Itinernary:

Day 01: Hanoi Arrival (Welcome dinner).
You are welcomed by ACT’s guide at Noi Bai International Airport.
Ha Noi, Vietnam's capital, is a stylish and gracious city that retains an unique old world charm and some Asia ‘s most striking colonial architecture. ( If time permits we enjoy a short cyclo ride around the Old Quarter streets, giving you a chance to explore the different local ways of life). Dinner at local restaurant. O/N in Ha Noi.

Day 02: Hanoi City Tour (B,L).
Today we enjoy a full day city tour starting with the Ho Chi Minh Complex. This famous site contains the mausoleum of the nation’s founder Ho Chi Minh, the Presidential Palace and the Ho Chi Minh’s house on stilts. Close to this complex is  the One Pillar Pagoda, whose origins date back to the foundation of city. We follow this with a trip to the Temple of Literature, which is well known as the first university of Vietnam and the impressive Ethnologic Museum, dedicated to Vietnam's 54 ethnic groups. The beautiful West Lake and the History Museum with an excellent collection of artifacts illustrating the Vietnamese history, are not to be missed. We  visit these sights before continuing to the peaceful lake of Hoan Kiem.
Dinner at local restaurant . Evening: Water puppet show, the unique Vietnamese traditional art.

Day 03: Hanoi - Ha Long Bay (B,L,D).
Breakfast at hotel. 8:00 Our guide and driver pick you up from hotel, and transfer to Halong via vehicle. This will be your first opportunity to see some of the rural areas of Vietnam. The drive goes through the Red River delta, so we'll have plenty of chance for taking photos of Vietnamese farmers tilling the vast green paddy field. Arrive in Halong at 11:30.
12:00, your boat old junk, check- in registration. Have lunch on boat. 13:30 A fantastic cruise in Halong bay will take you to exotic islets with Dog island, Incense Urn island, Sail island, Fighting cocks island, which are naturally formed by process of erosion between the sea water and limestone mountains. Arrive to Surprise Cave for visiting (one of the most beautiful cave of Halong bay) and explore the bay by swimming at Titov or Soi Sim beach.
Drinking Vietnamese wine and enjoy sunset. Enjoy dinner on boat  and spending a night on boat.

DAY 04: Halong Bay - Hanoi - Sapa (B,L,D)..
Early risers can enjoy a morning view of Bay’s landscapes. Sitting on the upper desk we can enjoy the breath - taking beauty of the rocky islands rising from the crystal-clear water of the Bay. We can hear the birds singing, cicadas chirping ashore and the gentle lapping of the waves against our boat, the perfect soundtrack to accompany the fresh air and gentle breeze.
Have breakfast. A morning cruise to visit Man's head island. Tortoise island, visit Luon cave by small bamboo boat. Visit to Bai Tu Long bay.
10:00 Arrange luggage and check out then have lunch on boat. You will arrive in Halong wharf at 11:45.
Our tour guide and driver pick you up and transfer to Hanoi. You will arrive in Hanoi at 4:30 PM.
You spend the rest afternoon freely. You have dinner in restaurant. After dinner you are free until 9:00 PM,
you are transferred to train station to take overnight train to Lao Cai. Over night on the train (Luxury Cabins).

DAY 05:  Lao Cai - Sapa (B,L,D).
 6:30 Am, you arrive at Lao Cai station. Our tour guide and driver pick you up by a board that written your name on. Then transfer you to Sapa ( 35 km). Enjoy the picturesque scenery along the way leading towards Sapa, a mountainous area of stunning natural beauty and diverse ethnic minorities. Transfer to hotel for check in. Breakfast at hotel. Free time to discover Sapa town. Lunch at local restaurant.
In the afternoon, transfer to Ta Van village, spend about 8 km twisty road from Sapa’s town to this village. Along the road you will see many H’Mong, Dzay, Dzao ethnic people dressed in their traditional colourful costume. Two-hour trekking tour through a terrace paddy field and discover lifestyle of the Dzay minority. Overnight in Sapa.



 
DAY 06:  Sapa Trekking (B).
Breakfast at hotel. Walking tour to visit Saturday mountainous market. Lunch at local restaurant. In the afternoon, take a short trek to Cat Cat village. Here, you have opportunities to discover the real daily life of ethnic people by chatting with them.
We return to our hotel in the afternoon. Have dinner in restaurant. After dinner, you enjoy the atmosphere of Love Market ( Love Rendezvous ) that lasts over Saturday night. This is the place where ethnic boys and girls declare one’s love to an other by singing, dancing, whistling. This is a place not only for young people who are in love, but also for married people, who come here to look for their old darlings. Overnight in Sapa.

Option 2: Upon leaving Sapa we set off on our scenic drive through the border town of Lao Cai to the colorful Sunday Market at Bac Ha. This market also attracts a wide variety of ethnic minority groups including the Variegated Hmong, Dao, Phu La, La Chi and Tay. They still retain their age old cultural traditions and are recognizably distinct from each other by their dress. The experience of this congregation is colorful and unique. After the market we enjoy a walk around the area, visiting the Hmong King’s former residence and Ban Pho where the villagers make the potent local maize alcohol. Overnight in Bac Ha.
 
DAY 07:  Sapa - Lao Cai - Hanoi (B,L).
In the morning, after breakfast, you walk to visit Ham Rong landscape. Have lunch in restaurant. After lunch, we return to hotel for checking out. Free afternoon until the time our car tranfer you to Lao Cai station to catch the overnight train to Hanoi. Overnight sleep on train.

Day 08: Hanoi Free Day (B).
You arrive in Hanoi at: 6:00 AM. After checking in at the hotel, free time at leisure.
You have free day to discover Hanoi by yourself, walking around streets, shopping or enjoy Spa….Overnight in Hanoi.
Note: We suggest for booking early check-in-rooms, or if your health is permited you should continue traveling to Ninh Binh – Halong bay on land.

Day 09: Hanoi - Ninh Binh (B,L).
Breakfast at hotel. Drive to Ninh Binh called as "Halong Bay on land" - the same limestone rocks as in Halong Bay but seen from a winding stream through paddy fields instead of the sea. Enjoy spectacular scenery during the boat trip to Tam Coc caves with visit of the Bich Dong Pagoda. Lunch at local restaurant.
PM: Drive back to Hanoi. Dinner at your own ( We will recommend a good restaurant ).
If possible we will have a short walking to finding a local restaurant to enjoy "Pho Hanoi" - one of the most Hanoi famous and favorite food, learning how to prepare a proper Vietnamese meal. Overnight in Hanoi

Day 10: Hanoi - Departure (B). 
Breakfast. Leisure time until transfer to Hanoi / Noi Bai International Airport for departure.

Price in $ US for Twin Sharing  

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