8-Day Northern Vietnam Tour with Sapa Trekking and Ha Long Cruise

• The car or van will pick you up from Noi Bai Airport in Hà Nội and take you to the heart of the city.
• After an approximately 40-minute drive, arrive at the hotel, check in, and enjoy free time to walk around the Old Quarter and the night market in downtown Hanoi.

Overnight in Hanoi hotel

• 7.45 - 8.15 AM: Free pick-up at your hotel.

• Then visit the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum to explore the architectural and historical aspects of Uncle Ho's final resting place.

• Next door is Ho Chi Minh's house on stilts, and lying to one side of the Mausoleum is the One Pillar Pagoda, founded by King Ly Thai To in 1049 - the structure has become an essential symbol for the people of Hanoi.

• Then continue to the Buddhist Trấn Quốc Pagoda at West Lake, one of the oldest pagodas in Vietnam.

• Then visit Bát Tràng pottery village (applied on Mon, Wed and Fri).

• Lunch at a local restaurant.

• PM: After lunch, proceed to visit the Ethnology Museum (applied on Sun, Tue, Thu and Sat), the Temple of Literature and Quốc Tử Giám, Vietnam's first university, constructed in 1070 - its gardens and well-preserved architecture offer a relaxing glimpse into Vietnam's past.

• Pass by Hoàn Kiếm Lake to see its peaceful waters and the beauty of Ngọc Sơn Temple. In the end, journey through Hanoi's Old Quarter, where you'll have a chance for some shopping and exploration.

Tour ends around 15h30 - 16h00.
Overnight on train

• Located 110 km from Sapa, Bac Ha mountain town is well known to travellers for hosting the most colourful market of the hill tribes in North Vietnam. At least eight ethnic groups attend this Sunday market, which lasts from 9:00 AM until 2:00 PM. It is also a chance for tourists to discover the H'mong King's palace, an old building built by the French and Chinese.
• In the afternoon, go for a light trek to visit Ban Pho, the village home of the Flower H'mong minority.
• We are invited into several local houses to enjoy some green tea and corn wine, listen to the hosts talk about their family, and speak with them, before enjoying the landscapes on a roundabout way back to Bac Ha and then continuing to Lào Cai and up to Sapa.

Overnight in Sapa

• 7.00 - 7.45: Have breakfast at the hotel and prepare a light pack for trekking.
• 7.45: Trek from Sapa to Y Linh Ho, then continue through the rice terraces and along Muong Hoa Stream to the Black Hmong village of Lao Chai to see the spectacular landscape of Hoàng Liên Sơn Mountain.
• 11.00: Picnic lunch at Lao Chai Village.
• 12.00: Head to Ta Van village, home of the Dzay ethnic people.
• 13.30: The bus picks you up at Ta Van Bridge and returns to Sapa. The trekking distance is about 12 km and lasts for 4.5 hours.
• 14.00: Have a shower in the shower room of our hotel.
• 15.00: A limousine will pick you up at the hotel for the journey back to Hanoi.

Overnight in Hanoi

• 7.45 - 08.20 approx: Our guide will meet you at your hotel, and the shuttle bus or private car will pick you up.
• Enjoy the peaceful scenery as we travel through the countryside, farmlands, and the Red River Delta.
• You will have a chance to take photos and enjoy a comfort break. The journey from Hanoi to Ha Long Bay takes approximately 3 1/2 hours.
• 12.00 - 12.30 noon approx: Arrive at Tuần Châu Marina. Welcome aboard the cruise. Meet the captain and crew and join us for a welcome cocktail as we tell you about life onboard. Check into your cabin and take time to refresh and unwind.
• Set sail as lunch is prepared by our chef.
• Join us for a relaxing lunch in the restaurant or the outdoor dining area. Enjoy the stunning views of the bay and its dramatic limestone islands as we sail through the calm waters.
• In the afternoon, while we make our way to the unique Vạn Giá fishing village, relax on the sundeck and watch the world go by, or take an afternoon nap in your cabin. By mid-afternoon, arrive at Vạn Giá floating fishing village.
• Drop anchor.
• Our guide will share information and interesting facts about this fascinating village and its local community.
• Disembark and choose how you would like to visit the village - by kayak or local bamboo boat. Local people will be your guides through their fishing village, where you can meet the residents and see first-hand what life is like living on the water. We are proud of our working partnership with and support of this community.
• Our cruise will then take you to Soi Sim natural beach for swimming and snorkelling. You can also enjoy exciting games such as football and basketball. While cruising, enjoy the sunset party with fruits and wine as our compliments.
• Back onboard the cruise, we head towards the sleeping area.
• Early evening: Take the opportunity to refresh and join friends for a pre-dinner drink at the bar. Dinner is served in the restaurant or outdoor dining area, weather permitting, and is a gastronomic delight. After dinner, unwind in the bar, where there is a selection of books, magazines, and board games, or watch a movie on our plasma TV. You may also join some of our team for cuttle fishing at night.

Accommodation and overnight on boat

(Tai Chi - Breakfast - Surprising Cave - Cooking Demonstration - Lunch - Your hotel and Farewell)

• 06:30 AM: Join us for a Tai Chi session on the sundeck for early risers. Tai Chi helps focus the mind and condition the body, and there is no better environment to practise this than among the limestone peaks and islands. Breakfast, coffee, and tea are served.
• After breakfast, we sail through the waters, pass by several caves, and drop anchor at Surprising (Sung Sot) Cave.
• Disembark and visit Surprise Cave, located on Bo Hon Island. It is one of the widest grottoes in Ha Long Bay, with thousands of stalactites and stalagmites.
• 09:30 AM: We board the cruise again. Take time to refresh and relax before checking out. Bags can be left in the luggage store. You will join our short cooking demonstration on making spring rolls before an early lunch is served.
• Noon: Return to the shore and disembark from the cruise as our crew says farewell.
• Transfer by minibus or private vehicle and return to Hanoi.
• Arrive back at your hotel at approximately 16:30/17:00.

Overnight in Hanoi

• 07:45-08:15: Our tour guide and driver will pick you up at your hotel in Hanoi to depart for Ninh Bình province (120 km).
• Start the Hoa Lu - Tràng An full-day tour.
• Hoa Lư: Visit Hoa Lư, the historic capital of Vietnam, and the famous ancient temples of the Lê and Đinh Dynasties.
• 13:00: Depart to visit Tràng An tourist attraction and take a boat trip through the cave complex of Sang Cave, Tối Cave, Ba Giọt Cave, and Nấu Rượu in an atmosphere of mystery and wildness. See the scenery of mountains and rivers - Ha Long Bay on land in Ninh Bình.
• 15:30: Visit Mua Cave, the highlight attraction in Ninh Bình. Challenge yourself with 500 steps up the cave mountain, where you will have a great panoramic view of Tam Coc and the rice fields.
• 18:00: Leave Ninh Bình for Hanoi.
• 20:30: The Tràng An full-day tour ends.

Overnight in Hanoi

• Enjoy free time at leisure in Hanoi's Old Quarter for shopping and walking until your flight.
• Our driver will pick you up at the hotel and transfer you to the airport.
• Finish your journey in Vietnam and fly back home.