Northern & central tour in Vietnam

You are greeted at Hanoi Airport by your driver. After settling into the hotel, you immerse yourself in one of the only Asian capitals that has reconciled its past with modern development. Depending on your arrival time, you have the opportunity to visit the museum of ethnography, which will prepare you for your adventure. Dinner at your leisure.

Your driver will pick you up at the hotel in the early morning to take the road to Ninh Binh. On the way, Hoa Lu will be the first stop. It was the first royal capital of Vietnam under 3 dynasties between 968 - 1010. Then after visiting the ancient citadel with its 2 sanctuaries, you head towards Tam Coc. Climb up Mua Cave to admire a breathtaking panorama.
After a lunch break in a local restaurant, you will take the boat ""sampán"" to cross the rivers and rice fields to the sacred caves of Tam Coc. You will quietly return to Hanoi to enjoy your evening at your leisure.

Our chauffeur will pick you up from the hotel around 08:00hrs to explore the capital of Vietnam. Your first stop will be Ba Dinh Square where the mausoleum of Ho Chi Minh is situated. Ho Chi Minh was a communist revolutionary leader who later became the Prime Minister and President to the nation. Our next stop will be Pagoda of Tran Quoc and the Temple of Literature. This is the very first university in the country.
Refresh yourself with lunch at a local restaurant.
After lunch, you will visit the magnificent ancient Citadel and Hoan Kiem Lake which is known to be the lake of the Replaced Sword. Next we will visit the temple of Ngoc Son followed by a cyclo ride through the alleys of the Old Quarter which is the heart of the city. Crowds, motorcycles, food stalls and is unique to the Old Quarter and not seen anywhere else in the country.
To conclude your enjoyable day, we will transfer you to the train station to take the overnight train to Lao Cai, sharing a 4 berths cabin. Dinner at leisure. Night on board.

You will arrive at Lao Cai train station by dawn, where you will be transferred to a hotel room to rest and refresh yourself with breakfast and a shower.
We will start trekking through from Sapa to Suoi Ho around 09:00 Hrs. This is a valley which is close to the city, where its originial tribal inhabitants still maintain their old way of life. The 2 hour trek through the hills takes us through a couple of Hmong minority villages and the village of Ma Tra, home of the Dzo Roja ethnic group.
Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant.
Return to Sapa by car. Spend the evening at your leisure.

Start a short walk through the Muong Hoa Valley, cross Y Linh Ho village where the H'mong Negrethnic minority lives, then Lao Chai village, surrounded by impressive rice terraces, and continuto Ta Van village where you can encounter the Dzay ethnic minority. Stop for lunch in a local house. This sharing moment will give you the opportunity to learn more about this minority.
Upon return, free time in Sapa. We recommend visiting Sapa Central Market and walking up to the top of the hill for a tremendous view of the whole area. We will return to Lao Cai to take the train back to Hanoi. Overnight in a private cabin with 4 bunk beds.

Our chauffeur will pick you up upon arrival at Hanoi train station between 04:45-05:15 hrs and transfer you to a hotel for an early check-in. Refresh, have breakfast and then get ready for the cruise.
Around 08:30 hrs, you will be driven towards the Tonkin Gulf across the Northern Red River Delta.
Embark on your cruise through Halong Bay for one night where you will enjoy delicious Vietnamese seafood. "Ha Long" was initially named as "Luc Hai" or "Blue Sea" on the ancient Annamese maps, but it is more commonly known as "Ha Long" after a legend about a dragon that came down from the sky to direct the water currents. Lunch and dinner on the junk. Overnight on board.
Note : the itinerary may vary depending on the cruise company.

Activities and brunch in Halong Bay in the morning, before returning to Tuan Chau port where your driver will transfer you back to Hanoi to enjoy the afternoon. Transfer to take the domestic flight to Hue. Overnight in Hue.

The city of Hue, the former imperial Capital of Nguyen Dynasty (1802-1945) is a time machine which takes you back to ancient times in Vietnam.
Our chauffeur will pick you up at your hotel around 08:00 hrs to visit Tu Duc, Khai Dinh & Ming Mang Emperors' tombs. On the way, we will stop by villages well-known for making the best conical hats and incense in the entire country. Stop for lunch then visit the imperial Citadel of Hue and its purple forbidden city. To conclude the day, we will visit the pagoda of Thien Mu located on the Perfume river bank where we will take a boat ride to enjoy the sunset. Evening at your leisure. Overnight in Hue.

After breakfast, drive to Hoi An with stops at Hai Van and the Marble Mountains.
Lunch at a local restaurant in Hoi An. Then check-in at hotel. Explore charming Hoi An at your leisure and stay for the night.

Free time to explore on your own or go shopping. At the stated time, transfer to Da Nang International Airport to take the flight back home.