Day 1 - Hanoi arrival (L;D)
On
arrival at Noi Bai Airport, you are met and transferred to hotel. You will
enjoy a short cyclo ride around the old quarter
streets. Oernight in Hanoi.
Day 2 - Hanoi city tour (B;L;D)
Today
you will enjoy a full day city tour starting with the Ho Chi Minh Complex. This
famous site contains the mausoleum of the nation’s founder Ho Chi Minh, the
Presidential Palace and the Ho Chi Minh’s house on stilts. The next points is One Pillar Pagoda; the Temple of Literature, which is
well known as the first university of Vietnam and the impressive Ethnologic Museum, dedicated to
Vietnam’s 54 ethnic groups. The beautiful West Lake and the History Museum with
an excellent collection of artifacts illustrating the Vietnamese history will
attract you too. You will visit these sights before continuing to Hoan Kiem Lake. In front of this
lake is the famous water puppet theatre where we will see a fantastic
performance. Overnight in Hanoi.
Day 3 - Hanoi – Sapa (B;L;D)
Early
morning you will start to drive along the Red River to SaPa. The roads are bumpy at times,
but various scenic landscape changing from the delta area to the Tonkinese Alps
make for an interesting journey.At an elevation of 1,500 meters, SaPa was once a hill resort of
French administrators when the summer heat became unbearable. The remoteness
and the simple lifestyle of ethnic minority people are a highlight of SaPa although conditions are basic.
After checking into hotel in SaPa you can soak up the fresh
climate as much as we want by spending time to wander around this hill town.
The ethnic people are frequently seen on the main street of SaPa and small vendors along the
street sell local textiles and handicraft. Overnight in SaPa.
Day 4 - Sapa (B;L;D)
The
range of Phan Si Pan boasts Vietnam’s
highest mountain and lends an alpine feel to the area surrounding this hill
station. Today we have enough time to visit the bustling SaPa Market where the
Red Dao, Black Hmong, Tay and Xa Pho ethnic minorities converge from the nearby
mountainsides and valleys to trade their goods and buy provisions. You then get
well off the beaten track as we embark on a walk to explore this beautiful
mountain region. Along the way you will visit several rustic villages and see
many mountaineers doing their daily works such as logging, herding buffalo and
tilling the field. The blend of verdant mountain backdrop and colourful
population makes for an unimaginable view. Overnight in SaPa.
Day 5 - Sapa – Bac Ha (B;L;D)
Upon
leaving SaPa you will set off on our scenic drive through the border town of
Lao Cai to the colourful Sunday Market at Bacha. This market also attracts a
wide variety of ethnic minority groups including the Variegated Hmong, Dao, Phu
La, La Chi and Tay. They still retain their old cultural traditions and are
recognisably distinct from each other by their dress. The experience of this
congregation is colorful and unique. After the market you will enjoy a walk
around the area, visit the Hmong King’s former residence and Ban Pho where the
villagers make the potent local maize alcohol. Overnight in Bac Ha.
Day 6 - Bac Ha – Hanoi (B;L;D)
You
depart Bac Ha Town and pass through the verdant and rugged mountain scenery to
Hanoi. These back roads are a great way to explore the real Vietnam. You will
see very few other travellers, mostly rural dwellers who are just as interested
in finding out about our lives as we are of theirs. The drive is very long, but
you can make many stops along the way to stretch our legs and take some
wonderful photos. Overnight in Hanoi.
Day 7 - Hanoi – Perfume Pagoda -
Ninh Binh (B;L;D)
An
interesting drive through the rich farming land of the Red River Delta to the
Perfume Pagoda, which is not just one pagoda but many shrines and sanctuaries
built into mountainsides. This famous complex of pagodas is also one of Vietnam
great pilgrimage sites. On arrival you enjoy a leisurely boat excursion on the
Yen River past the spectacular landscape of flooded rice fields and undulating
mountains. After two hour river trip you embark on a rugged walk uphill to
explore some of the many pagodas and the sacred grotto of Huong Tich. You then
drive to Ninh Binh, our final destination. Overnight in Ninh Binh.
Day 8 - Ninh Binh – Hai Phong
(B;L;D)
The
capital of Vietnam during the Dinh and early Le Dynasties is Hoa Lu, which
however has left its legacy in the form of two small temples, each one nearly a
thousand years old. After a short drive you will visit these two remaining
structures, dedicated to the Dinh and Le Rulers, then climb 200 steps to the
top of Ma Yen mountain for a fantastic view over the surrounding areas. The
next stop of our trip is Tam Coc which is surnamed "Inland Halong
Bay". You’ll take a boat trip on a river through the quiet and peaceful
landscape of rice fields surrounded by limestone formations to the grottoes of
Tam Coc. Upon leaving this site you commence your scenic drive to Hai Phong,
the biggest port town of northern Vietnam. Overnight in Haiphong.
Day 9 - Hai Phong – Ha Long
(B;L;D)
Heading
out of town you’ll travel by roads to Halong Bay, one of Vietnam’s most
impressive scenic sights. On arrival you’ll embark on a boat for a memorable
trip around the Bay which will give you a chance to explore the picturesque
scenery blending with the sky and some 3,000 limestone islands, rising
amazingly from the clear and emerald water. The limestone karst formations are
littered with beaches, grottoes and beautiful caves. Along the way you will
anchor for a leisurely swim in a secluded cove and an enjoyable visit to one of
the many hidden grottoes beneath towering cliffs. After a seafood lunch on
board you continue your exciting cruise and have time for another swim.
Overnight in Halong.
Day 10 - Halong – Hanoi (B;L;D)
The
very good roads make your journey back to Hanoi much more pleasurable. Today
you’ll have plenty of time to observe the rural landscape and visit the
riverside village of Bat Trang, where distinctive
ceramics are made and used throughout the delta region for over 500 years. The
vitality of this village is still blown up by the hundreds of pottery kilns on
fire day and night. You stroll around various cottage industries and watch
craftsmen forming, painting and glazing their products in traditional ways. The
reminder of the day will be free to explore Hanoi’s older quarters or simply to
relax. Overnight in Hanoi.
Day 11 - Hanoi departure (B;L;D)
Breakfast
at hotel, free time until transfer to the airport for your departure flight.
Cultural tours
