Vietnam > Hanoi > Tour

Day 1: Arrive Hanoi

Arrive in Hanoi and transfer to hotel. The rest of the day is at leisure. Hanoi is situated on the right bank of the Red River which is spanned by two bridges, the old Long Bien bridge and the new Chuong Duong bridge. It is an attractive city with lakes, tree-lined boulevards, and flourishing parks, as well as a public centre that is an architectural museum piece.

Overnight in Hanoi.

Day 2: Hanoi - Halong Bay

After breakfast leave Hanoi by road for Halong Bay.  Enjoy the dayney through the rich farmlands of the Red River Delta and the scenery of rice fields, water buffalo and everyday Vietnamese village life.

Arrive in Halong and board a traditional sailing junk. Whilst cruising the exquisite waters sample the regions fresh seafood. Visit the most interesting caves in the bay.

Enjoy a swim in the emerald waters of Halong Bay at any spot that you wish to visit. Watch the sun set over the bay whilst enjoying a delicious dinner.

Night fishing.

Overnight on board junk.

Day 3: Halong - Hanoi

Wake up to fresh coffee and a wholesome breakfast. Visit the Luon Cave on a small boat.
Cruise back to Halong City. En route, the junk weaves through strange-shaped rock formations that invite comparisons from fighting cocks to dragons and even French General de Gaulle’s nose! After another fresh seafood lunch on board disembark at the dock at Halong City.

Transfer to Hanoi. Stop over at But Thap pagoda.

Overnight at hotel.

Day 4: Hanoi – Perfume Pagoda – Hanoi

Depart for perfume pagoda (62km), the most important religious site in Vietnam. Every spring thousands of pilgrims come to this pagoda to pray for health and prosperity for the forthcoming year. The pagoda itself is built into limestone cliffs and is reachable only by boat or on foot.
Take a 1.5 hour boat ride along the Yen scenic river and cross the temple for first presenting (Den Trinh) where people stop to light incense in a quiet place before entering pagodas.
Walk up to the Heavens Kitchen (Thien Tru pagoda). Transfer to the Perfume Cave by cable car with a stopover at Giai Oan pagoda. Have lunch near Heavens Kitchen pagoda which you will visit in the afternoon before returning by boat then road to Hanoi.
Enjoy a water puppet show that is a unique folk art that originated a thousand years ago during the Ly dynasty. Villagers in the Red River delta and other rice-growing regions in Northern Vietnam staged water puppet performances to celebrate the end of the rice harvest, religious festivals, and other important occasions.
Overnight at hotel.

Day 5: Hanoi – Ba Be

Depart for Ba Be Lake, a mountain area, which is nearly 270 km far from Hanoi. Stop over in Thai Nguyen Town for an interesting visit to the Museum of Vietnamese Ethnology. Walking tour to Bac Ngoi village where you will get to know about Tay people. Stroll in the village. Overnight on house  on stilt.

Day 6: Lac Ba Be – Tuyen Quang

Visit Ba Be Lake with 3 hour boat trip on Nang River and visit Puong Grottos. Enjoy beautiful Ba Be National Park and lake. Depart to Tuyen Quang, an old headquarter of Viet Nam Revolution.

Overnight  at hotel.

Day 7: Tuyen Quang – Bac Ha

Leave Tuyen Quang for Bac Ha on a scenic road. Visit en route hill tribe villages. Check in and overnight at hotel.

Day 8: Bac Ha – Sapa

Visit the Bac Ha market. Early Sunday mornings, villagers from various ethnic communities gather to sell their products or livestock at the market of Bac Ha, which then transforms into what may well be one of the most colourful markets in Vietnam. You will see traditional blacksmiths repairing the hooks of the local farmers using open fires, men surrounding piles of tobacco and checking the quality, resulting in beautiful smoky sights, colourful women selling small pigs. Visit the old Hmong’s King castle.
Direct road for Sapa town and overnight at hotel.

Day 9: Sapa

Walking tour of  Cat Cat, Lao Chai and Ta Van hill tribe villages.
Transfer to Sapa town and free time for shopping. Overnight at hotel.

Day 10: Sapa – Tam Duong – Lai Chau

Drive  on a windy road to Tam Duong (70km) across Hoang Lien Son, the highest moutain in Vietnam (2,047 m). Stop en route at the Silver Waterfall. Visit the Binh Lu Market and Phong Tho Market : you will encounter locals from ethnic minorities (Red H’mong, Dao and Nhang). 
Overnight at hotel in Lai Chau.

Day 11: Lai Chau – Dien Bien

Leave Lai Chau for Dien Bien through breathtaking landscapes.
Arrive and explore the former battle field with Dien Bien Phu museum, Eliance Hill (A1 Hill), Nam Rom River and De Castries’ bunker.
Overnight at hotel.

Day 12: Dien Bien – Son La

Head out for Son La. Take a stop-over at Pha Din pass, famous for its magnificent mountain scenery. Enjoy a visit to Thuan Chau market and encounter Black Thai women with very beautiful skirts.
Overnight at hotel.

Day 13: Son La – Hanoi

Drive back to Hanoi and enjoy sightseeing on the route. Visit Cau Moi market. Then stop over at Mai Chau valley. Stroll in Thai villages.
Arrive in Hanoi late in the afternoon.

Day 14: Hanoi Départ

Free time until the transfer to the airport for onward flight.