Northern Vietnam Adventure

Day 1/ Arrival in Hanoi
Arrive in Hanoi, greeting at the airport and transfer to the hotel for check-in.

Day 2/ Hanoi street food & full day city tour (B,L)
The street food tour begins with a visit to a traditional house in the old quarter to learn about the old trade and its unique architecture.  Then we stop at Hang Be market to learn about the fresh Vietnamese ingredients. We will visit on the the best Pho restaurant where people have to get in line to get seated at peak hours. Continue walking along the streets to taste street foods and learn about “local cuisine culture”, such as cha que (sausage with cinnamon), banh cuon (Vietnamese rolling cakes), bun cha (rice noodles served with cha que), and che (a popular dessert soup with many varieties kinds of beans). Our last stop is at the Bach Ma temple. Our tour ends at a local café where you can enjoy sips of café dripping from the filter.

Afternoon, continue visiting the Presidential Palace (façade only), the one-thousand-year old One Pillar pagoda and the Temple of Literature – the oldest university of Vietnam and Hoan Kiem Lake. The tour ends with the traditional cyclo ride through Hanoi’s Old Quarter, followed by the water puppet show at Thang Long Theatre. The rest of the day is at leisure.

Day 3/ Hanoi – Lao Cai – Sapa (B,L,D) joining tour
From 6:30 – 7:00 AM, the Topas Mountain Express will pick you up at your hotel and take you directly into the remote mountain of Sapa. From Thanh Phu Bridge, you have another short transfer to Nam Cang village, and check in the tranquil and comfortable Nam Cang Riverside Lodge.

You will enjoy lunch at the Lodge, connecting with Nam Cang village by its own suspended bridge.
In the afternoon you will visit Nam Cang village, which locates in the most remote area of Sapa. The Red Dao women wear some of the most colorful and diverse costumes of all Vietnam’s ethnic groups. Herbal bath, local medicine and embroidery are some of the things that the Red Dao are very skilled at. Accompanied by your guide, you will explore around the village and learn how the local villagers make writing paper, jewelry and embroidery. After enjoying your well prepared dinner. Following the dinner it is maybe time to try the famous and traditional Red Dao herbal bath, based on locally handpicked herbs from the nearby jungle.

Grade: Easy/ 1.5 – 2 hours walking. 


Day 4/ Sapa – Hiking day to surrounding ethnic minority villages (B,L,D)
The breakfast is served on the terraces few meters from the river and it is time to yet another beautiful day. Your trek starts with an ascent to a small Blue H’mong village. The Blue H’mong mostly lives in the other side of Hoang Lien Mountain Range and only in the deepest part of Sapa Valley, they are found inhabiting in two small villages. You then take a descent to the Red Dao village of Nam Nhiu, having beautiful views of high mountains, waterfalls and deep valley. You enjoy your picnic lunch at a nice break place.

 In the afternoon, you will turn into a small dirt trail and soon be inspired by the marvelous view of the rice valley dotted with bamboo huts, which used by local farmers as overnight lodge in harvesting days. Passing the rice terraces and a pretty river you will walk on a quiet road for a while before arriving back at Nam Cang village. It is great time for a cold beer or just refresh in the river in front of the lodge.

Grade: Moderate/ 5-6 hours walking.

Day 5/ Walk in pure nature. Back to the city life of Hanoi (B,L)
In the morning you take a walk up to the jungle to explore the beautiful surrounding nature. You will encounter with the locals walking with their barefoot. The higher you go, the more you will be inspired by the origin of the nature. On the way back, you will visit one of the small houses of remote located Red Dao minorities, who are very poor and live just outside the forest. Now, the forest opens up to a great view into the valley, a big stream and several forests covered hilltops.

Arrive back at Nam Cang Riverside Lodge, where you enjoy another lunch in the mountain.

At 14:50, you have a transfer by shuttle bus to the Thanh Phu Bridge, where Topas Mountain Express departs at 15:30 and return you to your hotel in Hanoi. Overnight in Hanoi.

Approx: Grade: Easy/ 2,5 -3 hours walking.

* You can extend your stay in Sapa or move to Topas Ecolodge or another hotel in town.

Day 6/ Hanoi – Halong Bay (B,L,D)
Morning we depart to Halong Bay (with driver only). Enjoy the landscape of the Red River Delta country side.

On arrival, enjoy welcome drink on board, receive cruise brief programs and safety instructions. Then check-in and enjoy lunch while the cruise starts cruising into quiet area of Halong Bay, passing small islets. Visit caves, grottos by bamboo boat and stop at Ti Top beach for swimming or enjoy kayaking (optional). You can enjoy cruise activities such as cooking class, Happy Hour time, watching movies, or squid fishing at night. Enjoy dinner and relaxing time on board.

Day 7/ Halong Bay – Hanoi (B)
The day starts early onboard with Tai Chi session on the sundeck. Coffee, tea and pastries for breakfast are served in the dining room with morning view of bay’s landscape.

Visit one of the biggest cave in Halong bay with beautiful stalactites and stalagmites. Return to the boat, check-out and cruising back to the Wharf. Disembark and say farewell to the crew.
Our driver will transfer you back to Hanoi and check-in hotel.

Day 8/ Hanoi – Departure (B)
Have a leisure morning until check-out from hotel. Transfer to the airport for your departure flight.

Have a safe trip!

Contact us at sales@uniqpartners.com.au to customize your journey!

LAND PRICE FOR PRIVATE GROUP OF 2 PERSONS IN AUSTRALIAN DOLLARS

LOW SEASON (MAY – SEP 2017 & 2018)

Standard Class: 1,099.00 per person

Superior Class: 1,259.00 per person

HIGH SEASON (OCT – DEC 2017, JAN – APR 2018)

Standard Class: 1,129.00 per person

Superior Class: 1,359.00 per person

*Price is valid until September 30, 2018. Excluding surcharge for holidays and compulsory meals (if any).

ACCOMMODATION: as below described hotels or equivalent

TOUR  INCLUDING:

• Private transportation as in program
• Roundtrip transportation Hanoi-Sapa-Hanoi by Topas Express bus (joining)
• Accommodation on Double/twin room with breakfast
• Meals as indicated in program (excluded drinks)
• All sight seeing fees as in program
• Local English speaking guide as described
• Complimentary 01 bottle of mineral water per person per day tour

TOUR EXCLUDING:

• Drinks – private expenses
• Travel insurance of all types
• Tips and gratuities
• All types of bank fees for payment
• All airfares and visa
• Other services not mentioned