Day 1 - Hanoi arrival (L;D)
Arrival at Noi Bai Airport. You will meet
AnBinh Travel’s guide and begin your trip with short city tour. Our
guide will show you the most beautiful and interesting sights in Hanoi: One Pillar Pagoda; Tran Vu Pagoda; the 11th century Temple of Literature
- the first University of Vietnam. Then you will take a cyclo tour around the Restored Sword Lake (Hoan Kiem
Lake); Ngoc Son Temple and the 36 streets
of the Hanoi old quarter. If you arrive in
time, you will be able to enjoy water puppets show and elaborate
puppets floating gracefully over water Dinner at local restaurant. Overnight at
hotel in Hanoi. (The city tour may
be changed according to your arrival time in Hanoi).
Day 2 - Hanoi (B)
After breakfast at hotel you will begin the journey
to Bat Trang Village – which has been
famous for its ceramics for a thousand years. You will have a chance to see the
ceramic manufacturing process and try to make your own pottery. In the
afternoon you continue to visit the Co Loa and An Duong Vuong temple,
which is considered the second capital of Vietnam, founded on the 3rd century
BC. After that you will go shopping in traditional Silk village Van Phuc. Dinner at
restaurant in Hanoi. Overnight at hotel.
Day 3 - Hanoi – Dien Bien Phu (B;L;D)
Morning we will drive from Hanoi to Dien Bien. You
will take a rest and have lunch in Son La. Arrive in DienBien in the evening. Check in
hotel and have dinner. Overnight in hotel.
Day 4 - Dien Bien Phu – Lai Chau
(B;L;D)
Upon leaving Dien Bien, the roads begins to
deteriorate, but drive offer some fantastic views and interesting visit to many
hill villages linked to the road which is the main artery of trade between the
northeastern region. After a half day traveling we arrive in Lai Chau Town, our base for
exploring the surrounding areas. As a highlight of the trip we board a boat for
a short trip on the mighty Da River, passing through the
stunning mountain landscapes. The pace is very relaxed, a perfect way to
observe the local lifestyle close up. Afterwards we have free time to explore
the town and pack for trekking days. Overnight at hotel.
Day 5 - Lai Chau – Ta Co Pinh (B;L;D)
The remote and extremely beautiful mountain region
of Lai Chau is ideal for anyone seeking a true adventure and trekking
expedition. This morning we take a short drive before we set off on a full day
trekking, using the local path. Along the way we cross over several hill
villages which are populated by the Hmong and Dao ethnic minority people, just
some of Vietnam’s most colorful ethnic minority groups. They have
settled there long time ago. Overnight in Ta Co Ping village.
Day 6 - Ta Co Pinh – Nam Pe (B;L;D)
Today we get well and truly off the beaten track as
we trek into this mountainous region. We walk through different villages, and
are sure to attract attention as this part of the country receives very few
visitors. The trek usually takes around 7 hours and is quite steep in places,
but views of the scenery are fantastic. We finish our walking day on arrival at
Nam Pe Ping village where we are guest of a Thai family. The accommodation is
very simple and dormitory style, no western facilities. Overnight in Nam Pe
village.
Day 7 - Nam Pe – Pa Ha (B;L;D)
The exciting walk begins as we depart our village of
previous night and follow the path used by local people. At the small village
of Nam Trang, we change our pace while we embark on a boat for a leisurely trip
down stream to Pa Ha, our final destination for this evening. On arrival we
have time to take a wander around this seldom visited village, enabling us to
understand a little more about their culture and lifestyle. The exciting walk
begins as we depart our village of previous night and follow the path used by
local people. At the small village of Nam Trang, we change our pace while we
embark on a boat for a leisurely trip down stream to Pa Ha, our final
destination for this evening. On arrival we have time to take a wander around
this seldom visited village, enabling us to understand a little more about
their culture and lifestyle. Overnight in Pa Ha village.
Day 8 - Pa Ha - Pu Sam Cap (B;L;D)
An early morning start to ascend the Pu Sam Cap
Mount. The trekking will be difficult at times with many steep uphill walking,
but the verdant and rugged mountain scenery combined with the colorful local
population makes for an unforgettable experience. After a full day walking we
arrive at Pu Sam Cap. This remote village is conquered by the Hmong hill tribe
people. They are very poor, but have an interesting history and a colorful
culture. Overnight in Pu Sam Cap.
Day 9 - Pu Sam Cap - Dong Pao (B;L;D)
The scenery of the north is unequalled although conditions
are very basic. After breakfast we will continue venturing into this beautiful
region with the next stop being Dong Pao. The trekking is less arduous as we
walk downhill. Along the way we encounter the local villagers going about their
daily business such as logging, herding buffalo, tilling the field. They are
the Lao, Lu, Hmong or Dao, who still retain their age old
cultural traditions and are recognisably distinct from each other by their
dress. Overnight in Dong Pao village.
Day 10 - Dong Pao - Ban Bo (B)
Heading out of Dong Pao we continue our trek, using
the local track, passing the undulating terrains and some rustic villages which
are home to numerous ethnic minorities. A part of the pleasure of trekking in
this region is the joy of seeing the mountain landscape and exploring the
interesting culture of the people. We arrive at Ban Bo village late afternoon
and spend the night, as guest of villagers. The facilities are very basic, but
the experience is unique. Overnight in Ban Bo village.
Day 11 - Ban Bo - Than Thuoc – Sapa
(B;L;D)
The trekking expeditions finishes this morning after
we spend few more hours completing the distance from Ban Bo to Than Thuoc. At
the small village we meet up with our vehicle and drive to Sa Pa. At an elevation of 1,500
meters, Sapa was founded in the early years of the last century as a hill
resort for French administrators when the heat on the plain became unbearable.
Here are some remains of colonial period and many colorful ethnic minority
groups. After checking into hotel, you can soak up the fresh climate as much as
you want by spending your time strolling around this charming town.
Day 12 - Sapa – Hanoi (B)
The Phan Si Pang range boasts Vietnam’s
highest mountain and lends an alpine feel to the area surrounding this hill
station. After breakfast we will explore the bustling Sa Pa Market where the
Red Dao, Black Hmong, Tay, Xa Pho ethnic minorities converge
from the surrounding the mountainsides and valleys to trade their goods and buy
provisions. We follow this with a walk into this mountainous region. Departing
the town we get well off the beaten track and pass through many hill villages
and beautiful mountain landscape. Overnight at hotel.
Day 13 - Hanoi – Halong (B)
We enjoy a shower before we travel by roads to
Halong Bay, truly one of Vietnam’s most scenic impressive sights. We a make
stop en route in Hai Phong, the biggest port town of
northern Vietnam. This charming town has plenty of interesting sights, some of
which are the Hang Kenh Communal House, the Du Hang Pagoda, the Hang Kenh
Carpet Factory and the vibrant Sat Market. A drive through tree lined
boulevards punctuated with many striking French colonial architecture, will
deliver us to some of these landmarks. We continue our journey Halong Bay and
spend the remainder of the day for a well - earned rest on Bai Chay Beach. Overnight at hotel.
Day 14 - Ha Long Bay – Hanoi (B;L)
The legendary Ha Long Bay is truly one of
Vietnam’s most impressive scenic sights. Today we embark on a sailing boat for
a seven hour cruise around this wondrous bay, dotted with 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 we 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 we return to Hanoi, arriving in time to see an evening
performance of Hanoi’s famous water puppets. Overnight at hotel.
Day 15 - Hanoi – Departure (B)
There is free time for you to relax or further
explore Hanoi. The trip ends after your transfer to Noi Bai Airport for
departure.
Cultural tours
