The Best Northern Vietnam Tour - Tour Route: Hanoi - Sapa - Ninh Binh - Halong Bay - Hanoi
Day 1: Hanoi Arrival
Welcome to Vietnam! Upon your arrival in Hanoi, your guide will meet you and escort you to your hotel. The rest of the day is for you to get rid of the jet lag and have a rest.
Overnight: Hanoi
Day 2: Hanoi Heritage Exploration
In the morning, explore Hanoi by touring some major historic sites, including Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, Ho Chi Minh House on Stilt, One Pillar Pagoda, Tran Quoc Pagoda, and Quan Thanh Temple. In the afternoon, visit the Museum of Ethnology and cycle through the Old Quarter of Hanoi (by Rickshaw, about 1hr). The next stop is Hoan Kiem Lake, Ngoc Son Temple and then enjoy a Water Puppet Show to learn more about Vietnamese traditional culture.
Note: Please note that the HCM Mausoleum is closed on Fridays and Mondays and most museums are closed on Mondays.
Overnight: Hanoi
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 3: Hanoi Highlights, Hanoi - Sapa
After breakfast, drive to Sapa from Hanoi a 5 hours drive, stop for a break or take photos en route. After checking into the hotel and taking a short break, you will visit the Silver Waterfall - the most beautiful waterfall in Sapa then enjoy the great view and feeling at the "Heaven Gate" of Sapa - the highest point of Hoang Lien Son mountain range where you can see majestic Lai Chau Valley and imposing Fanxipan mount.
Overnight: Sapa
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 4: Sapa Trekking Tour
Today you will take a morning walking tour to a busy market where Red Dao, Black & Flower H'Mong, Tay, and other ethnic minority people converge from the surrounding countryside to sell their silverware and handicrafts and to buy provisions. Afterward, you will do a 3-hour trekking tour to Lao Chai and Ta Van Village of the Black Hmong and the Day people, you will enjoy the fresh air, amazing scenery of the imposing mountain range, trek down the world's most beautiful terraced rice fields, visit some local family on the way and learn the unique culture and life of these ethnic groups. Drive back to Sapa overnight.
Overnight: Sapa
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 5: Sapa - Hanoi
This morning, you will visit Ma Tra Village first and then trek through the rice terraces to Ta Phin Village of the Red Dao minority (about 3 hours trekking). After lunch in the village, drive back to Hanoi.
Overnight: Hanoi
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 6: Hanoi - Ninh Binh
Morning drive to visit Hoa Lu, the ancient capital city of the Dinh Dynasty, and the Bai Dinh Pagoda, the largest pagoda complex in Vietnam. After lunch, take the amazing boat trip to visit Trang An Grottoes, which is a gathering of 31 valleys, 50 cross-water caves, and home to 600 kinds of flora and over 200 kinds of fauna, many of them in the Red Book of Vietnam.
Overnight: Ninh Binh
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 7: Ninh Binh - Halong Bay Cruise
Today you will drive to the World Heritage site of Halong Bay, where you can see nearly 2,000 limestone islands dot the sea and traditional sampans and junks sail the glinting water, grottos, thick forests, and hidden coves, it will be a real ocean adventure! A variety of optional activities like kayaking, swimming, and diving will add more fun to this trip.
Overnight: Onboard
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 8: Halong Bay - Hanoi
Today continue your unforgettable Halong Bay cruise until a big brunch is finished and then disembark the cruiser at around 10 am. Your guide and driver will meet you at the pier and then drive back to the hotel in Hanoi (around 4 hours drive). This evening, you will have an eye-opening street food tour (4-8 pm) at the Old Quarter.
Overnight: Hanoi
Meals: Brunch
Day 9: Hanoi - Departure
After breakfast at the hotel, you will have some free time on your own before time to transfer to the airport for your homebound flight.
Meal: Breakfast
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