11- Day Essential Northern Vietnam Tour

On your arrival in Hanoi our local driver and tour guide will pick you up from the airport and transfer you to your hotel.



This evening meet your guide and fellow travellers for a Welcome Dinner.

Our tour guide and driver will pick you up from your hotel after breakfast and then we will visit Ho Chi Minh’s mausoleum and his former stilt-house residence, the Presidential Palace, the Ho Chi Minh museum, One Pillar Pagoda, the Temple of Literature and the Museum of Ethnology.



The colonial capital city Hanoi is a unique Asian city with tree-lined boulevards, French colonial architecture, peaceful lakes and oriental pagodas and temples dating back a thousand years. 



After lunch we will take a cyclo tour in Hanoi’s old quarter and experience traditional street life before watching a Water Puppet show.



In the afternoon you have the option to visit museums such as the Hanoi Hilton or Hoa Lo Prison, the National Museum of Vietnamese History, the Vietnam Military History museum, and the Vietnam National Museum of Fine Arts.



Our driver will drop you off to overnight at your Hanoi Hotel around 5pm.

This full-day Hanoi Countryside with Bike tour will take you away from the bustling in Hanoi to the peaceful countryside of Dong Ngac, one of the oldest villages in Hanoi. Explore this cultural village to experience the rural living and the stunning scenery it has to offer. You will be visiting the local market and the village's 300-year-old communal house. Join a cooking demonstration and enjoy lunch, before you head off for more biking across rural roadway in the afternoon.



Our tour guide and driver will pick you up from your hotel and then take a short drive to Dong Ngac village. When we arrive at the village, you will take on an interesting local market tour to buy the ingredients to cook lunch. Then, you will be transferred to a traditional house and be welcomed by our host.



After a short break, we will start biking and venture deeper into the village to visit Dong Ngac communal house, the oldest house in the village. Explore the fascinating history of this House.



At noon, we join a cooking demonstration in our host’s house and enjoy the dishes we have prepared. After lunch we will continue cycling through surrounding villages to Lien Mac to see the beautiful fields of vegetables and flowers and have the chance to chat with some of the local people out caring for their crops.



After returning to the host family home, have a short break and we will then head back to Hanoi.



You will be dropped off at your hotel in Hanoi around 5pm. 



Overnight in Hanoi.

After breakfast, our driver and tour guide will pick you up and transfer you to Hanoi Bus Station. 



Today, you will travel to Sapa via Express Bus. 



You will arrive at Sapa town mid-afternoon where our local tour guide will meet you and transfer you to your hotel.



We then take a 1.5-hour tour of Sapa town and have dinner before transferring back to your hotel.



Overnight in Sapa.

Our tour guide and driver will pick up you from your hotel at 8am then transfer you to Thanh Phu Bridge where we start our trekking tour through rice terrace fields, mountains and streams. 



After lunch in Tay village, we continue trekking to Sin Chai B village, home of the Red Dao People. 



Overnight in Sapa.

Today we will visit My Son village, home of Xa Pho ethnic minority group. This is known as the smallest group ethnic in Northern Vietnam. We also see embroidery made by Xa Pho ladies.



Later, we continue on trekking to Nam Toong for our lunch then to Ban Ho village where we can swim or relax.



The awaiting vehicle will transfer us back to Sapa town in the late afternoon. 



Approx: 1-hour driving/5 hours walking/ 1-hour lunch

Relax in the morning before taking the Express Bus back to Hanoi in the afternoon.



On arrival back in Hanoi our driver will pick you up from the bus station and transfer you back to your hotel.



Overnight in Hanoi.

Our cruise bus will pick you up from your hotel in Hanoi around 8am and transfer you to Tuan Chau wharf at Halong Bay (4-hour drive).



Upon arrival, join your fellow cruise passengers aboard the luxury boat, built to resemble a traditional junk.



After a safety briefing and cruise orientation by your expert crew, enjoy a complimentary welcome drink and fruit as you relax, checking in to your deluxe single or shared ensuite cabin at your leisure.



Enjoy a delicious seafood feast for lunch, served on board while cruising along beautiful Halong Bay. Listen to your crew describe fascinating seascapes and point out rocky limestone formations.



On arrival at Vung Vieng we will take a rowboat trip and pass through the local floating houses, a floating school & floating information centre, meet and see the local life, enjoy the magnificent landscape with limestone mountains and sea caves. Luxury kayaks are available for people who want to discover the village by themselves. We then head back to the cruise boat and journey out to visit Drum Cave (Trong Cave) where we can enjoy the rest of the afternoon swimming in the emerald waters (weather permits)



Join a cooking demonstration on the sundeck and learn to make the fresh/fried spring rolls and mix fish-sauce before a luxury buffet BBQ dinner.



After taking part in a cooking class, enjoy a sumptuous seafood dinner served on board.



In the evening, relax in your cabin or join the optional onboard activities such as night fishing for squid.

There is an option to enjoy an early Tai Chi session before a light breakfast onboard the cruise ship.



After breakfast, we transfer to the day boat and visit Cat Ba Island in Lan Ha Bay, .



On arrival at Viet Hai pier we take a bicycle trip along the village paths through rain forests and dark tunnels. Enjoy the wildlife, stunning scenery with rice fields and freshwater before we stop at the village to chat with the locals before a short trek in the Cat Ba National Forest to visit Bat Cave.



Next we cycle back to Viet Hai pier and return to the boat and continue cruising before lunch is served on board.



After lunch enjoy kayaking in Dark Cave, Light Cave or in the 3-Peach lagoon or have a swim on the beach (subject to weather and tide conditions). After that we will cruise back to anchor overnight near Drum Cave.



In the afternoon relax and enjoy sunset or join a cooking demonstration on the sundeck and learn to make the fresh/fried spring rolls and mix fish-sauce before enjoying a luxury buffet BBQ dinner



Evening activities onboard the cruise include: film entertainment in the outdoor bar area; board and card games or squid fishing on a boat with our crew. You can enjoy the squid cooked with assistance from our chef.



We then anchor overnight near Drum cave to overnight on Halong Bay Cruise Ship.

Relax with a morning tai chi class on the sundeck, following the fluid movements of your instructor as you practice this ancient martial art.



Then unwind and soak up more sun on the top deck, a perfect spot for photographing the natural wonders of the bay as your light breakfast  (pastries, coffee, and fruit) is served on the boat.



From there, visit the Cave of Surprises (Sung Sot Cave), located on Bo Hon Island, which is actually an array of linked limestone islets. Upon arrival, climb the hundred stone steps to the mouth of the cave and explore the lit paths inside on a guided walking tour. The cave is the widest grotto in Halong Bay and features multiple stalactites hanging from its high ceiling!



See more stunning sights on your return to the Halong wharf as you enjoy a buffet brunch on the cruise ship.



When you arrive back at the Tuan Chau Marina, you'll be met by a vehicle for the four-hour journey back to Hanoi.



You will be dropped off at your hotel upon arrival in the capital.



In the evening our Tour Guide will take you out to enjoy our Farewell Dinner.



Overnight Hanoi.

Today, we will transfer you to the airport for your departure flight home.