Hanoi – Sapa – Halong Bay – Hoa Lu Tam Coc Tour – 8 Days

DAY 01: ARRIVE HANOI (D)
After a warm welcome on arrival, transfer to the hotel in Hanoi. In the late afternoon, you will take an hour Cyclo - tour viewing the charming French colonial architecture to the bustling Old Quarter and attend the performance of the unique water puppetry. Welcome dinner will be reserved at one of the best restaurant in the city. Overnight in Hanoi.

DAY 02: HANOI CITY TOUR (B, L)
This morning, you will visit famous Ho Chi Minh complex comprising his Mausoleum, former residence, the impressive house on stilts and view the One Pillar Pagoda. The One Pillar Pagoda, formally Diên Huu is a historic Buddhist temple. It is regarded alongside the Perfume Pagoda, as one of Vietnam's two most iconic temples. In the next step, you will learn more about the historical and cultural events at the peaceful Temple of Literature, known as the Vietnam’s first university since the 11th century. In the afternoon, you will visit Ethnology museum, a museum that focuses on the 54 officially recognized. Back to the city central, you continue walking around Hoan Kiem Lake and visiting Ngoc Son Temple which to be the heart of Vietnam. Overnight in Hanoi

DAY 03: HANOI – HOA LU – TAM COC – night train to Sapa (B, L)
8.00 pick you up at your hotel in Hanoi to Ninh Binh. After 2, 5 hours driving southward, we arrival Tam Coc wharf, get on the boat row while this area is still not busy, we will enjoy nice and quiet riding long river through 3 tunnel cave, consisting of the Hang Ca, Hang Hai and Hang Ba grottoes. These caves are adorned with beautiful stalactites and stalagmites of different shapes and colors that sparkle like gemstones. After 2 hours boat ride we get back on the shore, have lunch in local restaurant close by, afterwards we will go to visit Hoa Lu Ancient Capital with 2 temples of the Kings Dinh and Le before heading back to Hanoi.
Evening, pick up at your hotel then transfer to the station for a night train to Lao Cai.
Overnight on soft sleeper berths cabin to Lao Cai.

DAY 04: SAPA – CAT CAT VILLAGE (B)
The train arrives at the Lao Cai train station at approximately 06:00. There will be a vehicle waiting to transfer us to Sapa. Driving to Sapa is only 38 km but it takes around one hour to make our way up the mountains. Once at Sapa, we will check into the hotel (if the room is available – check in time after 12:00). After freshening up and having breakfast we are ready to explore Sapa town. We embark on a lovely walking tour to the hill tribe village of Cat Cat, home of the H'Mong hill tribe minority people. As we walk to the villages nestled in the valley below Sapa we will meet some of the local minority people on their way to and from Sapa. Here we have the opportunity to share cultural experiences with families that live in the area. Overnight in Sapa.

DAY 05: SAPA – LAO CHAI TA VAN- NIGHT TRAIN TO HANOI (B, L)
Breakfast in the hotel we then, embark on a lovely trek that will take us along buffalo paths and trails and through several hills tribe villages Lao Chai & Ta Van, home to Black H'mong, and Dzay people. This is an absolutely spectacular walk through stunning scenery inhabited by some of the friendliest people you can meet. Once on the valley floor you can really appreciate the wonderful scenery that surrounds you. The walls of the valley are covered with multi-layered rice terraced fields and scattered villages. Return to Sapa and then transfer to Lao Cai railway station for night train to Hanoi. Overnight on Train

DAY 06: HANOI – HA LONG BAY (B, L, D)
Arrive Hanoi in the early morning, having breakfast and we will pick you up around 08:00 am for a transfer to Halong Bay, listed as a World Heritage Area of outstanding natural beauty. “Dragon descending to the sea“ as it is known in Vietnamese, picturesque Halong Bay has more than 1.000 limestone islets rising from the sea, many of them containing beautiful grottoes
Upon arrival at Halong Bay we embark on a boat trip to cruise discovering this magnificent UNESCO World Wonder. This is a great journey among surreal islands rising from a tranquil emerald sea.
In the late afternoon, we anchor for the night on the bay and enjoy a delicious seafood dinner on board. Overnight on a junk boat in Halong Bay.

DAY 07: HA LONG BAY - HANOI (Brunch)
Early morning coffee and tea will be served on the sundeck followed by a Tai Chi class. After breakfast we take a Sampan boat to explore Luon Cave. We may have a chance to see the wild monkeys that gather around waiting for food from the tourists. After that we continue to cruise around the bay. Lunch is served on the boat on our way back to the docks then we return to Hanoi. Arrive Hanoi around 16.30. Overnight in Hanoi.

DAY 08: HANOI - DEPARTURE (B)
Breakfast at the hotel and free at hotel until transfer to Noi Bai airport for your home flight. End of service.