HANOI – SAPA – HOANG SU PHI – DONG VAN – MEO VAC – CAO BANG – BA BE – NINH BINH – HA LONG BAY
(15 days/ 14 nights)
OVER VIEW:
If you love nature and want to explore the beauty of nature of Vietnam, this program is the best choice. Spend your 14 nights with us, you will see the most beautiful places in the North of Vietnam, from famous Sapa to stunning Ha Giang, from quite Ba Be Lake to magnificent Ha Long Bay
DAY 1 – ARRIVE IN HANOI
Included meals: No
Arrive in Noi Bai Airport International Airport in Hanoi, you are meet and warm welcome. Transfer to the Centre and check in hotel for your leisure. Overnight in Hanoi
Note: Early check in is due to the availability of hotel. Normal check in time is at 14.00
DAY 2 – HANOI VISITING
Included meals: Breakfast/ Lunch
This day tour is our first introduction to the history of Vietnam. We spend the morning visiting Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, and learn more about the historical and cultural events at the peaceful Temple of Literature. In the afternoon, we visit the Ethnologic museum, followed by an hour cyclo tour through the bustling Old Quarter. A walk through its exciting streets is a fascinating introduction to the different lifestyles of Vietnam, and an opportunity to shop for bargains. To finish off the day, we attend the performance of the unique water puppetry. Free at your leisure and accommodation in Hanoi
Tips: Hochiminh Mausoleum is closed on Monday and Friday and from June to September
Museums are closed on Mondays
DAY 3 – HANOI/ SAPA BY CAR
Included meals: Breakfast/ Lunch
In the morning, we will transfer by car to Lao Cai. During around 5.5 hours transfer from Hanoi to Lao Cai, you have a chance to see the nice escape on the way. Arrive in Sapa, you have lunch at local restaurant and have a short free time before starting a short trekking tour to local hill-tribe village. Get transfer to a trekking point in Ma Tra Village, The trek we are doing today is on a small concrete path winding along the Ta Phin Valley in between rice terraced fields and through villages. Get picked up at Ta Phin Village and make our way back to Sapa town. Check in hotel in Sapa and leisure. Overnight in Sapa
Approx.: about 2.5 hours trekking
DAY 4 – SAPA/ MUONG HOA VALLEY – BAC HA DISTRICT
Included meals: Breakfast/ Lunch/ Dinner
After a breakfast at your hotel, you will get the transfer to the trekking point in Y Linh Ho and start the trek through Muong Hoa Valley. The first village is Lao Chai village where you can see H’mong minority dressed in the traditional costume that is unique to the Northern region. Witness a truly simple but traditional way of life that exists as it has done for centuries. We tour their villages and traditional houses surrounded by the unspoilt beauty of nature as well as enjoying the hill tribe hospitality before we return to the town. Continuing on, we visit Ta Van village – the village of Zay minority.
After lunch at local restaurant, we will make the way to Bac Ha town. On the way, have a short stop at the border gate to China in Lao Cai city. Take a view over the border bridge and you may want to take some photos before carrying on the drive. Arrive at Bac Ha town, check in a local hotel (basic) or local homestay and rest for the remainder of the day. Dinner and overnight in Bac Ha.
Approx.: about 2.5 hours trekking
DAY 5 – BAC HA SUNDAY MARKET/ HOANG SU PHI
Included meals: Breakfast/ Lunch/ Dinner
After a breakfast at your hotel, we will depart for Bac Ha Sunday market. Here you will see Flower Hmong, Phu La, Dao, Tay, Nung…all hill tribe groups gather around for trading. It is an awesome experience of seeing colors, understanding traditions and feeling the atmosphere. The market offers a variety of local products includes colorful embroidery, handicraflocalts and all types of daily necessary stuffs. Here also available animal market where people sell and buy or barter animal such as dogs, pot-bellied pigs, cows, buffalos…
Then, you will get picked up and transferred to Hoang Su Phi, Ha Giang Province. As you leave the Red River Delta the scenery will start to change as you enter the mountains of Northern Vietnam. Stop on the way to have dinner and then continue going to Hoang Su Phi. Arrive in late afternoon, check in the Lodge (the best option for overnight in Hoang Su Phi). Free time at your leisure and overnight
DAY 6 – HOANG SU PHI TREK
Included meals: Breakfast/ Lunch/ Dinner
This day is one of your highlight days of your trip. You will spend the whole day for trekking to visit the hill tribe villages of Tay, Black Dao and Red Dao people in Hoang Su Phi. Hoang Su Phi is famous for its rice fields terraces, especially on the road between Hoang Su Phi and Xin Man, where those terraces are classified as a National Heritage by the Vietnamese Government. Along your way, you will have a chance to view how marvelous the rice terraces are. Back to the lodge in the afternoon. The rest of the day is at leisure or enjoy the optional traditional treatments (massage and herbal bat/ expense on your own). Spend the second night in the lodge.
