Trip duration: 11 days/10 nights Luxury Packages
Level: Moderate
Group size: Private only 1 person and above

BRIEF ITINERARY:
Day 1 Hanoi
Day 2 Hanoi – City tour – Night train to Sapa
Day 3 Sa Pa
Day 4 Sapa
Day 5 Hanoi
Day 6 Hanoi - Halong Bay – Overnight on deluxe junk
Day 7 Halong Bay – Hanoi
Day 8 Hanoi – Fly to Hue
Day 9 Hue – Hoi An
Day 10 Hoi An
Day 11 Hoi An – Hanoi (or Ho Chi Minh city)

Description
Exploration of Vietnam's marvelous World Heritage sites will amaze everyone. This trip provides the best features of both the North and Central areas of Vietnam: from stately Hanoi, to the mountainous area of Sapa, the Citadel at Hue, the ancient town of Hoi An, the Holy land of My Son, and the natural wonder of Halong bay, with its 2000 islands, all of which differ in shape and size and  rise from the emerald water of the Gulf of Tonkin. This is a real masterpiece of nature. All this will surely stir your imagination.

Trip price: please enquire for availabilities & the most up date price

Trip Price Included:
Service of the bilingual tour guides ( other languages upon request)
Additional local crew support
All hotels 4 - 5 stars accommodations
Domestic airfares: Hanoi - Hue; Danang - Hanoi (or Ho Chi Minh city)
All meals indicated in the itinerary
All A.c transfers and transportations with reasonable supply of water
Other transport such as A.C Soft sleeper overnight train and boat
Entrance fees and permits to sightseeing as indicated

Trip Price Excluded:
International airfares
International departure tax
Visas and visa fees
Meals and beverage not mentioned in the itinerary
Personal expenses such as: bar, telephone and laundry bill
Personal travel insurance (Compulsory)
Tips and gratuities

TRIP PRICE BASED ON 4 – 5 STAR HOTEL and RESORT:

Sapa: Victoria Sapa 4*
Hoi An: Golden Sand 4*hotel
Hue: Saigon morin 4*hotel
Hanoi: Wuoman: 4*hotel
Halong Bay: Huong Hai junk cruise

Note: Hotels are subject to change due to availability. In that case we will choose equivalent accommodation.

DETAILS ITINERARY:

Day 1 Hanoi
Upon arrival we will be welcomed by our guide and transferred to the hotel. In the evening we will enjoy the unique Water Puppet performance; and we will have our welcome dinner at one of the finest restaurants in town (Dinner included)

Day 2 Hanoi – City tour – Night train to Sapa
Hanoi is sometimes called the Paris of the Orient with its shaded boulevards, verdant parks and ochre buildings that still retain an old world charm.
In the morning we will visit the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum which has become a popular pilgrimage place for the Vietnamese, the Presidential Palace, Ho Chi Minh's House on stilts and the One Pillar pagoda. Following this we will visit the Temple of Literature, built in 1076 and the first Vietnamese University. After lunch we will visit the fine Ethnology Museum followed by an hour's drive on a cyclo (a pedal rickshaw) to visit the Old Quarter of Hanoi. In the evening we will take the overnight sleeper train to Sapa.
Today Breakfast & Lunch included

Day 3 Sa Pa
Our local guide will welcome us upon arrival and we will make our way to the nearby China/Vietnam border gate where we can observe the start of early day trade taking place between the two countries. About one hour's drive on a scenic route brings us to Sapa, an old French trading town set high on the mountainside with spectacular views all around.
After checking in to the hotel, there will be free time to explore the market. After lunch we will take a 3 hour walk to Cat Cat village of the H'Mong people, and we will also see the waterfall. Then we will return to Sapa town to visit the local Market with its fresh vegetables and typical local food.
Today  Breakfast included

Day 4 Sapa
Today after a short jeep journey overlooking beautiful, terraced rice paddies, we will arrive at the two villages of Lao Chai and Ta Van of the H'Mong and Giay hill people. We will take a 3 hour trek to visit them, returning to Sapa by jeep afterwards. The afternoon is free for exploration of this interesting town. In the late afternoon we leave by bus for Lao Cai Station to catch the overnight sleeper train back to Hanoi.
Today Breakfast & Lunch included

Day 5 Hanoi
We arrive back at Hanoi in the early morning. Our vehicle will be waiting to transfer us to our hotel. After checking in, the day is free to further explore this vibrant town where shops and museums abound.

