The First Day of 7 Day North Vietnam Tour: welcome to Hanoi (D)

Upon arrival at Noi Bai international Airport, meet our local guide and driver and transfer to hotel in Hanoi centre. Relax at hotel and in afternoon go out to discover Hanoi old quarter; you will be escorted by our guide to do a walking tour around the most interesting Hanoi streets and narrow lanes; take a rickshaw ride; enjoy our welcome dinner at the finest Vietnamese restaurant. You will stay overnight at our boutique hotel in Hanoi centre.

The Second Day: Hanoi Sightseeing tour – Nigh train to Lao Cai (B)

Depart your hotel at 8 AM for the Temple of Literature. In 1076 Quoc Tu Giam – Vietnam’s first university, also referred to as Van Mieu, was established within a temple to educate Vietnam’s royalty, mandarins and members of the elite. The university functioned for an incredible 700 years and its gardens and well-preserved architecture offer a fascinating glimpse into Vietnam’s past.

The tour will be followed by a visit to Ho Chi Minh residence complex with the following items:  Close by is the mausoleum of the historic figure and father of modern Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh (viewed from outside; closed Mon and Fri and from Oct-Nov) and the former presidents house on stilts where he lived from 1958 to 1969, his former home illustrates the modesty of this Vietnamese revolutionary. One Pillar Pagoda, founded by King Ly Thai To in 1049 will be visited next. This structure is one of Vietnam’s most iconic temples.

Continue to picturesque West Lake and the sixth century Tran Quoc Buddhist Pagoda. From here, transfer (or stroll along the lakeside) 700meters to the nearby Taoist temple of Quan Thanh which is dedicated to Tran Vu – one of the principal deities in Taoism. In the afternoon visit the fascinating Ethnology Museum, which is both a research Centre and a public museum exhibiting the ethnic groups of Vietnam.

At the end of the afternoon visit Hanoi’s Old Quarter also known as the ‘36 streets’. Take a walking tour through charming Hang Be Market and around Hoan Kiem Lake. This bustling area of narrow streets and alleys is home to literally thousands of small businesses and shopkeepers. It’s a great place to explore with plenty of photo opportunities all around you.

At 9:00 PM we proceed to Hanoi Train Station for the night train to Lao Cai after your dinner. Enjoy your overnight train to Lao Cai city next morning.

The Third Day: arrival in Lao Cai city and drive to Bac Ha Sunday Market (B, L)

Arrive in Lao Cai city in early morning at around 6h30AM, have breakfast at local restaurant before driving to visit a local market. It is special market in the northwest region where we can experience special cultures of the different minority groups. Here you’ll see mostly Flower Hmong however Phu La, Black Dao, Tay, Nung hill tribe groups also gather here. The market offers a variety of local products, which could not be found in others areas such as an interesting animal market where pot-bellied pigs, cows and buffalos can be seen.

Continue your tour to have a short walk a hill-tribe village. Here you’ll have the opportunity to visit some local homes to understand more on the daily life of these tribes as well as their culture and traditions. Following head back to Lao Cai.

Market tour options: depending on arrival date, we will do different market tour as following:  Coc Ly market on Tuesday; Cao Son market on Wednesday; Lung Khau Nhin market on Thursday; Can Cau market on Saturday and Bac Ha market on Sunday.

The Fourth Day: Sapa – Trekking to Lao Chai – Ta Van villages – night train Hanoi (B)

In the terraced hills and mountains of this area, the expansive green landscape is enlivened by the colors of its hill tribes – flashes of shining silver jewelry from the necks and wrists of indigo-clad H’mong and the scarlet hues of the turbans worn by the Red Dao can be seen. It is here you will find hands stained with color from fabric dyes and shades of blue, red and green intricately embroidered and stitched into jackets, waistcoats, pants, skirts, caps, purses and leggings. Take a morning walking tour of Sapa town for a visit to the busy market where Red Dao, Black H’Mong, Tay and other ethnic minority people converge from the surrounding countryside to sell their silverware and handicrafts, and to buy provisions.

At 9AM, we take a light trek to Lao Chai and Ta Van villages, home to Hmong and Dzay people to discover Sapa’s quaint hill tribe villages set against the stunning Hoang Lien Son Mountain Range and Indochina’s highest peak, Mt. Fansipan. The trek will take around 4 hours. You can have lunch with local family or drive back to Sapa town restaurant. After lunch spend your last minutes in Sapa for shopping or relaxing at ethnic herbal Spa.

In the late afternoon transfer back to Lao Cai station to catch night train to Hanoi.

The Fifth Day: Arrival in Hanoi – drive Halong Bay (B, L, D)

Early morning arrive in Hanoi followed by breakfast at a local restaurant before heading to Halong Bay by 3.5 hour road trip. Before breakfast we may join in with local people to do morning Tai Chi or Aerobics exercise and have fun with them in a laughing club.

Journey to Halong Bay through the rich farmlands of the Red River Delta, observe everyday life of Vietnamese villagers as they work the rice fields, take pigs to the market on motorbikes and plough the fields with their water buffaloes. Arrive from Hanoi late morning and welcome at the pier of your boat.

Check-in and transfer to your boat for the overnight journey into the Bay. Lunch is served on board as you cruise into Halong Bay. Cruise by rock formations with such names as Sail, Dog and Dinh Huong (incense pot). Towards the end of the day set anchor for the night as the sun sets followed by dinner.

The Day 6: Halong Bay – Hanoi (Brunch)

On your return to Halong City enjoy a wholesome brunch as your boat weaves through strange-shaped limestone rock formations. Upon disembarkation your driver will meet you for the transfer back to Hanoi.

This afternoon your guide and driver will be at your disposal. Enjoy the many charms that this city has to offer from the many stunning tree lined boulevards to simply taking a coffee at one of the charming street side coffee shop and watching the world go by.

Tonight finish the day with a Water Puppet show. This is a uniquely northern Vietnamese art form depicting scenes from rural life and episodes of national history.

The Day 7: Hanoi Departure (B)

Free at leisure until your transfer by private car to Hanoi Airport to fly out. End of the services.

Extend your trip: you can extend your vacation to other places of Vietnam or Laos, Cambodia with us. Please contact our travel consultants to have more information. We offer a wide range of tour packages to all destinations in Indochina.

Email us at bookingvietnam365@gmail.com

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