Hanoi - Sapa - Halong: Charming Hanoi, colorful Sapa, romantic cruise on Ha Long Bay with traditional Junk, sea kayaking

1. Indochina Treks Travel Co.,Ltd
Add: 24 Au Trieu Str, Hoan Kiem Dis, Hanoi
Tel: (84) 4 66821230; Fax (84) 4 33769113
Website: www.budgettravelvietnam.com
Email: info@budgettravelvietnam.com
Best of the North, 7 days
Itinerary Hanoi - Sapa - Halong
Duration 7 days
Price only from US$335/person
Highlight Charming Hanoi, colorful Sapa, romantic cruise on Ha Long Bay
with traditional Junk, sea kayaking.
We will start the tour classically from enchanting capital city of Hanoi. From here, we take an
adventure trip by train to Sapa, where displays living cultures of the ethnic minority groups. Our trip
finishes with excursion to Halong bay, where we spend a night on very romantic boat. You have
chance to explore the beauty of Ha Long bay by you self with Kayak.
Itinerary:
Day 1: Arrival in Hanoi (...)
Arrive in Hanoi. Greeted by your guide at the airport. Transfer to your hotel in the city centre for
check-in and at leisure in the rest of the day.
Overnight at the hotel in Hanoi
Day 2: Hanoi City - night train to Sapa (B/L)
Today, we will spend a full day to visit the city. We start with visit to President Ho Chi Minh's
mausoleum and residence. We also visit the famous One Pillar Pagoda nearby. Leaving the President's
complex, we continue to visit the Temple of Literature (Văn Miếu). Although several Văn Miếu can be
found throughout Vietnam, the most prominent and famous is that situated in the city of Hanoi, and
was functioned as Vietnam's first university.
After lunch in a local restaurant, we go to the Museum of Ethnology, which is an excellent museum
containing the ethnic costumes of the various minorities of Vietnam, as well as relics, tools and even
full size replicas of their homes and buildings. We will then visit the Tran Quoc pagoda. This is well

2. located in a semi-island of the beautiful West Lake. You are then free for personal activities before
transferring to the station for night train to Lao Cai.
Overnight on train to Sapa.
Day 3: Sapa – Y Linh Ho – Lao Chai – Ta Van - Sapa (B/L)
Sa Pa is a quiet mountain town and home to a great diversity of ethnic minority peoples. Most of the
ethnic minority people work their land on sloping terraces since the vast majority of the land is
mountainous. Their staple foods are rice and corn. Rice, by its very nature of being a labour intensive
crop, makes the daily fight for survival paramount. The unique climate in Sapa has a major influence
on the ethnic minorities who live in the area. With sub-tropical summers, temperate winters and 160
days of mist annually, the influence on agricultural yields and health related issues are significant.
Today, upon arrival, we will transfer straight to Sapa. Here we have breakfast at the local restaurant
and rest for few minutes before starting 6km of walking down to the south east of Sapa along the side
of Muong Hoa valley to Y Linh Ho village of the Black H’mong. A 2 km-trekking down to Lao Chai
village, through terraced rice fields to Ta Van village of the Dzay minority people. On the way, we
would have chance to learn about the local agriculture producing customs and daily lifestyle. We have
lunch at a local family, offering you a worth chance to learn about the local house architecture, which
is full of their daily life styles and exclusive custom. We will then get back to Sapa by jeep or
motorbike.
Overnight at the hotel in Sapa
Day 4: Sapa - Cat Cat - Sin Chai - Hanoi (B/L)
We start a walk down to the South-west of Sapa (around 4 km) to visit Cat Cat village of the Black
H’mong. Relax at the food of the stunning waterfall and the vestige of a hydroelectric power station
that was constructed by the French during the colonial time in Vietnam. We enjoy picnic lunch by the
side of the river, and trek for 6 km to Sin Chai village, which is located at the foot of Fansipan
Mountain, “the roof of Vietnam and Indochina”. From here you can enjoy huge stunning landscapes
before climbing up on the way back to Sapa. You are free to explore the town or nearby market until
transfer to the station for night train to Hanoi.
Overnight on train to Hanoi.
Day 5: Hanoi – Halong Bay (L/D)
Halong Bay has twice been recognized by UNESCO as a World Natural Heritage Area for its exceptional
scenic beauty and outstanding geological and geomorphic values. Thousands of islands emerging
uneven in the fanciful waves look strong and magnificent but also mild and vivid. Amidst these islands,
we feel as if we were astray in a petrified legendary world.
You are picked up at the station. Transfer for pointed place for Halong bay tour. You can leave your
luggage behind in Hanoi and pack an overnight bag.
12.15 pm: Arrive in Halong city, board our traditional wooden junk boat for an overnight journey. Sip
on a refreshing welcome drink upon check in before you begin the cruise through the bay. Feast on a
delicious lunch as you cruise among hundreds of islets (Dinh Huong islet, Ga Choi – Fighting Cock
islet, Dog islet, Finger islet, etc.) to discover untouched pockets of Halong Bay and visit Sung Sot
cave, which is situated in the centre of the UNESCO-declared World Heritage area and is one of the
most imposing grottos of the Bay. You will then have chance to explore Halong bay on your own by
kayaking from the Soi Sim beach to Luon Cave to enjoy the quite atmosphere of the bay. We will have
dinner with fresh seafood on board then free time for squid fishing or relaxing and chatting with your
partner, friends, family.

