Detailed Itinerary

DAY 1: Arrival in Hanoi
We will be greeted at Noi Bai airport and then transferred to our hotel in the center of Hanoi city. Vietnam's capital is one of the most beautiful colonial Indochinese cities. Oozing with charm, Hanoi has gone through wholesale changes since Vietnam swung open its doors to tourism, but it remains true to its essential personality and is an amazing city to experience. On our drive from the airport, we will get to experience its thousand-year-old history, tree-lined boulevards and faded colonial architecture during our transfer journey. Your guides will arrange a tasty “Welcome dinner” a local restaurant.

Accommodations: 2-3 star hotel in Hanoi
Meals: Dinner

DAY 2: Hanoi City Tour
On first day in Vietnam, we will get to experience the capitol city, Hanoi. Although capitalism is in full swing in Vietnam, the government is still technically Communist. In the morning of our first day, we will see some of those past influences when we visit the Ho Chi Minh Complex which includes: Ho Chi Minh Museum, Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, Presidential Palace, House on Stilt and One pillar Pagoda and then visit Vietnam Military History Museum before lunch at local restaurant.

In the afternoon, we will take a walking tour of Hanoi's Old Quarter where we will be able to see vendors organized in blocks similar to aisles in your local hardware store. We will also discover the Hanoi Cathedral, Dong Xuan Market, and a Vietnamese traditional "long" house.

Accommodations: 2-3 star hotel in Hanoi
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 3: Hanoi and Cat Ba Island
Our third day begins our adventure on the stunning Ha Long Bay. After breakfast at our hotel, we will take a car to Hai Phong city and then a speed boat to Cat Ba Island. This place is a laid back refuge from the hustle and bustle of Hanoi, and we will spend the afternoon relaxing on the beach, swimming, sunbathing, kayaking, and a picnic lunch. Our dinner will take place downtown, near the hotel.

Accommodations: 2-3 star hotel in Cat Ba
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 4: Cat Ba National Park
Although Cat Ba Island is over 135 square miles, half of the isle is a national park. and we will spend the day discovering its beauty. The park is home to mangroves, subtropical evergreen forests, freshwater lakes, and even some coral reefs down along the coast. After our hike in the park, we will have a relaxing lunch on a secluded beach.

Accommodations: 2-3 star hotel in Cat Ba
Meals: Breakfast, Picnic Lunch, Dinner

DAY 5: Ha Long Bay Cruise
After our breakfast at the hotel, we will say goodbye to Cat Ba Island and begin our cruise on Ha Long Bay. One of the main attractions of Ha Long is the bay's calm water and the thousands of limestone mountains dotting the seascape. Some of the islands are quite large and there are small alcoves with sandy beaches where swimming is possible. We will stop by Sung Sot (Surprise) cave and a remote floating village. We will be able to kayak or swim from the cruise ship. At our stop at Hang Trong, we will have lunch and enjoy sunbathing with cool drinks and relax with our onboard beauty spa services and massage. Our day will conclude with a luxurious sea food dinner and light entertainment, watch movies play games with fellow passengers or enjoy night-fishing and chat with our crew. We will be able to enjoy an open bar and music under the stars on the deck of the cruise ship.

Accommodations: 3 star cruise ship
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 6: Exploring Ha Long Bay
We will rise to the sound of ocean coming to life for another lovely day on the water. We will have a brunch buffet and then set sail once again through the breathtaking scenery of Ha Long Bay heading for Halong City. Around noon, we will board our vehicles and return to Hanoi. On the way back, we may stop for visit at one of Vietnam’s traditional handicraft village of Dong Trieu or Bat Trang which is famous for its ceramic products. We will stay the night in Hanoi and we will have a dinner near Hanoi’s old town.

Accommodations: 2-3 star hotel in Hanoi
Meals: Buffet Brunch, Dinner

DAY 7: Cultural Adventures in Hanoi
After breakfast, we will begin our cultural tour of Hanoi. Our first stop will be the Museum of Ethnography, where we will learn about the ethnic minority groups who we will stay with while we are in the northern hills. After a walking tour around Hoan Kiem Lake, and a visit to Ngoc Son Temple, we will have the rest of the day free for shopping or relaxing. We will return to the hotels to pick up our bags, have dinner, and then catch our night train to Sapa. We will sleep overnight in a four berth cabin with your fellow travelers.

Accommodations: Overnight sleeper on train
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 8: Arrival in Sapa
We will arrive in the early morning at Lao Cai which borders China. Our local guide will meet us and we will have breakfast in downtown. Afterwards, we will drive to a local farmers market in the surrounding hillside approximately fifty miles away. All of the markets are colorful with the many goods made by the hill tribes living around the market. The ethnic groups, not only come to the market not only to sell and buy local products, but also as a weekly social gathering. We will have your own lunch at the market or at a local restaurant. In the mid afternoon we will transfer to hotel our hotel in Sapa. In the evening, we will have a luxurious dinner one of the best restaurants in Sapa, VietEmotion.

Accommodations: 2-3 star hotel in Sapa
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

DAY 9: Trekking and Homestay

The area around Sapa is amazingly beautiful. The hills are covered in terraced rice paddies and are normally a brilliant green in December. After breakfast at the hotel or for the adventurous eaters, in the local market, we will leave Sapa and walk along a easy path through the upper mountain rage of Sapa overlooking down to its valley. We will stop in to Lao Chai Village, home to the Black Hmong tribe, who are one of many ethnic minority groups who live in the area. Each of the groups have their own traditions and colorful hand dyed clothing.

While the guides are preparing lunch in a local villagers house, you are given the opportunity to walk around the village to meet the tribe and visit their catholic church. After lunch, we will continue on to Tavan village to visit the Day tribe in one of the most beautiful towns in the area. We will stay the night at a local house and have a home cooked dinner by the owner. A homestay at a local villager's house is an amazing way to experience their culture and you will walk away with a new understanding of Vietnam and their people.

Accommodations: Homestay at local home in ethnic minority village
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner


DAY 10: Waterfalls and flowers

After a hearty breakfast, we will travel down into the valley to Cat Cat village. You will see amazing views of the valley the magnificent limestone and paddy fields of Hmong village. We will be able to visit with the local families to discover their customs. We will also visit Cat Cat waterfall described as a "White curtain of cascade surrounded by flowery valley and deep-green pines". The rocks near the river and waterfall provide a marvelous place for picturesque photos and sunbathing.

After lunch we will visit travel through a garden of hydrangea, fuchsias, and orchids on our way to Ham Rong Mountain (not really a mountain). We will travel by car to Lao Cai in the late afternoon, have dinner at local restaurant and take the night train back to Hanoi.

Accommodations: Overnight sleeper on train
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 11: Pagodas and Water Puppets in Hanoi

We will arrive in Hanoi in the morning and our local guide will pick us up for some breakfast and perhaps local Vietnamese coffee with condensed milk. We will then take a tour of West Lake with stops at the Quan Thanh Temple and Tran Quoc Pagoda. We will also stop at the ancient Temple of Literature which is the first university in Vietnam. After our check in at the hotel and a brief rest, we will head off to enjoy a water puppet show accompanied by traditional Vietnamese music. Dinner will be on your own, but maybe you can also enjoy a local beer hall or bia hoi.

Accommodations: 2-3 star hotel in Sapa
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 12: Farewells

Today is the day we part ways. After breakfast, you are free to shop in some amazing stores around Hanoi, or take a stroll around Ho Hoan Kiem lake where a turtle god once rose up to save the country. Transport to the airport will be provided.

Meals: Breakfast