Ha Noi - Sapa - Ha Long Bay 6 Days 5 Nights
HANOI – SAPA - HALONG
(STAY OVERNIGHT IN JUNK ON HALONG BAY)
(6 DAYS, 5 NIGHTS)
DAY 1: HANOI – ARRIVAL (--/--/ D)
On your arrival at the Noi Bai International Airport, you will be welcomed by our guide and driver who will bring you to Hanoi City. Hanoi is over 1000 years old and is currently the capital of Vietnam as well the commercial, political, and cultural heart of the country. Check in hotel and free at leisure. Welcome dinner is served at local restaurant. After that, you are free to explore on your own or take it easy and relax in your hotel room. Overnight in Hanoi.
DAY 2: HANOI CITY TOUR – NIGHT TRAIN TO LAO CAI (B/ L/ D)
A city tour of Hanoi starts with a visit to Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum (from outside), His House on-stilts, One-Pillar Pagoda and the Temple of Literature - built in October 1073 to worship Confucius and considered to be the first university in Vietnam.
After lunch time, we will then drive to Hoan Kiem Lake where you will see Ngoc Son Temple which worships Van Xuong saint and Tran Hung Dao, a former general commander. Later in the afternoon, you will get a chance to enjoy a 1-hour cyclo ride around the 36 streets in the Old Quarter of Hanoi followed by the dinner at local restaurant. Late in the evening, transfer to Hanoi Train Station for catching overnight express train from Hanoi to Lao Cai – Sapa. There is a soft bed onboard the train for you to get some sleep.
DAY 3: ARRIVAL LAO CAI – SAPA (VISIT O QUY HO, BANG KHOANG & TA GIANG PHIN) (B/ L/ D)
You will arrive at Lao Cai Train Station in early morning. Then take a refresh and have breakfast before transferring to Sapa. Heading northwards of Sapa along Road 4C for 8 km to O Quy Ho with several stops for magnificent landscapes of Fansipan. Mt, Sin Chai valley and especially amazing flower and vegetable farms. Then turn right to follow a narrow tarmac for half an hour, getting through wild region with thick rain forest covering walled-up mountains, passing a oangbeautiful waterfall before arriving to Ban Khoang commune, home to the Black Hmong & Red Zao ethnic peoples who live their unique way of life and well maintain their traditional values. The villages here are prosperous thanks to the combination of wet rice cultivation on the terraced fields with cardamom farming under the shade of thick rain forest. Spend over an hour walking to explore this remote village for a brief understanding of local life.
Leaving Ban Khoang and process along the road for about 10 km to Ta Giang Phin valley inhabited by the Black Hmong who live in several hamlets scattering along a peaceful stream. Enjoy an hour lunch break on the bank of a stream. Enjoy about 2 hours walking along village path which connects hamlet to hamlets witnessing daily activities of local life such as plough and harrow the fields, growing, harvesting or doing house works. In leisure months men often gather to built new houses or repair parts of old ones while women stay home making their traditional costumes. The walk ends in mid afternoon.
You will be picked up and transferred back to Sapa. Check in hotel and have dinner at local restaurant. Spend the night at hotel in Sapa.
DAY 4: SAPA – HILL-TRIBE MARKET – LAO CAI – NIGHT TRAIN TO HANOI (B/ L/ D)
Today we will take you on an excursion to a local Ethnic minority market. Depending on the day of the week, we may visit one of the following Ethnic Minority markets as follows: Bac Ha Market (held on Sunday), Coc Ly market (held on Tuesday), Cao Son market (held on Wednesday) and Can Cau Market (held on Saturday). It is a precious opportunity for you to take photos of the colorful market before heading back to Lao Cao for the night train back to Hanoi. Stay overnight on train.
DAY 5: ARRIVAL HANOI – HALONG (B/ L/ D)
The trains arrives early in morning. You will be picked up and transferred to check in hotel for day-use and having breakfast.
We leave Hanoi at about 08.00AM and travel to the astonishing and mystical Ha Long Bay which is described by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site and is one of the most beautiful places in the region. Located in the Gulf of Tonkin, it is an spectacular collection of 2,000 islands covering an area in excess of 1,500km. This forms a spectacular seascape of limestone pillars and cliff faces.
Our crew will welcome you on board with drinks and a fresh seafood lunch. You will check into your cabins and start cruising around the bay to see the amazing rock formations (karsts). You will cruise towards Bai Tu Long Bay, passing the towns of Hon Gai and Cam Pha, Oan Lagoon, Mat Quy (Monster Head) and Am Tich (Teapot) Islets and Vung Vieng fishing village.
We will explore the mystery of Sung Sot Cave which is one of the most beautiful caves in Ha Long Bay. Later on, you will have plenty of time for swimming and kayaking to the Tunnel Cave. During the evening, relax to the casual and comfortable atmosphere held on the boat where you will have an elegant dining experience. If we are in the right season, we can see fresh squid being caught the traditional way. Get your cameras ready for a spectacular sunset, lounge under the clear, star filled sky and retire to your cabin at your leisure where you will spend the night on board near a remote island.
Overnight on board.
DAY 6: HALONG BAY – HANOI - DEPARTURE (B/ L/--)
After breakfast, we will continue to cruise through the karsts some of which display fantastic and mystical shapes before getting into a small boat to visit the Luon Cave. Back on board for an early lunch before saying goodbye to our boat and crew and heading back on the road to Noi Bai Airport (Hanoi) for your departure flight. End of service.