Day 1: Arrival in Hanoi (-)
Upon arrival in Hanoi, our bus will pick you up and take you to your hotel for the check-in.
Free time for the rest of the day.
Day 2: Hanoi – City Tour – Night Train to Lao Cai (B, L, D)
Today, we will discover the millennium city of Hanoi and learn more about its rich history. Hanoi is without a doubt one of the most interesting cities to visit in Vietnam.
First, we will visit the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, One Pillar Pagoda, Presidential Palace, and Temple of Literature.
Lunch at a local restaurant.
In the afternoon, we will visit the Vietnam Military History Museum, West Lake, the Old Quarter (including Dong Xuan Market, Hang Giay Street, and O Quan Truong gate), and Hoan Kiem Lake.
Finally, we will rejoice assisting a very nice water puppet show.
Dinner at a local restaurant before heading to the train station. You will take the night train towards Lao Cai (air-conditioned cabin shared by 4 people, soft beds).
Day 3: Lao Cai – Sapa (B, L, D)
Early morning arrival in Lao Cai. A bus will pick you up for a 38-km drive to Sapa.
Breakfast at your hotel before visiting Sapa and its surroundings: Cat Cat Village, Cat Cat Waterfall, an old hydroelectric factory, and a local Black H’Mong family.
After heading back to town, lunch will be provided in a local restaurant.
In the afternoon, visit to Ham Rong Mountain, where you will have an astounding view on the town of Sapa and Mount Fansipan.
Later, you will witness a traditional show performed by local minorities.
Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 4: Sapa – Lao Cai – Night Train to Hanoi (B, L, D)
Today, we will take a footpath to trek on the rim of the deep valley of Muong Hoa. During the trek, you will have the opportunity to see the most enchanting rice terraces of the area while also having the chance to meet the H’Mong hill tribes of Lao Chai Village and the Dzay hill tribes of Ta Van Village.
Right after, we will have lunch before being picked up by our bus to head back to Sapa.
Free time for the rest of the day before heading to Lao Cai station. You will take your night train to return to Hanoi (air-conditioned cabin shared by 4 people, soft beds).
Day 5: Hanoi – Ha Long Bay (B, L, D)
Arrival early in the morning. Check-in at a small guesthouse near the train station for a nap and free time until our bus picks you up and takes you to Ha Long City.
We will drive for 3h30 to reach Ha Long City. At Ha Long tourist port, we will get onboard and enjoy a fresh seafood lunch while cruising through the thousands of islands and islets that form this incredible World Natural Heritage site. We will have the opportunity to swim in the bay, explore caves with beautiful stalactites and stalagmites, or take kayaks and discover the hidden treasures of Ha Long Bay.
Dinner and overnight onboard.
Day 6: Ha Long Bay – Ninh Binh (B, L)
Wake up early and enjoy breakfast onboard while seeing the sunrise. Then, we will continue cruising and sightseeing in Ha Long Bay before heading back to the port.
At the port we will hop on the bus which will take us through the Red River Delta from Ha Long to Hai Phong, then Thai Binh, Nam Dinh, and finally Ninh Binh. While on our way, we will make a few stops: visit Tran Temple in Nam Dinh to and learn about the most successful dynasty in the history of Vietnam, visit traditional villages specializing in making lacquers and wood carving.
In Ninh Binh, we will check-in at the hotel located in the middle of a rural area. You will have free time to enjoy the peaceful countryside.
Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 7: Ninh Binh – Hanoi (B, L, D)
Today, we will visit Ninh Binh, surrounded by many limestone mountains emerging from rice fields. Ninh Binh is known as “Ha Long Bay on land”.
We will visit the Trang An grottoes, newly recognized as World Natural Heritage site by the UNESCO. There, we will board bamboo row boats and cruise along the stream through 9 grottoes including Ba Giot, Dia Linh, Toi (“Dark Cave”), Sang (“Bright Cave”), Ao Trai, and Seo. We will also visit the valleys of Tran Temple, May, Khong, and Nau Ruou.
Later, we will go to Bai Dinh pagoda, the biggest in Vietnam. Finally, we will go back to our bus and return to Hanoi.
Check-in at hotel and free time in evening.
(Note: visit of Hanoi night market on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays).
Day 8: Hanoi – Departure (B)
Free time until the bus picks you up for your departure flight at the airport.
