IN-FOCUS VIETNAM FAMILY HOLIDAY TO HANOI-HALONG AND SAPA

* BRIEF ITINERARY:

Day 1: Hanoi – Arrival

Day 2: Hanoi – City tour – Night train to Sapa

Day 3: Sapa – Bac Ha

Day 4: Sapa – Lao Chai – Ta Van  – Night train to Hanoi

Day 5: Hanoi – Halong Bay (overnight on junk cruise)

Day 6: Halong Bay – Hanoi

Day 7: Hanoi – Departure

DAY 1: In-Focus Vietnam Family Holiday to Hanoi, Halong bay and Sapa: ARRIVAL – HANOI FAMILY TOURS (-/-/) West Lake in Hanoi – Vietnam family tour.

Xin Chao! Welcome to Hanoi, the capital of unified Vietnam. Being founded in 1010 on the right bank of the Red River, the city was then known as ‘Thang Long’, roughly translated as “Soaring Dragon.” Hanoi comes out in mind as one of the most charming cities in South East Asia with its authentic street scenes, large shady avenues, numerous lakes, manicured gardens and well-preserved architecture.

On arrival, you will be greeted and transferred to your desired hotel for check- in and tour briefing. Time permitting, take an orientation walking tour around and a chance to acclimatize ourselves. Free evening.

Overnight in Hanoi.

DAY 2: In-Focus Vietnam Family Holiday to Hanoi, Halong bay and Sapa: HANOI SIGHTSEEING TOURS – NIGHT TRAIN TO SAPA  (B/-/)

Today you’ll be on a full day tour to discover the most outstanding attractions of Hanoi. First, pay a visit to the complex of memorials to Ho Chi Minh to know his amazing life. Continue to the One Pillar Pagoda and the Temple of Literature to gain understanding of the two driving forces in Vietnam culture.

Afternoon visit the Museum of Ethnology which exhibits a large collection of artifacts about the cultures of the 54 ethnic groups in the country. Next, enjoy a rickshaw ride through the lively Old Quarter, a series of 36 ancient streets where peddlers still trade the way they have done for centuries.

The rickshaw tour ends up at an old house on Ma May Street, an example of dwellings in the 19 century. Later, you will be transferred to a hotel to have a break and shower before boarding the night train to Sapa.

Overnight on the train.

DAY 3: In-Focus Vietnam Family Holiday to Hanoi, Halong bay and Sapa: LAO CAI – BAC HA MARKET TOURS – SAPA FAMILY TOURS (B/L/-)

06h00: After having breakfast, you will travel northeast for 70 km by car to Bac Ha, which is best known as the largest market in the area. On every Sunday mornings, it is literally a riot of color as many different ethnic groups such as Flower Hmong, Phu La, Black Dao, Tay, Nung minorities… gather to buy and sell. Geographically, the minorities settle apart and as the natural need, they wait for the market day to see and to be seen.

After spending the whole morning exploring the market, your lunch will be served in a local restaurant.

After lunch, you drive downhill for about half an hour. You will then get out of your comfort to start a short walk to Trung Do village, which belongs to the Tay minority. Here you can visit a traditional Tay house, interact with the locals before boarding a locally used boat to cruise upstream the Chay River to experience the picturesque scenes on the river banks. You will then cruise downstream to the Bao Nhai Bridge, where you will embark to get on the car for the journey to Sapa. In the late afternoon you are free to visit Sa Pa town and Sapa market. Overnight in Sapa.

* Notes:

+ Option to Coc Ly market if the trip starts on Tuesday

Coc Ly, which is 70 km Northeast of Lao Cai. The ride is relatively flat from Lao Cai. It will take you through rural area. Coc Ly market locates by the Chay River, which flows from China. Every Tuesday morning, minorities from surrounding villages such as Flower Hmong, Black Zao and Tay, gather to sell and buy their products.

+ Option to Can Cau market if the trip starts on Saturday. Can Cau is a small, but very colorful market. Open only on Saturdays, it always delivers a very photogenic display of Flower Hmong, Black Dao, Phu La ethnic costumes. Chinese people also come for trading.

DAY 4: In-Focus Vietnam Family Holiday to Hanoi, Halong bay and Sapa: SAPA FAMILY TOURS TO LAO CHAI – TA VAN VILLAGES (B/-/)

After breakfast, the guide takes you to the villages of the H’mong and Dzay called Lao Chai and Ta Van.The day is devoted to a beautiful hike through the breathtaking scenery of Sa Pa valley. Start by road that descends in the wake of the street Cau May (6 km) En route, admire the rice terraces hidden behind mist of the morning, a truly awe-inspiring sight.

Follow a small track and cross Muong Hoa River and pass the beautiful rice terraces on your way to the Black Hmong village of Lao Chai. Continuing through the colorful rice terraces you will reach the village of Ta Van Giay. As you continue your trek along the Muong Hoa River you will cross a small suspension bridge, roughly 2km from the settlement.

Here you can discover a fascinating collection of rock carvings. These engravings depict some beautiful images of man, stilt houses and some beautiful decorative patterns. We lunch in a village home. After lunch the walk continues through a bamboo forest to visit Red Dao ethnic minority village. After taking a rest nearby a waterfall to refresh, you start climbing uphill to a road where the car is ready for your journey back to Lao Cai railway.

Overnight on the train.

DAY 5: In-Focus Vietnam Family Holiday to Hanoi, Halong bay and Sapa: HANOI FAMILY TOURS TO HALONG BAY – OVERNIGHT ON BOAT (B/L/D)Halong – Vietnam Family Tour

We will arrive in Hanoi at around 4:30 AM, and then transfer to a hotel for our short relax and breakfast.

At 08:00 AM, we will start our tour to Halong Bay.

The vehicle takes us through the Red River Delta for 3,5 hour and we will arrive the port at around midday. Welcome by the Cruiser crew team and enjoy fresh seafood lunch while the cruise is gliding out.

In the afternoon, we visit Sung Sot cave (Surprising cave) in the middle of the Bay and swim. The sunset’s coming is our time to relax on the deck with favorite drink…

Delicious dinner will be served with typical local seafood.

Overnight on boat.

DAY 6: In-Focus Vietnam Family Holiday to Hanoi, Halong bay and Sapa HA LONG BAY CRUISE TOURS – HANOI (B/L/)

This morning, we will visit Titop Island and relax on the beach. Optional for us is walking up to the top of the island to get panoramic view of the anchorage area.

We then back to the Cruiser to learn the recipes and techniques that go into the most popular dish of the Vietnamese food.

Lunch will be served when cruising back to the port where our awaiting vehicle will transfer us back to Hanoi.

Overnight in Hanoi.

DAY 7: In-Focus Vietnam Family Holiday to Hanoi, Halong bay and Sapa: HANOI – DEPARTURE (B/-/)

Free until transfer you to the airport for your flight home. Trip ends!