3. Overnight on Halong Bay Junk.
Day 6: Halong - Hanoi (B/L)
7.00am: For early risers complimentary tea, coffee, fruit and cake are served. Enjoy Sunrise on the
Bay or practice Tai Chi lesson with our professional (this is not included with standard and superior
options). Continue to explore the Bay.
8.00am: Sail past rock formations such as Man’s Head islet, Tortoise islet, Butterfly cave, Lion islet,
Bai Tho mountain, enjoy the tranquil scenery as the boat meanders its way through the bay on the
way back to Halong city, etc. Arrange your luggage and do the check out onboard at around 9.00 am.
Enjoy a wholesome brunch as your boat weaves through strange-shaped limestone rock formations.
11.45am: Arrive back at Halong city for disembarkation where your driver waits to take you back to
your Hanoi, on the way call on a ceramic village to see craftsmen do their works. . Free time for your
personal activities and dinner.
Overnight at Hotel, Hanoi.
Day 7: Hanoi Departure (B)
Free and easy for personal activities till transfer to the airport for departure flight. Tour ends.
Note*: All tours are group ones so itinerary would be a bit different from our above quoted itinerary.
Quotation:
2* Hotels: US$335/person; single supplement: US$95
3* Hotels: US$375/person; single supplement: US$130
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Note*:
Rate is applied for group of minimum 2 pax.
Transfers from the stations in Hanoi is not included.
Rates are not applied on New Year, National Holidays, festivals..
All tours are daily group ones of clients from different countries.
Early checkin or late checkout is subject to availability with/without additional charge (if any)
Pickup time for all groups tour is from 8am - 8:20 at the hotel. Please be ready at the lobby at 8am.
Accommodation bases on ROH rooms. Higher room grade can be arranged with additional charge.
Similar hotel of the same rate will be selected in case pointed one(s) is (are) full.
Inclusion: Exclusion:
Travel insurances.
Boat trip in Halong Bay
All flights and airport tax
Meals as mentioned in the program.
Services not clearly mentioned above.
Twin-shared rooms at 2-3* star hotels.
Day use at hotel (early checkin/late checkout)
Admission fees for all sightseeing places
Drinks and personal expenses (laundry, phone calls
Bottles of mineral water available on the car.
etc.)
Land transfer by A/C vehicle for whole trip.
English speaking guide on days with tours only.
Hanoi - Lao Cai - Hanoi trains (in 4 berth
cabins)

4. List of hotels
Location 2* Hotels 3* Hotels
Hanoi Orchid Hotel Hanoi Moment Hotel
Halong Cruise Christina Cruise Alova Cruise
Sapa Fansipan View Hotel Hoang Ha Hotel
Hue Victory Hotel Orchid Hotel
Hoian Vinh Hung 3 Hotel Vinh Hung 3 Hotel
Nha Trang The Light Hotel The Light Hotel
Saigon Xuan Mai Hotel Tan Hai Long 3 hotel
Can Tho Tay Do Hotel Kim Tho Hotel
Chau Doc Standard Hotel Chau Pho Hotel