OUTLINED ITINERARY

Day 1: Arrival Hanoi (-,-,D)
Day 2: Hanoi City Tour (B,-,-)
Day 3: Hanoi - Train Victoria To Sapa (B,-,-)
Day 4: Sapa (B,-,-)
Day 5: Sapa (B,-,-)
Day 6: Sapa - Hanoi (B,-,-)
Day 7: Hanoi - Halong Bay (B,L,D)
Day 8: Halong Bay - Hanoi (B,L,-)
Day 9: Hanoi - Departure   (B,-,-)

DETAILED ITINERARY

We guide you through the most exciting destinations of Northern Vietnam . Start your trip in cosmopolitan Hanoi, where you will be treated to a private city tour, dinner at one of the city's leading restaurants, and a performance of the famed water puppets.

After Hanoi, you take the deluxe Victoria Express train to Sapa. Set among the highest mountains in Vietnam, at the border of China , Sapa is one of the country's most intriguing destinations. It gains its reputation most notably for its terraced rice paddies and colorful markets where villagers converge to sell and buy goods and, most importantly, to socialize. In Sapa, spend time learning about the local hill tribe villages and absorb the magnificent scenery before taking the train back to Hanoi .

We spend a night on a junk cruising Halong Bay, where thousands of limestone rock sculptures jut dramatically from the sea and numerous grottoes have created an ephemeral, fantastic landscape.

Day 1: Arrival Hanoi (D)

Arrival transfer to hotel for two-night stay. Welcome dinner at Emperor Restaurant in Hanoi. Stay overnight in Sofitel Metropole Hanoi.  

Day 2: Hanoi City Tour (B,L)
 
Start your luxury adventure trip in Hanoi, Vietnam's artistic and intellectual capital. Explore the fascinating Old Quarter and its hundreds of specialty shops selling silk clothing, lacquerware, embroidered linens, furniture, bamboo, cooking utensils, ceremonial objects and more. Walk around Hoan Kiem Lake, take a ride on a cyclo to dinner, and watch a performance of Vietnam's famed water puppet show. Dine in French colonial villas converted into gourmet restaurants. Enjoy people watching at stylish cafes. Shop for impressive modern art in the city's many galleries. Also 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 .

 Day 3: Hanoi - Train Victoria to Sapa (B)

Enjoy a free day of leisure in the post-colonial city Hanoi. You may like to visit the bustling, narrow streets of the Old Quarter; each street specializing in one particular product, or perhaps opt for some cultural sights by viewing some of Hanoi's many museums. In particular the Museum of Ethnology dedicated to Vietnam's 54 ethnic minority peoples. Perhaps you could visit Hoa Lo prison, formerly known by its inmates as 'The Hanoi Hilton'. Some of its more notable guests included Senator John McCain and Pete Peterson, the first post-war U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam. You could stroll around the French quarter where many of the embassies are located. Or take a shopping expedition in the Old Quarter or just relax at one of the many parks and lakes that make Hanoi one of the greenest cities in Asia. Your adventure trip to Sapa begins with an overnight train from Vietnam 's capital city to the border town of Lao Cai. The luxury Victoria Express departs at 10 pm. 

Day 4: Sapa (B,L)

The train arrives at Lao Cai train station at approximately 6:00 a.m.. There will be a vehicle waiting to transfer us to Sapa. The drive to Sapa is only 33 km but it takes around 1.5 hours. Once at Sapa, we will check into the Victoria Hotel. We can freshen up, and have breakfast at TaVan Restaurant in the hotel and then enjoy a free morning to explore around town. At 10 a.m. from the hotel there will be a walking tour to the hill tribe villages of Cat Cat, home to the H'mong hill tribes minority peoples. As we walk to the villages nestled in the valley below Sapa, we will meet some of the local minority people on their way to and from Sapa. Here we have the opportunity to share cultural experiences with the families that live in the area. Overnight at Victoria Sapa hotel.  

Day 5: Sapa Village Walk (B,L)

Following breakfast, we explore the Sapa Sunday market and then set out on our 3-4 hour trek that will take us along buffalo paths and trails and through several 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 can meet. We will stop for a picnic lunch on the way to Ta Van village. Night in Victoria Sapa Resort. 

Day 6: Sapa leisure and walking(B,-,-)

Following breakfast, you enjoy the morning free. This afternoon at 2 pm we travel to valley Ta Phin, where the Red Dao and H'mong live. We transfer back to Lao Cai for the Victoria Express train journey back to Hanoi. The train departs at 9:15 p.m.

Day 7: Hanoi - Cruise Halong Bay (B,L,D)

Arrive in Hanoi around 5 a.m. in. Pick up from here, transfer to Restaurant and Café Tara for breakfast and morning coffee. Leave Hanoi by private vehicle at 8:30 a.m. arriving at the jetty around 12:30 p.m. Our crew welcomes you on board the Lagoon Explorer Cruise. Enjoy a welcome drink, check-in to your cabin. A fresh seafood lunch will be served at 1 p.m. At that time, we will begin our 3.5 hours cruise through mystic Halong Bay to see the amazing karsts with different formations: Mat Qui (Monster's face) islet, But Moc islet, Cap De islet, Trong (Drum) cave, Trinh Nu cave, floating fishing village, with its unique way of life. Then head to Luon cave, enjoy swimming, sun bathing at Ti Top beach or climb the peak of the mountain for a breath-taking panorama view of Halong Bay. Enjoy another seafood feast for dinner and for the night owls, there is an option of night fishing. 

Day 8: Halong Bay - Hanoi (B,L)

Rising to the sound of lapping bay waters, we have time for an early morning dip followed by breakfast. Sitting on the upper deck, you can relax while taking in the breath-taking beauty of the rocky islands rising from the emeraude water of the bay. After breakfast, explore Sung Sot cave (8 a.m. to 9 a.m.), swim and relax at Soi Sim beach. At 9:30 a.m., our boat cruises back to the jetty while brunch is served from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.. We continue cruising through the bay, along the way seeing more of the fascinating formations. Checkout is at 11:45 a.m.. Our boat arrives at the harbor by noon for our drive back to Hanoi. Drop off at your hotel.

Day 9: Hanoi Departure (B)

You have free time until pick-up at your hotel and transfer to Noi Bai airport for your departure flight. End of services.

Tour price includes:

- A private transfer and transportation
- Accommodation in double or twin share basis (Sofitel Metropole Hanoi, Victoria Sapa, Superior Cabin on Train Victoria Express)
- Daily breakfast inclusive in hotel
- French or English Speaking Guide when necessary
- Chartered Junk Cruise in Halong Bay
- Meals as stated in the itinerary
- Victoria Express train to and from Sapa
- Sightseeing tickets, permission
- Services charges and government taxes

Tour price exclude:

- International flights
- Visa and visa fees (Contact us if you need pick up visa on arrival)
- International departures taxes
- Personal expenses, tips and gratuities
- Travel insurance
- Meals and beverage

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