Vietnam Tours | Vietnam Excursions |Excursion from Hanoi

Northern Highlights 12 days/ 11nights
Tripcode: VENH12D

Hanoi-Halong Bay-Cat Ba island-Haiphong-
Ninh Binh-Thai Binh-Mai Chau-Sapa- Perfume Pagoda

--• Private tour
--• Daily departure with French or English speaking guide

Day 1. Arrival Hanoi (D)

On arrival at Hanoi 's Noi Bai International airport, you will be greeted by our guide and transferred to your hotel in town. Welcome dinner at a lovely restaurant in the Old French Quarter in Hanoi. Evening water puppet performance. Overnight in Hanoi.

Day 2. Hanoi City tour (B/L)

The colonial capital city Hanoi is a unique Asian city with tree-lined boulevards, French colonial architecture, peaceful lakes and oriental pagodas and temples.

This full day tour takes you around Hanoi's most interesting sights, including the Ho Chi Minh Complex: Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum and his Stilt House, Presidential Palace and the One Pillar Pagoda nearby, and the Old Quarter also known as the 36 streets and guilds. Also on the tour - the Lake of the Restored Sword and Ngoc Son Temple, the Temple of Literature, peaceful West Lake along lovers' street Thanh Nien, the tranquil Tran Quoc Pagoda and Quan Thanh Temple and one of the city's museums, either the History Museum or the Ethnology Museum.

Day 3. Hanoi - Halong – Cat Ba Island (B/L)

Today you will travel to Halong Bay through the beautiful and lush countryside of Red River Delta. Warmly welcome on board upon arrival in Halong City. Take a traditional wooden boat and cruise around one of the most beautiful bays in the world. you enjoy a delicious seafood lunch on board while cruising. Exploration of caves and swimming at a secluded lagoon or beach if weather permit. Continue sailing to Cat Ba island. Transfer to hotel. Free. At leisure. Overnight in Cat Ba island.

Day 4. Cat Ba – Haiphong – Ninh Ninh (B)

This morning is free time to explore the island or rent a sampan for a one-hour cruise around a floating fishing village. Take ferry or hygrofoil to Haiphong seaport city. Rejoin car and drive to Ninh Binh via Thai Binh, the heart of the Red River Delta. Overnight in Ninh Binh.

Day 5. Hoa Lu - Phat Diem Stone Cathedral (B/L/D)

In the morning take a sampan on Ngo Dong River, Halong Bay on land to visit enjoy the scenery of Tam Coc caves and ancient temples, green rice fields and the life of farmers in the Red River Delta. Drive and spend one hour visiting the King Dinh and King Le temples of the Ancient Capital Hoa Lu. Have lunch in a local restaurant and drive to the Phat Diem Cathedral.Overnight in Ninh Binh.

Day 6. Ninh Binh - Mai Chau (B/L/D)

Today you take a drive West toward Mai Chau with one stop along the way for refreshments and coffee. Continue driving toward Mai Chau valley stopping on the way to take in the spectacular scenery. Our hosts for this evening will be the White Thai minority people and we will stay in one of their traditional stilt houses. There, we will be toasted as honoured guests and will be able to sample some of their homemade rice wine! In sampling these people's hospitality, we will discover a little more about their lives and culture following the evening meal. Free. At leisure. Tonight's accommodation will probably be a little more rustic than your usual accommodations at home.

Day 7. Mai Chau - Hoa Binh - Hanoi – Lao Cai for Sapa (B/L)

This morning you are free to wander around the villages to get in touch with the Thai ethnic peopl. Leave Mai Chau for Hoa Binh - the capital of the Muong ethnic people. Visit Muong people village. Back to Hanoi where you have ree time to walk in the Old Quarter for shopping or simply enjoy a cup of coffee at one of the cafes by the Hoan Kiem lake. Meet with your guide for transfer to Hanoi Railway Station for night train to Lao Cai. Overnight on train.

Day 8. Lao Cai - Sapa (B/L)

The train arrives at the Lao Cai train station at approximately 6 am. 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 hotel ( early check-in subject to availablitity). Time to freshen up and have breakfast at the hotel. Then, enjoy a free morning to explore around town. At 10 am 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 in Sapa.

Day 9. Sapa Walking (B/L)

Following breakfast at we explore the Sapa daily market and then set out on our 3-4 hour trek that will take us along buffalo paths and trails and through several hilltribe villages of Lao Chai and Tavan, 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. Stop for a picnic lunch on the way at a family in Ta Van village. Overnight in Sapa.

Day 10. Sapa - Lao Cai - Hanoi (B)

In the morning visit Ham Rong Mountain, which offers you a great view of Sapa and the surrounding area and its orchids gardens.

At noon you check-out and take a drive to visit Ta Phin village, home to the Red Dao minority people then transfer to Lao Cai Railway Station for night train to Hanoi. Overnight on traon.

Day 11. Hanoi – Perfume Pagoda (B/L)

Early arrive in Hanoi Railway Station. Pick up and transfer to have breakfast and coffee before drive to Perfume pagoda.

On arrival take a cruise along a river to an area considered by Vietnamese Buddhists as a holy. Climbing up to the mountain, visit beautiful temples and pagodas built on cliffs. It will provide you a nice balance of cultural exploration and physical exercise. Picnic lunch or lunch at a local restaurant before driving back to Hanoi. Overnight in Hanoi.

Day 12. Departure Hanoi (B).

There are no activities planned for today. You may enjoy your free time until transfer to the airport for your onward flight. End of services.

Tour price includes:

• All private transfer & Transportation.
• English or French Speaking Guide
• Accommodation shared in twin/double with daily breakfast
• Homestay in Mai Chau in House-on-stilts
•  Boat trip
•  All entrances fees
•  Train Hanoi / Lao Cai / Hanoi shared in soft sleeper 4-berth cabin
•  Meals as indicated in the itinerary
• Vietnam visa approved letter ( on arrival)
•  Government taxes and services charges

Tour price excludes:

•  International flights & departure tax
•  Visa stamp fee
•  Travel insurance
•  Personal expenses
•  Tips and Gratuities
•  Beverage

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