DAY 7 – HOANG SU PHI/ YEN MINH
Included meals: Breakfast/ Lunch/ Dinner
After breakfast, you will walk downhill for a part of the morning before getting back on the car to driver to Yen Minh via Ha Giang City. We will have several stops on the way for visit tribal villages and photo opportunities such as Quan Ba Pass; Quan Ba Heaven Gate. As this is a remote area, accommodation and facilities are of basic level however we’ll make sure your journey is as comfortable as possible. Arrival in Yen Minh Town, check in hotel and free time at your leisure. Accommodation in Yen Minh
DAY 8 – YEN MINH/ DONG VAN/ MEO VAC
Included meals: Breakfast/ Lunch/ Dinner
After your breakfast, we will depart for Dong Van. Today, you will enjoy the highlight of the trip with the beautiful scenic drive and sightseeing spots all over Dong Van Karst Plateau Global Geopark. This is the first Geopark in Viet Nam and the second one in Southeast Asia. The Geopark is home to 17 ethnic groups which creates the unique and rich cultural heritage of this area.
Besides the stops at any time on the way for taking photographs, we go on to Sa Phin where you will get off the car and stroll down the valley and visit Nha Vuong, the king palace of H’mong tribe in the area. Built in 1914, the mansion has survived two major wars – against the French and the Americans – and is described as a symbol of the past glory of H’mong people. Have a simple lunch at a local restaurant.
In the afternoon, the amazing landscape of the Geo-park is continual along the way to Dong Van town and onward to Meo Vac. The landscape becomes even more stunning at the leg between Dong Van to Meo Vac. This part of so-called “Happiness Road” is Ma Pi Leng Pass is one of the King Pass in Vietnam. Have a short stop for taking photos of the scenery in good harmony of mountains, River and human life. Check in hotel in Meo Vac and free time at your leisure. Accommodation in Meo Vac
DAY 9 – MEO VAC/ CAO BANG
Included meals: Breakfast/ Lunch/ Dinner
If you are lucky and this day is Sunday, you will have a chance to visit the coloful and beautiful Meo Vac Sunday market. Where vendors come from the surroundings. At the market, they buy and sell fresh produce as well as dry goods (on Sunday the market is particularly busy as it is a weekly market for the surrounding villages).
Transfer to Cao Bang Province to explore another view in the North of Vietnam. Arrival in Cao Bang, check in hotel and free at your leisure. Accommodation in Cao Bang
DAY 10 – CAO BANG/ BA BE LAKE
Included meals: Breakfast/ Lunch/ Dinner
After breakfast, we will venture into the most remote northern region of Cao Bang Province. The scenic roads lead you up to higher elevation through august view of the land. Passing through Trung Khanh, a little mountain town before arriving at the famous Ban Gioc Waterfall, the biggest and the best-known waterfall in Vietnam, lines on the border with China. You will then have a visit to Nguom Ngao, a huge and beautiful limestone cave locates 5 km away from Ban Gioc waterfall. This is one of the main tourist attractions of the Cao Bang province. In the afternoon, drive to Ba Be Lake. You will send your night with a special experience at a local homestay. Enjoy the daily life of local people and overnight in Ba Be
DAY 11 – BA BE LAKE/ HANOI
Included meals: Breakfast/ Lunch
After breakfast, you will take a boat trip on Pac Ngoi River. On this water way you will be touched by the nature with its evergreen background. The boat will take you through Puong cave (Bat Cave in local language) and onward to Dau Dang Waterfall. After a short walk to visit the waterfall, the boat will take us through Ba Be Lake, one of the biggest lake on the mountainous area of Vietnam. The picturesque scenery of the lake is in great harmony of tranquil emerald water and rocky forested island and is boasted the Jade of the country. If the weather permits, you can take a swim.
After the visiting, we will drive back to Hanoi and arrival in late afternoon. Check in your hotel and free at your leisure. Overnight in Hanoi
DAY 12 – HANOI/ NINH BINH (BOAT TRIP AND CYCLING)
Included meals: Breakfast/ Lunch
We leave Hanoi by road for Ninh Binh. It takes around 3 hours and you have a good chance to see the landscapes along the road. Arrive in boat operation, Take the boat trip to visit Trang An Heritage Site. In May 2012, Trang An was recognized as a national heritage site, and four months later, the culture ministry submitted a dossier on the complex to the UNESCO for its recognition as a World Heritage Site. We take the boat through the stunning scenery of Trang An surrounded by Limestone Mountains known as “Ha Long Bay on Land”. Forested limestone peaks contrasting with emerald waters, caves, lowlands and rivers create a mysterious fairytale-like scene.
