Essential North 9 days

~ 'Enjoy the best of Northern Vietnam'

Code:	NV09
Routes:	Hanoi – Sapa – Halong – Hanoi
Duration:	9 days
Feature: For those with interest in the cultural mosaics and inspirational landscapes of Northern Vietnam, and whose time is limited, this is truly ideal for you. A panorama of diverse beauty from Hanoi's lively Old Quarter, to Sapa's mountains, terraced rice paddies and ethnic minorities, to the magic and treasures of Halong Bay.
Difficulty:	(2/5)

Itinerary in Brief
Day 1: Arrival in Hanoi
Day 2: Hanoi, city tour - Sapa
Day 3: Sapa, light trek and homestay
Day 4: Sapa, more trekking
Day 5: Hanoi, free day
Day 6: Hanoi – Halong Bay, sleep on boat
Day 7: Halong – Hanoi
Day 8: Hanoi, free day
Day 9: Departure to your next destination or home

Itinerary in Detail	Inclusion
Day 1: Good morning Hanoi Chao Ban! Welcome to Hanoi, we will meet and take you to your hotel, check-in and today is free at your leisure to rest or explore, discovering your own first impressions of Vietnam. Overnight in Hanoi.	Transfer Tour Guide Hotel
Day 2: Hanoi, city tour Depart at 8:00 am, after checking out, from your hotel by van. We will begin our day by visiting Uncle Ho, learning about his great life at the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, Presidential Palace, and his residential place. Next stop is the nearby Temple of Literature. The site of Vietnam's first University, built in twelfth century, to teach the royals the Confucius theory. Here we will also have a chance to see a traditional music performance. Lunch will be served at a local restaurant for a taste of authentic Hanoi Pho. In the afternoon, choose one from the numerous museums or temples around Hanoi (Museum of Ethnology, Women's Museum, History Museum or Quan Thanh Temple). A late afternoon walk around Hoan Kiem lake and Hanoi's fascinating Old Quarter for some great fun, shopping, and street side traditional food. This is your chance to be part of typical Hanoian style and its traditional Vietnamese culture. We finish our relaxing but informative day by attending a Water Puppet Show, a favorite experience for all visitors to Vietnam. We can help you get back to your hotel if you wish, but often our guests would just rather spend the early evening enjoying a drink with a view of the city. Dinner on your own. 8:30 pm: Transfer from an prearranged meeting spot to the station for your night train to Sapa.	Car / van Entrance fee(s) Tour Guide Breakfast, lunch AC train tickets
Day 3: Sapa - Ta Phin, trekking and homestay (4 hours) The train arrives in Lao Cai at about 6:30 am where your Footprint guide will welcome you. Look for the “Footprint Travel” sign when you exit the train station. Then take a morning drive through the clouds by car / van to Sapa (about 1.5 hours). When you arrive in Sapa you will be taken to a local restaurant for a morning shower & breakfast. Then we will take a short ride from Sapa to our trekking base where we start our trek through terraced rice fields and Hmong villages. Chances to meet and talk with locals working in the fields are plentiful. We will break for a picnic lunch en route then continue trekking to Ta Phin village of the Dao people (4 hours). Your Dao host family will warmly welcome you to their traditional home where we will share in an ethnic style dinner and stay the night.	Car / van Tour Guide Entrance fee(s) All meals Home-stay
Day 4: More trekking and back to Sapa At the first of gleam of daylight, you will see and hear the sounds of morning village life. You can join them in some of their activities, like feeding the animals, cleaning the house, gardening or preparing breakfast. After breakfast, we will complete our trek on a valley route to the main road (4 hours) linking Lao Cai and Sapa. Alternatively, for this long trek, you can choose a short morning wander around the village for about 1 hour, resulting in more time spent with the host family and other villagers. For both options, you will be supported by our car / van back to Sapa (30 minutes). When we arrive back in Sapa we will check in to the hotel, shower, and break for lunch. At 2:30 pm we will visit the gardens of beautiful Ham Rong mountain & take part in a traditional ethnic music performance put on by the ethnic minority people. Then return at your own leisure with free time to discover the secrets of this colorful town. Overnight at the hotel in Sapa town.	Breakfast, lunch Transfer Tour Guide Hotel
