Northern Vietnam Tours – 7 days

Day 1 : Hanoi - Arrival

Transfer via: International flight – your arrangement

Up on arrival in Hanoi, you will be welcomed by Asia Charm Tours car and driver, transferred to hotel in the city center, check in and relax. Overnight in Hanoi.

Taste seasonal fruits along Hanoi streets

Day 2: Hanoi - City tour full day - Night train to Sapa (B - L)

We start our one day city tour from the lobby of the hotel at 8:30am with our tour guide & driver pick -up. We will drive to Ho Chi Minh Complex, where we will spend a couple of hour to visit: Ho Chi Minh's mausoleum, his former stilt-house residence, the Presidential Palace, the Ho Chi Minh museum and one pillar pagoda. Keep going to see the Temple of Literature: Originally built as a temple to Confucius, this is the site of Vietnam's first university dating back to 1070. The temple highlights the importance that Vietnamese society placed then and now on education. Lunch will be at a fine local restaurant in Hanoi.
In the afternoon, we will visit one of the most interesting museums in Vietnam; Museum of Ethnology, which is widely acknowledged as the best in the country and has an extensive display dedicated to Vietnam's 54 Ethnic minority people. Following by that we will wander around the city by car to see the real life of Hanoian as well as the difference parts the city.
After that; we get back to city center where we take one-hour cyclo around the Old Quarter, known as the 36 streets, this bustling area of narrow streets is home to literally thousands of small businesses and shopkeepers. Before we go back to hotel, we will have chance to enjoy the unique Water Puppet show to hear to know Vietnamese traditional instruments and singing from the live musicians who play throughout the show. The trip will be finished after the show at the hotel in the afternoon.

Option visited Museums (1 of following places)
1. Hanoi Hilton or Hoa Lo Prison
2. National Museum of Vietnamese History
3. Vietnam Military History museum
4. Vietnam National Museum of Fine Arts
5. Vietnam People’s Air Force Museum, Hanoi

Tour finishes at around 18h00, you will have a shower at hotel. You have dinner by yourself, then come back to hotel.

20:30pm Our tour guide will come to hotel to pick you up and transfer to train station.

22:00pm Train depart and sleep the nights on train.

Temple of Literature

Day 3: Lao cai - Sapa - Catcat - Sin Chai (B - L - D)

06h00: Pick up at Lao Cai train station to Sa Pa by minibus. Arrive in Sa Pa in the mid-morning, then have breakfast and relax at hotel, after that the guide takes you to visit

Cat Cat village is a small but bustling village situated at the foot of Fansipan Mountain. Here you will see traditional Hmong homes at their best, and you will be able to meet a Hmong family to learn more about their way of life. The village is also the perfect place to see traditional clothing being made, hemp being dyed and women weaving. From Cat Cat we will follow the Muong Hoa Valley for 3km through rice terraces and small dwellings to Sin Chai village. This village is a little off the usual trekking route and less visited, but offers the opportunity to see traditional wooden homes built using the indigenous Pumu tree. Transport will be waiting in Sin Chai to take you back to Sapa. Overnight at hotel in Sapa

Day 4: Lao Chai - Ta Van - Night trai back to Hanoi (B, L, D)

Wake up early to enjoy the dawn in the village. Have breakfast and start the day with a trek down the the valley to see the hanging bridge, Muong Hoa river and Waterfall. Next, we trek up the hill and through the rice terrace fields of the Black Hmong villages of Y Linh Ho and Lao Chai. Near the river bank, we take a rest and have a picnic lunch. In the afternoon, we continue walking to Ta Van village of the Giay people. You will have a chance to find out the differences of culture and costumes between the Black Hmong and Giay minorities. To day we walk about 12 km. Our car will be waiting for you near the hanging bridge and will send you back to Sapa town. Overnight on the train.

Day 5: Hanoi – Halong Bay (B, L, D)

Around 5:30 AM, you will arrive Hanoi. Our guide will pick you up at station then take you to hotel. You will have free time to relax and have breakfast before starting Halong Bay Tour.

8h00 - 8h30 Our shuttle bus will come to pick you up at your hotel. Drive to Halong City. Enjoy the landscape of the Red River Delta country side.
10h00 Stopover at Hai Duong province for refreshment about 30 minutes.
12h00 Arrive at Tuan Chau island. Welcome drink - receive cruise briefing, safety instructions and check in. Start cruising and explore Halong Bay - one of the New Seven Wonders of Nature.
12h30 Enjoy a lunch with Vietnamese dishes served while cruising through the bay, passing the most beautiful and quiet areas, such as Incense Burner, Dog Stone Islet, Fighting Cock, Soi Sim beach, Coconut Three Island.
Visiting Tung Sau area, is covered by the leaping rocks, cultured pearl fishery. You can wit yourself the process of the jewel, from culturing to harvesting and sculpting, Moreover, you have a chance to do kayaking based on your preference. Enjoy busy space with pearl maker, you can experience the completion of pearl.
Visiting the beautiful Ti Top beach for swimming (if the weather permits), Ti Top Beach is especially famous for its fresh atmosphere, clean water, and smooth white sand that create a great ambiance for tourists to relax or passengers can take steps to reach on the top of Ti Top beach to have a whole panorama view of Halong Bay.
Back to the boat and free time while sailing to Luon Bo area, and anchor overnight.