After boat trip, have lunch at local restaurant.
We continue your day tour visiting with a short cycling through local village and enjoy the beauty of countryside in Vietnam. You will have many chances to take nice photos on your way
Back to hotel in Ninh Binh for check in. Free time at your leisure. Accommodation in Ninh Binh
DAY 13 – NINH BINH/ HA LONG BAY (OVERNIGHT ON CRUISE)
Included meals: Breakfast/ Lunch/ Dinner
Breakfast at hotel and we leave by Ninh Binh road for Ha Long Bay, listed as a World Heritage Area of outstanding natural beauty. Driving through the heart of the Red River Delta where you will see many farmers tilling their green fields, stop on route to admire the landscape picture, you might take picture of buffalo. Ha Long Bay means “Dragon descending to the sea” as it is known in Vietnamese, picturesque Ha Long bay has more than 1.000 limestone islets rising from the sea, many of them containing beautiful grottoes. Arrive in Ha Long and board the cruise. You will have a full day activities on Ha Long Bay include visiting the floating village, nice cave, demonstration cooking class… Dinner and overnight on cruises.
DAY 14 – HA LONG BAY/ HANOI
Included meals: Breakfast/ Brunch (early Lunch)
Weak up in early morning and you can enjoy in the Taichi Exercise. Have a light breakfast with cake, bread, tea and maybe noodle. Continue to explore Ha Long Bay following the program of cruise. Back to cruise and check out, have brunch (early lunch). Disembark the cruises and take the private transfer back to Hanoi. Free on your own to do the last shopping in Hanoi and overnight
DAY 15 – HANOI DEPARTURE
Included meals: Breakfast
Free at your leisure until time transfer to airport to take a flight back to your home. End of our services.
******* HAVE A NICE TRIP *******
HOTEL LIST:
PLACE/ CITY | SUPERIOR OPTION | DELUXE OPTION | LUXURY OPTION |
Hanoi | Essence Palace Hanoi Hotel
Deluxe balcony room |
Silk Path Hanoi Hotel or Similar
Deluxe room |
Oriental Jade Hotel or Similar
Oriental Pearl room |
Sapa Hotel | Sapa Charm Hotel
Deluxe room |
BB Sapa Hotel
Superior room |
Silk path Sapa Hotel
Classic room |
Bac Ha | Huy Trung Homestay
Private room |
Huy Trung Homestay
Private room |
Huy Trung Homestay
Private room |
Hoang Su Phi | Hoang Su Phi Lodge
Private room |
Hoang Su Phi Lodge
Private room |
Hoang Su Phi Lodge
Private room |
Yen Minh | Thao Nguyen
Superior room |
Thao Nguyen
Superior room |
Thao Nguyen
Superior room |
Meo Vac | Hoa Cuong Meo Vac Hotel
Deluxe room |
Hoa Cuong Meo Vac Hotel
Deluxe room |
Hoa Cuong Meo Vac Hotel
Deluxe room |
Cao Bang | Max Boutique Hotel
Superior room |
Sunny Cao Bang Hotel
Deluxe room |
Sunny Cao Bang Hotel
Deluxe room |
Ba Be | Local Homestay
Private room |
Local Homestay
Private room |
Local Homestay
Private room |
Ninh Binh | TAM COC HOLIDAY VILLA
Deluxe room |
NINH BINH HIDDEN CHARM
Superior room |
EMERALDA NINH BINH RESORT
Superior room |
Ha Long | V’Spirit Premium Cruise or Similar
Deluxe balcony room |
Peony Cruise or Similar
Deluxe balcony room |
Indochine Cruise or Similar
Junior Suite |
Included:
– Accommodation at hotel basing twin/double/triple sharing as noted
– 01 night on overnight cruise in Ha Long Bay
– Kayak/ Rowing boat on the Bay
– Meals as indicated in program at local restaurants (excluding drinks)
– Modern transportation during your day tour.
– Boat cruises in Ha Long, Ninh Binh, Cao Bang, Ba Be
– Entrance fees as stated in the tour program.
– Local good and experience English speaking guide in all your day tour
– Water on car
Complimentary:
– Approval visa letter to entry Vietnam (not included the visa fee at 25.00/ pax which will be paid directly at the airport)
Excluded:
– International ticket in/ out Vietnam
– Compulsory gala dinner for Christmas (24 Dec) and New Year (31 Dec) – To be advised.
– Banking/ Credit card fees (if any)
– Any meals, drinks other than specified.
– Tip and personal expenses.