Private Tour
Upon arrival, your tour guide will transfer you to the station for your overnight train to Sa Pa.
As dawn approaches, arrive early into Lào Cai Station, where you will disembark and transfer to your hotel in Sa Pa Town. Along the way, take in the spectacular panoramic mountain scenery. Located in the far northwest of Vietnam in the mountains bordering China, Sa Pa is home to deep mountain valleys and traditional villages. After enjoying a delightful breakfast with your fellow travellers, you will spend your morning admiring the beauty of Sa Pa onboard the Fansipan Cable Car that will take you 3000 metres to the upmost peak of Fansipan to explore the many Temples as well as admire the natural beauty of Hoang Lien Son and Muong Hoa Valley. Meals: Breakfast
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This morning, you will be met at your hotel by local guide and driver for a short road transfer heading northwards along national road 4C to Ô Quy Hồ pass with several stops for magnificent landscapes of Fansipan, Sin Chai Valley and especially amazing flower and vegetable farms. Then turn right to follow a narrow road for half an hour travelling through the wild region with thick rain forest covering walled up mountains, passing several waterfalls before arriving to Bản Khoang, a village of the Red Zao ethnic peoples who live their unique way of life and well maintain their traditional values. The village looks prosperous thanks to the combination of wet rice cultivation on the terraced fields with cardamom farming under the shade of trees in thick forest. Spend over an hour walking to explore this remote village for a brief understanding of local life. Leaving Bản Khoang and continue along the road for about 10kms to Ta Giang Phinh Valley inhabited by the Black Hmong who live in some small villages scattering along a peaceful stream. Enjoy an hour lunch break on the bank of a stream before walking along village path which connects village to village to witness daily activities of local life such as plough and harrow the fields, growing, harvesting or doing some house work. In leisure months men often gather to build new houses or repair parts of old ones while women stay home making their traditional costumes. The walk ends in the mid afternoon and you will then be transferred back to Sa Pa for your overnight stay. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
After enjoying breakfast, take advantage of a leisurely morning to explore Sa Pa at your own pace. Then you begin a scenic return drive through the mountains, heading back towards Hà Nội. Along the way, enjoy the changing landscapes as you descend from Sa Pa's highlands to the vibrant city of Hà Nội. Upon arrival in Hà Nội, transfer to your hotel and enjoy free time until your tour briefing and welcome drinks with your fellow travellers. Meals: Breakfast
Today, enjoy a full day Hà Nội City Tour. This morning you will be met at your hotel by your guide at 8am to begin your city tour with an orientation drive past some of Hà Nội's unique sites including Long Bien Bridge, St Joseph's Church & the Opera House. Continue with a walking tour through the fascinating Old Quarter, 36 ancient streets where you can observe the daily bustle of life around the markets where peddlers continue to trade as they have done for centuries. We then visit the Ho Chi Minh Quarter, dedicated to the father of modern Vietnam, Uncle Ho, to see his Mausoleum, the Presidential Palace, his 'house on stilts' and the One Pillar Pagoda. A short drive to take a look at the Citadel & Flag Tower which was made a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2010. After stopping for lunch at KOTO Van Mieu Restaurant, continue your tour with a visit to the Temple of Literature, Vietnam's first university now dedicated to Confucian Worship. Also visit Tran Quoc and Ngoc Son Temples and then the 'Hà Nội Hilton' the nickname given to the place where U.S pilots shot down over North Vietnamese airspace were imprisoned during the Vietnam War, now converted into a small museum. Return to your hotel where your tour ends. Meals: Breakfast
This morning, you will be met at 08:00am at your hotel by your guide for your 90kms drive south to Hoa Lư, the ancient Capital of Vietnam dating back to the 10th Century. Visit the famous sanctuary of Đinh Tiên Hoàng, a former Emperor of the Dinh Dynasty and the Temple dedicated to the Emperor. Following the demise of the Le Dynasty the Capital was moved to Hà Nội. After lunch own your own, we visit the Tràng An Landscape Complex. A spectacular landscape of limestone karst peaks permeated with valleys, many of them partly submerged and surrounded by steep, almost vertical cliffs. Exploration of caves at different altitudes has revealed archaeological traces of human activity over a continuous period of more than 30,000 years. Recently awarded UNESCO World Heritage status, we take a small boat through this magnificent area before transferring to your hotel in Ninh Bình for check-in. Meals: Breakfast
Marvel at the towering limestone karsts and vast paddy fields as you make your way from Ninh Bình to Hạ Long City, the gateway to Hạ Long Bay. Dotted with 3,000 limestones karsts, Hạ Long Bay is one of Vietnam's stunning natural wonders. Board a beautifully appointed junk boat and begin to cruise the impressive emerald waters of Hạ Long Bay. Enjoy a sumptuous lunch before stopping to explore the many secluded corners of the bay. In the evening, retreat to your private cabin or relax on the main deck or at the bar. Overnight on-board the cruise. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Rise early to enjoy a Tai Chi lesson on the sundeck or choose to relax and take in your final moments in this majestic location before feasting on a delicious buffet brunch. After disembarkation, drive back to Hà Nội where you will conclude your journey or continue on to your next destination. Meals: Breakfast/Brunch
Tour Prices are per person twin share in Australian Dollars. Conditions apply and group tours are subject to change and availability. Prices are subject to currency fluctuations. (fca)
