Day 1 : Arrival in Ha Noi (L.D)
Welcome by NTS’s guide upon guests’ arrival at Noi Bai International airport. Transfer to Hanoi Capital, the administrative and political centre of Viet Nam. A panoramic city tour includes the ancient bridge of Long Bien (former bridge of Paul Dumer), the Dong Xuan market, the Opera House and the Indira Grandi garden, the Central post-office, the ancient Indochina Bank, the former Governor of Indochina’s Palace, the Ba Dinh plaza, the quarter of Embassies,etc. Lunch. Visit the Museum of Fine-Arts, the lake of the Restored Sword, the Ngoc Son temple. There is a 45 minutes tour of 36 guilds of the famous ancient quarter of by cyclo, the Vietnamese version of the rickshaw. In the evening, enjoy a puppet show. Dinner and overnight at hotel in Hanoi.
Day 2 : Ha Noi – Lao Cai (night train ) (B.L.D)
Breakfast. Leave hotel for a morning of sightseeing around Hanoi which includes the One Pillar Pagoda, President Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and his stilt house, the ethnographic museum. Lunch at a local restaurant. In the afternoon, visit the 11th century Temple of Literature, the history museum, the pagoda of Tran Quoc and Quan Thanh temple. Dinner. Transfer to the Ha Noi railway station to take night train to Lao Cai (ETD: 21:00). Overnight on board.
Day 3 : Lao Cai – Bac Ha (Dimanche) (B.L.D)
Arrival at Lao Cai railway station. Drive to the mountainous town of Bac Ha. Breakfast at hotel on arrival. Explore the dominical market of minorities, one of the most exotic tribal markets in the northern highland with colorful embroideries, shot dresses and contagious cheerfulness. Excursion during 30 minutes by van and 30 minutes by walk through rice paddies, banana trees, bamboos, manioc field, sweet potatoes, soya beans… Discover villages where live the ethnic groups of Phu La and the Meo-Hoa. Dinner and overnight at hotel in Bac Ha.
Remarks : The itinerary is flexible to be interchangeable between Sapa & Bac Ha depending on your request because there are no deluxe hotels in Bac Ha. We can make a day trip to Bac Ha from Sapa the next day.
Day 4 : Bac Ha – Sa Pa (B.L.D)
After breakfast, drive to Sa Pa, situated at the bottom of Fan Si Pan range, the roof of Viet Nam. At the height of 1650 meters above the sea, Sapa town is a very nice health resort. Lunch. In the afternoon, visit Black H’mong, Zay and Red Zao families at the ethnic village of Ta Phin. Dinner and overnight at hotel in Sa Pa.
Day 5 : Sa Pa – Lao Cai – Ha Noi (night train) (B.L.D)
After breakfast, drive to Lao Chai , staging point for the day’s hike (15 km). Trek 2 km by descending into a rice-terraced valley. Walk through isolated villages, rice fields, and thatched roof homes where H’mong peoples live. Witness the H’mong at work and at play in their distinctive dark blue dress. Continue hiking to the village of Ta Van, one of the few villages in Vietnam inhabited by the Zay tribe. Return to Sapa along a scenic ridgeline trail. In the afternoon, trek 2 km to the village of Cat Cat where you can discover Black H’mong ethnic group. Transfer to Lao Cai for a night train to Ha Noi. Dinner box and night on board.
Day 6 : Ha Noi – Hai Phong – Ha Long (B.L.D)
Arrive in Ha Noi (ETA : 5:00). Transfer to your hotel for breakfast. Then, drive through landscapes of the Red River delta to Ha Long bay via Hai Phong, the biggest port city of the North. The architecture of colonial style is still preserved in this central city and around Sat market. Enjoy a panoramic city tour and lunch. Proceed to Ha Long bay. Dinner and night at hotel in Ha Long.
Day 7 : Ha Long – Ha Noi (B.L.D)
Breakfast at hotel. Transfer to Ha Long tourist harbor to board a sailing junk for a 5 hour cruise through the limestone cliffs and emerald water of the wonderful Ha Long bay recognized as the World Heritage. Seafood Lunch on board. In the afternoon, drive back to Ha Noi with a visit to the 17th century But Thap pagoda en route. Dinner and overnight at hotel in Ha Noi.
Day 8 : Ha Noi - Departure (B)
Breakfast. Shopping. Free time at leisure until the transfer to the international airport of Noi Bai for departure.
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