Day 1: Arrival Hanoi (D)
Warmmly welcome on arrival in Hanoi airport. Asia Charm Tours's guide and driver will pick you up at the airport and transfer to hotel. Welcome dinner at local restaurant followed by a WaterPuppet show. Overnight in Hanoi.
Day 2: Hanoi City Tour (B/L)
Start your luxury adventure trip in Hanoi, Vietnam 's artistic and intellectual capital. Explore the fascinating Hanoi Old Quarter and its hundreds of specialty shops selling silk clothing, lacquerware, embroidered linens, furniture, bamboo, cooking utensils, ceremonial objects and more. Walk around Hoan Kiem Lake , take a ride on a cyclo to dinner, and watch a performance of Vietnam 's famed water puppet show. Dinner in French colonial villas converted into gourmet restaurants. Enjoy people watching at stylish cafes. Shop for impressive modern art in the city's many galleries. Also visit Hanoi 's main cultural attractions, including the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, his House on Stilts, the One Pillar Pagoda, the Fine Arts Museum and the Temple of Literature. Overnight in Hanoi.
Day 3: Hanoi - Lao Cai by Victoria Express Train for Sapa (B)
Enjoy a free day of leisure in the post-colonial city Hanoi . You may like to visit the bustling, narrow streets of the Old Quarter; each street specializing in one particular product, or perhaps opt for some cultural sights by viewing some of Hanoi's many museums. In particular the Museum of Ethnology dedicated to Vietnam 's 54 ethnic minority peoples. Perhaps you could visit Hoa Lo prison, formerly known by its inmates as 'The Hanoi Hilton'. Some of its more notable guests included Senator John McCain and Pete Peterson, the first post-war U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam. You could stroll around the French quarter where many of the embassies are located. Or take a shopping expedition in the Old Quarter or just relax at one of the many parks and lakes that make Hanoi one of the greenest cities in Asia.
In the evening your guide will meet you at your hotel & bring you to the Hanoi station for getting on the Victoria Express train. Overnight on train.
Day 4: Lao Cai - Sapa (B/L)
The train arrives at the Lao Cai train station at approximately 6:00am. There will be a vehicle waiting to transfer us to Sapa. The drive to Sapa is only 33 km but it takes around 1.5 hours. Once at Sapa, we will check into Victoria hotel (Early check-in subject to availabilty) and have breakfast at the Ta Van Restaurant of Victoria Hotel and then enjoy a free morning to explore around town.
Meet your guide in the hotel lobby at 2:00 pm for a walking tour to the hilltribe villages of Cat Cat, home to the H'mong ethnic minority peoples. As you walk to the villages nestled in the valley below Sapa, you will meet some of the local minority people on their way to and from Sapa. In the village you have the opportunity to share cultural experiences with the families that live in the area. Overnight at Victoria Sapa hotel.
Day 5: Sapa - Hanoi (B/L)
Following breakfast at we explore the Sapa daily market and then set out on our 3-4 hour trek that will take us along buffalo paths and trails and through several hilltribe villages of Lao Chai and Tavan, home to H'mong, and Dzay people. This is an absolutely spectacular walk through stunning scenery inhabited by some of the friendliest people you can meet. Stop for lunch on the way to Ta Van village. Transfer to Lao Cai station for Victoria Express train back to Hanoi. Overnight on train.
Day 6: Hanoi - Halong Bay - Cruise (B/L/D)
Early arrive in Hanoi around 5:00 am. Pick up from here, transfer to restaurant for breakfast and morning coffee.
08:30: Leave Hanoi for Halong Bay by parivate car
11:30: Arrive at Bai Chay/Halong pier.
12:15: Transfer by tender to the boat – enjoy Welcome Drink, receive cruise briefing and safety instructions.
12:30: Depart by boat to Halong Bay - start cruise and check-in to cabins
13:00: Enjoy deluxe Vietnamese and International Set Menu Lunch.
Massage service available beginning after lunch and throughout the cruise. Please book in advance with your Cruise Manager.
14:30: Arrive at Titop Island. Enjoy swimming, relaxing on the beach and climbing the steps to the top of the mountain on the island for fantastic views and photo opportunities. Water and towels will be supplied. We will spend about 45 minutes on the island..
15:15: Return to the boat and sail for about 45 minutes to our second stop - the Bat Cave area.
16:00: Arrive at the Bat Cave area. There are two programs to choose from at this time. One option is a 40 minute kayaking program to the nearby Bat Cave and lagoon and surrounding waters. Kayaking is $10. per person unless already booked as part of your package. Water is supplied.
The second option is to visit the Cua Van floating fishing village, the largest floating fishing village in Halong Bay. There are about 130 floating houses and about 600 people live and work in the village. We will travel to the village on the tender and tour the village for approximately 20 minutes.
17:45: Depart and sail for about 30 minutes to Luon Bo area, where we will anchor for overnight.
19:30: Enjoy deluxe Vietnamese & Western Buffet /Set Menu Dinner.
20:30: Evening activities include: film entertainment in the dining room at approximately 9:00, board games and playing cards are available, and massage services are available. We also offer Squid fishing on the boat.
21:00: Happy Hour! Buy one drink - get one free (wine excluded)
23:00: End of Program for Day One
Day 7: Halong Bay - Hanoi (B)
06:30: Enjoy Tai Chi on the sundeck.
07:00: Coffee, tea and breakfast pastries served in the dining room.
07:45: Arrive by boat at the Surprise Cave - Optional tour program: prepare for visiting the Surprise Cave OR relax onboard the boat. Massage service is available.
08:00: Transfer by tender to the Surprise Cave. Tour the cave for approximately 45 minutes
09:00: Upon return to the boat please check-out of cabins. Please leave heavy luggage outside of the cabins (staff will transfer to the pier).
09:30: Upon return to the boat you will have 30 minutes to freshen up and finish packing. Please remove your belongings from the cabins, you may leave heavy luggage outside of the cabins (staff will transfer directly to the pier). Depart for Bai Chay/Halong pier.
09:45: Enjoy Breakfast Set Menu/ Buffet in the dining room.Bills settled after breakfast. Relax on the sundeck or in the dining room enjoying the bay scenery as we approach the pier.
11:00: Arrive at Bai Chay/Halong pier. Transfer by tender to the pier, relax inside the pier building. Rejoin your private car for transfer back to your hotel in Hannoi.
Day 8: Hanoi Departure (B)
You have free time until pick-up at your hotel and transfer to Noi Bai airport for your departure flight. End of services.
We have teamed up with Asia Charm Tours, one of the leading tour operators in Vietnam. All the tours on our site are provided by Asia Charm Tours, and will be handled by their experienced travel advisors.