Day 5: Sapa - Hanoi, via night train Wake up in Sapa town, breakfast at the hotel then enjoy the morning with some of your new friends that you may have met the afternoon before. You have the entire morning and lunch for free time and visiting the lively markets. At 2 pm travel by car/van to visit the Hmong village of Sin Chai to learn more about the Hmong people in an area close to the tourist path but still untouched. You will return to Sapa in late afternoon and finally depart for the Lao Cai train station at 5:30 pm. The train leaves Lao Cai at 8:50 pm and arrives after a pleasant sleep in your first class, shared AC soft berth to Hanoi by 4:30 am.	Breakfast Car / van Tour Guide AC train tickets
Day 6: Hanoi – Halong Bay When you arrive in Hanoi, a very short walk will get you to a prearranged hotel for you to shower and a take a short rest before we start our next day. At 8:00 am we will pick you up, by private mini-van, at the hotel and begin our journey to Halong city. After 3.5 hours driving and viewing simple, countryside, rice paddy life, we arrive at the at port. Board your private boat, an authentic Chinese Junk, and start your amazing cruise through this World Heritage Site. Lunch is served onboard, a selection of the freshest seafood. We visit "the amazing cave", followed by a swim in the tranquility of Halong Bay and its emerald water. We will cruise further into a quiet area where we will anchor and stay overnight. Dinner and relax as the sun sets. Then you are free to swim in the phosphorous water, retire to your cabin, or fall asleep under the stars amidst the magic of Halong on the top deck.	Car / van Tour Guide Private cabin on junk All meals Entrance fee(s)
Day 7: Halong Bay – Hanoi Wake up early in the morning for a great sunrise and a breath of fresh ocean air. Breakfast served on boat then we do a leisurely cruise through thousands of seemingly never ending islands. These are great opportunities to capture some amazing photographs. We stop to visit a floating fishing village and listen to some legendary stories of the fishermen's daily life. Take one last swim somewhere in the middle of the bay to refresh before cruising back to the Halong city pier. By noon we be ashore and break for lunch at a local restaurant. Then we hit the road back to Hanoi. We arrive and finish our tour at your hotel by 5:00 pm.	Private cabin on junk Hotel Car / van Breakfast, lunch Tour Guide
Day 8: Your free day in Hanoi Today is your free day in the Hanoi capital and all of its fascinating historical charm. Spend your day relaxing or shopping. Some suggestions include waking up early (about 6:00 am) and joining in some exercise around Hoan Kiem Lake; or taking a cyclo tour around the Old Quarter for a different point of view; or visiting the numerous markets, shopping and trying the all of street side traditional foods. Overnight in town.	Hotel Breakfast
Day 9: Departure from Hanoi to your home or next destination We will pick you up at your hotel and transfer to Noi Bai International airport for your flight to home, your luggage full of a lifetime's worth of memories. We wish you a pleasant journey.	Transfer Tour Guide

Prices ($US) & Book [?]
Your price when;	Standard	Superior	Deluxe
you are 2 persons:	Prices are being updated. Please send your price request on this tour NOW
you are 4 persons:
PS: Join-in group is not available. Please contact us if you need further information.

Included: All as mentioned above;
Budget for 1 star hotel, Standard is 2-3 stars, Superior is from 3-4 stars, Deluxe is at 4-5 stars hotels.
Excluded: Travel insurance, drinks, items of a personal nature, tips and gratitude, others not mentioned in the inclusion box.
What to bring: Passport with a valid visa, sun hat, sunglasses, sun cream, insect repellent, good shoes for some hiking, camera with lots of films.

Notes:

Accommodation: Hotels: Standard, Superior, Deluxe
Best time to do: all year round, best from September to April of next year.
Please travel responsibly: The small things you do will make a big difference!
Booking Terms & Conditions: Tour itinerary and tour prices are subject to change without notice. Please click here for more information.

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