Essence of Northern Vietnam 9 days

Day 1: Hanoi arrival

The car/van will pick you up from Noi Bai airport (in Hanoi) and will take you in the heart of the city. Arrive at the hotel after a 40-minute drive, check in and have a free day to walk around Old Quarter, night market in Hanoi down town.

Overnight in Hanoi hotel located in the old quarter.

Meal: No

Accommodation: 3 star hotel

Day 2: Hanoi – Ninh Binh – Hanoi

07:45 – 8:30 Picking up from hotel/stay.

08:30 Starting drive to Ninh Binh Province

10:30 Arriving at Hoa Lu Ancient Capital

10:45 Visiting King Dinh and King Le’s temples.

12:15 Arriving in Tam Coc Wharf.

12:30 Having buffet lunch with Vietnamese Cuisine.

13:30 Getting on Sampan boats through caves and visiting countryside landscape

15:00 Back to Tam Coc Wharf to chill out.

15:15 Biking on country roads around the village

16:00 Getting on the shuttle bus to go back to Hanoi

18:30 – 18:45 Saying goodbye to you at your hotel/stay. Trip ends 

Meal: B, L

Accommodation: 3 star hotel

Day 3: Hanoi – Ba Be Lake

7:00: Pick up from hotel in Hanoi to Ba Be National Park.

12:30: Lunch in Ba Be Lake View homestay, the highest homestay in our village.

14:00: Take a walk to boat station in Pac Ngoi village (1km).

14:30: Enjoy 2 hour boat trip around the lake to Fairy Pond, An Ma temple.

16:30: Swimming in the lake – the most special activity in Ba Be Lake.

17:30: Hiking back to the homestay and have dinner here.

20:00: Enjoy traditional Tay musical performance (excluded). You can share the show with other tourists.

21:00: Overnight at homestay of Tay people’ traditional house-on-stilt.

Meal: B, L, D

Accommodation: Homestay

Day 4: Ba Be Lake – Hanoi

7:30: Breakfast at our homestay.

8:00: Cycling to visit to Hua Ma Cave (6km), biggest one in Ba Be National Park.

11:00: Come back to homestay. Check out and have lunch here.

13:00: Get in the van then come back to Hanoi.

18:00: Arrival in Hanoi. Drop off at your hotel. Free time to leisure and dinner.

20:30: Meet at your hotel in Hanoi and transfer to Hanoi train station. Overnight train trip to Lao Cai in shared sleeping compartments (sharing with other passengers in 2 lower & 2 upper berths per compartment). Train departs at approximately 21:15.

Meal: B, L

Accommodation: Overnight train

Day 5: Lao Cai – Sapa – Lao Chai – Ta Van – Sapa

Pick you up from train station when you arrive

06:00: Enjoy your breakfast and relax at our restaurant while your luggage is arranged

08:30: Start 4 hours trekking to Lao Chai Village – Home of Black H’mong minority. Trekking through Muong Hoa Valley with a lot of beautiful sceneries along the river

12:00: Having lunch at a local restaurant before reaching Ta Van village to make friend with a Giáy family homestay

13:30: Be picked up by car to gets back to Sa Pa for checking in the hotel. The rest of the day will be at your leisure to discover to town ( Dragon Mount, Orchid garden, the market).

18:30: Having diner. Overnight at hotel 

Day 6: Sapa – Cat Cat – Hanoi

08:00: Having breakfast. Half day trekking through lush rice terraces towards villages, experience Black H’Mong people’s daily life. Visiting Cat Cat village

12:00: Having lunch. Free afternoon to discover Sa Pa town, fresh up and make friend with friendly local

18:00: Transfer to Lao Cai Railway Station for the return train ride to Hanoi

Meal: B, L

Accommodation: Overnight train

Day 7: Hanoi – Halong Bay

05:00: Arrive at Hanoi. Take a taxi to hotel. Take a rest and have a breakfast.

07.45  –  8:30: The shutter bus will pick you up from your hotel  in Hanoi and heading to northeast of Vietnam. At the middle of the way, we have a quick stop to stretch your leg and refresh then continue our way to Halong Bay.

12:30: Arrive  in cruise office  in Hon Gai Pier, have a bit time to relax and enjoy a cup of tea/coffee. Wait for our captain and transfer by tender to cruise.

12:45: Enjoy welcome drink and spend a couple minutes to briefing about safety on boat and activities included then we check in our cabin.

13:30: Delicious Vietnamese set menu will be served while leisurely cruising further into Bai Tu Long Bay.

15:00: Arrive in  kayaking area  –  that is Cap La Island. Enjoy kayaking through the karst and breathtaking nature, swimming and relaxing.

17:30: Get back to the boat and enjoys Sunset party while our cruise sailing to the overnight anchorage.

19:00: Sumptuous set-dinner onboard.

20:30: Free time  to challenge yourself in Vietnamese puzzle games, or gather your group/family for a board game; try your luck with squid fishing or simply has a cocktail and enjoy the quiet night on the bay.

Meal: B, L, D

Accommodation: Overnight on boat

Day 8: Halong Bay – Hanoi

6:00: Start your day with a Tai Chi routine on sundeck or catch a morning  view of Bay’s landscape with a cup of tea or coffee.

07:00: Breakfast will be served in Western style and furthermore with Vietnamese popular breakfast – Pho.

08:00: Explore the well hidden  Thien Canh Son  Cave  and  enjoy a white sandy beach at Hon Co Island, swimming or kayaking.

09:30: Upon return to the boat you will have about 30 minutes to freshen up and finish packing.

10:00: Attend in a Vietnamese cooking demonstration. You can quickly learn a simple but delicious Vietnamese dish that Gordon Ramsey (a 2 Michelin Star Chef) used to guide – Nem Cuon.

11:00: Enjoy a traditional Vietnamese lunch on boat.

12:00: Back to the harbor and disembark in Hon Gai pier.

12:30: Farewell Halong Bay then our bus will take you back to Hanoi.

17.00: Drop off at your hotel.

18:00: Free time for dinner.

Meal: B, L

Accommodation: 3 star hotel

Day 9: Hanoi departure

After having breakfast at your hotel, you have free time until we pick you up to transfer to the airport.

Meal: B

Accommodation: No