Impression Of The North Tour
( Tour Code: GTSP25 )

DETAILED ITINERARY

Note: we recommend that you leave Hanoi on Saturday night for BacHa Market on Sunday.

Day 1: Arrival Hanoi (D)

Warmly welcomed at the airport, transferred to your hotel, we will arrange an itinerary for you depending on your flight-city tour, water puppet show, walking tour to the old trading streets then a "complimentary" dinner in one of the city's leading restaurants. Overnight in Hanoi

Day 2: Hanoi , City Tour of 1000 year - Old Capital (B, L, D)

Today we have plenty of time to discover the pearl of South- East Asia Hanoi . With charming streets, lined with dozens of old trees, beautiful lakes, colonial architecture and countless interesting monuments, this city will impress you with its lively characters.

We begin our city-trip at the Restored Sword Lake , famous of the legend of the tortoise and the sword of 15th century. After the bombardment of this lake by the Americans in 1968 the huge turtle was killed and the little pagoda in the water is the final resting place of this legendary animal. We will continue our way with a visit to the Templee of Literature , dedicated to Confucius and his disciples. This temple used to be Vietnam's first university founded in 1076. After visiting this historical sight then we invite you to visit one pillar pagoda, the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and the house of the hero Ho Chi Minh, who lives in the heart of every Vietnamese. We also bring a visit to the Tran Quoc Pagoda and the army museum and you will learn more about Vietnam-land and people. We finish our city-tour by participating in one-hour ride in a traditional rickshaw (bike) around old quarter trading center. After dinner we visit the famous water puppet show then take you to the train station to Sapa, soft sleeper. Over night on train.

Day 3: Bac Ha Town (B)

Picked up from Laocai Train Station, after 2 hour drive long the border with China passing wonderful landscape, and up and down, you are in Bac Ha. Check in hotel and you are at leisure to visit this lovely town. In the afternoon, we trek to Banpho Village of the Flower H'mong tribe to visit and learn about their life (5km) and trek back to the town by different way through beautiful gardens and landscape. Visit the palace of the H'mong King.

Overnight in hotel

Day 4: Bac Ha - Boat Trip - Sapa (B, L)

If today is Sunday, then, you will see a big and colorful market. if not we come down to Baonhai for the boat trip for 3 hours on Chay River to visit some nice ethnic villages and admire beautiful landscape here. Our van takes you back to Laocai. Stop at the border gate for pictures and visit Thuong Temple . Check in and good time to relax and explore Sapa lovely town. Overnight in Sapa

Day 5: Sapa- Trekking, home stay (B, L, D)

After breakfast, we take the jeep along Muong Hoa Valley and Stream then stop at Tavan Village of the Dzay people to start trekking through this village, up and down the mountains and terraced rice fields. The trek goes through the National Park, bamboo forests to Giang Ta Chai Village (village of the Red Dzao). Keep on to Seo Trung Ho Village , (small village of the Red Dzao). This is the hardest part, but beautiful landscape and the home-stay is so nice by the most beautiful waterfall in Sapa (100 meter-long). It is completely tranquil at night, just the sound of the fall and insects. Overnight in home-stay

Day 6: Seo Trung Ho - Ban Ho - Sapa- Hanoi (B, L, D)

Waken up by the sound of the fall and preparation of the new working day of the family. After breakfast cooked by your guide, you start your trip to Ban Ho Village, about 6km from this village but it is really hard, all the way up hill and down to the valley where Ban Ho Village is. You take the rest here and have a nice picnic lunch then your jeep pick you up to Sapa. Nice shower and ready for the night train to Hanoii ...

Day 7: Hanoi - Halong (B, L, D)

Early train takes you back to Hanoi Train Station where your car waits for you there then takes you to hotel for rest and shower or breakfast before the trip to halong Bay .We start again at 8:30 am, crossing the Chuong Duong Bridge over the Red River , passing the rice -paddy fields and the Red River Deltal. After 3 hours, you will be in Halong Bay .you get on boat then have lunch with fresh seafood when cruising slowly in the bay to see Dog Island , Sailer Island , Fighting Cock Island and floating villages. After lunch you will visit "Surprising Cave" ( Sung Sot Cave -one of the largest and most beautiful ones in Halong. It is called "Cave of Legends". You get on boat again after the cave and go to Titop Island where you can swim or lie on the lovely sandy beach or climb up to the top of this mount to see the whole panorama of the bay and beautiful sunset. The rest of the day you are at leisure. Dinner with fresh seafood and your boat drops anchor at a dream-like environment for the night.

Day 8: Halong- Hai Phong- Thai Binh-  Nam Dinh- Ninh Binh (B, L, D)

Waken up in a dreamy environment decorated by white sandy beaches as the tide begins to fall. Great time for swimming, sunbathing. We take a small boat to reach some fishing villages in middle of the bay to experience their floating life .on the way you will see some nice rocky mountains that we call "Man's headd and Turtle Island, then cruising through hundreds of nice islet that are believed to be the place where the child Dragon landed. Get off boat and have lunch in Tuanchau Resort in a nice restaurant there. After lunch we drive to ninh binh via Haiphong City , Thaibinh City and Namdinh City . We have break in nam dinh to visit "Phominh" Pagoda and Tran Temple . We arrive in Ninhbinh at about 5:30 pm. Overnight in hotel

Day 9 : Ninh Binh-  Tam  Coc - Kenh Ga- Hanoi (B, L, D)

Tamcoc is situated in a wonderful and spectacular setting of lime stone rocks rising among the magnificent green rice paddies .this place is called "Halong Bay on land", while making a site - seeing tour per boat downstream the river. We will immediately recognize why this place deserves this name. By boat, we will sail through three stunning grottos where you will be overwhelmed by the environment. Rowing same way back and get off your boat to visit a very nice temple "Thaivi Temple" (temple to pay homage to our three great Kings in 13^thh century). We continue to Kenhga Floatingg Villagee where you will be impressed and surprised of the local life on the water. It is really beautiful, peaceful and tranquil here. Car back to Hanoi.

Day10: Home Departure (B)

We take you to the airport and wish you a safe and sound journey home. Good journey home!

Tour end:

End of our service.
 

Inclusion:

  Accommodation in standard hotels (hotels can be upgraded upon request)

  Meals as stated in the program (B = Breakfast ; L = Lunch ; D = Diner)

  Air-conditioned vehicles for all transportations

  Train tickets

  English speaking guide

  Boat trips as mentioned in the program

  Entrance fees.

 Exclusion:

  International air-tickets and airport departure tax.

  Meals not mentioned in the program (between 5 - 7 Euros/meal/person)

  Drinks, phone calls and all personal expenses