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This colourful eight day trip starts with a tour of Hanoi, a city full of lakes, boulevards and Ho Chi Minhs Mausoleum. There are three key elements to this tour, trekking in the far north, the famous Sapa market and a cruise on Halong Bay. Trekking, for up to five hours a day, is a great way to explore Vietnam near the Chinese border with its high mountain valleys laced with stunning rice terraces, forests, waterfalls and indigenous hill tribes who inhabit these isolated regions. The dominating Hoang Lien mountain range, the highest in South East Asia, will shadow your route as you trek these paths from one remote village to another. The people who live here are friendly but still unaccustomed to travellers who periodically show up. We will be eating fresh food, cooked over wooden fire pits and experience hill tribe life that remains virtually uninfluenced by the outside world. We then return to Hanoi to cruise through the stunning limestone islets that have made Halong Bay a World Heritage site, staying overnight on a traditional junk.
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ITINERARY
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Day 1: Hanoi.
You need to arrive in Hanoi for our pre-departure meeting at 10am on this day. The meeting will be about your trekking tour, and will be conducted by our local guide. This meeting will take place in the hotel foyer, and gives you a chance to meet the other people who will be in your group during the tour.
After the meeting you are free until the City Tour in the afternoon, when we explore some of the sights of the City. We will visit the Presidential Palace where Ho refused to live, choosing instead a small stilt house beside a lake. Close by, is the One Pillar Pagoda where we also stop. If open, we will also visit Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum, where Uncle Ho is laid out in state, surrounded by immaculately dressed soldiers. A drive around the beautiful West Lake takes us to the venerable Temple of Literature. The Army Museum is a must for all visitors. Not only does it cover a crucial period of Vietnamese history but also it is also comparatively well laid out and provides a large amount of English explanation. If you have the energy after that, an optional visit could be taken to the Ho Chi Minh Museum and the National Fine Arts Museum or why not stroll around Hanoi and admire the beautiful French architecture.
In the late evening, we transfer to Hanoi train station for the overnight soft sleeper train to Lao Cai.
Day 2: Lao Cai – Sapa.
Arrive in Lao Cai at 06.00am where we meet our pick up and transfer to Sapa. Check into the guesthouse and have breakfast before a short hike out to visit Cat Cat village. Cat Cat is part of the Black H’mong village and the walk takes in some of the beautiful scenery, which includes the rice paddies and the Cascade Waterfall. Lunch is taken in a local restaurant and then in the afternoon you are free to explore Sapa.
Sapa, originally a Black H’mong settlement, served as a French retreat after its European discovery by a Jesuit missionary in the early 20th Century until its the French defeat at Dien Bien Phu in 1954 when the Vietnamese took over. Here you can visit the church, museum and take a walk up Dragon’s Jaw Hill offering excellent views of the town. Dinner will be held in a local restaurant and then overnight in Sapa. Lunch and Dinner.
Overnight at Chau Long hotel in Sapa. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner included.
Day 3: Sapa - Day Trek To Ban Ho.
After breakfast we take a 12km drive towards Ban Ho in 4WD jeeps. From here we start our trek down to Ban Ho to visit the Tay village. Lunch is a picnic en-route. The rest of the afternoon is spent at your leisure exploring the delights of the village and spending time with the local villagers. Dinner at a local home. Overnight at Ban Ho village. Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner included.
Day 4: Ban Ho - Nam Sai (Day Trek).
Rising early we continue our trek through the jungle to Thanh Phu - Tham Siu - Chai A. We visit H’Mong, Tay, Zao on the way. After lunch continue trekking to Nam Sai, home of the Xa Pho ethnic group. This group is very colourful and wears special costumes and headwear. It is estimated there are only 6500 people from this ethnic group all over Vietnam. Dinner and overnight at Nam Sai village. Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.
Day 5: Nam Sai – Bac Ha – Lao Cai.
Early start to leave Nam Sai and trek back to the main road to meet back with the jeeps to drive through to Bac Ha. In Bac Ha we visit the local house of Vua Meo and Bac Ha market. Lunch is at a local restaurant, then visit a plum garden in Bac Ha as well as Ban Pho, 3 km away from Bac Ha. Transfer to Lao Cai, visit Lao Cai border. Dinner at local restaurant and transfer to train station for the overnight soft sleeper train to Hanoi. Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.
Day 6: Hanoi to Ha Long Bay.
Upon arrival in Hanoi, we have breakfast and transfer onto a bus for the 4-hour drive to Ha Long Bay. This trip allows us to catch a glimpse of Vietnamese rural life. We pass lush green paddy fields and on the way we stop at a factory to watch the potters at work or visit the Humanity Centre. We may even be tempted to buy a few gifts.
Ha Long Bay was designated a World Heritage Site in 1994. Ha Long Bay, in the Gulf of Tonkin, includes some 1,600 islands and islets, forming a spectacular seascape of limestone pillars. Because of their precipitous nature, most of the islands are uninhabited and unaffected by a human presence. The site's outstanding scenic beauty is complemented by its great biological interest.
Upon arrival in Ha Long bay we board our Junk for the overnight boat trip. After lunch with welcome house wine, we begin our fantastic cruise in Ha Long Bay. The scenery is truly breathtaking and is continuously changing. This includes a visit to Thien Cung cave, Dau Go cave, round over Tuan Chau island, Dinh Huong island, Ga Choi island, Dog island, Sail island and a swim at Titov beach. Enjoy dinner on board while watching the sunset, and drinking Vietnamese rice wine. Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.
Day 7: Halong Bay & Return to Hanoi.
After an early breakfast we continue our cruise to visit Man‘s head island, Tortoise island, Luon cave, Bai Tu Long bay, Toad island and Bai Tho mountain. Upon our return to Halong city we have lunch on board, and then board our transport back to Hanoi in the afternoon.
A free evening in Hanoi for another chance to enjoy the local nightlife.
Breakfast, Lunch.
Day 8: Hanoi.
Tour ends after breakfast in Hanoi. |
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WHATS INCLUDED
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HIGHLIGHTS:
Vietnam - Hanoi City Tour , Hanoi Old Quarter, One Pillar Pagoda, Village Trek , Hill Tribe Villages, Sapa Market, Hoang Lien Mountains , Spectacular scenery, Halong Bay Overnight Boat Stay
INCLUDED:
- 7 Breakfasts, 6 Lunches, 5 Dinners
- All Activities and Entrance Fees as per Itinerary
- Escorted Tour, Kumuka Tour Leader and/or Local Guide
- Overnight on Traditional Junk Halong Bay
TRANSPORT:
- 4wd Jeeps
- Train
- Bus
- Boat
- On foot
This is a physically active tour. Although it is open to all guests, the recommended age range is 18 to 55.
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