Itinerary:
Day 01: Hanoi Arrival
Day 02: Hanoi – Lao Cai – Night in Train
Day 03: Lao Cai – Bac Ha – Homestay
Day 04: Bac Ha – Sapa – Homestay
Day 05: Sapa – Mu Cang Chai – Homestay
Day 06: Mu Cang Chai – Tu Le – Homestay
Day 07: Tu Le – Muong Lo – Homestay
Day08: Muong Lo – Hanoi
Day 09: Hanoi – Halong – Overnight on Cruise
Day 10: Halong – Hanoi
DAY 11: Hanoi – Departure
Lose yourself on unknown paths of the Vietnam mountains that offers scenery breathtaking and unforgettable encounters with the many ethnic groups that compose it. This country is multiple and beyond the wondrous Halong Bay, it will reveal many riches!
Itinerary details:
Day 01: HANOI ARRIVAL
Meeting with guide and transfer to the city. Installation at the hotel. Rest or first discovery of this city very commercial and well animated streets. Puppet show and Dinner.
Day 02: HANOI – LAO CAI – NIGHT IN THE TRAIN
Visit Hanoi Little Lake or Lake of the Restored Sword, the small bridge The Huc or "bridge where rests the mind," the Tortoise Pagoda and its legend, the Temple of Literature dedicated to Confucius and scholars, the old Chinese town
As for the rest of Hanoi, virtually unchanged since 1955, is a beautiful colonial-style city. In the afternoon, visit the Museum of Ethnography, certainly one of the most interesting of Vietnam and a useful first step to understanding the 54 distinct ethnic communities that inhabit the country. In the evening, transfer to Hanoi Railway Station for the night train to Lao Cai. Overnight on the train
Day 03: LAO CAI – BAC HA – HOMESTAY
Early morning arrival at Lao Cai train station. Transfer to Bac Ha, after breakfast at a local restaurant. Visit of Bac Ha Sunday market where the major ethnic groups in the region include: Red Dao, Tay, Phu La, Nung ... especially the Hmong flowers, the women wear colorful clothes especially. Visit the surrounding villages where you may come across Hmong colorful multicolored costumes. Walk in the village of Thai Giang Pho Phu inhabited by the close of the market. Overnight in homestay
Day 04: BAC HA – SAPA – HOMESTAY
Morning departure to Sapa. Upon arrival, visit the multiethnic Sapa market and the old town. After a meal in a local restaurant, super easy stroll around Sapa to visit Black Mong villages, Dzao, Dzay ... to Ta Van village where you will sleep.
Day 05: SAPA – MU CANG CHAI – HOMESTAY
Departure to Mu Cang Chai; the road winds up to the highest pass in Vietnam (2047 m). Stop collar to enjoy the cool and enjoy the Fan Si Pan (3,143 m), roof of Indochina. Upon arrival, a hike in the region of Mu Cang Chai (930 m), the capital of the rice terraces of the country. Typical green landscapes: cultivated valleys, hillsides sculpted by rice fields. All painters and photographers Vietnamese artists go there to capture these landscapes. Meeting with many Thai and Hmong farmers in traditional costumes.
Day 06: MU CANG CHAI – TU LE – HOMESTAY
A beautiful walk to discover the Hmong villages. Great views and picturesque landscape. Opportunity to meet Mongwomen working in their traditional looms. Then, still by bus, you will continue along the mountain range, from surprise to surprise. You arrived in the late afternoon.
Day 07: TU LE – MUONG LO – HOMESTAY
In the morning you will continue your hike. Crossing the rice terraces to join the Thai and Mong villages, where you are welcomed by the locals in traditional costumes. It is a quaint little town, the only place where boys and girls are bathing together and naked in the river. Then, departure by bus to Muong Lo by a road winding through the chain of Hoang Lien Son.
Day08: MUONG LO – HANOI
Muong Lo is the second northwestern rice bowl and the capital of the Thais. Here, for 700 years, they grow rice "flooded" and build their traditional houses iron wood (iroko wood) and bamboo. A short walk or bike 2 hours you will enrich your knowledge of the culture and daily life of the Thais. Then transfer to Hanoi where you will arrive in end of the afternoon.
Day 09: HANOI – HALONG – OVERNIGHT ON CRUISE
Drive to Halong (Vinh Ha Long). Arrive at Bai Chai and boarding the junk. A fantastic cruise allows to visit Halong Bay: Dinh Huong island, Ga Choi Island, Dog Island, Island Sailing Sung Sot cave. Climb the 425 steps to the top "Titop" for a panoramic view of the entire bay and swimming at the beach Titop. At dinner, enjoy seafood, fish and other delicacies prepared by the cook of sampan. Overnight on the junk.
Day 10: HALONG – HANOI
After sunrise, navigation among the boats of the fishermen from floating villages located in the middle of the bay. Small rowing boat trip to the cave where "Indochine" was filmed in 1992 with Catherine Deneuve. Back to Hanoi in the afternoon. Overnight in hotel
DAY 11: HANOI – DEPARTURE
Transfer to the airport to take your flight off