Northern and Central Vietnam Discovery from Hanoi to Danang via Sapa, Halong Bay, Ninh Binh

ITINERARY

DAY 1: HANOI – ARRIVAL – RICKSHAW CYCLING TRIP

Upon arrival at Noi Bai International Airport, you will be greeted by our friendly driver and guide. We will then transfer to the central of Hanoi for check-in the hotel. Stay leisurely until being picked up for a Rickshaw Cycling Trip Around the Old Quarter.

The journey typically begins in the heart of the Old Quarter, where the narrow, winding streets are lined with colonial-era buildings, traditional shops, and local markets. As you settle into the comfortable seat of the rickshaw, the rider begins to pedal, and you’re immediately drawn into the rhythm of Hanoi’s daily life.

The rickshaw driver will take you back to your hotel, ending the first day full of joy. You will then have time on your own for dinner (your own accounts) and wandering around the town.

Overnight in Hanoi.

DAY 2: EXPLORE HANOI CITY IN-DEPTH BY A HALF-DAY WALKING TOUR [B]

After breakfast, from your hotel, we take you to visit Ho Chi Minh complex, walking around Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum – the final resting place of Vietnamese great father or Uncle Ho, President Ho Chi Minh’s stilt house – where Ho lived on and off from 1958 to 1969…

The next place is One Pillar Pagoda a group of structures consisting of a pagoda and a tower built in the middle of a square pond. Leave One Pillar Pagoda for the Temple of Literature the first college of Viet Nam dedicated to Confucian. Back to Hoan Kiem Lake and have a stopover with Ngoc Son Temple.

In the evening, there will be a guide pick you up and you will be transferred to Le Duan Train Station which located near your hotel at around 21:00 for checking-in the night train to Sapa.

Overnight on Train (Shared Cabin 4 Berths/Cabin).

DAY 3: SAPA – ARRIVAL – SOFT TREKKING LAO CHAI – TA VAN VILLAGE [B/L/D]

Arrived at Lao Cai Station in the early morning, check out the train cabin at 06:05AM, you will be transferred to Sapa town and having breakfast at the hotel before having the day tour. 

You’ll begin your journey down to Lao Chai village. This village is home to the Tay and Dzay tribes, and you’ll have the opportunity to visit and interact with the locals, learning about their cultures and traditions.

After exploring Lao Chai village, you’ll continue your tour along the bottom of Sapa valleys to reach Ta Van village. Ta Van is known for its picturesque beauty, and it’s considered one of the most beautiful areas in the region.

After a fulfilling half day of touring and cultural experiences, you’ll head back to Sapa town.

Once you’re back in Sapa town, you’ll have dinner at a local restaurant or your accommodation.

After dinner, you’ll have free time to explore Sapa Town by night. Sapa is a charming mountain town with a vibrant atmosphere, and you can immerse yourself in the local culture, check out the night markets, or simply relax and enjoy the surroundings.

Overnight in Sapa.

DAY 4: VISIT CAT CAT VILLAGE – FANSIPAN MOUNT – BACK TO HANOI [B/L]

You will have breakfast, relax before starting the visit to Cat Cat village.  It is the most popular attraction in Sapa district, located at the bottom of the Muong Hoa Valley and near the stunning Cat Cat Waterfall. This is an age-old village of H’Mong ethnic group remaining unique customs and practices that are lots in other villages.

Our vehicle will be waiting for us for the journey back to Sapa for the round trip cable car to Fansipan. The height of the mountain was 3,143 metres (10,312 ft) in 1909, but now the height of the mountain is 3,147.3 metres (10,326 ft). It is the highest mountain in the Indochinese Peninsula (comprising Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia), hence its nickname “the Roof of Indochina”.  You will have lunch once we get back to the town.

14h30: It ‘s time to say “Good bye Sa Pa!” and drive back to Hanoi by bus.

21h30: We arrive in Ha Noi.

Overnight in Hanoi.                                                                                  

DAY 5: HANOI AT YOUR LEISURE [B]

After breakfast at your hotel, enjoy a leisurely day filled with your own activities. Since the hotel is conveniently located near the city center, you can definitely find your right places eleswhere around. You can consider our Optional Tour as follows:

Today we will follow a group to visit Ninh Binh Province following this schedule bellow:

07h00: Our tour guide will pick you up from your hotel. We take you to Ninh Binh province which is far from Hanoi city about 120 km.

09h00: Have a short break for 20 minutes to relax

10h30: The first destination in this trip is visit Hoa Lu ancient capital. This is the first capital of Vietnam. Come to visit Hoa Lu, you will learn about why the capital was moved to Hanoi nowadays. You are impressed on an outstanding architecture when entering temples of King Dinh and King Le, the first and second emperors of ancient Vietnam, built in the 17 century. Try to feel ancient atmospheres in Hoa Lu ancient capital.

11h30: Continue the tour with 45 minutes for cycling around the village to discover the life of local people.

12h30: Have buffet lunch in the restaurant with a lot of local foods goat meat, fried rice… Vegetarian food is always available in the buffet lunch.

