 North Vietnam plays host to some of the country’s most delightful regions. Head out to colourful Sapa for some outstanding trekking amongst breathtaking scenery, enjoy the culture and majesty of the great city of Hanoi, and relax amongst the stunning limestone karsts and picturesque fishing villages of Ha Long Bay. A North Vietnam tour will take you to some unique, delightful, and welcoming places..., unique with iExplore Vietnam Travel!
Itinerary in Details:
Day 1: Good morning Hanoi (Where w start a north Vietnam tour 9 days)
Welcome to Hanoi, we will meet and take you to your hotel, check-in and today is free at your leisure to rest or explore, discovering your own first impressions of Vietnam. Overnight in Hanoi
Inclusion: Transfer, guide, hotel
Day 2: Hanoi city tour, night train to Lao Cai.
Depart at 8:00 am from your hotel by van. We will begin our day by visiting Uncle Ho, learning about his great life at the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, Presidential Palace, and his residential place. Next stop is the nearby Temple of Literature. The site of Vietnam´s first University, built in twelfth century, to teach the royals the Confucius theory. Here we will also have a chance to see a traditional music performance. Lunch will be served at a local restaurant for a taste of authentic Hanoi Pho (noodle soup).
In the afternoon, choose one from the numerous museums or temples around Hanoi (Museum of Ethnology, Women´s Museum, History Museum or Quan Thanh Temple). A late afternoon walk around Hoan Kiem lake and Hanoi´s fascinating Old Quarter for some great fun, shopping, and street side traditional food, maybe to try one “hanoi bia”.
This is your chance to be part of typical Hanoian style and its traditional Vietnamese culture. We finish our relaxing but informative day by attending a Water Puppet Show, a favorite experience for all visitors to Vietnam. We can help you get back to your hotel if you wish, but often our guests would just rather spend the evening enjoying a drink with a view of the city. Dinner on your own. 8:30 pm: Transfer from an prearranged meeting spot to the station for your night train to Sapa (Our tour guide will show you a mini hotel which you will have shower and basic breakfast before going on Halong bay- Day 6).
Inclusion: Transfer, guide, entrance fee, lunch, puppet show ticket, 1 local beer, train ticket.
Day 3: Lao Cai - Sapa – trek to Ta Phin village (12 km ~ 4 hours)
The train arrives in Lao Cai at about 6:30 am where your iExplre guide will welcome you. Look for the “iExplore Travel” sign when you exit the train station. Then take a morning drive through the clouds by car / van to Sapa (about 1.5 hours). When you arrive in Sapa you will be taken to a local restaurant for a morning shower & breakfast. Then we will take a short ride from Sapa to our trekking base where we start our trek through terraced rice fields and Hmong villages. Chances to meet and talk with locals working in the fields are plentiful. We will break for a picnic lunch en route then continue trekking to Ta Phin village of the Dao people (4 hours). Your Dao host family will warmly welcome you to their traditional home where we will share in an ethnic style dinner and stay the night.
Inclusion: Transfer, all meals, guide, entrance fee, home stay
Day 4: More trek and back to Sapa
At the first of gleam of daylight, you will see and hear the sounds of morning village life. You can join them in some of their activities, like feeding the animals, cleaning the house, gardening or preparing breakfast. After breakfast, we will complete our trek on a valley route to the main road (4 hours) linking Lao Cai and Sapa. Alternatively, for this long trek, you can choose a short morning wander around the village for about 1 hour, resulting in more time spent with the host family and other villagers. For both options, you will be supported by our car / van back to Sapa (30 minutes). When we arrive back in Sapa we will check in to the hotel, shower, and break for lunch. At 2:30 pm we will visit the gardens of beautiful Ham Rong mountain & take part in a traditional ethnic music performance put on by the ethnic minority people. Then return at your own leisure with free time to discover the secrets of this colorful town. Overnight at the hotel in Sapa town.
Inclusion: Transfer, breakfast, guide, entrance fee, hotel.
Day 5: A visit Hmong village, then Lao Cai for night train to Hanoi
Wake up in Sapa town, breakfast at the hotel then enjoy the morning with some of your new friends that you may have met the afternoon before. You have the entire morning and lunch for free time and visiting the lively markets. At 2 pm travel by car/van to visit the Hmong village of Sin Chai to learn more about the Hmong people in an area close to the tourist path but still untouched. You will return to Sapa in late afternoon and finally depart for the Lao Cai train station at 5:30 pm. The train leaves Lao Cai at 8:15 pm and arrives after a pleasant sleep to Hanoi by 5:30 am.
