10-Day Vietnam Discovery Tour with Sapa, Ban Gioc and Ha Long Bay

• 7h30-8h00: Our driver will pick you up from the airport and transfer you to the city center to join the group tour.
• We will begin the city tour with a visit to Uncle Ho's final resting place in Ba Dinh Square, where many Vietnamese cultural and political events take place.
• Visit Ho Chi Minh's stilt house, where he lived intermittently during the Vietnam War, and One Pillar Pagoda - a Buddhist temple known for its distinctive architecture and peaceful lotus lake.
• Visit Trấn Quốc Pagoda and see the Bodhi tree that was presented as a gift by Indian Prime Minister Rajendra Prasad during his visit to Vietnam in 1959.
• 12h30: Have lunch at a restaurant in the Old Quarter.
• Continue to Hỏa Lò Prison, the ancient Ngọc Sơn Temple, and Hoàn Kiếm Lake (Sword Lake). Then visit Vietnam's first university - the Temple of Literature (Quốc Tử Giám), founded in 1070 and based on Confucian teachings.
• 16h15: Enjoy a water puppet show, a well-known traditional Vietnamese art form preserved through generations for more than 800 years. Note: the water puppet show is excluded.
• Free time for dinner on your own.

Stay overnight in Ha Noi.

Please note: The program will be adjusted to suit arrival flights. The Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum is closed on Monday and Friday, and all museums are closed on Monday. Alternatives will be recommended accordingly.

• 6.30-7.00: The tour guide of Vietnam Travel Advisor will pick you up from your hotel or accommodation. Board a big bus and depart for Sapa Town.
• 9.30: Follow the highway to Lào Cai city with the first comfort break.
• 11.00: Second comfort break at Lào Cai city before approaching Sapa.
• 13.00: Arrive in Sapa Town, where you will see the colorful traditional costumes of the H'Mong, Dzao, and Tay ethnic people.
  Enjoy a welcome drink and itinerary briefing.
  Have lunch with local Vietnamese dishes and complete the check-in procedures.
• 14.30: The bus will take you to the gate of Cat Cat village, home to the Black Hmong ethnic people, located near the bottom of a deep valley at the foot of Fansipan Peak.
• Our local guide will show you the daily life of the villagers as you trek down to the valley bottom to the waterfall, where the French built a hydraulic power station. Stop for photos at the bridge and waterfall, then walk uphill to meet the bus for the return to Sapa in the afternoon.
  The trekking distance is about 2.5 km and lasts around 2 hours.
• 17.00: Return to Sapa Town. Have dinner and stay overnight at the hotel, with free time for evening activities.

• Option 1: Join the Ham Rong Mountain Tour

  • 8:30 am: The guide will take you around Sapa center before climbing Ham Rong Mountain, one of Sapa's spectacular and wonderful peaks, where you can enjoy some exercise and discover the natural beauty of the area. From the top, you can admire a panoramic view over the surrounding landscape.

  • 12:00 pm: Return to the restaurant for lunch and enjoy some time to relax. After lunch, you will have free time in the afternoon and evening for leisure and shopping.

  • 15:00 pm: The driver will take you back to Hanoi.

  • 21:00 pm: End of tour at your hotel or in the Old Quarter area.

• Option 2: Explore Fansipan Peak - the Roof of Indochina (cable car excluded, 45 USD/person)
  • 8.00: After breakfast at the hotel, you will transfer to Fansipan Cable Station for an amazing journey to reach the Roof of Indochina, 3,143 m above sea level. Begin with the cable car ride and then climb the steps to the peak, visit the pagoda, enjoy the fresh air, and admire the beautiful highland landscapes.
  • 11.00: Return to Sapa Town, check out of the hotel, and have lunch.
  • After lunch, enjoy free time to relax and go shopping.
  • 15.30: It's time to say "Good bye Sapa!" and drive back to Hanoi.
  • Along the way, you will once again have the chance to enjoy the magical beauty of the northwest mountains.
  • 21.30-22.00: Arrive in Ha Noi. Tour ends!