13h30 – 14h00: Visit Tam Coc by 1,5-hour bamboo boat. During the boat trip, you will be surprised by the charming beauty here with paddy field, river, water, cloud, sky and stuning cave system. All make a masterpiece which Vietnamese people called “Halong Bay on land “

16h00: Get on the bus to go to Mua Cave (Dancing Cave). Walk up almost 500 steps, you can reach to the top of Lying Dragon Moutain, have an amazing panoramic view of Tam Coc from here.

17h30: Get on the Bus to return to Hanoi

19h30: Arrive to Hanoi and get drop off at the Hotel. Stay leisurely for the rest of the day!

Note: The Tourguide will arrange the itinerary depending on the weather conditions

Overnight in Hanoi.

DAY 6: HANOI – TUAN CHAU MARINA – SET SAIL FOR HALONG BAY (SIC TOUR) [b/l/d]

OVERNIGHT ON CRUISE

08:30 After breakfast, the shuttle bus will pick up at your hotel in Hanoi Old Quarter. Enjoy the landscape of the Red River Delta on the way to Ha Long Bay.

11:30 Arrive at Tuan Chau Marina, get checked in at the waiting lounge.

12:00 Embark on cruises, enjoy the welcome drinks while being given a short briefing. Check in to your room and get ready for a tasty lunch.

12:30 Enjoy Vietnamese and international lunch and the picturesque scenery of the bay, pass by the most beautiful areas: Incense Burner, Dog Stone Islet, Fighting Cock Islet, Three Coconuts Island.

15:00 Continue to explore Halong Bay by visiting Luon Cave. This is also an ideal place for kayaking, get up and close to the timeless beauty of Ha Long Bay.

16:30 Visit Titov Island – a small limestone island with one of the best sandy beaches in Ha Long Bay. You can immerse yourself in emerald water and hike to the top for stunning panoramic views of the bay.

17:30 Back to the boat and take part in a cooking demonstration on our sundeck, enjoy the bar’s Happy Hour (buy 01 get 01) program and watch the magnificent sunset over the bay.

(Option: Massage service available. Please book with Cruise Manager directly)

19:00 Deluxe dinner is served. Enjoy our traditional and fusion dishes prepared by our talented chefs.

21:00 After dinner it’s your time to enjoy at our bar and spa, fish squid or watch a movie in cabin, play cards, chess or relax on the sundeck.

Overnight in a quite Halong Bay Area.

DAY 7: MORNING IN HALONG BAY – FLIGHT TO DA NANG – ONWARD TO HOI AN [B/l]

 06:15 Seeing the bay in the morning is a wonderful experience, awaken all your senses with a Tai Chi session on the sundeck while gathering vitamin sea to refresh yourself before enjoying breakfast.

07:00 Coffee, tea and pastries for breakfast are served in the restaurant.

07:30 Visit Sung Sot Cave – a magnificent and largest limestone cave as its original name: Grotte des Surprising. The beautiful stalactites and stalagmites formed over millions of years are the reward after the steep climb on Bo Hon Island.

 (*) Note: Proper shoes are highly recommended when it’s wet.

09:30 Back to the cruise ship. Check out and settle your bill at the reception.

10:00 Have brunch while cruising back. Relax on the sundeck or in the restaurant.

11:30 Disembark at Tuan Chau Marina. You will be met by our private driver. Then be transferred directly to Noi Bai International airport to depart to Da Nang on:

DOMESTIC FLIGHT
VN 179 | VIETNAM AIRLINES | HAN – DAD | 16:40 – 18:00

Upon arrival at Da Nang Airport, you will be met by our driver. We will then transfer to your hotel in Hoi An for relaxing or wandering around on your own.

Overnight in Hoi An.

DAY 8: HOI AN ANCIENT TOWN HALF-DAY WALKING TOUR [B]

Having breakfast at your hotel,

This morning, you will wander around old streets to visit this charming ancient town including the Japanese Covered Bridge, Chinese Assembly Halls, Phuoc Kien Pagoda, Sa Huynh Museum and the local market to get knowledge about the cultural and historical values of Hoi An.

Then it’s time for you to wander around on yourself to discover the town around, or you can choose to back to the hotel for relaxing.

Overnight in Hoi An.

DAY 9: HOI AN AT YOUR LEISURE [B]

After breakfast at your hotel, enjoy a leisurely day filled with your own activities. Since the hotel is conveniently located near the city center, you can definitely find your right places eleswhere around. You can consider our Optional Tour as follows:

AM: Our tour guide will pick up at your hotel, we transfer you to visit Ba Na Hills to enjoy the beautiful view of from the cable car up to the summit. Upon arrival have sightseeing and take photos at the world-famous Golden Bridge, continue to flower garden Le Jardin D’amour where has many kinds of beautiful flowers and Debay Wine Cellar where are storing different wines. Take another cable car route to reach French Village at the height of 1138 meters for experience architecture here. Have lunch at restaurant.

PM: You will spend more time playing games at Fantasy Amusement Park (almost normal games and 4D Movie already included in the tour package but only some games which have reward, you will pay fee by yourself). After that you will take cable car back the foot and transfer back to your hotel in Hoi An.

Overnight in Hoi An.

DAY 10: Farewell to Vietnam. See you again! [B]

After breakfast, you will have more time for shopping or exploring the city at your own pace. On time, our car will come to take you to the airport for catching your flight to other city or home.

SEE YOU AGAIN