Inclusion: Transfer, breakfast, guide, entrance fee, train ticket
Day 6: Hanoi – Ha Long, welcome on the boat
Arrival in Hanoi in the early morning at round 5:30 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 am on a shared bus 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. Enjoy welcome drinks and check in Deluxe cabin. Lunch with fresh local seafood while cruising into Halong bay. Get to Vong Vieng after 2 hours. Start exploring Vong Vieng fishing village and the hidden lagoons in Bai Tu Long Bay by kayaks or our small rowboats. Back to junk to enjoy relaxing or the sunset. Dinner and overnight on board nearby Vong Vieng village or Trinh Nu cave.
Inclusion: Transfer, guide, entrances fee, kayak, boat/junk, lunch, dinner, permit, insurance, fishing gears.
Day 7: 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 10.30, serve on a La-Carte-Menu, you can order any dishes in the menu whenever you want for breakfast and lunch. Around 8.00, start discovering Ba Cua beach where you can enjoy swimming, sunbathing or relaxing. We will also visit one cave on our way back to Halong city. After cave visit, we are back to our junk, arrange our luggage and check out cabin while cruising back. By noon at 12:00, we will be ashore then hit the road back to Hanoi. We arrive and finish our tour at your hotel by around 4:00 pm. Stay overnight at your hotel in Hanoi.
Inclusion: Transfer, on – site guide, entrance fee (s), kayak, boat/junk, breakfast, lunch, hotel.
Day 8: Your free day in Hanoi
Today is your free day in the Hanoi capital and all of its fascinating historical charm. Spend your day relaxing or shopping. Some suggestions include waking up early (about 6:00 am) and joining in some exercise around Hoan Kiem Lake; or taking a cyclo tour around the Old Quarter for a different point of view; or visiting the numerous markets, shopping and trying the all of street side traditional foods. Overnight in town.
Inclusion: Breakfast, hotel
Day 9: Departure Hanoi to your home/next destination
Driver pick you up at your hotel and transfer to Noi Bai International airport for your flight to home, your luggage full of a lifetime's worth of memories. We wish you a pleasant journey.
Inclusion: Transfer , breakfast
Price in details:
2 persons: $US 624 /person
4 persons: $US 547 /person
Trip Notes:
Hotel: We use 3 starstandard hotel, twin shared room. Upgrade is available on request.
Sites: Ho Chi Minh mausoleum and almost all museums are closed on Monday and Friday weekly, you can choose to visit another site instead. No short or informal wear is allowed into the Mausoleum,
Sleeper Train to Sapa/Hue: Please click here for more information. If you take flight from Hanoi to Hue instead of train, please see the additional cost per person that includes: transfers, domestic flight ticket and 3 star standard hotel in Hue (twin shared room) for that night:
Homestay condition: Very basic, please visit our website for FAQs on www.iExploreVietnam.Com
Meals: Vietnam food
Ha Long Bay tour: We share mini – van, deluxe Red Dragon or Lagoon Explore Junk with maximum 10 people and twin shared cabin aboard.
Car / Van Quality: Using new AC car or van depending on your group size
Tour guide: English speaking guides (on site).
What to Bring: Passport, change of clothes, sun-glasses & hat, toiletries, sun-block, insect repellent, flashlights, good shoes, personal first aid kit & medicines, small VND notes for buying drinks. If you feel the need then sleeping bags, cable lock for your bags is recommended.
Please Travel Responsibly: The small things you do will make a big difference!
Booking Terms & Conditions: Tour itinerary and tour prices are subject to change without prior notice. Please click here for more information.
For other package tours in Vietnam: Essential North Vietnam 9 days, A glimpse of Vietnam 14 days, Vietnam package 17 days or tailor-make your own tour, please contact us
Other Notes:
Please be aware that flight times, trains, hotels and other services are subject to availability. Where flights/trains are cancelled or delayed iExplore will endeavor to secure alternative arrangements of similar value,
Hotels, flights, train’s details will be updated at time of booking confirmed (your fax of confirmation)
Check – in: 14:00; out: 12:00 noon. Early check in if it is subject to availability.
This itinerary and supplementary information has been complied in good faith and was accurate at time of writing.
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