Option: Massage service available. Please book with Cruise Manager directly

Attend the Cooking class on sundeck – How to make Vietnamese spring rolls - traditional Vietnamese food. Then enjoy Happy Hour (Buy one drink-get one free). It is time for chit chat and relaxing. Watch the magnificent sunset over Halong Bay.

19h30 - 23h00 Dinner Deluxe Vietnamese and International BBQ Set Menu Dinner
Evening activities include: Leisure time to enjoy a chat around the bar, watching movies and many sort of Vietnam cultural films, relaxing and spending a romantic night on Cruise’s music, playing cards, chess are available, reading magazines in room and dining room. You may also try your luck at squid fishing & fishing from the boat.

23h00 End of Program for Day One.

Relax on sundeck

Day 6: Halong Bay - Hanoi (B, L)

6h00 - 8h00The day starts early onboard with Tai Chi session on the sundeck. Tai chi also called Tai chi chuan, combines deep breathing and relaxation with slow and gentle movements.
Coffee, tea and pastries for breakfast are served in the dining room with morning view of bay’s landscape.

8h00 - 11h30Transfer by tender to Sung Sot Cave. Walk up about 100 steps to the cave entrance. It takes approximately 45 minutes for cave visiting. Visit Sung Sot Cave, one of the most biggest cave in Halong bay with beautiful stalactites and stalagmites. Return to the boat by tender. Proper shoes are highly recommended.
Back to Cruises. Check out and settle your bill at reception.
Have a lunch while cruising back to the Tuan Chau Wharf. Relaxing on the sundeck or in the dining room enjoying the bay scenery while approaching the wharf.
Disembark to Tuan Chau Wharf. Say goodbye to the crew.

11h30 - 15h30 Return to Hanoi by shuttle bus
Stop over the middle to visit a traditional workshop and refreshment about 30 minutes.
Arrive in Hanoi. End of the trip

Kayaking in Ha Long bay

Day 7 : Hanoi - Departure (B)

After breakfast at the hotel, this morning is free at your leisure before transferring to the airport for your onward departure. Finish unforgettable Vietnam Tour with Asia Charm Tours. Good bye & see you in the next time!
Asia Charm Tours can arrange additional customized trips for you if the above itinerary does not match your expectations.

What's Included ?
Sapa hotel base in twin/ double.
Meals as itinerary: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Pick-up/ Drop off at Lao Cai Train station.
Pick up/drop off at Hanoi Hotel to Hanoi Train Station.
Return train tickets: Hanoi - Lao Cai – Hanoi (4 soft sleeper A/C wooden cabin - Sharing cabin)
Travel in an appropriate air-conditioned vehicle and/or a Jeep with an experienced safe driver.
Kayak and gears (halong bay cruise)
02 bottles of water in cabin (halong bay cruise)
Experienced English-speaking guides.
Entrances Fees

What's Excluded ?
Sapa hotel early check in.
International flight tickets and airport tax.
Visa services.
Drinks, gratuities and personal expenses.
Insurance

Mail: sim_stanley86@hotmail.com
Destination: Hanoi - Halong Bay - Sapa
Dear Ms. Jenny,
We have arrived back at Singapore last week safely!
Just wanted to thank you for your services through out these months! The tour (13th-20th December 2013) was fantastic!
Bella Vita Hotel is great (though abit far from Old Quarter but the food around there is excellent!), King Express Train ride was good! V'Spirit Cruise was good as well!
Special mentioned to Sapa Unique Hotel as i feel the stay and the hotel view was excellent, Bosses were very accommodating, the food they provided is fantastic as well.
A pity that we did not get to meet you as I will wish to thank you personally for helping us out with the postponement of our trip and also to provide us with an alternative vouchers for our insurance claim.
We have a wonderful time in Hanoi-Halong Bay-Sapa. We will definitely go back to Vietnam next time. Probably to Ho Chih Minh, Danang, Hue and other places in Vietnam! Looking forward till then and book the tour through your company again!!
Many Thanks once again! Merry Christmas & Happy New Year

Thanks & Regards
Sim Stanley
H/P: (65) 9793 2412