• 7h30-8:00 AM: Depart from Hanoi.
• Your tour guide will pick you up from your hotel in Hanoi and begin the journey to Ninh Bình province. It takes approximately two hours to reach the first destination of the day, Hoa Lư Ancient Capital.
• 10:00-10h30 AM: Visit Hoa Lư Ancient Capital.
• Hoa Lư was the capital of Vietnam during the Đinh and Lê dynasties in the 10th and 11th centuries. Here, you will visit the temples of the two kings, Đinh Tiên Hoàng and Lê Đại Hành. The temples are set in a scenic area surrounded by limestone mountains and green rice fields.
• 11:30 AM: Explore Mua Cave.
• After visiting Hoa Lư, the tour continues to nearby Mua Cave. This popular site is known for its stunning panoramic view over the Tam Coc area. To reach the top of the mountain, you need to climb 500 steps, but the effort is well worth it.
• 1:00 PM: Lunch break.
• You will have lunch at a local restaurant in Ninh Bình, where you can try traditional Vietnamese cuisine.
• 2:00 PM: Boat tour in Tràng An.
• After lunch, it is time for a boat tour in Tràng An, a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its scenic landscapes of karst mountains, caves, and rivers. During the boat trip, you will explore the caves and enjoy the peaceful surroundings.
• 4:30 PM: Return to Hanoi.
• After the boat tour, you will be driven back to your hotel in Hanoi, arriving at around 6:30 PM, depending on traffic.

• Our tour guide will pick you up by car from your hotel at around 7:30-8:00 am and transfer you to Lạng Sơn.
• We will begin by driving toward the Chinese border for about 3 hours before stopping at Chi Lăng Pass, a 20-km-long gorge formed by a narrow valley between two mountains. This place holds an important position in Vietnamese history, having witnessed many victories against Chinese invasions over the centuries, dating back as far as 981 AD. It is therefore regarded as one of Vietnam's strongest citadels and bastions. Here, you will have roughly an hour to walk around and explore the area near Quy Mon Quan Gate, which translates as "The Gate of Monsters," named for the many invading forces that passed through the gorge over the course of history only to be driven back by steadfast Vietnamese defenders.
• After lunch at a local restaurant in Đồng Đăng, you will continue through the pass and stop to visit Mother's Temple and Đông Khê, an important historical site where the Battle of Đông Khê was fought during the First Indochina War. In fact, this was the very first battle of the Indochina Wars, and the fighting here took place through September and October 1950, ending in a resounding victory for the Viet Minh. In the evening, you will enjoy dinner and an overnight stay at a hotel in Cao Bằng city.

Highlights and activities: Chi Lăng, Quy Mon Quan Gate, Đông Khê Battle Site, and a 3-5 km walk.
Accommodation: Thanh Loan Hotel
Meals: Lunch and dinner in a local restaurant

• After breakfast at the hotel, you will depart for Trùng Khánh, which lies right on the border with China.
• Here, you will have another chance to meet and interact with the local Nùng people in the village of Phước Sen, a mountainous village famous for its traditional blacksmithing. The farming tools made here are an integral part of local life, as reflected in the surrounding rice paddies and fields. Nestled among these remarkable landscapes is the breathtaking Ban Gioc Waterfall, which stretches over 300 meters and is shared equally between Vietnam and China.
• You will have time here to simply take in the amazing atmosphere around the falls, offering an excellent opportunity for fantastic photography.
• Once you have finished at the falls, it is time to head to Nguom Ngao Cave for a very different, but no less impressive, natural wonder. The cave extends 2,144 meters underground and is filled with incredible stalactites and stalagmites.
• You will then return to Cao Bằng town and continue down the "snake pass" to Ba Bể Lake, where you will stay overnight in a homestay built in traditional Tay style and owned by a local Tay family.
• Here, you can relax and unwind after the day while enjoying a delicious and authentic home-cooked meal.

