ESSENTIAL NORTH PACKAGE 7 DAYS 6 NIGHTS

Day 1: Hanoi arrival

Day 2: Hanoi city tour – Night train to Lao Cai

Day 3: Lao Cai – Sapa – Mong Sen – Ta Phin – Sapa

Day 4: Lao Chai – Ta Van – Night train to Hanoi

Day 5: Hanoi – Ha Long

Day6: Ha Long – Hanoi

Day 7: Hanoi Departure

Welcome to Vietnam: after a long time on the airplane, you will reach Vietnam – the S-shaped land, where 54 different ethnic minorities inhabit.

You will be warmly welcomed by our guide and driver at the airport and transferred to your hotel in the city center of Hanoi.

Free on your own afterward.

Meals included: __/__/__

Parameter: Driving: 30 km/45 minutes

Overnight in Hanoi 

In the morning

• At 08:30, our guide and driver will meet you at your hotel, then you start your day to discover Hanoi City.
• Firstly, you will pay a visit to Ho Chi Minh mausoleum, is a building to commemorate the merits of Ho Chi Minh Uncle – a great leader of Vietnam, and the surrounding sites of One Pillar Pagoda and his ancient house.
• After 2 hours, you will go to the next site of the Temple of Literature, which is the first University of Vietnam and dedicated to Confucius (Khong Tu).

In the afternoon

• After saving energy with local lunch, you will leave for the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology, which focuses on the 54 officially recognized ethnic groups in Vietnam.
• It is estimated to be 2 hours at the museum then you will be transferred back to the old quarter and visit Hoan Kiem Lake.
• Finally, you will sit in front of Cyclo to move around the Old Quarter and experience the local life in 45 minutes before coming back your transit hotel which is near Hanoi train station to freshen up and relax.

In the evening

• At 20:30, our guide will pick you up at the hotel then you will walk with our guide to the station for a night train leading to Sapa. The train leaves at 22:00 from Hanoi railway station.

Meals included: Breakfast/Lunch/__

Parameter: On train: Hanoi – Lao Cai: 8 hours

Today useful note(s):

• Wearing formal clothes (cover your knees and shoulders) to visit some spiritual/cultural sites.
• Museum of Ethnology will close on Monday so Hoa Lo prison will be the alternative attraction.
• The complex of Ho Chi Minh mausoleum will not open for worshiping on Monday or Monday so you just visit the surrounding parts on those days.

Overnight on train (Sharing 4-berth cabin) 

In the morning

• At 06:00, the train will reach the station in Lao Cai and you will be warmly welcomed by our guide and driver. Then you will have breakfast in a local restaurant and short time for relaxing.
• If your room at the hotel is available, you can check in and then start your day tour later. If not, you will go straight away downhill to Cat Cat village.
• You will stop by a waterfall and a hydroelectric station for a while before continuing the trek on a dirt trail through rice paddy terraces. You also will enjoy spectacular scenery while walking along a narrow river.
• Coming back to the town and you will have lunch in a local restaurant.

In the afternoon

• After lunch, you continue your drive to the Heaven Gate of Tram Ton, which can be considered as the highest peak of roads in Vietnam. Enjoy the marvelous views of Fansipan from the Gate, the highest peak of Indochina.
• Later you will come back to your hotel and have your own free time

Meals included: Breakfast/Lunch/__

Parameter:  Walking: 2 hours

Overnight in Sapa

In the morning

• Around 09:00, our local guide will see you again at your hotel then transfer you to the cable car station where you start your 30-minute cable car journey through a magnificent Muong Hoa valley.
• Finishing a long cable car, you will have another challenge of walking up around 600 steps to reach the roof of Indochina – Fansipan peak for the best photo on the cloud.
• Coming back to town for lunch in a local restaurant at noon time.

In the afternoon

• Around 15:00 to 15:3, the luxury bus will take you back to your hotel in Hanoi, which is around 5.5 hours driving.
• Approximately 21:00, you will reach Hanoi.

Meals included: Breakfast/Lunch/__

Parameter: Driving: 5.5 hours

Overnight in Hanoi  

The following program for Halong bay trip belongs to V-Spirit premier cruise

In the morning

• At around 09:00, after breakfast at the hotel, you will be picked up at the hotel lobby by the staff and driver of V’Spirit Premier Cruise and transferred to Got Pier.
• At around 12:00, you will reach the harbor and enjoy a welcome drink while waiting for the staff to prepare the finals then once they complete you will embark and be welcomed by cruise members.

In the afternoon

• At around 13:00, after check-in on the cruise, you will have a fresh lunch whilst cruising into the magnificent maze of thousands of Limestone Mountains.
• Then you will have a short rest and free time to hunt the wonderful photos of this World Heritage before getting on the sampan boat ridden by local residents to explore the Dark and Bright cave, two gorgeous caverns with a vast and enclosed lake on the other side. Swimming is also available here.
• At 17:00, you will return to V’Spirit Premier Cruise for shower, refreshing and enjoy the sunset party on board or join a cooking class run by the talented chef.

In the evening

• At 19:00, you will enjoy a fantastic dinner along with a very special performance of traditional Vietnamese music in the dining room or on the top deck (depends on the weather conditions). Before you retire to your cabin tonight, perhaps you would like to head to the bar, the spa or join the crew for some squid fishing.

Meals included: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner

Today useful note(s): Sun cream, sun glasses, swimming suits and wide brim hats are suggested

Parameter: Hanoi – Lan Ha Bay: 150km/Driving: 2.5 hours

Overnight on the cruise

In the morning

• At 06:00, if you would like to do some exercise to begin your new day, let rise early and practice Tai Chi on the top deck as the sunrise greets us from behind the mountains.
• At 07:00, breakfast will be served in the dining room at the middle of fresh and peaceful bay.
• After breakfast, you will explore Tra Bau area with kayaking. Then you will return to the cruise to prepare for check – out and a farewell lunch with the crew

In the afternoon

• After lunch you will disembark the cruise and say goodbye to the cruise members to get back to the car and head to Hanoi.
• Around 15:00, you will arrive at your hotel in Hanoi for a free leisure night.

Meals included: Breakfast/Lunch/__

Today useful note(s): Sun cream, sun glasses, swimming suits and wide brim hats are suggested

Parameter: Lan Ha Bay – Hanoi: 150km/Driving: 2.5 hours

Overnight in Hanoi  

Depending on your flight time, our driver will pick you up at your hotel and transfer you to the airport for your departure flight.

Meals included: Breakfast/__/__

Parameter: Hotel – Airport: 30 km/Driving: 45 minutes