Discover The Hidden Treasures of Vietnam by Road 29 days

Day 1: Arrive in Hanoi (D)
Upon arriving at Hanoi 's Noi Bai International airport, you will be greeted by your guide and transferred to your hotel. There will be a welcome dinner at a local restaurant, followed by evening water puppet performance - an art form which originated in Vietnam at least 1,000 years ago. You will then spend the night  in Hanoi.

Day 2: Hanoi Sightseeing (B/L/D)
You will have a full day to visit Hanoi 's main cultural attractions, including the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, his House on Stilts, the One Pillar Pagoda, Quan Thanh temple, the Vietnam History Museum, the Fine Arts Museum and the Temple of Literature. You’ll then enjoy a “Food & Wine Pairing” dinner at the award-winning Press Club restaurant where international fare is laced with Asian influences and wines are selected to compliment these tastes. Then it’s a restful overnight stay in Hanoi.

Day 3: Hanoi – Ceramic village - Lao Cai by n
In the morning you will have free time to explore the fascinating Old Quarter and its hundreds of specialty shops selling silk clothing, lacquer ware, embroidered linens, furniture, bamboo, cooking utensils, ceremonial objects and more.  You’ll enjoy people watching at stylish cafes and be able to shop for impressive modern art in the city's myriad galleries.

In the afternoon you will be taken to the Bat Trang ceramics village, a 500-year-old village,  located on the left bank of the Red River. There you will not only see how ceramic products are made, but you’ll be able to try your hand at making your own work of art.  Next, you will enjoy a buffalo cart trip around the village before heading back to Hanoi for dinner and then being transferred to the train station for an overnight trip to Lao Cai.

Day 4: Lao Cai – Sapa (B/D)
The train will bring you to Lao Cai  station at approximately 06:00. From here you will take a 1.5 hour drive to Sapa. Once in Sapa, you will freshen up, have breakfast at TaVan Restaurant in the hotel and then be free to explore the town. In the afternoon there will be a walking tour to the Cat Cat villages, home of the Black H'mong minority people. While walking through the village, you will stop to visit some local families to share cultural experiences before retiring to your hotel for an overnight stay.

Day 5: Sapa Trekking (B/L)
In the morning you will set out on a 3 to 4 hour trek along buffalo paths which wind through the hill tribe villages of Lao Chai and Ta Van, home to H'mong and Dzay people. This is an absolutely spectacular walk through stunning scenery, inhabited by some of the friendliest people you will ever meet. After lunch at a local restaurant on the way to Ta Van village, you will be taken back to Sapa by car for an overnight stay.

Day 6: Sapa – Bac Ha Sunday Hill tribe market
After an early rise, you will head to the Bac Ha Sunday Hill tribe market.  It is about 100km from Sapa and takes about 2 hours to drive.  The Bac Ha Sunday Hill tribe market is one of the most exciting markets in the South East Asia. It is a trading centre and meeting place for couples, friends, and relatives, and it is a typical weekly activity for the H’Mong and other minority groups living in the locality.    After the market, you will enjoy a walking tour to H’mong village of Ban Pho.  There you will try some  “Bac Ha home-made maize wine” and learn how to make this famous wine yourself.  After that, you’ll head back to Lao Cai for dinner and catch your overnight train to Hanoi.

Day 7: Hanoi – Halong Bay (B/L/D)
You will arrive in Hanoi at around 05:00 and then be driven around the city to enjoy a variety of activities, including a visit to the Hanoi flower market.  Then you’ll have breakfast before setting out on a three hour drive to Halong Bay. Welcome aboard and set sail through bay while lunch is served. Passage into the magical bay, where thousands of sculpted limestone islands rise from the waves like dragons’ teeth. Later afternoon, visit an interesting fishing village with opportunity to interact with fishmen who have been living in the bay for almost three generations. Back on board and enjoy cocktails or cooking class while watching sunset and later unwind at restaurant for a lavish dinner. Enjoy some evening activities as movie night, board games, or beauty spa. Overnight on the junk