Northern Vietnam Short Break

Today, you will take a full day tour of Hanoi including Ho Chi Minh complex, Temple of Literature, Tran Quoc Pagoda, West Lake and Ethnology Museum. After lunch, you will have chance to explore the outer Hanoi by visiting Bat Trang pottery village. On arrival at the Bat Trang Pottery Village – one of the most famous handicraft villages of Vietnam, you will start a soft walking or take an OX cart tour around the village to see how the locals here make pottery products, and then stop at the biggest ceramic market of the area to for a trial making of ceramic product or enjoy shopping for unique gift for your beloved ones. In the afternoon, you will take an hour cyclo around Hanoi's Old Quarter called 36 ancient streets to view a maze of labyrinthine streets as the daily life of the locals. Then transfer to Hanoi train station for a night train to Sapa. Overnight on the train.

Arrive at Lao Cai Station around 5:00, meet your guide and driver. After a short break, you will depart for Sapa. During one-hour drive, you can enjoy a stunning landscape of limestone pinnacles, lush paddy fields and picturesque villages hidden in looming mist. Reaching Sapa, you will leave your luggage at the hotel then have breakfast before hiking to Cat Cat village, where give you can explore the peaceful village; pose for photographs with stunning mountain view background and interact with local people. Afterward, you’ll return to Sapa to check in at your hotel. You spend rest of your day exploring Sapa Town along with its market and sloping streets decorated with many colorful handicrafts. Overnight in Sapa.

After breakfast, you will start another hiking day from Sapa town to Muong Hoa Valley. On the way you can admire the unhindered views from both sides of Fansipan mountain ranges. After going through a suspension bridge, you will get close to a remote village of Lao Chai San with towering limestone karsts, green mountains and lush fields and stop at Lao Chai village for lunch. Then, explore the villages of Lao Chai (Black H’mong) and Ta Van (Dzay) by visiting some local families and learning about their daily life and fascinating culture. Afterward, you walk to the main road to meet up with our driver and return to Sapa Town for lunch. You’re then free to explore the town with market and sloping streets decorated with many colorful handicrafts or climb up on to Dragon Jaw at your own account. Free at leisure till transferring back to Lao Cai station to catch a night train backto Hanoi. Overnight on the train.

Early arrival in Hanoi, you'll take a 3,5 hour road trip to Halong. Stop on a half way to take a break and refreshment. On arrival Halong pier, you will take a 4 hour water tour to visit Ha Long Bay, which was recognized as a Natural World Heritage Site. You will visit Thien Cung grotto, Dau Go Cave, Dinh Huong and Ga Choi Islet that are crammed with stalactites and stalagmites. There are numerous rocks and islands predominantly composing of hardened dolomite together with smaller amounts of calcium carbonate. Lunch is served on the boat. Return to Hanoi for your overnight stay.

After breakfast at the hotel, free for shopping or being at your own pace before transferring to airport for your flight home. End of services.