Day 1: Hanoi arrival
You will be met by our guide and transferred to your hotel. Time at leisure. Dinner at restaurant. Overnight in Hanoi. (D)
Day 2: Hanoi – Thay Pagoda – Tay Phuong Padoda – Halong
In the morning, you will be driven to visit TayPhuong Pagoda which was built in the 17th century, and is very famous for the 18 statues of La Han coated with lacquer paint. Then drive to Thay Pagoda which was first built in 11 century and is located at the foot of Thay Mountain and has a neat setting. You will have a chance to see the oldest stage for performing water puppet right in the village lake. Have lunch at local restaurant. After lunch, we drive to Halong. Overnight in Halong. (L,D)
Day 3: Hanoi – Quan Ho folk song village
Morning drive 30km to Thuan Thanh along Red River – peaceful countryside view. Visit But Thap pagoda (Brush Pen Pagoda) boasts Quan Am with 1.000 arms and eyes. Then visit Dong Ho Folk painting village – Images of Tet Lunar New Year. Drive back to Phu Son Resort to enjoy Quan Ho Folk Songs sung on various occasions as spring festival, wedding, and friend meeting…so we can exchange culture with the Artists and have lunch. Then visit Den Do temple worship 8 kings of Ly dynasty. Drive back to Hanoi. Overnight in Hanoi.. (B,L)
Day 4: Halong Bay with Kayaking
Your guide will meet you at your hotel and take you to Halong Bay where you will board the Deluxe Junk. Enjoy lunch on board, including a complimentary glass of wine. Start your cruise through Halong Bay enjoying the stunning scenery of this amazing World Heritage Site. After a cruise the boat will stop and you can paddle from Titov Beach to Luon Cave after which you can enjoy a well deserved dinner on board. In the evening, enjoy an optional night paddle, fishing or partake in some Vietnamese wine. Spend the night on board. (B,L,D)
Day 5: Halong – Hanoi – Lao Cai
After an early breakfast on the boat continue kayaking in this incredible area from Luon Cave towards the islands of Man’s Head and Tortoise Islands. Return to the boat after your morning paddle to rinse off and enjoy your last lunch aboard as you make your way back to Halong City. Return to Hanoi by a private car, stopping en-route at Dong Trieu Pottery. Time at leisure and then with the guide, you will be transferred to the train station for a 10pm departure to Sapa. Overnight on the train. (B,L)
Day 6: Lao Cai – Sapa
Arrive at Lao Cai train station at 6:30am. You will be transferred to Sapa. Check in hotel and have breakfast in the good weather of Sapa. Visit Sapa town afterward and in the afternoon. Take a 2 Km short trekking to Cat Cat Village, the home of H’mong minority. Overnight in Sapa. (B,L,D)
Day 7: Sapa trekking – Ban Ho
Drive 12 km by jeep then trek down hill to Ta Van village of the Dzay minority. Follow along the side of Muong Hoa stream to Giang Ta Chai village of the red Dzao where we have lunch at a local family. After lunch, we keep hiking to Ban Ho – the village is located in the beautiful valleys. Home-stay at the Tay minority house to experience the architecture of their traditional house on stilts and spend time beside them to exchange the cultures and knowledge. (B,L,D)
Day 8: Ban Ho
After breakfast, 2km walking to a very nice waterfall discovered and named “the Lavie” by the French during the colonial time in Vietnam. Enjoy swimming then picnic-lunch on the bank. In the afternoon trek 4km up to the main road o get the jeep to return to Sapa. Overnight in Sapa. (B,L)
Day 9: Sapa – Bac Ha (Sunday Market)
In the morning, you will be visit to Bac Ha Market where all of the local hill tribes come to trade, it is an amazing place full of color and life. Try a local food called Thang Co and watch village life happening around you. Continue from here to Hoang Yen Chao Palace and have lunch at a local restaurant. Return to LaoCai train station for an everning deluxe train to Hanoi. Overnight on Train. (B,L,D)
Day 10: Sapa – Hanoi
Arrive in Hanoi in the morning. Time at leisure for relaxing and shopping. Overnight in Hanoi.
Day 11: Hanoi city tour
Breakfast, morning sightseeing tour to visit the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and his House on stilt, One Pillar Pagoda, Quan Thanh Temple, Tran Quoc Pagoda. Lunch at restaurant. Afternoon, Visit Fine Art Museum and Temple of Literature. Dinner on your own. In the evening, you will attend a water puppet show. Overnight in Hanoi (B,L)
Day 12: Handicrafs villages
Full day excursion to visit handicrafts villages in the rural outskirts of Hanoi, Bat Trang, 12km from Hanoi, is a village entirely devoted to the pottery making ceramic production of exquisite dining wares and vases. Lunch at restaurant. Continue visiting Ha Khe and Dong Ky villages where beautiful hand-carved wooden furniture is made. Then visit Dong Ho village to observe the ancient art of woodblock printing. Return to Hanoi. Dinner on your own. Overnight in Hanoi. (B,L)
Day 13: Departure
Morning free until departure flight. (B)