Best of Northern Vietnam in 07 Days

Day 1: Hanoi Arrival (D)
You will be greeted by a guide upon arrival in Hanoi, Vietnam’s capital, which celebrated its 1000 year anniversary in 2010. With its emphasis on the arts and learning, local law stipulates that buildings in Hanoi remain small, simple and in harmony with nature. You will be able to explore all the city has to offer before taking in a unique water puppet show followed by a welcome dinner in one of the finest restaurants in the city.  You’ll then have a restful overnight stay at the hotel.

Day 2: Hanoi city tour – Overnight train to S
You will have a full day to visit Hanoi’s main cultural attractions, including the Ho Chi Minh Complex (Closed on Mon & Fri) wand Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, his House on Stilts, the One Pillar Pagoda, the Fine Arts Museum and the Temple of Literature (Vietnam’s very first university).  You will also visit Hoan Kiem Lake and Ngoc Son Temple, ending your day with a cyclo tour around the fascinating Old Quarter.  The quarter showcases hundreds of specialty shops selling silk clothing, lacquer ware, embroidered linens, furniture, bamboo, cooking utensils, ceremonial objects and more.

In the evening your guide will take you to the Hanoi Train station for the overnight train to Lao Cai. Dinner will be provided aboard the train.

Day 3: Cozy Sapa – Cat Cat Village (B/D)
You will arrive at 06:30 and be taken on a 1.5 hour drive to Sapa.  Once in Sapa, you will check-in to your hotel (early check-in subject to availability).   You will then have breakfast at a local restaurant then enjoy free time to explore the town.

In the afternoon, you will enjoy a walking tour to the hill tribe villages of Cat Cat, home to the H'mong minority peoples. As you walk to the villages nestled in the valley below Sapa, you will meet some of the locals on their way to and from Sapa. You will have the opportunity to share cultural experiences with the families that live in the area before heading back to Sapa dinner and an overnight stay.

Day 4: Sapa – Overnight train back Hanoi (B/L
Following breakfast, you will explore the Sapa daily market and then set out on our 3-4 hour trek that will take you along buffalo paths and trails.  You will travel through the hill tribe villages of Lao Chai and Tavan, 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. You will have lunch along the way at a local restaurant on the way.  From the village, you will rejoin car for a transfer to Lao Cai for an overnight train journey back to Hanoi.

Day 5: Hanoi – Halong World Heritage (B/L)
Once you arrive in Hanoi, your driver will you pick-up you at the station and take you to downtown Hanoi for breakfast at a local restaurant. At 08:00, you leave Hanoi for Halong Bay and board a boat, enjoying lunch as sail through bay.  The magical bay is home to thousands of limestone islands rising from the waves like dragons’ teeth. Later in the afternoon, you will visit an interesting fishing village with opportunity to interact with fishermen who have been living in the bay for almost three generations. Back on board, you’ll enjoy cocktails or cooking classes while watching the sunset, before indulging in a lavish dinner onshore.   Afterwards, you can choose to do anything from joining movie night, playing board games, or relaxing at the beauty spa before retiring for the evening.

Day 6: Halong – Hanoi (Brunch)
You’ll the day with a morning Tai Chi exercise and an opportunity to view the sunrise over the bay. After breakfast, you will be taken to a beautiful limestone grotto before returning to the junk for a final glimpse of Halong Bay while cruising back to the dock. You’ll then have free time to enjoy the Hanoi nightlife and staying overnight.

Day 7: Hanoi – Departure (B)
There is no activity planned for today, so you can enjoy your free time to go souvenir shopping until you are transferred to the airport for your onward flight. 

Cam on va chao tam biet!