Northern Vietnam Experience

Northern Vietnam is a captivating combination with a wide range of stunning landscapes, enchanting people and dynamic cities. It captures the spirit of the north in this quick-paced adventure from the delightful city of Hanoi to the amazing World Heritage Site of Halong Bay and to the hill station of Sapa. The tour is designed to create a great opportunity to explore the unique culture and beautiful nature of northern Vietnam in an active way. So, give us a try and you will never regret !

View 5 photos

Duration: 10 days/9 nights

Tour Code: MMV02

Price from: US $ 886.00 Pax

Tour Valid: Until December 30th, 2013

Highlights: Tour through famous cities in the north of Vietnam: Hanoi - Halong Bay - SapaCity

• Day 1 - Hanoi Arrival

  Place Transport: 
  Meals: Dinner

  Arrival at Noi Bai airport, you’ll be greeted by Minmax guides. After that, we will take you to downtown to check in the hotel. Depending on your arrival time, you may have time to explore a little of downtown and take a stroll around Hoan Kiem Lake.In the evening, enjoy a special Water Puppet show and have a welcome dinner with local delights. Stay overnight in Hanoi.

  Day 2 - Hanoi sightseeing tour

  Place Transport: Car
  Meals: Breakfast - Lunch

  After having breakfast in the hotel, you will take an interesting guided city tour including Ho Chi Minh complex (the mausoleum, the house & garden and the museum) and One Pillar Pagoda, a unique ancient architecture. After that, we will move to Temple of Literature - Vietnam’s first university, dates back to 1070 with peaceful gardens and pavillions  bring you a relaxing respite from Hanoi’s busy streets. Then you will have lunch in a local restaurant.
  
  In the afternoon, we enjoy a relaxing cyclo tour in the ancient part of Hanoi, walking down some small and lively street to see busy local market then savor local green tea or coffee. You will have free time for shopping then stay overnight in Hanoi.
  
  “Cyclo is three wheeled rickshaws, operated by pedal-power, with a seat attached to the front"

  Day 3 - Halong Bay Discovery

  Place Transport: Car->Cruise
  Meals: Breakfast - Lunch - Dinner

  After having breakfast, we will leave Hanoi for Halong Bay at 8.30am. On the way we will have a short break for refreshment at a handicraft center. Upon arrival in Halong City, we will have a delicious seafood lunch in a wooden boat then take a short cruise to Thien Cung Cave.

  After a short exploration of the cave, we start our kayaking time. This is one of the best ways to explore Halong Bay by paddling through an amazing area of limestone islets. We will pass a floating village to reach Luon Cave which has a tunnel thrusting through a mountain. After that, we will meet the mother boat - a junk in Chinese style, right in front of the cave. Aboard the junk for dinner and stay overnight in air-conditioned private cabin.

  Day 4 - Halong Bay Discovery

  Place Transport: Cruise
  Meals: Breakfast - Lunch - Dinner

  One more day to discover one of the new world wonder of nature. After breakfast, we start paddling to Van Chai Floating village and Dark Cave. If it doesn't have tide, we will explore this amazing cave by kayak. The cave is a 200m long, dark tunnel thrusting through a limestone mountain which is the only entry to a secluded and beautiful lagoon. Having lunch right on support boat in front of the cave.

  After having lunch, we paddle to Ba Trai Dao Lagoon, along a stunning and fairly rough sea channel, to explore its beautiful beaches. Then continue to paddle to Lan Ha Bay, which is smaller than Halong bay but much more interesting with lots of secluded beaches. Then cruise back to Halong Bay for dinner and stay overnight on mother boat.

  Day 5 - Halong Bay – Hanoi – Lao Cai

  Place Transport: Car
  Meals: Breakfast - Lunch

  After breakfast on the junk, enjoy the sundeck, navigate through amazing rock formations of Bai Tu Long Bay to get back to Halong City. Lunch will be served on the junk before reaching to Halong Harbor to back to Hanoi. On the way back to Hanoi we will have a stop in Dong Trieu Town for refreshment and ceramic factory tour.
  
