On arrival at Hanoi airport, pick up and transfer to hotel. After check-in, at leisure to explore Hanoi on your own. Overnight in Hanoi.

 

8:00am pick up at your hotel for full day tour of Hanoi. A blend of the modern with the mystery and charm of past centuries, Hanoi offers an air of elegance and harmony with nature. Today’s sightseeing begins with a visit to Ba Dinh Square to see Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum, museum, and the simple cottage where he lived and worked. Then visit the Presidential Palace and One Pillar pagoda, or Chua Mot Cot, originally built in 1040 A.D. on a pillar constructed of a single large tree trunk. Continue visiting West Lake with Tran Quoc Pagoda. Then explore Van Mieu, also known as the Temple of Literature, which dates to 1070 and is dedicated to the cult of Confucius. Stop at the Fine Arts Museum with its ethnographical displays, paintings and famous lacquerware. Then visit inside the infamous Hoa Lo Prison, which was nicknamed the “Hanoi Hilton” by prisoners of war during the Vietnam War. Onward to beautiful Hoan Kiem Lake, known as the Lake of the Restored Sword. It is closely linked to the legend of Le Loi, the hero who asked the heavens for help in resisting the advance of the Chinese in 1418 A.D. Take a cyclo ride through Hanoi’s Old Quarter, a network of narrow alleys and shop houses also known as “The 36 Streets.” This is a wonderful place to watch local life and peruse items from fabrics to crafts to exotic medicines. Later this afternoon enjoy a delightful water puppet show, a fascinating art form that originated in northern Vietnam. Overnight at the same hotel.

7:00am depart Hanoi and drive about 5 hours to the mountain village of Sapa by air-conditioned car with driver and guide on the new highway. Arrive at Sapa in the afternoon and have some free time to settle in and freshen up at your hotel before starting a half-day trek to Lao Cai and Ta Van (vehicle is available for those who don’t wish to trek). Begin the 3.5 miles walk by descending into a rice-terraced valley at the foot of Mount Fansipan (featuring the highest peak in Indochina), with its beautiful landscape. Walk though isolated villages, rice fields, and thatched roof villages where H’mong people live. Observe the H’mong at work and at play in their distinctive dark blue dress. Continue hiking to the village of Ta Van, one of the few villages in Vietnam inhabited by the Zay tribe. Arrive in Ta Van this late afternoon. Continue exploring the villages nearby, then pick up and drive back to Sapa. Spend the remainder of the day exploring Sapa town and its fascinating market. Overnight in Sapa.

 

Day 4: Sunday (B): Sapa – Bac Ha Sunday Market – Sapa

After breakfast, ride approximately 3 hours to Bac Ha to explore the spectacular Sunday Market. Here you will see local hill tribes from all over the area. The major tribe is Flower H’mong along with the Black Yao, Nung, and Phu La tribes all coming from neighboring villages to exchange local produce and livestock from their farms. After visiting Bac Ha market, drive 2.5 miles to the Flower H’mong village of Ban Pho, meet up with a local family, and learn their culture and way of life. After lunch in Bac Ha (on your account), walk to various villages if interested before drive back to Sapa. Relax or explore Sapa town on own. Overnight at the same hotel.

 

After breakfast, travel by car toward Silver Waterfall where you will be able to stretch and enjoy the scenery. Continue to Heaven Gate on the highest altitude roads in Vietnam. From there you can see Fansipan, the highest peak in Indochina, and its stunning views. We start descending nearby the waterfall on a trail which takes you all the way downhill through the bamboo forest of Hoang Lien National Park. Your picnic lunch will be served at a nice spot nearby a river. After lunch, continue your trek to the Black H’mong village at Sin Chai, where you will have an opportunity to explore the daily life of one of the largest ethnic minorities in the Sapa area. Then drive approximately five hours back to Hanoi via the new express highway. Arrive in Hanoi late afternoon. At leisure the rest of the evening. Overnight in Hanoi.

 

8:00am pick up and drive to Ninh Binh, 100 km from Hanoi. Visit the Dinh and Le dynasty temples in Hoa Lu, an ancient capital of Vietnam (968 – 1009). After lunch at a local restaurant (on own), visit the Van Long Nature Reserve. Take a sampan trip to discover the natural beauty and tranquility of the area. It’s so quiet on the water, you can hear the sounds of whisking fish, moving oars, and children’s voices from distant villages. You’ll also have an opportunity to observe aquatic creatures and various indigenous animals, including endangered species of birds. Then transfer back to your resort to relax and have dinner on your own. Overnight in Ninh Binh.

 

Day 7: (B): Full day Trang An – Tam Coc – Bich Dong

This morning take a rowboat to visit Trang An Eco-Tourism area. Trang An Eco-Tourism complex is a home of 600 varieties of flora and over 200 kinds of fauna. It is also a gathering of 31 valleys, 48 cross-water caves, some of which we’ll visit. On the rowboat, enjoy the fresh air, and clean and clear water with grass just below the surface. The rock formations rise from rice-paddies in contrast to Hal Long Bay, where the limestone karsts jut out of the water. At Tam Coc, take a rowboat trip on the Ngo Dong River through the caves and waterways of this stunning beautiful region featuring dramatic limestone karsts. In the afternoon, we visit Bich Dong Pagoda. Then transfer back to your resort for time to relax and enjoy dinner on your own. Overnight at the same hotel in Ninh Binh.

Day 8: (B, L, D): 2 days/1night Ha Long on Dragon Legend Boat:

8:00am pick up at your hotel and drive to Ha Long. On the way to Ha Long city, enjoy the journey through the rich farmlands of the Red River Delta and the scenery of rice fields, water buffalo and everyday Vietnamese village life.

12:00 – 12:30: Embark at Hon Gai International Harbor.

12:30 – 13:00: Check-in. Enjoy welcome drink & cruise and safety briefing.

13:30 – 14:30: Have set menu lunch in the outdoor dining room (depending on the weather conditions) while cruising to magnificent Bai Tu Long Bay; admire the fascinating formations on the way.

15:00 – 17:00: Cruise to Vung Dang to visit the fish farms and see the daily activities of the local fishermen, such as selling, buying, and feeding fish by kayak or tender. Swim or relax on a white sandy beach or go kayaking through the mysterious Karst Mountains in Cong Dam.

18:00 – 20:30: Back to junk to enjoy a cooking class, then refresh yourself in the outdoor or indoor mineral seawater pool or fitness room or enjoy spa and massage services before having à la carte dinner onboard.

20:30: Free time for relaxing, visiting with the staff, watching movies, listening to music, etc. Overnight on Dragon Legend Boat.

6:30 – 7:00: Start your day with Tai Chi demonstration on the sun-deck.

7:00 – 7:30: Morning view of the bay’s landscape with a cup of tea or coffee. Have breakfast in the fresh air.

7:30 – 9:45: Cruise to Cong Do to explore the well-hidden Thien Canh Son Cave (option 1) or swim and go kayaking at Thien Canh Son Beach (option 2).

10:15 – 11:30: Pack your luggage and enjoy a buffet lunch while cruising towards the harbor.

11:30 – 12:00: Disembark. Pick up and transfer back to Hanoi, where you’ll arrive around 16:00.

 

At leisure in Hanoi on own until transfer to airport for your flight back home. End services.