Hanoi is a green city with its stylish French villas; it still exudes that old French charm and style. Its tree-lined boulevards, romantic lakes and French architecture allow us to step back in time to a quieter, more relaxed Vietnam. We visit the Ho Chi Minh mausoleum and Ho’s simple, yet impressive house on stilts, set in beautiful gardens. Then we view the One Pillar Pagoda and the ancient Temple of Literature, Vietnam’s first university. In the afternoon we visit the Ethnological Museum, one of the most interesting in Hanoi and then take an hour cyclo tour to discover the heart of Hanoi - the bustling Old Quarter – where the narrow streets buzz and bustle with the life of city. It is a shopper’s delight, with beautiful silks, linen, and Vietnamese artifacts. We attend the performance of the famous Vietnamese water puppetry.

Drive to Hanoi Railway Station for boarding an overnight train to Lao Cai. Spend your night on train with AC, soft-sleeper cabin. (4 persons in 1 cabin).

Early morning arrival in Lao Cai Railway Station, met by a local guide and transferred up to Sapa town – located on the elevation of 1600 meter above sea level, Sapa features a breathtaking landscape, suitable for trekking and exploring local life of different ethnic minorities. We will have our breakfast and shower at hotel before spending time to discover the outstanding sites of the town including Sapa market, ancient church and Sapa Lake. Lunch in the local restaurant. Afternoon leave the town for a trek downhill to Cat Cat village. This is the habitat of Black Hmong people who will show you their traditional work of making silk from jutes and dying it by indigo. Then, walk back to the town for overnight accommodation.

Morning travel to one of the weekly hill tribe markets in Lao Cai province - which market will depend on the day of the week you are in town but all will promise you fun: Bac Ha market (Sunday), Coc Ly market (Tuesday) or Can Cau Market (Saturday). Flower Hmong, Tay, Nung and many other hill tribes in their colorful villages will impress you by the way they interact and trade the market, build their friendship with others. After lunch, embark on a walk to see how local people produce farming products in their living places. Return to Lao Cai railway station for the overnight train to Hanoi.

Overnight on train.

On your arrival in Hanoi railway station, our guide pick you up for Hanoi early morning exploration. You will visit Quang Ba flower market – the biggest whole-sale market of flowers in Hanoi. Great view and sense of colorful flowers selling here. Then we have a chance to see a daily ritual of “flag raising up” in Ba Dinh square. Following up is our joining local people in morning exercises along Hoan Kiem lake. You can join local’s Tachi or dancing, or take nice photo shots of fresh beauty in the sun-rising moment along the lake. After breakfast with famous Pho or noodle with beef or chicken in local restaurant, we will head to the southern direction of Hanoi. In 2 hours drive, we reach Ninh Binh city with our first stop Hoa Lu, where you will visit the Dinh and Le temples. These are the only two temples that remain from the old citadel in Hoa Lu. Afternoon, take a boat trip visit Trang An Grottoes. It is complex, 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. While rowing through Trang An grotto in the quiet, fresh air of the highlands, with only the sound of birds and the oars stirring the clear water and surrounded by magnificent forested mountains upon which graze white goats, visitors enjoy a heaven on earth. In the afternoon, you will check in the hotel and free to discover local villages by walking or biking.

Overnight in Ninh Binh.

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, diving will definitely add more fun to this trip.

Overnight on cruise.

Early morning coffee and tea will be served on the sundeck followed by a Tai Chi class. After breakfast we take a Sampan boat or Kayak to explore the bay. We may have a chance to see the wild monkeys that gather around waiting for food from the tourists. After that we continue to cruise around the bay. Lunch is served on the boat on our way back to the docks. Say good bye cruise’s staffs then we visit Ha Long market before transfer back to Hanoi.

Overnight in Hanoi.

You will have some free time on your own before time to transfer to Hanoi airport for departure to next destination. It’s time to say goodbye, we thank you for traveling with us and warmly welcome you to come again.