Northern Vietnam: Sapa and Halong Bay – 9 Days

Xin chao! Welcome to Vietnam. Upon arrival, make your own way from the airport to your Hanoi hotel.  The standard check-in time is from 14:00. At 18:00, you will meet your guide in the hotel lobby/restaurant, from there we will head out to a local Vietnamese restaurant for a welcome dinner and briefing.

Meals: Dinner
Accommodation: Rex Hotel

This morning, savour a delicious breakfast before we start with a walking tour with your guide around Hanoi, taking in sights such as the Hanoi Opera House, a distinguished example of French architecture in the capital of Vietnam, Ba Da Pagoda, a religious and historic site of Hanoi in The Old Quarter and Hoan Kiem Lake are iconic and are in the heart of Hanoi.
After this exploratory walk in the morning, you can discover the capital yourself and explore the many, many food options as you wish, but save some space….
At 16:30, your expert local guide will give you an insight into the intricacies and traditions of Vietnamese food culture, including details on ingredients and historical backgrounds of popular northern dishes. You will eat as you go and immerse yourself in the atmospheric heart of the Old Quarter. Wander past street stalls and quiet residential lanes to observe local life that has changed little since Hanoi was founded over 1000 years ago. The street food tour in the late afternoon involves around 3 km of walking.

There is a day room in the hotel to use back at the hotel before we head to Hanoi Railway Station later that evening to take the overnight train to Lao Cai.

Walking: 8.4km
Accommodation: Overnight sleeper train in 2-berth cabins. A sheet, pillow and blanket are provided.
Meals: Breakfast, Street food tour & Dinner

From the bustling streets of Hanoi we arrive into the beautiful verdant landscapes surrounding Sapa. You will be picked up from the train station and transferred into town, where we will enjoy a local breakfast and a short rest before we commence our hiking. Your luggage will be transferred to the hotel, so please be ready for hiking when we arrive in Sapa. Step into a world of stunning vistas as walk southeast of Sapa along the side of the Muong Hoa Valley to Y Linh Ho village, home to the H’mong people. We will visit the local village and then proceed to Lao Chai village. Our private bus will be waiting for you to take you back to your awaiting hotel and luggage in Sapa.

Walking: 11km / 4 to 5 hrs
Elevation: +295m/ -300m
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Accommodation: Cat Cat View Hotel or of a similar standard.

After breakfast, it’s a short transfer on our bus (25 mins). From there we’ll begin hiking along winding trails, navigating through lush rice terraces and past traditional wooden homes, with the misty peaks of the Hoàng Liên Son mountain range towering in the distance. Discover the small charming village of Su Pan. Traverse winding paths that meander through terraced rice fields. From here we continue into the Hoang Lien National Park, as we venture deeper into the landscape we traverse a dense bamboo forest, with an enchanting atmosphere and numerous waterfalls. This unveils a striking contrast of vibrant green valleys, cascading waterfalls, and timeless village life, offering an intimate look at the daily rhythms of the Hmong people.

Walking: 11km / 4 to 5 hrs
Elevation: +295/-300m
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Accommodation: Cat Cat View Hotel or a similar standard.

After breakfast, you will be transferred to the starting point in O Quy Ho Pass – one
of the most impressive and challenging mountain passes in the northern region of Vietnam.  We start our walk to Sin Chai village, which is located right at the foot of the Hoang Lien
mountain range. There are stunning panoramas of the majestic mountains and rice terraces.

Walking: 15.5km /  5 to 6 hrs
Elevation: +700m/-700m
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Accommodation: Cat Cat View Hotel or of a similar standard.

A quick transfer this morning to Ma Tra village, we head off the main road, onto hilly mountainous trails surrounded by lush vegetation. Ma Tra has around 50 households, populated by the local H’mong people. After about 3 hours ‘ walk from Ma Tra, you will then reach Taphin village, where the red Dao and H’mong reside. With this mix of ethnicity, the culture of this village is exciting and colourful. Lunch will be served en route.  You will also have a chance to visit the unique caves in the Taphin area. The village also has an old monastery built during the French colonial period. There is also an arts and crafts house that displays and sells authentic jewellery made by the locals.

Walking: 8km / 3 to 4 hrs
Elevation: +195m/ -150m
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Accommodation: Cat Cat View Hotel or of a similar standard.

This morning we walk straight from the town to Ham Rong Mountain. Its name is derived from the shape of its peak, which resembles the jaw of a dragon. It offers unrivalled views and panoramic vistas of Sapa and the surrounding mountains. After the amazing view, we walk back to the town to enjoy lunch at a local restaurant. In the afternoon, enjoy free time exploring Sapa town, or we will continue our walk to the nearby Cat Cat village.

Late afternoon walk back to the hotel and take a shower before an early dinner tonight, we then say goodbye to Sapa to transfer to Lao Cai Station for the overnight train to Hanoi.

Walking: Approx 10km /4hrs
Elevation: +300m/ – 300m
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Accommodation: Overnight sleep train in 2 berth cabins a sheet, pillow and blanket are provided.

After arriving back in Hanoi, you will be picked up from the railway station, and we will head to a local restaurant for a typical regional breakfast. You will then be transferred to another fascinating land, the gem in northern Vietnam, Halong Bay.
From the harbour, board our boat for a cruise among the numerous limestone karsts rising from the emerald water. After a welcome drink and special lunch aboard, sit back as we cruise to Lan Ha Bay, one of the most beautiful bays in the world. Immerse yourself in the emerald water, go kayaking, and enjoy the top-deck Jacuzzi. In the evening, you can join the chefs for a cooking demonstration of authentic spring rolls.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Accommodation: Luxury 2-berth rooms aboard Peony cruises

Revel in the luxury this morning of your cabins or opt for an early morning Tai Chi session on deck before breakfast. Later in the morning, you can join a tour to Trung Tran, one of the most impressive limestone caves on Cat Ba Island. Enjoy your time sunbathing and relaxing with the fascinating bay landscape all around you. After brunch on board – around 11.30 am, we then dock and transfer you back to Hanoi, arriving at approx 14:-15:00, where we end our tour.

Walking: Approx 1km / 1 hr

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch