Monday, June 17, 2013

Northern Vietnam Adventures

With this adventure, you will pass through the north of Vietnam where offers a wide range of impressively beautiful sites. This tour is designed to create a great opportunity to explore the unique culture and beautiful nature of the northern Vietnam in some ways: kayaking, trekking and home stay.

Duration: 13 days/12 nights
Tour Code: MVHL06
Tour Valid: Until December 30th, 2013
Highlights: Let’s begin the adventure in the north of Vietnam through Hanoi - Halong Bay - SaPa - Mai Chau - Hoa Lu Tam Coc - Hanoi.

  • Day 1 - Hanoi Arrival

    Place Transport: Car 
    Meals:
    You'll be greeted at Noi Bai Int’l Airport by Minmax guide and driver, then transferred by private car downtown to check in the hotel in the center of Hanoi Old Quarter. Stay overnight in hotel in Hanoi (Basing in Deluxe Double/Twin City View Room)

    Day 2 Hanoi - Halong Bay

    Place Transport: Car->Cruise 
    Meals: Breakfast - Lunch - Dinner
    07.45am – 08.15am: After breakfast, Minmax guide and driver will pick you up at your hotel.

    12.30 Arrive at Halong City. You will be transferred by our tender to Cruise – enjoy welcome drink. Receive cruise briefing, check into cabins and begin your adventure on the cruise.

    13.15 – 14.30 Have lunch with delicious Vietnamese set menu (Massage service is available after lunch and throughout the cruise).

    15.00 Head to Bai Tu Long Bay, pass the towns of Hon Gai and Cam Pha, Oan Lagoon, Mat Quy (Monster Head) and Am Tich (Teapot) Islets and Vung Vieng fishing village.
    Visit the Vung Vieng fishing village by local rowing boat (01 hour) or Kayak then return to the vessel for your leisure or join one of the following optional activities: Sunbathing, traditional massage, swimming etc.

    17.00 Drop anchor in the calm water surrounded by islets near Hang Trong.

    18:30 Vietnamese cooking demonstration on boat.

    19.15 Enjoy sumptuous set-dinner onboard.

    21:00 Relaxing on your cabin or join activities on board: film entertainment, light music for dancing in the dining room (please book in advance with your tour guide), board games, playing cards and massage services are available. Passengers may also try their luck at squid fishing from the boat. 
    Then stay overnight on junk boat.

    Day 3 Halong Bay

    Place Transport: Cruise 
    Meals: Breakfast - Lunch - Dinner
    06.15 Start your day early with Tai Chi on the Sundeck while complimentary tea & coffee are served

    07.00 Cruise weighs anchor to sail through the bay and pass by several beautiful places such as Trong (Drum) cave, Trinh Nu (Virgin) cave, Coc Ngoi (Toad) Islet, etc. Early breakfast in the dinning room.

    08.30 Transfer to smaller boat for Lan Ha Bay excursion.

    09.30 Guided kayaking and swimming at Three Peaches beach, a pristine natural beach lapped by the turquoise water.

    12.30 BBQ lunch is served on beach (depend on the weather).

    14.00 Continue discovering Toi and Sang Cave (depend on the condition), the most remote point in Lan Ha Bay and bordering the Gulf of Tonkin. Visit its quaint fishing village and lagoon. Possibility of kayaking through an amazing tunnel under a karst mountain (time permitting).

    16.00 Return to Cruise.

    17.00 The vessel cruises back to the bay for second overnight anchorage near Ho Dong Tien. Happy hour (Sunset party).

    19.15 Enjoy sumptuous Seafood Set – dinner onboard.

    21.00 Relaxing on your cabin or join activities: film entertainment, light music for dancing in the dining room (please book in advance with your tour guide), board games, playing cards and massage services are available. Passengers may also try their luck at squid fishing from the boat.

    Overnight aboard Cruise.

    Day 4 Halong Bay - Hanoi

    Place Transport: Car 
    Meals: Breakfast - Lunch
    06.15 Starting your day early with Tai Chi on the Sundeck while complimentary tea & coffee are served.
    07.00 Buffet breakfast will be served in dinning room.
    08.00 Explore the Surprise Cave (Sung Sot).
    08:15 You will be transferred by our guide to the Surprise Cave. Walk up about 100 steps to the cave entrance and go through the cave for approximately 45 minutes. Then walk down about 100 steps and return to the boat.
    10:00 Upon return to the boat you will have 30 minutes to freshen up and finish packing. Please remove all of your belongings from the cabins, you may leave heavy luggage outside of the cabins (staff will transfer directly to the pier).
    10:30 Enjoy set menu for lunch in the dining room. We will pay bills after breakfast. It’s time for you to relax and contemplate a scene till we approach the pier.
    11.30 – 12.00 Arrive at Hon Gai Habour. Transfer by tender to the pier, relax while waiting for return transportation
    16:00-16:30 Arrive in Hanoi. Stay overnight in Hanoi.

    Day 5 Hanoi - Sapa

    Place Transport: Car->Train 
    Meals: Breakfast - Lunch
    AM: After breakfast, discover Hanoi tree lined boulevards with such an interesting and historic sites like The Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and Museum, One pillar pagoda and Temple of Literature.

    PM: Having lunch and then you will visit the Ethnology museum which will give you an overview of 54 ethnic minorities in Vietnam including the Thai people who you will meet in Mai Chau and Hmong, Dzao, Dzay… those you will meeting in Sa Pa. After that, you will take a fascinating 1 hour tour in Ha Noi’s Old Quarter by Cyclo. The history of the Old Quarter dates back nearly 2000 years with its 36 narrow streets which are named after the specific goods and you are also offered for sale at these places when you buy souvenirs. You may have time to explore a little of downtown and enjoy a stroll around Hoan Kiem Lake then attempting the Water Puppet Theater.
    At Night: 8:00pm Depart by private car to Hanoi Rail way station to catch the night train to Lao Cai (9:20pm-5:30am) (Basing in First Class – Soft Sleeper 4 Beds Wooden Cabin with A/C - Sharing for 02 Person). Then stay overnight in the train.

