Aboard your junk boat, you will cruise the waterways, see thousands of limestone rock sculptures jut dramatically from the sea and visit numerous grottoes which add to the ephemeral, fantastic landscape.
On this 9-day excursion, you will visit Hanoi’s main cultural attractions, including the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, his House on Stilts, the One Pillar Pagoda, the Fine Arts Museum and the Temple of Literature. You will also visit Sapa, a mountain village near the Chinese border. There, you will visit local markets where hill tribe minorities (including Hmong, Red Dao, Tay, Xa Pho and Giay) trade their goods. You’ll see amazing waterfalls and drive through mountain valleys before going on to your next stop at Halong Bay.
Upon arrival a Noi Bai International airport, you will be greeted by your guide and transferred to your hotel. After freshening up, you will have dinner at one of the finest local restaurants in the city, before retiring for an overnight stay in Hanoi.
On day two, you’ll be able to explore the fascinating Old Quarter and its hundreds of specialty shops, selling silk clothing, lacquer ware, embroidered linens, furniture, bamboo, cooking utensils, ceremonial objects and more. You can take a stroll around Hoan Kiem Lake, enjoy people-watching at one of the numerous stylish cafes or shop for modern art in the city's myriad galleries. You’ll also have the chance to visit Hanoi’s main cultural attractions, including the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, his House on Stilts, the One Pillar Pagoda, the Fine Arts Museum and the Temple of Literature. You’ll sleep soundly in preparation for your trip to Sapa on the next day.
You’ll have a free day of leisure in the post-colonial city Hanoi. Two sites may be of particular interest to you. First, the Museum of Ethnology, dedicated to Vietnam’s 54 ethnic minority peoples. Second, you can visit Hoa Lo prison, formerly known by its inmates as the “Hanoi Hilton.” Some of its more notable guests included Senator John McCain and Pete Peterson, the first post-war U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam. After that, you can stroll through the French Quarter where many of the embassies are located or just relax at one of the many parks and lakes that make Hanoi one of the greenest cities in Asia.
You’ll then board a train for an overnight trip to the border town of Lao Cai.
You will arrive at Lao Cai Station at around 6:00 a.m. where you will meet your driver and transfer to Sapa. It will take approximately 1.5 to 2 hours to reach the town, where a delicious breakfast will be awaiting you. Then, you will have free time in the morning to stroll around town or enjoy the comfort of your hotel. In the afternoon you will trek to Cat Cat village, home of black H'mong. After exploring the area and sharing cultural experiences with the local families, you will retire for an overnight stay in Sapa.
Following breakfast, you will explore Sapa market and then set out on our 3-4 hour trek that will take you along buffalo paths and trails and through several hill tribe villages of Lao Chai and Tavan. These are home to H'mong, and Dzay people and offer a spectacular walk through the areas stunning scenery, inhabited by some of the friendliest people you will ever meet. You will also be treated to a picnic lunch on the way to Ta Van village. You will have a restful overnight stay in Sapa.
Following breakfast, you will enjoy free time before leaving in the afternoon on your way the valley of Ta Phin, home to the Red Dao and H'mong people. You’ll then be transferred back to Lao Cai for an overnight train ride back to Hanoi.
You will arrive in Hanoi at approximately 5 a.m. and be taken to a local restaurant for breakfast and morning coffee. You’ll then leave Hanoi by private vehicle at 8:30 a.m., arriving at the jetty around 12:30 p.m. You’ll enjoy a welcome drink and check-in to your cabin before a fresh seafood lunch at 1 p.m. Next, you will begin a 3.5 hour cruise through mystic Halong Bay, home to amazing karsts with different formations, including: Mat Qui (Monster's face) islet, But Moc islet, Cap De islet, Trong (Drum) cave, Trinh Nu cave. Then It’s off head to Luon cave, where you will enjoy swimming, sun bathing at Ti Top beach or climbing the peak of the mountain for a breath-taking panoramic view of Halong Bay. You’ll then be treated to another seafood feast for dinner for staying overnight onboard, and for the night owls, there is the option of night fishing.
Rising to the sound of the lapping waters of the bay, you will have time for an early morning dip followed by breakfast. Sitting on the upper deck, you can relax while taking in the breath-taking beauty of the rocky islands rising from the emerald water. After breakfast, you will explore Sung Sot cave (8 a.m. to 9 a.m.) and swim and relax at Soi Sim beach. At 9:30 a.m., your boat cruises back to the jetty while brunch is served from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. You will continue cruising through the bay, before checking out and heading back to Hanoi at noon. You will be taken to your hotel for an overnight stay.
There are no activities planned for your final day, so you can unwind and plan for the next leg of your journey or opt to take in even more of the city’s offerings before being escorted to the airport for your onward flight.
Cam on va chao tam biet!