  Arrive in Hanoi, we have free time to go shopping around the Old Quarter and have dinner before being transferred to Hanoi Railway station to catch the night train to Lao Cai (9.30pm – 5.30am). Stay overnight on train

  Day 6 - Sapa

  Place Transport: Car
  Meals: Breakfast - Lunch

  Arrive in Lao Cai and take a 1.5 hours to drive up the stunning mountain range to the charming little town of Sa Pa, which nestles at 1632 meters with lots of sightseeing en route. Check in the hotel then you'll have free time to explore the town and its great market.
  
  After a lunch with Vietnamese food in a local restaurant, you’ll take a 3 hours trek down the valley to visit a H’mong hill tribe village. Then return to Sapa and stay overnight in hotel.

  Day 7: - Sapa trekking

  Place Transport: Car
  Meals: Breakfast - Lunch - Dinner

  After breakfast, you will begin your trek around 9am. Firstly, you will descend the valley on tarmac then hit a beautiful dirt path which runs through rice terraces and minority villages. Then you will have a break in Lao Chai Village to visit the local H'mong minority group, stop beside a stream and enjoy a picnic lunch.

  After lunch, you continue trekking to Ta Van village, home of the Dzay hill tribe. You will have a chance to stay one night with D zay family, your dinner will be cooked by your local guide and the hosts.

  Day 8 - Sapa – Lao Cai – Hanoi

  Place Transport: Train
  Meals: Breakfast - Lunch

  Having breakfast at the ethnic family. We say goodbye to the hosts and head to the main road where you will be transferred back to Sapa town. Then having lunch in local restaurant and spend the rest of the day for shopping or walking the beautiful Ham Rong Park. In the late afternoon, you will be transferred to Lao Cai for overnight train back to Hanoi.

  Day 9 - Hanoi

  Place Transport: Car
  Meals: Breakfast

  Arrive in Hanoi 4.30 am. Check in the hotel. Free day for you to relax and recovering, time for you to explore Hanoi by yourself and going shopping. Then stay overnight in Hanoi.

  Day 10 - Departure

  Place Transport: Airplane
  Meals: Breakfast

  After breakfast, we will transfer you to the airport to take a flight to your country. Our guide and driver will express our thank to you, next time hope that you will travel with Minmax.

  The Tour Inclusion:

  - 9 Nights Accommodation in deluxe twin / double room view with daily buffet BKF.

  - Pick-ups and transfers by private air-conditioned vehicle as specified in the itinerary above (Please note: pick-ups will be by a guide and driver or, where a guide is not necessary, a driver only. All unaccompanied drivers will be briefed in advance, and will carry a mobile phone to ensure smooth transfer arrangements)

  - Boat cruises as specified in the program

  - Experienced English-speaking guides as indicated in the itinerary (please note: guides will be on hand from pick-up until guest return to the hotel or reach their destination). Free days or part days will not include the services of a guide unless requested and included in the final itinerary.

  - Entry fees are mentioned in the program if necessary.

  - Meals (as specified in the itinerary) in the best local restaurants, or picnics where no suitable restaurant is available.

  The Tour Exclusion:

  - International flight tickets and airport taxes.

  - Visas

  - Dinners, except as specified above.

  - Drinks, gratuities and personal expenses.

  - Surcharge for peak season (if any) & Others not mentioned in the above detail program.

  Additional Information

  Importance note

  - The itinerary is just a sample of our Vietnam tours; we'll be pleased to design similar programs with dates and itinerary customized to your personal preferences in Tailor Made Tours section. Rates may vary frequently. Please contact us to get the best possible price based upon your travel period and specific touring needs.

  
  

  What to bring ?

  - Sun Block, Wide brim hat, Camera + Film, Comfortable shoes, Rain gear, Warm clothes, original Passport...

  
  

  How to start ?

  - MinMax Travel is a fully escorted tour and best-available all year round; the only thing you need to prepare in advance is the international air-ticket from/to your country.

  
  

  - If you don’t have enough time to complete visa before your departure, we will help you to obtain Vietnam Visa on arrival easily (getting visa at the airport, on your arrival).