    Day 6 Lao cao ( Sapa hiking tour)

    Place Transport: Car 
    Meals: Breakfast - Lunch - Dinner
    Morning: Arrive in Lao Cai. The bus will take you uphill to Sapa for over an hour, giving you a glimpse of the stunning vista and impressive rice terraces. The you will be greeted by Minmax guide right at their branch office in Sapa town and then transfer you to check in hotel.
    Afternoon: The guide will take you go by walk around Sapa town, trek 4 hours down the valley along local trails and across rice paddies to visit Black H’Mong and Dzay ethnic minority communities. 

    You will have a picnic lunch along the way then Jeep car will carry you back to Sapa. Then take a shower and have a rest before heading out for dinner.
    At Night: Stay overnight in Hotel in Sapa (Basing in Deluxe Double/Twin Mountain View Room).

    Day 7 Sapa trekking tour

    Place Transport: Car 
    Meals: Breakfast - Lunch - Dinner
    AM: In the morning, start trekking tour (4 hours) to the village of Red Dzao ethnic minority community on a beautiful trail across rice terraces. Then you can visit Ta Phin cave which is not far from the village.

    PM: Picnic lunch right here then jeep car will carry you back to Sapa town. 

    At Night: Overnight in Hotel in Sa Pa (Basing in Deluxe Double/Twin Mountain View Room).

    Day 8 Sapa - Bac Ha - Hanoi

    Place Transport: Car 
    Meals: Breakfast - Lunch - Dinner
    AM: At 7.00, we will leave Sapa early drive about 2.5 hours to the colorful Bac Ha market of the Flower H’mong, Tay, Nung, Pa dzi and Phu La ethnic minority groups. The biggest and most famous market which is also known as “urban” market, Bac Ha attracts people come there to exchange a wide range of products. Bac Ha is the center of the Flower H'mong people who are the most colorful ethnic group with elaborately embroidered spirals and geometric figures on their clothes and colorful bands for leg wrappings.
    PM: We will take a small trekking tour to the H’mong villages of Ban Pho or Na Hoi. We will leave Bac Ha about 4.00 to Lao Cai for the night train to Hanoi.
    At Night: Drive back to Lao Cai for the Night train back to Ha Noi (Basing in First Class – Soft Sleeper 4 Beds Wooden Cabin with A/C - Sharing for 02 Person)

    Day 9 Hanoi

    Place Transport: Car 
    Meals: Breakfast
    AM: Arrive at Hanoi Train Station at around 4.30. Then you will be transferred by private car to hotel in Hanoi Old Quarter for check in. Free day for you to relax and recover to continue the journey.
    PM: Spend your rest of day to explore more of Hanoi, let’s go shopping and buy lots of souvenirs, explore the old quarter on foot and enjoy the many parks and lakes around Hanoi center.
    At Night: Stay overnight in hotel in Hanoi (Basing in Deluxe Double/Twin City View Room).

    Day 10 Hanoi - Mai Chau

    Place Transport: Car 
    Meals: Breakfast - Lunch - Dinner
    AM: 8.00am - Depart from Hotel by minivan to Mai Chau Village. Then having lunch in a local stilt house.
    PM: Drive to the Ma River (30 mins/15 km) for a 30-minute boat ride. Get off the boat and walk through Muong villages for 2 hours.
    At Night: Back to Mai Chau for dinner and one night for home stay in the stilt house with the friendly Thai people.

    Day 11 Mai Chau - Hanoi

    Place Transport: Bicycle->Car 
    Meals: Breakfast - Lunch
    AM: Have breakfast in the homestay, and then heading out for 2 hours of easy cycling through the verdant rice paddies and local villages to enjoy the daily life.
    PM: Make your way back to the homestay for lunch. Then heading back to Ha Noi. At around 5.00, we carry you to the hotel for check-in.
    At Night: Stay overnight in hotel in Hanoi (Basing in Deluxe Double/Twin City View Room).

    Day 12 Hanoi - Hoa Lu - Tam Coc

    Place Transport: Car 
    Meals: Breakfast - Lunch
    AM: After breakfast, we will leave Hanoi to drive for Hoa Lu – one toponym of Ninh Binh which is formerly the ancient capital of Vietnam. In Hoa Lu, we will visit the famous ancient temples of The Dinh & Le Dynasties, then cycling for about an hour on the quiet country roads through villages, observe rice fields, rivers and unique rock formations on the way to Tam Coc. And stop for having lunch.
    PM: After lunch, we will cycle to Thung Nang and take a sampan ride on a peaceful river for about 1 hour into the heart of the area which we also named “Halong Bay on land” with wide range of karts formations in which you’ll pass through a cave. Then, return to the boat and make your way back to your bikes.
    At Night: We will drive back to Hanoi and spend wonderful night in a Hotel in Hanoi (Basing in Deluxe Double/Twin City View Room)

    Day 13 - Departure

    Place Transport: Car->Airplane 
    Meals: Breakfast
    After breakfast, we'll take you from hotel to Noi Bai airport by private car, Minmax guide and driver see you off, express our thanks for travelling with us and hope that you will spend your time on next visiting to  the South of Vietnam or other countries with Minmax Travel. End of your Journey!

    The Tour Inclusion:

    - 12 Nights Accommodation in deluxe twin / double room view with daily 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).
    - 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).

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