Day 6 Hanoi - Halong Bay – Overnight on deluxe junk
From Hanoi we depart for Halong Bay. Our journey takes us through the lush green fields of the Red River Delta to the coast and beautiful Halong Bay which has the name "Ascending Dragons". We will arrive in time for a delicious, fresh, seafood lunch on our boat which will cruise this secluded bay so we can marvel at some of the 2-3000 limestone peaks that emerge from the emerald water. We will have the opportunity to view a spectacular cave crammed with stalactites and stalagmites, and if the weather permits we will swim in the clear waters surrounding our boat. We can also kayak to explore some of the hidden charms in parts of the bay before spending the night on board.
Today Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner included

Day 7 Halong Bay – Hanoi
In the morning we will continue on kayaking to explore Luon cave, Turtle Islet, Human Head Islet and Saddle Islet. After lunch on board we will leave Halong for Hanoi.
Today Breakfast, Lunch included

Day 8 Hanoi – Fly to Hue
In the morning we leave for the airport and our short flight to Hue. It was once the capital of the Nguyen emperors and was packed with influential people: bureaucrats, princesses, traders, astrologers and courtiers, who left behind many beautiful and intriguing reminders of their times. Upon arrival we will check in to our hotel. In the afternoon we will visit the Citadel, the Imperial City and the Forbidden Purple city. In the evening, we will have a Royal meal, only eaten by the Emperor in the old days.
Today  Breakfast included

Day 9 Hue – Hoi An
In the morning we will take a dragon boat to cruise along the Perfume River. We will pause to visit Thien Mu Pagoda, one of the best loved architectural pagodas in Vietnam considered to be the unofficial symbol of Hue. It is an active Buddhist monastery with its origins dating back to 1601. One of the most poignant displays is a car which once belonged to a former Monk who, in 1963, drove to Saigon and set himself alight to protest against the treatment of Buddhists by the S.Vietnamese regime. After that we will continue our boat trip to the majestic and scenic Emperor Minh Mang Tomb. After lunch, we will leave Hue and head southwards through coastal rice paddies to the fishing village of Lang Co, before taking the scenic, mountainous route over the spectacular Hai Van Pass, arriving at the riverside town of Hoi An in the afternoon. (approx. 4hour driving time).
Today Breakfast included

Day 10 Hoi An
In 1995 UNESCO recognized Hoi An as a Cultural World Heritage site. Hoi An used to be a thriving, international, commercial seaport of Chinese, Japanese, Portuguese, Dutch, English French and Arab traders. These people came to trade primarily for many things but especially high quality silk which is still produced in the area. Today Hoi An is a quaint riverside town, popular among tourists for its charming architecture, cafes, souvenir and tailor shops. Some of the lovely buildings in the narrow streets have changed very little over the last 100 years.
In the morning we can enjoy a walking tour through the narrow, winding streets of the Old Town, visiting Fukien Assembly Hall, the 200 year old traditional Kan Ty home, the Japanese covered bridge, Hoi An Museum, the handicraft workshops, and the tailor made clothes shops where you can have yourself measured for that perfect fit .
In the afternoon you will be at your leisure to explore the town further or visit nearby Cua Dai Beach. Today Breakfast, Lunch included

Day 11 Hoi An – Hanoi (or Ho Chi Minh city)
In the morning we will transfer to Danang for our flight back to Hanoi (or Ho Chi Minh City) where your flight will depart for home. In the afternoon you are at leisure to see more of Hanoi (or Ho Chi Minh City) or buy those last minute souvenirs.
Today Breakfast included

Day 12 Departure
Today we are free and at our leisure until it is time to transfer to the airport for our flight home.
Today Breakfast included