This is the best classic & highlights tour which will satisfy all travelers while traveling in the Northern Vietnam in 7 days. A historic city of Hanoi, a scenic landscape of Sapa, a natural World Heritage Site of Halong Bay, and Hoa Lu the ancient capital, "Halong Bay on land" - Tam Coc are all of this tour.
Tour program:
Day 1: Hanoi arrival – Night train to Lao Cai (/L/D)
Our tour guide and driver will welcome you at Noi Bai airport and escort you to Hanoi Center for city tour. We will visit some of the most interesting sites in Hanoi such as Ho Chi Minh’s complex: Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum (outside), Ho Chi Minh’s house, the house on stilt, One Pillar Pagoda nearby. Then we continue visiting Temple of literature – the first university of Vietnam date back the 11th century. Have lunch at a local Vietnamese restaurant.
In the afternoon, we will visit Ngoc Son Temple and Hoan Kiem lake – the most beautiful lake in the heart of Hanoi. You are then attending the Vietnamese Traditional Water Puppet show and taking 1 hour cyclo tour around the old quarter of Hanoi. Enjoy dinner before taking night train to Lao Cai. Overnight on train.
Day 2: Lao Cai - Sapa - Soft Trekking (B/L)
Arrive at Lao Cai Train station at about 6.30. Take a transfer to Sapa. Have breakfast at local restaurant and explore Sapa Town. Check in and time at leisure.
In the afternoon, you will visit Sapa town and take a 2km short trekking to Cat Cat Village, the home of H’mong minority. Back to Sapa for lunch. In the afternoon visit Ta Fin village with Tafin handicraft shops and explore the daily life of Red Dzao. Overnight in Sapa.
Day 3: Sapa – Hill tribe villages – night train to Hanoi (B/-/D)
In the morning, take a drive to visit Lao Chai village – home of Black H’Mong – here you trek through terraced rice fields to villages, meet and talk with locals to learn more about their daily life and habits. You trek through Ta Van village – home of Dzay hill tribe and get on car back to Sapa. Free time for relax before transfer to Lao Cai. Have dinner at local restaurant before getting on night train to Hanoi.
Day 4: Hanoi – Halong Bay (B/L/D)
Arrival Hanoi at around 5:30 AM, transfer you to visit Hanoi Flower Market which is open very early in the morning and supplies flowers for the whole city. Then have breakfast at a local restaurant before departing for Halong Bay. Drive about 03 hours through the rice fields in the Red River Delta to Ha Long city. Upon arrival, check in a junk boat for a cruise around Ha Long Bay with delicious seafood lunch served on board.
In the afternoon, cruise on a boat in the crystalline emerald green water of Ha Long bay, among thousands of spectacular limestone islands and islets and discover Surprising Cave, the most beautiful cave in Halong Bay. The boat stops at an ideal location for Sea Kayaking as we paddle through a maze of islets amid dramatic natural scenery. Explore the many hidden lagoons and stalagmite caves that are not so accessible otherwise. Overnight on junk boat.
Day 5: Ha Long Bay - Hanoi (B/L/)
In the morning, one more kayaking trip around the stunning Ha Long bay and enjoying sunrise before returning to the junk. Lunch served on board while cruising toward Ha Long harbor.
Disembark at around 12:00 and drive back to Hanoi, with a stop in Dong Trieu Ceramic Village (optional). Arrive in Hanoi at around 17.00. Overnight in Hanoi.
Day 6: Hanoi – Hoa Lu – Tam Coc – Bich Dong – Hanoi (B/L/)
Departing from Hanoi at 8.00 am from your hotel, after 2 hours driving, we arrive NinhBinhProvince. Our first visit is the former capital of Vietnam – Hoa Lu, visit two temples dedicated to King Dinh and King Le, the two heroes who lived in 10th century and chose Hoa Lu to build the citadel of the capital city of Dai Viet. Proceed to Tam Coc for lunch. Tam Coc known as "HalongBay on land" boasting breathtaking scenery, “Tam Coc” means three caves. After lunch we get on small rowing boats, the boat trip to all three caves takes about two hours.
Continue visiting Bich Dong Grotto(emerald-like grotto), around 2km from Tam Coc by car, climb a little bit till you get to the top of the Upper pagoda and your eyes catch the overall panorama of the paddy fields between Truong Yen Mountain. The king conferred on Bich Dong the title “The Second Most Beautiful Grotto in Vietnam”. A scene of the popular French movie "Indochine" had been completed here in 1991. Get back to Hanoi late in the afternoon. Overnight in Hanoi.
Day 7: Hanoi - departure (B)
Breakfast at hotel and free time until transfer to the airport for departure flight. End of tour service.