Essence of Vietnam 20 days

Day 1: Arrive Hanoi (D)
Upon arrival at Hanoi’s Noi Bai International airport, you will be greeted by your guide and transferred to your hotel.   Then, you’ll have a variety of options to choose from as you enjoy your first day.  Maybe you’ll want to take a cyclo ride to dinner at one of the French colonial villas which have been converted into gourmet restaurants.   Following that, you may wish to attend a traditional water puppet performance.  The sky is the limit and there is plenty to keep you busy before retiring for the evening.

Day 2 Hanoi (B/L)
On day two, you’ll be able to explore the fascinating Old Quarter and visit Hanoi’s main cultural attractions, including the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, his House on Stilts, the One Pillar Pagoda, the Fine Arts Museum and the Temple of Literature. The day will end with the chance for you to enjoy an exotic spa package at Thu Cuc Spa.  Choose either  the “Herbal Secrets” treatment for 150 minutes, the “Walking Walker” facial and foot massage for 120 minutes or the “Seasonal Greetings from Hanoi” treatment for 90 minutes.  You’ll then be ready for a restful overnight stay.

Day 3: Hanoi - Lao Cai - Sapa (B)
Today you have a whole day free to explore shops selling silks, lacquer ware, the finest linens, furniture, bamboo, cooking utensils, ceremonial objects and more. Or you may visit some Vietnamese famous handicraft villages like Van Phuc Silk village or Bat Trang ceramic village. In the evening, you will take an overnight train to Lao Cai – a China-Vietnamese border city.

Day 4: Lao Cai - Sapa (B/D)
The train will arrive at the Lao Cai train station at approximately 06:00. There will be a vehicle waiting to transfer you to Sapa. The drive to Sapa is 33 km and takes roughly 1.5 hours. Once at Sapa, you will check into your hotel in order to freshen up, have breakfast and then enjoy a free morning to explore the town. After a pickup from the hotel, there will be a walking tour of the hill tribe villages of Cat Cat, home to the Black H'mong minority peoples. As we walk to the villages nestled in the valley below Sapa, we will meet some of the local people on their way to and from Sapa. Here you will have the opportunity to share cultural experiences with the families that live in the area, followed by an overnight at stay in Sapa.

Day 5: Sapa (B/L)
Following breakfast, you’ll explore the Sapa Sunday market and then set out on a 3-4 hour trek that will take you along buffalo paths and trails.  We’ll also pass through the hill tribe villages of Lao Chai and Ta Van, home to the 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. In the afternoon, you will return for an overnight stay in Sapa.

Day 6. Sapa - Lao Cai -Train back to Hanoi (B
Today you can have an early breakfast, bid farewell to Sapa andtake a drive to join in the most exciting events in this area – the weekly hill tribe markets. These include the Coc Ly market on Tuesday, Muong Khuong market on Thursday, Can Cau market on Saturday and Bac Ha market on Sunday. Then you will return to Lao Cai station for an overnight train back to Hanoi.

Day 7: Lao Cai - Hanoi - Cooking Class (B/D)
Upon arrival, your driver will pick you up and take you to the Hanoi flower market, followed by breakfast at a local restaurant serving its famous Pho and a cup of Vietnamese coffee.   Early check in is available and before an afternoon cooking and a market tour.  You have a full stomach and be lighted that you prepared it yourself!

Day 8: Halong Bay Excursion (B/L)
In the morning you will drive to Halong Bay City, approximately 3 hours away. Once at Halong Bay City, you will be welcomed on board for a four-hour cruise on the stunning bay, stopping along the way to visit one of the limestone caves in the area. As you are cruising, the boat crew will serve you a sumptuous seafood lunch. After this 4 hour trip, you’ll head back to Hanoi for an overnight stay.