Northern Vietnam and Angkor Wat

Northern Vietnam is one of the country’s most delightful regions. Head out to colorful Sapa for some outstanding trekking among breathtaking scenery, enjoy the culture and majesty of the capital of Viet Nam- Hanoi, and relax among the stunning limestone karsts and picturesque fishing villages of Ha Long Bay. A Northern Vietnam tour will take you to some unique, delightful, and welcoming places. Angkor Wat, built during the early years of the 12th century by Suryavaram II, honors the Hindu god Vishnu and is a symbolic representation of Hindu cosmology. This tour is definitely perfect for your holiday.

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Duration: 14 days/13 nights

Tour Code: MVSD16

Price from: US $ 1204.00 Pax

Tour Valid: Until December 30th, 2013

Highlights: Ha Noi - Ha Long Bay - SaPa - Siem Reap (Cambodia)

• Day 1 - Hanoi on Arrival – Welcome

  Place Transport: Car
  Meals: Dinner

  You'll be greeted at the airport and transferred downtown to check into your hotel. Depending on your arrival time, you may have time to explore a little of downtown and enjoy a stroll around Hoan Kiem Lake. Visit the Water Puppet Theatre at around 4.15 Pm. After showing finish, enjoy our welcome dinner in the restaurant. Stay overnight in Hanoi (Basing in Deluxe Double/Twin City View Room)

  Day 2 - Halong Bay On Arrival - Ha Long Bay Cruise – Junk Boat Overnight

  Place Transport: Cruise
  Meals: Breakfast - Lunch - Dinner

  
  AM: 8.30 - Depart Ha Noi by Mini-van from your hotel for a 3.5 hour drive to Ha Long City through the Red River Delta.

  PM: You’ll be served a savory lunch aboard the boat as you embark on a 4 hour cruise of the bay. The calm emerald water and towering karst islands create a mystical maze as you cruise past Tam Cung Cave and Dau Nguoi (Human Head) islet, and visit Sung Sot (Amazing) cave. There will be lots of time for swimming and taking pictures. Cruise to a quiet firth and enjoy a great sunset dinner. Relax under the starlit sky before retiring to the comfort of your cabin. At Night: Stay overnight on Junk Boat basing in Deluxe Private Cabin with A/C, private bath.

  Day 3 - Ha Long Bay Sea Kayaking – Cat Ba Island – Hotel Overnight

  Place Transport: Cruise
  Meals: Breakfast - Lunch - Dinner

  AM: After breakfast, cruise further to Lan Ha Bay to get the kayak gear. You’ll receive a lesson on paddling and safety from our experience guide before heading to some hidden lagoons. Stop for a swim on Van Boi Beach.
  PM: After lunch on the boat, paddle to Beo floating village. At Beo Pier, transfer to a hotel on Cat Ba Island. At Night: stay overnight at a hotel in Cat Ba island (Basing in Deluxe Double/Twin Sea View Room).

  Day 4 - Cat Ba Island - Ha Long - Ha Noi

  Place Transport: Airplane
  Meals: Breakfast - Lunch

  AM/PM: After breakfast at the hotel, return to the boat to continue your cruise around the Bay, passing Cua Van floating village to witness this unique way of life. Have lunch on the boat on the way to the pier in Ha Long City. Then back to Ha Noi to your Hotel by bus around 4.30pm. At Night: stay overnight in Hanoi (Basing in Deluxe Double/Twin City View Room).

  Day 5 - Ha Noi – Full Day City Tour – Lao Cai (Sapa) By Night Train – OverNight on the Train

  Place Transport: Train
  Meals: Breakfast - Lunch

  AM: Today, you will explore such interesting and historic sites as The Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and Museum, One pillar pagoda and Temple of Literature.
  PM: Following lunch, 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… people who you will meeting in Sapa. After that, you will take a fascinating 1 hour tour of Ha Noi’s Old Quarter by Cyclo. The history of the Old Quarter dates back some 2000 years with it’s 36 narrow streets each named after the trade or merchandise made and sold there. Free evening at your leisure.
  At Night: 8:00pm Depart by private car to Hanoi Rail way station for the night train to Lao Cai (9:20pm-5:30am). Stay overnight on train (Basing in First Class Soft Sleeper beds Wooden Cabin with A/C).

  Day 6 - Welcome To Lao Cai - Sa Pa Hiking Tour with Land Cruise Car

  Place Transport: Car
  Meals: Breakfast - Lunch - Dinner

  
  AM: Arrive in Lao Cai. The bus ride uphill to Sa Pa takes a little over an hour, giving you a glimpse of the stunning vistas and impressive rice terraces. Meet your tour guide at Vietnam Adventures’s Sa Pa office. After that, the guide takes you on a walk around Sa Pa town, trek 4 hours down the valley along local trails and across rice paddies to visit Black H’Mong and Dzay ethnic minority communities. Have a picnic lunch along the way.

  PM: Jeep take you back to Sa Pa. Shower and rest before heading out for dinner. At Night: Stay overnight in a hotel in Sapa (Basing in Deluxe Double/Twin Mountain View Room).

  Day 7 - Sa Pa Hiking Tour with Land Cruise Car

  Place Transport: Car
  Meals: Breakfast - Lunch

  AM: In the morning, start trekking (4 hours) to the village of Red Dzao ethnic minority community on a beautiful trail across rice terraces. You can visit Ta Phin cave that is not far from the village. Enjoy picnic lunch here then jeep pick you up back to Sa Pa. At Night: Stay overnight in Sapa (Basing in Deluxe Double/Twin Mountain View Room).

  Day 8 - Bac Ha Sunday Hill Tribe Markets – Sapa – Hanoi by Night Train – Overnight on Train

  Place Transport: Train
  Meals: Breakfast - Lunch

  AM: We will leave Sapa in the morning at 7:00 and 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, also known as “urban” market, Bac Ha attracts people selling a wide variety 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 : In the afternoon, we will take a small trekking tour to the H’mong villages of Ban Pho or Na Hoi. We will leave Bac Ha around 4:00 pm to Lao Cai for the night train to Hanoi. Stay overnight on the train (Base in First Class Soft Sleeper beds Wooden cabin, A/C)

  Day 9 - Hanoi - Flight to Siem Reap

  Place Transport: Airplane
  Meals: Breakfast

  AM: Arrive at Ha Noi train station at around 4.30 am then you will be transferred by our guide direct to MinMaxTravel office. Have a rest and we'll take you to the airport for the flight to Siem Reap. At Night: Stay overnight at a hotel in Siem Reap (Basing in Deluxe Double/Twin City View Room).

  Day 10 - Siem Reap

  Place Transport: Car
  Meals: Breakfast - Lunch

  Siem Reap is the base for exploring the fabled temples of Angkor , the ancient capital of the Khmer empire. A tour of the temples includes the South Gate of Angkor Thom, the famous Bayon, Baphoun, the Terrace of Elephants and Terrace of the Leper King. In the afternoon, visit the magnificent 12th century Angkor Wat. Return to hotel after watching the sunset at Phnom Bakheng. At Night: Stay overnight in Siem Riep (Basing in Deluxe Double/Twin City View Room).

  Day 11 - Siem Reap

  Place Transport: Car
  Meals: Breakfast - Lunch

  An early start to catch the sunrise (optional). Return to the hotel for breakfast. Visit to Prasat Kravan, Srah Srang, Banteay Kdei andfabulous Ta Prohm Temple, embraced by the roots of enormous fig trees and gigantic creepers. In the afternoon, continue to Neak Peanand Preah Khan, the "Holy Sword" temple which is also one of the largest temple compounds in Angkor. Stay overnight in Siem Riep (Basing in Deluxe Double/Twin City View Room).

  Day 12 - Siem Reap

  Place Transport: Car
  Meals: Breakfast - Lunch

  Heading out of town, we make our way by traveling on a newly paved road to the intricately carved and well preserved temple of Banteay Srei . Along the way, we make stopover at the Preah Dark village and the River of 1000 Lingas, locally named Kbal Spean. On the way back,you will visit the enchanting Banteay Srei which was designed to leave no space undecorated, and the fine carvings in pink sandstone are very unique. In the afternoon, we continue to take an impressive tour with other attractions: Rolous Groupof temples including Preah Ko, Ba Kong and Lo Lei. Stay overnight in Siem Riep (Basing in Deluxe Double/Twin City View Room).

  Day 13 - Siem Reap

  Place Transport: Car->Boat
  Meals: Breakfast - Lunch

  After breakfast, visit the workshops of Artisans d'Angkor to see wood and stone carving or shop for souvenirs or take a boat trip on the great lake, Tonle Sap (July-February only). Stay overnight in Siem Riep (Basing in Deluxe Double/Twin City View Room).

  Day 14 - Departure Siem Reap

  Place Transport: Airplane
  Meals: Breakfast

  We'll take you from your hotel out to the Siem Riep Int'l Airport to see you off on your journey back home or more visit other countries. We are so thankful to you for traveling with Minmax. End of your journey.

  The Tour Inclusion:

  - 13 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)

  - Flight tickets: Hanoi city - Siem Reap, including domestic airport taxes.

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

  - Where necessary, entry fees for all visits as mentioned in the program

  - 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 tax.Visas

  - Dinners, except as specified above.

  - Drinks, gratuities and personal expenses.

  - Surcharge for peak season (if any) & Other 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).