Northern Vietnam Tour 10 days: In-Depth Discovery

You will be welcomed by our guide by arrival at Noi Bai Airport. We transfer you with a comfortable vehicle to the city center of Hanoi to check-in your hotel. This day is scheduled to take some rest after your long flight. You have the opportunity to get some first impressions of the city by yourself and of course our tour guide is always available at your request. Overnight at the hotel in Hanoi.
 
Meals: N/A
Accommodation: At the hotel in Hanoi
 

After breakfast, our guide will pick you up and show you around Hanoi, Vietnam’s gracious capital. We enjoy a full day city tour starting with the Ho Chi Minh Complex, home to his mausoleum, garden, house on stilts and a museum which traces his life and work.

Our first stop is to visit the mausoleum of the nation’s founder Ho Chi Minh. Located in the center of Ba Dinh Square, this is the most important monument of Vietnam in which Ho Chi Minh’s body is preserved. This site only opens on Tuesday to Thursday and weekends from 08:00 – 11:00.

The next destination is the Presidential Palace and the Ho Chi Minh’s house on stilts. The Ho Chi Minh’s stilt house was completed on May 19th, 1958 as a birthday present for uncle Ho and becomes a symbol of his simple life.

Close to this complex is the One Pillar Pagoda. The pagoda looks like a lotus blossoming from the square pond. It was constructed in 1049 by King Ly Thai Tong based on his dream of Goddess of Mercy seating on a lotus flower and giving him a boy. In 1954, it was destroyed by the French and then restored in 1955.

We follow this with the Temple of Literature, which is well known as the first university of Vietnam. This temple provides an opportunity to learn more about education in Vietnam since 1000 years ago until recent history.

In the afternoon, visit the impressive Ethnologic Museum that is dedicated to Vietnam's 54 ethnic groups. This museum has both indoor and outdoor exhibition area with the most popular architectural styles of house’s ethnic people. The museum closes on every Monday.

In the evening, we transfer to railway station to board a soft sleep & AC train to Lao Cai/Sapa (22:00). The duration of this journey is 8 hours and 5 minutes. You will reach Lao Cai at 06:05 in the next morning.

Accommodation : On the train (Sharing soft sleeper & AC, carriage cabin of 4 berths on train)
Meals : Breakfast

At approximately 06:00 we arrive in Lao Cai. Your chauffeur waits with a 45 minutes’ drive by private car, from Lao Cai Station to Sapa.
Enjoying a fresh up and breakfast before on tour.
The day is devoted to a beautiful hike through the breathtaking scenery of Sa Pa valley. Start by road that descends in the wake of the street Cau May (6 km) En route, admire the rice terraces hidden behind mist of the morning, a truly awe-inspiring sight.
Follow a small track and cross Muong Hoa River and pass well tended rice terraces on your way to the Black Hmong village of Lao Chai. Continuing through the colorful rice terraces you will reach the village of Ta Van Giay. As you continue your trek along the Muong Hoa River you will cross a small suspension bridge, roughly 2km from the settlement. Here you can discover a fascinating collection of rock carvings. These engravings depict some beautiful images of man, stilt houses and some beautiful decorative patterns. We lunch in a home in the village. After lunch the walk continues through a bamboo forest to Giang Ta Chai, a Red Dao ethnic minority village. After taking a rest nearby a waterfall to refresh, you start climbing uphill to a road where the car is ready for your journey back to Sapa.
Approx: 1-hour driving/ 4 hours walking/ 1-hour lunch.
 
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: At the hotel in Sapa

Met up at your hotel in Sapa by local guide and driver then transferred towards the Silver Waterfall. After a short time to take picture of the waterfall, we continue our drive to the Heaven Gate of Tram Ton which can be considered as the highest peak of roads in Vietnam. Enjoy the marvellous views of Fansipan from the Gate, the highest peak of Indochina.
Then we start our walking trip by going downhill a dirt trail, through bamboo forest of Hoang Lien National Park. Your lunch will be served at a nice spot nearby a river.
After lunch, we continue our trek to Sin Chai village, where Community Based Tourism in Sapa takes place. Then we visit the village, inhabited by the Black Hmong people, one of the largest group ethnic minorities in Sapa area. In the late afternoon, we will be picked up by our car for the journey back to your hotel in Sapa. End of service
Approx: 1-hour driving/ 5-6 hours walking/ 1-hour lunch.
 
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: At the hotel in Sapa

After breakfast, we drive past the beautiful scenery of the tranquil town of Lao Cai Sapa, home of the Flower Hmong and amazing markets

Visit markets opening every morning. Here you will have a chance to witness thousands of local minority people in their traditional ethnic dress, drink alcohol and trade goods.

