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This concise tour of northern Vietnam allows you to discover and explore some of the most remarkably scenic regions in South East Asia. Beginning in the national capital, Hanoi, we uncover the charms and curiosities of this graceful old city and its fascinating Old Quarter on foot before setting out to cruise amongst the towering limestone karsts of awe-inspiring Halong Bay. Last, but definitely not least, we take the China-bound train to the northern border town of Lao Cai. From here weβll trek through the breathtakingly beautiful mountain scenery around the northern hill tribe minority town of Sapa, and spend the night in a village longhouse, before returning to Hanoi where our trip ends.
Tour Prices
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Included
An experienced Vietnamese tour leader and, on occasion, the services of local guides at some sites. All transport, accommodation, meals (4 breakfasts, 1 lunch & 1 dinner) as indicated in the above itinerary.
International flights, entrance fees, arrival and departure transfers, departure and airport taxes, visas, all other meals, all optional tours or activities during free time, transfers outside of the tour program, travel insurance, tips and items of a personal nature.
Our trip starts today with your arrival in Hanoi. No activities are planned, so you may arrive at any time. There will be a pre-departure briefing with your tour Leader around 6pm this evening.
Although there has been a settlement here since the 3rd century AD, the city of Hanoi can trace its origins back to 1010 when Emperor Le Thai To moved his capital from Hoa Lu to this site. From the 1880s to World War II, Hanoi was developed as the French colonial capital of French Indochina and many of the old structures in Hanoi were razed to make way for new French buildings. Todayβs inhabitants of Hanoi take a lot of pride in their grand old colonial buildings and this together with the wide spacious boulevards and tree-lined lakes help make Hanoi one of most graceful and charming cities in South East Asia. After breakfast weβll set out on a half-day tour of the city, showcasing some of Hanoiβs most interesting attractions. Weβll begin our tour with a visit to the βOne Pillar Pagodaβ situated near the dour, soviet inspired mausoleum of Ho Chi Minh. One Pillar Pagoda was first constructed in 1049 and as such it was Hanoiβs oldest structure. If it doesnβt look that old to you, itβs because the French blew it up in 1954 as a parting gesture and the current edifice is a replica of the original. From here weβll walk to the Temple of Literature, a wonderful name for a wonderful place. Founded in 1070, it was Vietnamβs first educational institute and a place where candidates for the position of Mandarin were examined. Finally weβll visit the Hoa Lo Prison, probably better known to most of us as the βHanoi Hiltonβ. Hanoiβs tallest building now occupies most of the original site, and no, it doesnβt belong to the Hilton Hotel chain, but the eastern wall and a small section of the prison behind have been retained and today serve as a museum. It mostly serves as a reminder of the Vietnamese who were incarcerated here by their French masters. The remainder of the afternoon is free for us to wander around town and check out the lifestyles of Hanoiβs people. One of the best places to do this is the cityβs βold quarterβ, situated to the north of the lake. Itβs a great place (and an easy place) to get lost in for a couple of hours. However, itβs easy to find our bearings if we remember that its boundaries are the railway line to the west and the north, the Red River to the east and Hoan Kiem Lake to the south. This evening we have the option of attending a performance of Vietnamβs world famous βwater puppet, troupe.
Ha Long means βdescending dragonβ and legend has it that a giant dragon plunged into the ocean at this point cutting the bay from the rocks as it thrashed its way into the depths. We prefer Mother Natureβs version and awe-inspiring Halong Bay with its 3,000 limestone karsts thrusting skyward out of the sea is one of her finest pieces of work. Our Halong Bay excursion begins with a 3Β½-hour drive through the fertile Red River Delta to the bayside resort town of Bai Chay. Weβll board our chartered boat shortly before midday and enjoy a full afternoon lazing on the deck as we cruise through this most amazing seascape. A seafood lunch will be served on board and weβll have the opportunity to go for a swim before going ashore on one of the islands to explore its colourful limestone caves. With any luck weβll witness a fabulous sunset over Halong Bay before enjoying dinner prepared by our crew. Accommodation tonight is on board our boat in simply furnished cabins. Bedding will be provided but if the weather is fine you may prefer to sleep on the top deck under the stars. There are showers and sometimes there is hot water and sometimes not!
Day 4: Hanoi And Overnight Train To Lao Cai (Breakfast)
Following breakfast we make our way back to Hanoi and arrive shortly before lunchtime. Our remaining time in Hanoi is free for shopping and sightseeing, or relaxing in one of the lakeside cafes. This evening we begin our exciting journey up to Sapa when we board the overnight train for the Vietnam - China border town of Lao Cai.
Days 5-7: Sapa - Overnight Trek (Breakfast/Dinner)
Weβll catch a glimpse of China over the other side of the river this morning as we disembark from the overnight train and begin our drive into the mountains and on to the picturesque minority hill tribe town of Sapa. Set amidst some magnificent mountain scenery and in the shadow of Vietnamβs tallest peak, the 3,143-metre-high Mt. Fansipan, the former French colonial hill station town of Sapa is home to some of Vietnamβs most colourful minority hill tribes. Like Dalat in the south, the French developed Sapa in an effort to replicate parts of the Alps and the Pyrenees. A number of their villas remain but many were lost in 1979 when the Vietnamese army evicted the invading Chinese. Weβll spend the afternoon discovering the charms of this magic little town and set out the next morning on an adventurous two-day trek up the Muong Hoa River Valley with its lush vegetation and rice terraces. There are no hotels up here so we spend the night at a minority village in the cosy longhouse of one of the villageβs families. The next morning, after a hearty hill tribe breakfast, we trek back into Sapa. In the evening we make our way back to Lao Cai, where we once again board the overnight train, for the return trip to Hanoi.
