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Highlight:
The must-see destinations in the North of Vietnam will be included in this 8-day-trip. Start your trip with the Capital of Vietnam then to the terrace rice fields with minority groups in the North West. One of the New Wonders of the World – Ha Long Bay is not should be missed as it will show you how magical the limestone cliffs are arising on the green waterface. And the recent recognized World Heritage Site in Ninh Binh will make your trip ends in a calm mind.
Book Now and enjoy 10% off on total package price. Travel date from now until September 30, 2015
Available Itinerary
Day 1: Hanoi Arrival
Arrival flight information (own ticket, flight information to be advised)
Upon arrival, when you leave the airport terminal please look for 4U Tours’ guide displaying a welcome signboard with your name on it. Transfer to your hotel.
Hanoi, Vietnam’s capital and the second largest city, is a fascinating blend which combines traditional Sino-Vietnamese motifs with French flair, of the East and West. The fact that it was largely unscathed in the decades of war and is now going through a building boom makes it a rapidly developing city in Southeast Asia.
Dinner is served at Ly Club Restaurant. Set in a French colonial building which was the former residence of the Governor of Indochina in the 19th century, Ly Club is an elegant setting for enjoying delightful Vietnamese cuisine and live traditional Northern folk opera music performance.
Accommodation: Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi (5-star)
Premium Room
Address: 15 Ngo Quyen Street, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi
Tel: (+84 4) 3826 6919
Hotel Information:
Step back into history at Hanoi’s most storied 5-star hotel. A Grand Dame of Southeast Asia Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoï welcomes guests to experience her colonial grandeur and timeless elegance. Located steps from the Opera House in Hanoï's French Quarter, this legendary property brings guests into intimate contact with the opulence of another era. Surround yourself in heritage as you stroll by stately corridors and explore a dramatic past.
Day 2; The Capital of Vietnam
Hoan Kiem Lake
Start your Hanoi discovery with Ho Chi Minh’s Complex, including Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum, Ba Dinh Square, Ho Chi Minh’s House-on-Stilts and Ho Chi Minh Museum. The places in turn keep the embalmed body of Uncle Ho (Ho Chi Minh), witnessed his Declaration of Independence, housed him in the war days and reconstitute his life through photos and objects.
Because there are pioneering architectures in this capital city, let’s visit the tiniest pagoda in Vietnam, also the most architecturally exceptional one in Asia – One Pillar Pagoda.
Then move to the first university to ever be built in Vietnam – the Temple of Literature, which has been the symbol of Vietnam educational culture for hundreds of years.
A Corner of Ethnology Museum
Today’s food time is for Hanoi specialty. Our lunch is ready Ngon Restaurant to enjoy different dishes of traditional Vietnamese food.
After lunch, visit the serene Museum of Ethnology, which is a 20-minute drive out of town that offers a fascinating insight into Vietnam’s 54 ethnic minority groups.
The best is saved for the last: cyclo riding around the Old French Quarters. Then, jump in a guided walking tour walking along 36 antique streets for insights into Hanoian’s ordinary lives.
Cap off the day with a Water Puppet Show at Thang Long Theatre. Music, lights, decorations and dancing puppets. Puppeters retell the audiences about folktales & legends on an animated stage filled with drumbeats, horns and water effects. Your eyes will be amazed.
Dinner is on your own.
After dinner, transfer to the station for an overnight train to Lao Cai.
Day 3: Lao Cai – Minority Market – Sapa
You will arrive in Lao Cai early in the morning.
Beautiful Terrace Rice Fields
Breakfast will be at a local restaurant before you drive to a minority market of colorful minority peoples. They will gather once a week to sell what they have in their gardens and buy foods for their full week. A market will operate on Tuesday / Thursday / Saturday / Sunday. Depend on your date, the name of the market will be confirmed.
A lunch with local specialties will be arranged at a local restaurant.
After lunch, you will be transferred to Sapa where you will enjoy the nature by wandering the surrounding area or climbing up to Ham Rong Mount for a panorama view of Sapa Town.
Dinner will be on your own tonight.
Accommodation: Victoria Sapa Resort & Spa (4-star)
Superior Room
Address: Xuan Vien Street, Sapa District, Lao Cai
Tel: (+84 20) 387 1522
Day 4: The Minority Villages
Breakfast is at your hotel
Spend your full day to explore minority villages Lao Chai – Ta Van which bout 8 kms from the center of Sapa. Lao Chai – Ta Van villages which are located at a beautiful valley among the terrace rice fields, are inhabited by Giay ethnic group and the Hmong tribe. The landscape spreads over your foot with a splendid beauty. A trail up and down hill offers a superb and romantic route to hikers.
See minority people at work and at their daily life.
Enjoy a picnic lunch enroute which is prepared by your guide (lunch boxes).
Here comes the nice part of the trip! You will climb several small mountains in order to reach the bamboo forest. From there you will reach Giang Ta Chai waterfall, have a break on top and then, walk down for a stop.
