hidden alleys and sidewalks

 

Day 4 : Lao cai - Sapa-  Cat cat village - Silver waterfall ( B, L)

The train arrives at the Lao Cai train station at approximately 05:00 AM. There will be a vehicle and tour guide waiting to transfer us to Sapa. The drive to Sapa is only 33 km but it takes around 1.5 hours to make our way up the mountains. Arrive Sapa and  enjoy  breakfast at the hotel ( There will be surcharge if require early check in ).

After breakfast,  we  do the a tour with car and guide  to the hill tribe villages of Cat Cat, and Sansaho village home to the H'mong  hill tribes minority peoples. As we walk to the villages nestled in the valley below Sapa, we will meet some of the local minority people on their way to and from Sapa. Here we have the opportunity to share cultural experiences with the families that live in the area. Back to the hotel , check in, then enjoy lunch at local restaurant.

This afternoon you travel by car toward the Silver Waterfall where you will be able to take a short walk to waterfall. You will then drive further to Heaven Gate, the highest peak of roads in Vietnam. From there you can see Fansipan, the highest peak of Indochina mountains as well as enjoy stunning views. The walk commences at a point nearby the waterfall, by a descent on a trail through bamboo forest, which belongs to Hoang Lien National Park. Transfer back Sapa town. Time for you to explore Sapa town. You can wander around the local market, the shopping streets with many colorful handicrafts. Overnight at hotel in Sapa. 

 

Day 5 : Lao chai – Tavan village –back Hanoi by sharing luxury coach- SIC – 5,5 hour drive in the afternoon ( B, L ) 

After breakfast, we start the trip to the South East of Sapa alongside Muong Hoa valley, down to Lao Chai village, take picture of paddle field and visit minority house and school. The lovely walk that will take us along small paths and trails and through several hill tribe villages of Lao Chai and Tavan, home to H'mong, and Dzay people. This is an absolutely spectacular walk through stunning scenery inhabited by some of the friendliest people you can meet. Stopping for a lunch on the way at a family in Ta Van village. Opportunity to meet with local people and study the art of making batik and local weaving villages - study textile tradition of craft women o Black H'mong and Red Dzao.   

After lunch at local family in Ta Van village, back Sapa town and get ready to take on the luxury coach back Hanoi, sharing with other passengers.  The trip takes around 5,5 hour in a very good road – New Highway, schedule is  2:30 – 8:30 PM. Overnight at hotel in Hanoi.

 

Day 6: Hanoi – Halong Bay cruise ( B, L, D ) 

Breakfast at hotel, 8:30 – 9:00 AM our bus will pick you up from your hotel, transfer to Halong bay. Our driver will take a 10 – 15 minutes break by a station for guests to rest on the way.

12:00 – 12:30 Embark on Cruise followed by a short cruise briefing.

13:30 – 14:30 Savor a delectable lunch as cruises among the limestone islands.

15:00 – 16:00 Explore the amazing Sung Sot Cave - the most beautiful cave in Halong Bay.

16:00 – 17:00 Cruising to Titov island. Go swimming and relaxing at the beach of Titov or climb up to the top of the island for a panorama view of Halong Bay.

17:00 – 17:30 Return to the main boat and continue cruising to the quiet area while enjoy beautiful seascape on the way.

17:30 – 19:00 Enjoy Sunset Party on sundeck and admire the best moments of the day when the sun starts to set.

19:00 Dinner is served. Socialize with other guests, take part in board games, fish for squid, or just laze around.

Overnight on board.

 

Day 7: Halong bay – Hanoi  ( B, L )

06:30 – 07:15 Start your day with Tai Chi exercises or a photo hunt.

07:30 – 08:30  Have breakfast on board and enjoy the peaceful morning of Halong Bay.

09:00 – 10:00 Kayak around the Luon Cave.

10:15 Return to the boat. Freshen up and check out of your cabin.

10:15 – 11:00 Continue your cruise exploring the Bay, passing Ba Hang fishing village, Dog Islet, and more.

11:00 – 12:15 While heading back to the harbor, watch the fruit carving demonstration and participate in the Cooking Class before enjoying a traditional Vietnamese lunch.

Our bus will transfer you back to Hanoi.

14:30 – 15:00 : Arrive back to your hotel in Hanoi, check in, relax.

 

Day 8: Hanoi departure ( B )

Free until transfer to the airport for your departure flight. End of tour.

Note: Room available till 12:00 PM. If you request late check out, please advice in advance!

 

Price

We offer different price for different travel period and quote from budget travel to luxury highen, no hidden cost. 

So please contact us for your best quote!