Best of North Vietnam

Breakfast at the Hotel. 

The day of the “Northern Vietnam Trip” is dedicated to discovering the city of Hanoi, starting with a visit to the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum complex, including the main building – the Mausoleum (exterior only, closed on Mondays and Fridays), the majestic Presidential Palace, Uncle Ho Chi Minh’s Stilt House, and the One Pillar Pagoda which, built of wood in 1049, rests precisely on a single pillar and represents the purity of the lotus flower. After that, the tour continues with a visit to West Lake – the largest natural lake in the city – and the Tran Quoc Pagoda which stands on the eastern shore of the lake. Unmissable then, a rare example of traditional Vietnamese architecture: the Temple of Literature – the ancient university built in 1070 in honor of Confucius to pay homage to scholars and literati. Free lunch of your choice in local restaurants.

 You will begin the afternoon with a “xich lo” (cyclo) ride in the Old Quarter, which is considered the historic center of the city – a place with a thousand-year history teeming with vitality and commerce. The Quarter consists of 36 streets, each dedicated to the sale of a specific product and therefore bearing the name of that product: from colorful spices to food, shoes, clothing accessories, and even joss paper/fake money (Hang Ma). Passing through an interesting local market, you head towards the Lake of the Restored Sword (Hoan Kiem), linked to a legend of swords, emperors, and golden turtles, surrounded by ancient trees. You will visit the Ngoc Son Temple, an oasis of peace and tranquility, from which there is a beautiful view of the Turtle Tower (Thap Rua). The day concludes with the Water Puppet show. 

Return to the hotel. Accommodation and overnight stay at the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel.

Meet the tour guide and driver and then depart for Ninh Binh (100km ~ 2.5 hours). During the journey through the Red River Delta, stop if you wish to take photos. Upon arrival in Hoa Lu, you will visit the temples dedicated to Emperor Dinh Tien Hoang of the Dinh dynasty (968-980) and Emperor Le Dai Hanh of the Le dynasty (980-1009), who played a vital role in gaining the country’s independence after a thousand years of Chinese rule. Both temples were built in the 17th century to symbolize deep respect for the Kings’ contributions. Free lunch at a local restaurant (not included). 

The next stop is Tam Coc, which has been known as “Halong on Land” and appeared in the famous French film “Indochine.” Upon arrival at the pier, take a private sampan boat for a ninety-minute cruise along the Ngo Dong River. You will pass through three caves and witness a breathtaking landscape interspersed with small communities, rice paddies, cemeteries, and temples. 

Continue your tour to Bich Dong, a typical pagoda in the Red River Delta countryside, built in the 15th century. Upon arrival, cross a stone bridge to Chua Ha, from which over 100 steps lead to Chua Trung – the cave pagoda with unique clay statues. Then walk up to Chua Thuong. Not only will you have the chance to learn about Buddhism, but you will also enjoy an incredible view of the countryside. 

Return to Hanoi. You have a day-use room at a hostel for relaxation until 21:00. 

Walk to the station for the train to Lao Cai. 

Overnight stay on the train.

Arrival at Lao Cai station around 06:00. 

Welcome by the local English-speaking guide. Supplement for an Italian-speaking guide available upon request. 

Breakfast at a small local restaurant. 

Departure for Bac Ha passing through Thanh Kim and Thanh Phu; along the way, you can enjoy breathtaking views of the mountains, the river, and the lakes. Located at an altitude of 1000 meters, Bac Ha is home to various ethnic groups such as the colorful Hmong, Phu La, and Tay. The Bac Ha region is well known for its vibrant weekly markets, surrounded by a wild and beautiful landscape. These markets are not just for trading goods but also serve as the epicenter for cultural encounters between the different ethnic groups living in harmony in this region. You will be able to visit a colorful ethnic market that takes place once a week (Coc Ly Market – Tuesday, Sin Cheng Market – Wednesday, Lung Khau Nhin Market – Thursday, Can Cau Market – Saturday, Bac Ha Market – Sunday). You can browse through the market and see the products sold there, such as vegetables, poultry, horses, and buffaloes. Your attention will surely be captured not only by the liveliness of the market but also by the many minority groups in their most colorful traditional dress. 

After visiting the market, you will take a short walk through some small ethnic villages that make up Bac Ha, interspersed with cornfields, cassava hills, and clay houses; plum gardens adorned by H’Mong women in their colorful clothes will accompany you throughout the journey. 

Finally, we will head toward Sapa. Free dinner and overnight stay at a lodge in the tribal village.

Breakfast at the lodge.

Proceed to visit Sapa with a soft trek toward the village of Y Linh Ho. Follow the downhill path and interact with the friendly H’mong women and children living in houses nestled in the valley. You will stop at the cable car bridge to refresh yourselves and enjoy the beauty of the surrounding nature. If you are sporty and adventurous, follow the uphill trek along the buffalo trail (dirt path) for breathtaking panoramas and fewer tourists. For those who prefer an easier trek, you can take a pleasant walk along the Muong Hoa River.

You will then head to Lao Chai Village via a small path that crosses the rice paddies to the small village. It is an excellent opportunity to learn about their daily life and culture. The tour continues with the exploration of Ta Van Village, the fascinating land of the Dzay people, beautifully situated on the hill with a splendid view of the river and the Hoang Lien Son mountain range. As you walk along the small village streets, you will meet locals who will kindly invite you to visit their homes.

Pick-up by car and transfer back to Sapa in the afternoon. Free time until 15:00, then take the shared bus (without guide) to Hanoi. Arrival in Hanoi at 21:00, check-in at the hotel.

Free dinner and overnight stay at the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel. 

Meet the cruise company staff between 08:00-08:30 at the hotel reception. 

Shared transfer (private upon request with a supplement) via the cruise company’s bus to Halong port (approximately 4 hours with an intermediate break).

Halong Bay, in Vietnamese “the bay where the dragon descends into the sea,” is an enchanting bay with thousands of limestone islands, karst caves, sea stacks, and islets that make it a picturesque and charming place. Magnificent, mysterious, and majestic, Halong Bay has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1994 and is considered one of the new seven wonders of the world. 

1st day of the 2D1N cruise program. 

Meals included and overnight stay on the cruise.

IMPORTANT NOTE:

• Lunch and dinner with seafood tasting on board the junk (included – drinks not included). *
• Overnight stay on board in a private deluxe cabin (with AC and shower). 
• The cruise program may vary without notice based on weather conditions or decisions by local authorities. 
• On the junk, there is only one English-speaking guide provided by the cruise company.

Breakfast on the cruise. 

Day 2 of the 2D1N cruise program:

Return on board for check-out. Enjoy brunch on board. 

Return to the port. 

Shared transfer (private upon request with a supplement) via the cruise company’s shared limousine to Hanoi. 

Return to Hanoi. 

Free time to discover the city of Hanoi (guide, tickets, and transfer not included). Free dinner and overnight stay at the hotel in Hanoi.

Breakfast at the hotel. 

Free time in the city. 

Meeting and transfer to the airport for the return flight. 

We wish you a safe journey back home!!!

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