VN - T 07: HIGHLIGHT OF NORTH VIETNAM, 6 days (L)
Hanoi - Sa Pa - Halong
Day 1 Hanoi
Arrival in
Hanoi, meet on arrival at Hanoi airport and transfer to the hotel. 
Sightseeing in Hanoi: visit One Pillar
Pagoda, Temple of Literature, Hoan Kiem Lake, Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum (closed on
Monday, Friday and the whole October-November), Opera House, St Joseph
Cathedral and enjoy Water Puppet Show before transfer back to hotel.
Overnight in Hanoi
HANOI, a city of lakes, shaded
boulevards and public parks, is the capital of Vietnam. It is a very attractive
city with French style buildings and less traffic than other cities in Asia.
ONE PILLAR PAGODA: built by the
Emperor Ly Thai Tong, who ruled from 1028 to 1054. Constructed of wood on a
single stone pillar, it is designed to resemble a lotus blossom.
TEMPLE OF LITERATURE: founded in 1070
by Emperor Ly Thanh Tong, who dedicated it to Confucius in order to honor
scholars and men of literary accomplishment.
HOAN KIEM LAKE: right in the
heart of Hanoi, this lake contains an islet with the tiny Tortoise Pagoda,
topped with a red star.
HO CHI MINH
MAUSOLEUM:
in the tradition of Lenin and Stalin before him and Mao after him, the final
resting place of Ho Chi Minh is a glass sarcophagus set deep in the bowels of a
monumental edifice that has become a site of pilgrimage. (Closed Mondays and
Fridays).
OPERA
HOUSE:
a magnificent 900-seat opera house built in 1911. (May be viewed from the
outside only).
ST JOSEPH CATHEDRAL: a neo-Gothic
cathedral finished in 1886, it is noteworthy for its square towers, elaborate
altar, and stained-glass windows.
WATER PUPPET SHOW: a fantastic art
form originating in northern Vietnam, best seen in Hanoi. The Municipal Water
Puppet Theater is located on the shore of Hoan Kiem Lake.
Day
2 Hanoi
– Halong
After breakfast at the hotel, drive from
Hanoi to Halong Bay - Journey east along Highway 5 across Hai Hung Province and
around Halong Bay. Discover Halong Bay by boat, to explores Halong Bay, passing
the islands of Trong, Mai, Am, Chen and Cong Troi (Heaven Gates). Stop at one
of the islands and visit Han Dau Go Cave or Bo Nau Cave or Thien Cung Cave.
Overnight in Halong
HALONG BAY: list as a world
Heritage Area of outstanding natural beauty “Dragon descending to the sea” as
it is known in Vietnamese, picturesque Halong Bay has more than 3,000 limestone
islets rising from the clear emerald water, many of them containing beautiful
grottoes.
HANG DAU GO: a huge, three-chambered cave, which is reached via 90 steps. The cave derives its Vietnamese name from the third of the chambers, which is said to have been used by Trang Hung Dao during the 13th century to store bamboo stakes used against the Mongol invaders.
BO NAU: the
"Pelican" caves.
THIEN CUNG: "Heaven
Palace."
Day
3 Halong
– Hanoi
After breakfast at the hotel, by vehicle
from Halong to Hanoi - Journey around Halong Bay via Hai Phong with bridge and
ferry crossing. Sightseeing in the old quarter by cyclo (2-3 hrs) Discover the
old quarter of Hanoi by cyclo. It is also called "36 streets," most
of which are named after the crafts or merchandise traditionally sold there.
Free time for shopping. Transfer to railway
station. By Victoria Express Train from Hanoi to Lao Cai
Overnight in train
THE VICTORIA
EXPRESS TRAIN
is made up of two carriages and one restaurant car. The two carriages, offering
5 Superior (4 berths) and 2 Deluxe (2 berths) compartments feature
air-conditioning, wood paneled interiors, individual reading lights, baggage
storage and ample space for hand luggage. The restaurant, with a corner bar and
ten four-person tables, offers Vietnamese and Western cuisine, snacks, and
drinks. The Victoria Express train departs 3 times a week from Hanoi Railway
Station: Monday and Wednesday at 09:30 pm and on Friday at 09:00 pm (this
schedule is subject to change). The journey takes 10 hours in total.
Day
4 Lao
Cai - Sa Pa
Transfer from Lao Cai train station to the
hotel in Sa Pa. After refreshment, sightseeing in Sa Pa, visit Market, Thac
Bac Waterfall and Tram Ton Pass
Overnight in Sa Pa
SA PA is a hill station built in 1922,
which lies in a beautiful valley with Fansipan Mountain overlooking the valley.
Sapa has both Hmong and Dzao people, the largest and most colorful ethnic
groups in the region.
MARKET: Montagnards from surrounding
villages don their most colorful costumes and head to the market on Saturday.
THAC BAC WATERFALL: a 100-meter high
waterfall, particularly impressive during the rainy season.
TRAM TON PASS: a pass on the
north side of Fansipan. At 1900 meters, this is the highest mountain pass in
Vietnam. Aside from the magnificent views, it is know for its sudden, dramatic
shifts in climate, from fog to sunshine.
Day
5 Sa
Pa – Train
Buffet breakfast at the hotel and be ready
for trekking to villages of the Hmuong Minorities. Along the road you will see
Hmuong, Dzay and Dzao minority people dressed in their traditional costumes.
Visit home of minorities and share their daily lives for a rare glimpse into
their culture and customs before transfer back to hotel for departure from Sa
Pa to Lao Cai train station
Overnight in train
Day
6 Hanoi
Arrive around 05.00 a.m at Hanoi Railway
Station, you will be allowed to dream until 07.00 am before transfer to the
airport for departure.
End
of Services **Note: Itinerary subject
to change due to flight schedules.