We still have about 20-minute walk back to the main road where your vehicle will pick you up and drive you back to the main town of Sapa.
At 5:00PM, drive back to Lao Cai and enjoy dinner at a local restaurant.
Check-in the train for an overnight trip back to Hanoi.
Day 5: Hanoi – Ha Long
Arrive in Hanoi in early morning then you will be transferred to a local restaurant to enjoy Breakfast before driving for 4 hours to Ha Long through rich farmlands of the Red River Delta and the scenery of rice fields, water buffalos and Vietnamese village’s daily life on both side of the highway No.18.
Ha Long Bay is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and a popular travel destination. The bay features thousands of limestone karsts and isles in various sizes and shapes. Ha Long Bay is a center of a larger zone which includes Bai Tu Long Bay to the northeast, and Cat Ba islands to the southwest. These larger zones share similar geological, geographical, geomorphological, climate, and cultural characters.
Your adventure starts around noon on Tuan Chau Island on Paradise Luxury, where our Paradise Crew and Cruise Manager are waiting to welcome you on board.
Discovering the “Bay of the Descending Dragon” means to be amazed by caves, beaches, floating villages, rock formations rising from emerald water, remaining being pristine and awaiting your exploration.
As long as you are on board, be our guest to relax yourself at our Spa Beauty & Massage services or try your luck with Vietnamese traditional cooking with assistance from our chef’s cooking demonstration.
You will be feasted with lunch and dinner of diverse cuisines, wines and beverages. Please note that extra charge might be applied on wine and beverage.
Accommodation: Paradise Luxury Cruise
Deluxe Cabin
Address: Tuan Chau Island, Ha Long
Tel: (+84 4) 3941 6666
Cruise information:
Welcome on tour with Paradise Luxury. With her spacious 68 luxurious cabins and suites, stylish restaurant as well as bar and a convenient top deck, she is delighted to bring you unforgettable moments of exciting activities, exclusive dining and enjoyable sightseeing. Discovering splendid Ha Long Bay of almost 3000 islands rising dramatically from the emerald water on board Paradise Luxury is living an authentic deluxe travelling experience.
Day 6: Ha Long – Hanoi
Early birds are invited to a Tai Chi practice on the sundeck at dawn. Then, let our Paradise buffet breakfast delight your day.
You will continue exploring Ha Long Bay sailing across its 2000 islets and visiting some major highlights.
Your cruise will finish on Tuan Chau Island at around 10:30 AM – 11:00 AM.
Drive back to Hanoi and drop off at your hotel.
Dinner is on your own.
Day 7: Ninh Binh
Depart from Hanoi for Ninh Binh. Upon arrival, visit Bai Dinh Pagoda, the biggest pagoda in South East Asia with 500 Buddha statues and see how big its South East Asian biggest bell and highest statue are.
Heading to “Ha Long on Land” – Tam Coc, famous with grottoes which are adorned with beautiful stalactites and stalagmites of different shapes and colors sparkling like gemstones.
Have lunch with local specialties at Anh Dzung Restaurant before rowing for 2 hours on Ngo Dong River to explore the beautiful and mysterious caves. On either side of the boats, there are green rice fields and lotus puddles. Rapids have developed in the Ngo Dong River by the accumulation of falling rock…
Walk on the village lane to fill your lungs with fresh air and immerse into the peace nature before driving back to Hanoi.
Dinner will be on your own.
Day 8: Hanoi Departure
Breakfast at hotel
Today, you are free until being transferred to the airport for your departure flight home (air ticket is on your own).
End of services!
4U NOTE:
- Tour cost is in US dollars and based on the above suggested hotels & room categories.
- It is subject to change due to hotel availability upon confirmation.
- Prices are per person, based on group of 2 persons – twin / double sharing.
- Tour cost is valid by September 30th, 2015.
What to be Included?
- 5-night accommodation at luxury hotels:
- 3 nights at Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi Hotel – Premium Room
- 1 night at Victoria Sapa Resort & Spa – Superior Room
- 1 night onboard Paradise Cruise – Deluxe Cabin
- Roundtrip Victoria Express train Hanoi / Lao Cai / Hanoi (soft-sleeper / 4 persons per cabin)
- Meals as indicated in the program: 7 breakfasts + 5 luncheons + 3 dinners (drinks are on consumption)
- Admission fees as per itinerary
- Private air-conditioned transportation
- Regional English speaking guides during the program
- UNLIMITED Bottled water and wet tissues during transfers
Not to be Included:
- Visa to Vietnam
- Airport Assistance Service
- International flight tickets & Airport tax
- Domestic flight tickets & Airport tax
- Meals not mentioned in the itinerary
- Drinks / water at included luncheons and dinners
- Hotel early check-in / Late check-out
- Overweight luggage
- Travel & Trip insurance
- Other expenses which are not clearly mentioned in inclusive services
- Gratuities to guides and drivers (suggested USD 10 / person / day)
Booking
A Round of Northern Vietnam
Package price: USD 1,980 per person
: USD 3,960
