Northern Vietnam 9 days

9 days tour though four famous destinations on the north of Vietnam. You’ll enjoy with the nature, fresh air and have chance to discovery special the natural life.

Day 1: Hanoi Arrival

Welcome at the airport upon arrival and transfer to hotel for check-in and tour briefing. Rest of the day is free at your leisure. Overnight in Hanoi.
Day 2: Hanoi City Tour (B)

After breakfast at hotel, we will pay a visit to the memorial complex to Ho Chi Minh to know his amazing life. Continue to the Single Pillar Pagoda and the Temple of Literature to gain understanding of the two driving forces in Vietnam culture. In the afternoon, we take a half day tour visiting the mystical Lake of Restored Sword and the Old Quarter of 36 guild streets from a rickshaw ride. The Old Quarter is a series of 36 ancient streets where peddlers still trade the way they have done for centuries. The rickshaw tour ends up at Ma May Old House, an example of dwellings in the 19 century. Overnight at hotel.
Day 3: Hanoi – Ninh Binh (B, L)

Today, we a full day tour to visit Tam Coc (Three Caves) which is widely known as "Halong Bay on Land" boasting breathtaking scenery. You will ride in a flat-bottomed boat for an unforgettable walk on the winding course of the river lined with rice fields, limestone crags, and caves. The site of Tam Coc is a landscape of dreams, to the lines and contrasting colors, in the silence of nature, barely disturbed by the sound of the oars and the cries of birds. Continue visiting Bich Dong Grotto (emerald-like grotto), around 2km from Tam Coc by car, climb a little bit till you get to the top of the Upper pagoda and your eyes catch the overall panorama of the paddy fields between Truong Yen Mountain. A king conferred on Bich Dong the title “The Second Most Beautiful Grotto in Vietnam”. We continue to Hoa Lu - the first royal capital of Vietnam’s centralized feudal state from 968 – 1010 led by three dynasties of Dinh, Early Le and Ly. Overnight in Ninh Binh.
Day 4: Ninh Binh – Halong (B, L)

After breakfast we check out and journey east to Vietnam's greatest natural wonder, Ha Long Bay. Arriving in Halong by 12:30, we’ll board a beautiful traditional wooden junk and spend a full day and night cruising the bay's 3000 magnificent limestone islets. We also visit a floating village and a huge cave filled with eye-catching rock formations. In the evening when the boat is anchored in the middle of the stunning lagoon, we enjoy a wonderful seafood meal and later there is opportunity for fishing from the side of the boat. Overnight on board.
Day 5: Halong – Hanoi – Night train to Lao Cai (B/L)

Wake up to fresh coffee and take a small boat to a nearby sandy beach for relaxing & swimming & sightseeing. For a great photo opportunity it is well worth walking up to the hill top pagoda which overlooks the entire bay. Afterwards we return for a wholesome breakfast before cruising back to the shore. En route the junk weaves through strange-shaped rock formations that invite comparisons from fighting cocks to mystical dragons! Disembark at 11:00 AM and transferring back to Hanoi then taking a night train to Lao Cai. Overnight on train.
Day 6: Lao Cai – Sapa (B)

Arrive in Lao Cai railway station at about 6.00 AM. Transfer to Sapa by private vehicle (1hr drive) for breakfast at hotel. Late morning we travel by car to Lao Chai ethnic minority village of Black Hmong, visit the village and discover the local life. From Lao Chai, take a trekking tour towards Ta Van, the ethnic village of Day people. Return to Sa Pa and explore the town including its market, Ham Rong Mount and the stone church. Overnight in in Sapa.
Day 7: Sapa – Bac Ha Market – Night train to Hanoi (B, L)

Morning transfer from Sapa to Bac Ha passing the beautiful mountainous road. We’ll have ample time to explore the most colorful market in Northwest of Vietnam where you can meet about 10 different ethnic minorities, the place that people attend not only for trading but for rice-wine drinking, social communication, making friends… In the afternoon continue to trek through some Tay villages and rainforest to visit Thai Giang Pho – the village of Flower Hmong people that you met on the market. You will learn about their daily life, say hello to local children and enjoy the nice view along the trail. Transfer to Lao Cai and visit this border city for a while before boarding the night train to Hanoi. Overnight on train.
Day 8: Hanoi (B)

Arriving Hanoi early in the morning, you’ll transfer to hotel for early checking-in and breakfast. Relax at hotel at hotel in the morning. Afternoon we visit the Museum of Ethnology which exhibits a large collection of artifacts about the cultures of the 54 ethnic groups in the country. Later we enjoy a performance of the famed traditional art form created by village farmers around the Red River Delta region. Overnight in Hanoi.
Day 9: Hanoi – Departure (B)

Relax at hotel until transfer to hotel for flight departure.

SERVICES INCLUDED

Accommodation of the class quoted
Private land transfer by air-conditioned vehicle
Local English-speaking guide
Sleeper berths in sharing 4-berth cabins with A/C of Hanoi – Lao Cai – Hanoi trains
Boat trip in Ninh Binh
Admission fee to indicated sights
Sharing cruise in Ha Long Bay
Meals as stated in the itinerary (B = Breakfast, L = Lunch; D=Dinner)
Government tax and service charge
Supply of bottled drinking water on vehicle
Flight reconfirmation