From Hanoi: 8-Day Amazing Northern Vietnam Trip (Hanoi - Ha Long Bay - Ninh Binh - Sapa)

A warm welcome to Ha Noi awaits you!

Arriving at Noi Bai International Airport, you will be met and taken up to the hotel. The rest of the day is your own time for relaxation or visit around on your own.

Have a welcome dinner and enjoy your first taste of this Vietnam Trip. A comfortable overnight stay at the hotel marks the end of the first day of your HA NOI - HA LONG - NINH BINH - SAPA: 8-DAY CLASSIC NORTHERN VIETNAM TRIP!

Meals Included: Dinner.

08:00-08:30: We will pick you up at the hotel. In the morning, we will visit:

• Tran Quoc Pagoda - West Lake, which is one of the oldest pagodas in Vietnam with its historical progression in 1500 years. It has a harmonious combination between the majesty, hoariness of architecture, and peaceful landscape of the West Lake. 
• Visit the Complex of President Ho Chi Minh (Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum and Stilt House) - Where the great leader lived and worked until the last years of his life. Here, you will have the opportunity to learn about Uncle Ho's simple life. In addition, stop by One Pillar Pagoda to admire one of the 4 symbols of Hanoi. 

Note: On Monday and Friday, Mausoleum Management Board will carry out maintenance of the mausoleum, you will visit only outside of Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum, Stilt House, and One Pillar Pagoda.

• The Temple of Literature, which was constructed in 1070, was the first university in Vietnam. Its gardens and well-preserved architecture will offer a relaxing glimpse into Vietnam’s past.

12:00: Have lunch at the restaurant. 

Then We will visit:

• Thang Long Imperial Citadel, which was built in the 11th century by the Ly Viet Dynasty, marking the independence of the Dai Viet. The Imperial Citadel buildings reflect a unique South-East Asian culture specific to the lower Red River Valley, at the crossroads between influences coming from China in the north and the ancient Kingdom of Champa in the south.

Note: Every Monday, Thang Long Imperial Citadel will be closed. If departing on Monday, the attractions of Thang Long Imperial Citadel will be compensated with tickets to visit Ngoc Son Temple.

• Hoa Lo Prison, is a symbol of the prisoners' strong will and sacrifice for their communist principles. It is well-known as one of the most brutal jails with terrifying punishment..
• St. Joseph's Cathedral: A Hanoi Attraction with Unique Structure in the Old Quarter.
• Hoan Kiem Lake (Sword Lake) - is famous for its peaceful beauty, and its cultural as well as historical values with Turtle Tower, and Ngoc Son Temple. Furthermore, you can discover the Vietnamese traditional and French colonial architecture through the buildings surrounding.

16:00: Back to your hotel. Relax.

Have dinner and enjoy the night.

• Optional: Recommended activities to do: rent a cyclo around the Old Quarter and Sword Lake, enjoy a water puppet show, Food tour.

Overnight in Hanoi. Finish Day 2!

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch.

Have breakfast.

08:00: Leave Hanoi for Ha Long Bay. Enjoy the peaceful scenery as we travel through the countryside, farmlands, and Red River delta. Comfort break. 

12:00: Reach Tuan Chau Wharf. Upon your arrival in Ha Long Bay, you will be taken on board. Check-in before lunch.

13:00: Have lunch while the boat is sailing through Ha Long Bay. After lunchtime, you will have a short break before joining the first activity of the tour. Time to refresh and unwind with Paradise Sails Cruise:

• Tung Sau Pearl Farm is the most well-known pearl farm in Halong Bay where you can witness and learn the entire process of making pearls and expansive pearl products from the first step of growing to harvesting pearl. You can enjoy kayaking here.
• Drop anchor in the calm water surrounded by beautiful islets. Visit Titop Island for swimming and snorkeling or do the short trek to the top of the island to have an overview of Halong Bay from here.

Heading back toward the sleeping area.

Summit on the sundeck watching the sunset, and enjoy a Sunset party.

Have dinner. Enjoy your free time. You can try night squid fishing.

Overnight in Halong Bay. Finish Day 3!

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

Start the new day with the sound of sea waves.

