Itinerary in brief
Day 1 Hanoi - Arrival
Day 2 Hanoi
Day 3 Hanoi - Hoa Lu - Tam Coc - TRAIN - Sapa
Day 4 Sapa - Y Linh Ho - Lao Chai - Ta Van
Day 5 Sapa - Fansipan climb
Day 6 Fansipan climb
Day 7 Fansipan - Sapa - TRAIN - Hanoi
Day 8 Hanoi - Halong - CRUISE and NIGHT on board
Day 9 Halong - CRUISE - Hanoi
Day 10 Hanoi - Departure
Itinerary in details
DAY 1: HANOI - ARRIVAL
Met and welcome by the Hanoi Voyages Guide upon arrival at the airport.
Then transfer by private car to your hotel.
Overnight in Hanoi
DAY 2: HANOI
This city tour gives a glimpse and an introduction to the history and highlights of the nation’s capital.
In the morning,
- Visit to Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum to see the embalmed body of the nation’s hero, affectingly known by the people as ‘Uncle Ho’, and view his former residence, built on stilts and preserved just as Ho left it.
- Visit one pilar pagoda
- Visit the Temple of Literature, a fine example of traditional Vietnamese architecture founded in 1070 by Emporer Ly Thanh Tong, and dedicated to Confucius to honor literary scholars. Vietnam’s first university was also established here in 1076.
- Continuing on, we will move to West Lake district to we shall discover the Tran Quoc Pagoda, one of the oldest in Vietnam, and Quan Thanh Temple situated on the Truc Bach Lake shore, established by the Ly dynasty.
In the afternoon
- We begin with a visit to the Ethnology Museum
- Then enjoy some free time to stroll through Dong Xuan market
- We take a ride of exploration through the busy streets of the ‘Old Quarter’ (over 1000yrs old), by traditional cyclo, a tricycle ridden from the rear, giving an uninterrupted view of this historical district.
- Our day will finish with after a water-puppet show, a traditional and ancient art form, unique to Vietnam, where the puppets appear on water, manipulated from behind a screen.
Overnight in Hanoi
DAY 3: HANOI - HOA LU - TAM COC - TRAIN - SAPA
We leave Hanoi heading to Hoa Lu the site of the country’s first capital (years 968-1009) whose ancient citadel covered almost 3 sq kms. Although now mostly destroyed, ruminants remain today. The temples of Dinh Tien Hoang (restored in the 17th century) and Le Dai Hanh remain and the stunning views and scenery are worth the stop.
We then head for Tam Coc town. Known as ‘Halong Bay in the rice fields, the views and photographic opportunities are endless and it is truly one of the more beautiful places in the entire country.
- We will have lunch in Tam Coc town
After eating we board small sampan and traverse the Ngo Dong River through the rice fields where huge rock formations rise from these greenfield. The sampans are manned by locals who, incredibly, row with their feet. During this leisure trip the boats enter three sacred caves, Tam Coc Caves, after which the town itself was named. The boat trip takes approximately 2hrs and is a very peaceful and scenic time.
After dinner, you will transit to the Hanoi Railway Station for the train journey to Lao Cai, the closest railway station to Sapa.
Overnight on board
DAY 4: SAPA - Y LINH HO - LAO CHAI - TA VAN
After meeting your guide in Lao Cai, transferring to Sapa and breakfasting, you will begin to meet the ethnic minority people who live in the surrounds.
Our hike begins in the village of Y Linh Ho, situated in the Muong Hoa Valley, and entails a gentle 6 kms hike to Lao Chai village, populated by the Black H’Mong ethnic group. You will wander through landscapes of terraced rice fields and be awe struck by the beautiful scenery of waterfalls, productive fields of rice, corn, bananas and sculpted hillsides. Along the way you will see the water buffalo working the fields, and meet many locals dressed in their traditional clothing, with whom many interactions take place.
After a break for lunch, we will continue our journey, walking approximately 2 kms to the village of Ta Van, populated by the Giay ethnic people.
The women of the village weave their own fabrics for the clothes they wear, and many looms will be seen along the way.