• Can Cau Market (Saturday only)
• Bac Ha Market (Sunday only)
• Cao Son Market (Wednesday only)
• Muong Hum Market (Sunday only)
• Coc Ly Market (Tuesday only)
• Muong Khuong Market (Sunday only)
• Lung Khau Nhin Market (Thursday only)
• Can Cau and Bac Ha Markets (Saturday and Sunday only)

Then back to Sapa to take a night train to Hanoi (Sharing soft sleeper & AC, carriage cabin of 4 berths on train).
 
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: On train

On arrival in Hanoi, pick up to a small hotel to fresh up and have breakfast.
Start your food tour.
08.30 - 09.00 Pick-up from the hotel and transfer to our meeting point by local transportation.
09.00 Start the journey by discovering the local food world in Hanoi like a real local man and taking some steps into the Hanoi Old Quarter area.
You will have a chance to enjoy green papaya salad, Bun Cha, Pho (Beef or chicken noodle), Banh Cuon (steamed stuffed pancake), Banh Mi, Hanoi draught beer.
During the tour, you will not only have an opportunity to enjoy delicious local foods but will also be guided about the ingredients and process of making this local tasty dish, as well as introduced to some destinations of culture, history, and temples such as the local market, Heritage house, and the old city gate of Hanoi Old Quarter.
11:30 Our Barista will introduce the info about the class. Such as history of Vietnamese Coffee, Egg Coffee, Phin Coffee…
Following the process for the famous cup of Egg Coffee
Making coffee based by Phin (filter).
We also introduce the history of Phin (Filter).
The Way we brew coffee by Phin.
What kind of coffee would be perfect for Phin?
Brewing ratio…Then We will demonstrate one Phin step by step.
Making Egg Cream.
We also introduce history of Egg Coffee Our unique Recipe.
Demonstrate how to make an Egg Cream step by step.
Egg Coffee Art Ideas.
After pouring Egg Cream into the cup of Coffee. You will spend some time decorating yourself an amazing cup of egg coffee. Enjoy your coffee at the end!
12:30 Return to the meeting place and say goodbye.

Note: You should skip or have a light breakfast before joining the tour.

Afternoon free time on your own. Overnight in Hanoi.
 
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: At the hotel in Hanoi

After breakfast, we continue our trip by a transfer to Ninh Binh province

Situated in the south of the Northern Delta region, Ninh Binh is well known as the first imperial capital of Vietnam under Dinh, Le & Ly Dynasties. Come here, you will admire a gorgeous countryside with water buffalos, majestic limestone and grottos.

And we then explore the beautiful countryside in Vietnam by an excursion to Hoa Lu - The former capital of Vietnam in the 10th century covers an area of 300 ha. Now, in Hoa Lu there are just 2 temples dedicated to King Dinh Tien Hoang and King Le Dai Hanh.
Afterwards, we take an amazing boat trip to visit the Trang An grottoes, a gathering of 31 valleys, 50 cross-water caves, and home to 600 kinds of flora and over 200 kinds of fauna surrounded by magnificent forested mountains. All these factors make Trang An become a fascinating destination.
Overnight in Ninh Binh
 
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: At the hotel in Ninh Binh

Breakfast at hotel and then start a 3-hour drive through the Red River Delta to Ha Long City.

Declared as a World Heritage site by the UNESCO in 1994, Ha Long Bay is one of Vietnam’s most spectacular natural attractions. Nearly 200 km far from Hanoi, the bay is dotted with 1600 limestone islands, capturing visitors’ attention.

Comfort stops en route for photos and coffee before arriving to Ha Long City. We then transfer to a traditional wooden sailing junk for a cruise through the limestone cliffs and emerald waters of Ha Long Bay, giving us the chance to take in the stunning scenery of this World Heritage Site. While on board we will be served a sumptuous fresh, local seafood lunch followed by a swim and exploring some of the limestone caves in this area. When the sun comes down we drop anchor for the night nearby a remote island. Overnight on board.
 
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: On cruise

Rising to the tranquil beauty of the bay we have time for an early morning dip with joys and emotions for watching sunrise on sea followed by breakfast. This morning we continue to move around the bay to find more secluded areas. The junk will be near us at all times serving as a back-up vessel for those that require it. At around midday we will return to the main harbor before transferring to our awaiting vehicle for a 3-hour journey to Hanoi. Overnight in Hanoi

Note: 
- Due to operation or weather conditions, itineraries and food may change without prior notice.
- Itinerary in Halong Bay is difference between cruises
 
Meals: Breakfast, Brunch
Accommodation: At the hotel in Hanoi

After breakfast you have free time at your own pleasure until we transfer you to the airport for your flight home. Thank you for choosing our Northern Vietnam Tour 10 days!
 
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: N/A