Enjoy the best of Northern Vietnam
Code: NV04
Routes: Hanoi – Sapa – Halong – Hanoi
Feature: For those with interest in the cultural mosaics and inspirational landscapes of Northern Vietnam, and those with limited time, this is truly ideal for you. A panorama of diverse beauty from Hanoi’s lively Old Quarter, to Sapa’s mountains, terraced rice paddies and ethnic minorities, to the magic and treasures of Halong Bay.
Itinerary in Detail:
Day 1: Hanoi - Lao Cai - Sapa, trek to Ta Phin (~ 14 km)
The night before: 8:00 pm transfer to the Hanoi train station for boarding at 9:15 pm. You will be in shared AC soft sleeper cabins to travel North to Lao Cai town.)
Today’s morning: The train arrives at about 6:00 am; look for the “Footprint Travel” sign when you exit the train station, as our guide will pick you up. Then take a morning drive through the clouds by car / van to Sapa (~ 1.5 hours). When you arrive in Sapa you will be taken to a local restaurant for a morning shower & breakfast.
We will then take short ride from Sapa to our trekking base where we start our trek up and down hills through terraced rice fields, bamboo ranges and many minority villages. Lunch break before we keep hitting the road to Ta Phin village. Our Dao host family will welcome you to their traditional home where we will share in an ethnic style dinner and stay the night.
Inclusion: Transfer, guide, train ticket, entrance fee, all meals, permit, homestay.
Day 2: More in Ta Phin, back to Sapa, then Lao Cai for night train to Hanoi
At the first gleam of daylight, you will see and hear the sounds of morning village life. You can join your host family in some of their activities like feeding the animals, cleaning the houses, gardening or preparing breakfast. After breakfast, we could take a short morning wander around the village or resulting in more time spent with the host family.
You will be then supported by our car / van back to Sapa (30 minutes). When we arrive back in Sapa. Take a rest and pause for lunch on your own. At 2:30 pm we will take an easy walk (~ 5km) to Cat Cat village, homeland of Black H’mong hill tribe and to take part in a traditional ethnic music performance put on by the ethnic minority people. We will then be picked up at Sapa town for our ride to Lao Cai. Dinner on your own well before the train leaves for Hanoi. Arrive in Hanoi at about 5:00 am. Please find your own way back to your hotel.
Note: The music show in CatCat is closed on Wed afternoon, an alternative will be arranged.
Inclusion: Breakfast, transfer, guide, entrance fee, music show ticket, train ticket.
Day 3: Hanoi – Ha Long, welcome on the boat
Arrival in Hanoi in the early morning at around 5:00 am. Please find your way by foot back to a mini hotel near the Tran Quy Cap station gate to have shower and basic set menu breakfast.
Depart, 8:00 – 8: 30 am on a shared van from your hotel to Halong city. After 3.5 hours driving and viewing simple, country side, rice paddy life, we arrive at the at port. At 12.00, the junk crews welcome guests on board at Hon Gai Wharf. Check- in, enjoy welcome drink & cruise briefing. Lunch with fresh local seafood while cruising to Bai Tu Long bay via Indochina film studio, Teapot islet, Blockhouse islet, Goat Head islet. Stop for swimming, visit mysterious Thien Canh cave. Relax at a wild beach, swim & kayak to explore the bay. Back to junk to enjoy relaxing or the sunset. Dinner and overnight on board nearby Vong Vieng village or Trinh Nu cave.
Inclusion: Shower, transfer, guide, entrances fees, kayak, boat/junk, all meals, permit, fishing gears.
Day 4: Explore the tranquil scenery in Bai Tu Long bay, back to Hanoi.
Early risers can enjoy the sunrise and the quiet breath-taking beauty of Bay’s landscape. From 7.30 to 8:00 am have breakfast in the fresh air then visit Vong Vieng fishing village by a rustic row-boat. Meet the locals, visit floating school & fish farms. More time to swim in the middle of the bay. From 10: 15, we serve on a La-Carte-Menu, you can order any dishes in the menu whenever you want for breakfast and lunch. Continue cruising through the bay, along the way seeing more of the fascinating formations. 11: 45 check out cabin while cruising back. By noon at 12:00, we will be ashore then hit the road back to Hanoi at around 4:00 pm. Tour ends at your hotel in Hanoi.
Inclusion: Transfer, guide on boat, entrance fee, boat/junk, breakfast, lunch.
To book this tour, please do following the link below: http://www.footprintsvietnam.com/Tours/Trekking/North-trek-and-cruise-4-days.htm