Highlights and activities: Ban Gioc Waterfall, Nguom Ngao Cave, ethnic villages, and a 2-3 km trek
Accommodation: Homestay
Meals: Breakfast and dinner at the homestay. Lunch in a local restaurant

• After breakfast, we will begin the final day of the tour by boarding a boat and setting off across the lake. How you spend your time on the boat is up to you, whether relaxing and enjoying the views or taking a swim in the cool water for a refreshing break. The scenery features stunning karst formations all around, covered with patches of wild vegetation and rich wildlife.
• The boat will then continue along the Năng River, giving you the chance to explore the caves of Puong Grotto, where you can admire stalactites and stalagmites formed through river erosion, as well as observe the thousands-strong bat colony that lives here.
• Now that you have reached the end of your tour, you will be driven roughly 230 kilometres back to Hanoi, with a stop at a tea plantation nestled among rolling hills. Once we arrive in Hanoi, it is time to say farewell, taking with you lifelong memories and connections.

• 07.45-08.30: You will be picked up from your hotel in Ha Noi Old Quarter, and then we will head to Ha Long Bay. Along the way, you may enjoy the landscapes of the Red River Delta.
• 11.30: Upon arrival at our lobby in Tuần Châu Marina, you may take a short break while our staff completes all registration procedures with the local government.
• 12.00-12.30: The cruise captain and staff will welcome you on board after a short tender transfer. While enjoying a refreshing welcome drink, you will receive a short cruise briefing and safety instructions.
• 12.30-13.00: The cruise sails into Ha Long Bay - one of the New Seven Natural Wonders of the World. Lunch is served on board as the cruise passes amazing limestone karst formations rising impressively from the sea.
• 14.00-14.30: You will leave the cruise to explore Sung Sot Cave, also known as Surprise Cave or Amazing Cave, one of the biggest and most beautiful caves in Ha Long Bay.
• 15.00: Return to the cruise and continue to Ti Top Island. Here, you can admire magnificent views over the Gulf of Tonkin or swim in the emerald-green, cool water.
• 17.00: After a long day, this is the ideal time to enjoy energizing drinks and snacks by joining Happy Hour or a cooking class on the sundeck.
• 19.30: A sumptuous dinner is served. Enjoy delicious local food prepared and served by the onboard catering staff.
• 20.30: After dinner, various activities such as karaoke and squid fishing are organized. Or you can simply relax with drinks from the bar. The rest of the evening is at your leisure.

Included: Coach, English-speaking tour guide, entrance and sightseeing fees, cabin on cruise, lunch, dinner

Excluded: Drinks, tips, and personal expenses

• 06.15-07.00: Breakfast is served. It can be a great idea to enjoy your meal while taking in the magnificent sunrise view over Ha Long Bay.
• 8.00-9.30: The cruise moves closer to the center of the natural preservation area. Join our guide on a short excursion to Luon Cave. This magical work of nature reveals the formation of karst mountains. You can discover this masterpiece by kayaking on your own. If you are lucky, you may capture great photos of mischievous monkeys jumping around the cliffs.
• 9.30: The cruise welcomes you back on board, and it is time to check out.
• 10.00: While cruising back, a delightful lunch will be served.
• 11.35: We return to the quayside in the southern part of the bay, where guests disembark at Tuần Châu Marina and leave for Ha Noi by shuttle.
• 15.30-16.00: You will arrive back at your hotel in Ha Noi Old Quarter.

• After breakfast at the hotel, you will have free time to explore Hanoi at your leisure. One popular activity is shopping in the central area around the Old Quarter, where you can find a wide variety of traditional Vietnamese handicrafts, souvenirs, and street food.

• The Old Quarter is a maze of narrow streets and alleyways, each dedicated to a particular craft or product. For example, Hàng Bạc Street is known for silverware, while Hàng Gai Street is famous for silk products. You can also visit Đồng Xuân Market, the largest covered market in Hanoi, where you can find everything from fresh produce to clothing and souvenirs.

• In the afternoon, you will be transferred to the airport for your departure flight.