06:30: Greets first light of the Day on Sundeck, warming up your body with Tai Chi lessons or enjoying leisure time in your room.

07:00: Enjoy a light breakfast, before starting the journey to visit

the last view in the schedule.

• Visit Sung Sot Cave (Surprising Cave), the largest and most beautiful cave in Halong Bay. The stalagmites will astound you. Magnificent stalactites formed over millions of years, evolving into abundant and mystical forms. 

08:45: Back on the cruise, you can enjoy a deluxe breakfast buffet. The cruise will once again pass through Thien Cung Cave, Dau Go Cave, and Ga Choi Islet before you check out and return to Tuan Chau Wharf.

11:30: Reach the Wharf. Move back to Hanoi.

12:00:  Have lunch. 

15:00: Back to Hanoi Hotel check-in. Have free time to relax or visit Hanoi City

• Recommend: Hanoi Train Street, enjoy Egg Coffee, enjoy the sunset at West Lake, museums, Long Bien Bridge, Dong Xuan Market, Hanoi Old Quarter.

Free to have dinner and enjoy the night.

Overnight in Hanoi. Finish day 4!

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch.

08:00: Have breakfast. Leave for Ninh Binh

• Visit Mua Cave. After climbing several hundred stone steps, you can see all the way to Tam Coc and enjoy one of the most spectacular panoramic views in Vietnam. 
• Get on a small boat to visit Trang An Landscape Complex.

Trang An Landscape Complex is the first and only UNESCO World Mixed Heritage Site of Vietnam, which is a combination of a spectacular landscape of limestone karst peaks permeated with valleys and the Vietnamese ancient culture from the 10th century with temples, pagodas, paddy fields, and small villages.

12:00: Have lunch.

• Visit Hoa Lu Ancient Capital, which is known as the first capital of Vietnam with a wide range of historical landmarks from the 10th century.

15:00: Back to Hanoi.

Free to have dinner and enjoy Hanoi at night.

Overnight in Hanoi. Finish Day 5!

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch.

07:00: After having breakfast, start moving to Sapa which is far from Ha Noi around 6 hours by bus. 

09:30: Have the first comfort break in Phu Tho Province.

11:30: Have lunch in Lao Cai City. 

14:00: Reach Sapa Town with colorful traditional costumes of Hmong, Dzao, and Tay ethnic People. Hotel check-in. 

• A short drive to Y Linh Ho village then trek through the rice terraces and along Muong Hoa stream to the Black Hmong village of Lao Chai to see the spectacular landscape of Hoang Lien Son Mountain. Black Hmong is one of the biggest minority groups in the Sapa area. They are proud of their culture and keep their traditions and way of living. There are still a lot of traces of the past that can be seen: rudimentary houses, stone walls around homes… After that, continue to Ta Van village to visit the Zay people. Zay is a fairly small minority group who live mainly in the mountains in Northwest Vietnam.
• The car and driver wait for you at Ta Van Bridge to take you back to Sapa. 

18:00: Have dinner. Have free to discover Sapa town. Overnight in Sapa Town. Finish Day 6!

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

Wake up and enjoy the fresh air and atmosphere of Sapa. Breakfast at the hotel.

• We start walking downhill to Cat Cat village, which is home to Black Hmong ethnic people and is located near the bottom of a deep valley at the foot of Fansipan Peak. Enjoy beautiful landscapes and scenery along the road. We reach Cat Cat village, trek down to the valley bottom to the beautiful waterfall where the French built a Hydraulic Power Station; stop for a photo with the bridge and waterfall, and take a short break. Free to visit around Sa Pa to have lunch or go shopping.

15:00: Begin your journey back to Hanoi.

Have dinner on the way back to Hanoi

20:30: Reach Hanoi, check-in, and Overnight in Hanoi. Finish Day 7!

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner.

It’s time to collect all the memories of the Vietnam tour and go back home.

Have breakfast, and enjoy the morning at leisure. Check-out. Enjoy the free time until transfer to the airport for your departure flight.

Finish HANOI – HALONG - NINH BINH - SAPA: 8-DAY CLASSIC NORTHERN VIETNAM TRIP!

Thank you and See you on your next GTrip adventures!

Meals Included: Breakfast.