The people of Ta Van also engage in sculpture of both stone and wood, many of a very intricate nature.
Overnight in Sapa
DAY 5: SAPA - FANSIPAN CLIMB
Mount Fansipan is the tallest mountain in all of Vietnam and its peak overlooks Sapa.
If you decide on this journey you will be accompanied by a carrier (porter) and a special guide, specially trained for this type of sporting activity, and having the necessary permissions. You should be healthy and fit to partake in this tour.
We begin the ascent of Mount Fansipan through Sin Chai, a Black H'mong village in the valley. After a 3-hour trek, we lunch in the forest, then we continue our accent.
At 16:30 we arrive at our camp site at 2,050 meters. The camping tent is mounted, and staff ready to welcome you. The guide will be busy preparing a good dinner. A well-deserved rest and fresh country air are your rewards for a full days output.
Rest time
Trekking for 7 hours
Overnight in tents.
DAY 6: FANSIPAN - CLIMB
Today is the day you reach the summit.
During the first hour of climb, you may feel a little fatigued, but the rest of the climb is easier. During your accent you will see a great variety of trees and other vegetation and animals of the Hoang Lien National Forest.
At noon, you will reach the summit of Mt Fansipan, and enjoy the spectacular scenery as far as the eyes can see, including the city of Lai Chau, Laos and China.
We will lunch at the summit, after which we will return to our camping place down the mountain, and some well-deserved rest time.
Days trekking time: 8 hours.
Overnight in tents.
DAY 7: FANSIPAN - SAPA - TRAIN - HANOI
After breakfast we begin our descent. On the way down we will lunch in the forest before reaching Sapa.
On arrival at Sapa, transfer to railway station for train back Hanoi
Overnight on board
DAY 8: HANOI - HALONG - CRUISE AND NIGHT ON BOARD
Transfer from your hotel to Halong Bay by private car with your tour guide.
Halong Bay, with its 1969 islands, is set in beautiful turquoise waters and was recognized for its natural beauty by UNESCO in 1994, and classified as a World Heritage Site.
Ha Long means “descending dragon” and according to legend, a dragon was lowered into the bay to harness the ocean currents. His violent tail movements disturbed and spread the mountain, and when he plunged into the sea the water level rose up, leaving only the highest peaks above the water.
Cruising in this spectacular seascape is mystical and magnificent!
Day 1:
On boarding receive a welcome drink
Installation in private cabins
Presentation of the crew by the captain
Start your cruise while enjoying lunch.
Lunch in the elegant dining room or on the outside deck, a delicious seafood menu, of food prepared with skill and dedication, exquisitely decorated, and served excellently by qualified personnel.
Admire the beautiful landscape that will impress everywhere you look. These islands with their striking shapes, allow your imagination to take over and “see” many different images amongst their formations, whilst cruising water the color of jade, which is so enchanting it never tires.
Fall in love with the magic of this place... .. and you have the privilege of being on a junk which sails away from the “beaten tracks” of mass tourism. No noise, and your eyes will focus on the beauty of the site.
Deck chairs are available to admire the spectacle that unfolds before your eyes.
Coffee or tea is complimentary
- Visit the mysterious cave Canh Thien.
Dinner is served outdoors, (weather permitting), or in the indoor dining room.
Tasty seafood, from an excellent menu, cooked to perfection and wonderfully decorated and served by qualified personnel.
Overnight on board
DAY 9: HALONG - CRUISE - HANOI
Under the morning sun, surrounded by enchanting and astonishing beauty, your breakfast will be served.
In row boat, you will journey through the heart of a fishing village, to discover the floating houses and the lifestyle of its population, who live constantly on the water.
You will meet the village chief who will help you imagine the daily lives of the inhabitants of Halong Bay. You will also visit a floating school.
- Lunch on board the junk will close this beautiful cruise.
The whole crew will greet you and thank you for your patronage.
By early afternoon you will return to the port.
After disembarking from the junk, our driver will welcome you back to dry land, and the return journey to Hanoi.
DAY 10: HANOI- DEPARTURE
Free time until transfer to the airport for your departure flight.
End of our services
