Halong Bay Multi-day Tours Private Expedition

Welcome to Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam. During the following one week, you’ll be shown around the most classical and characteristic sites in this city and other must-visit regions in northern Vietnam. Upon arrival, meet your professional guide and experienced driver at the airport and then be transferred to a well-selected downtown hotel. After a short rest, your adventure begins in the city center with the Hoan Kiem Lake.

Then we will visit the Ngoc Son Temple.

Besides, we will admire the Hanoi Opera House, which is an architectural symbol of the French colonial period.

Furthermore, we will explore Old Quarter. Strolling along the bustling streets packed with life and commerce in Old Quarter, you’ll find that each street is named after the goods it specializes in, like one is dedicated to fabrics, another to quilts and blankets, another to shoes, just to name a few.

After breakfast, go to the heart of Hanoi and stretch your legs at the Ba Dihn Square, with a capacity of 200,000 people at one time.

In front of the square, reminisce about the father of Vietnam at the Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum, where his remains are preserved. He was once a mess boy on a French merchant ship, and this experience had allowed him to witness many countries, different cultures, and various political movements; this had a profound impact on his thoughts, and possibly contributed to his later fight for national independence. To learn more and how great and low-profile Uncle Ho was, continue to the Presidential Palace and his Stilt House.

After a short walk outside the president's mansion, visit the One Pillar Pagoda, which is built on a large stone pillar rising out of a pond.

Afterwards, learn about the profound influence of Chinese culture on Vietnam in the Temple of Literature, which was built in 1070 to worship the Chinese Confucius and known as Vietnam's first national college.

Then, we will explore the Quan Thanh Temple.

Next, visit Tran Quoc Pagoda and admire West Lake.

Besides, we will explore either the National Museum of History or the Museum of Ethnology based on the opening time.

By nightfall, enjoy a traditional Water Puppet Show, which was originated in the 11th century when rice farmers stood in waist-deep water and entertained themselves by performing folk tales. Supported by sticks, puppets became those farmers, planting rice seedlings or dancing with gods and beasts. After the show, go to the railway station for an overnight train ride to Lao Cai, with sleeper tickets well reserved.

Upon your arrival in Lao Cai in the early morning, your local guide and driver will pick you up at the exit of the train station on time. After a half-hour drive, we will arrive in Sapa, a welcome summer resort full of exotic atmosphere, and check into the hotel. Enjoy a breakfast at the hotel and we will kick off trekking through terraced rice fields, the biggest draw of Sapa. Along the way, immerse yourself in nature harmoniously integrated with local tribal culture - you will find buffalos grazing on the fields, local farmers running bamboo waterwheels to grind rice, as well as elderly women weaving bags and scarves and embroidering unique motifs on them. Explore Cat Cat Village to look for these and the Cat Cat Fall, from which the village took its name. Then head to Sin Chai Village, another ethnic minority village with more primitive scenery and less crowds. The rest of the day will be left for you to explore the town on your own freely.

Sapa is located in a valley so it will impress you immediately with its spectacular landscape, most of which has been developed into rice terraces by locals. The pristine mountain villages are inhabited mainly by members of the H'mong, Dzao and Dzay ethnic groups, who still live a traditional life. Among the hustle and bustle on the main street, you’ll see local women still in traditional clothes carrying baskets filled with daily supplies and handicrafts on their backs. This place absolutely deserves an in-depth exploration and today you’ll have a full day’s time to hike through the picturesque valleys and villages, where you’ll delve into more tribal cultures and traditions. Based on your physical conditions, you may choose to have a short trek for about 3 kilometers (1.9 miles), a medium-length trek for about 6 kilometers (3.7 miles), or a longer trek for about 12 kilometers (7.4 miles). This evening, you will be transferred to Lao Cai to take the overnight train back to Hanoi.

The train will arrive in Hanoi in the morning and your guide and driver will pick you up outside the train station on time and then accompany you to have breakfast at a nearby hotel. Then take a 3.5-hour drive to Ha Long Bay to witness one of the New Seven Wonders of Nature, for its thousands of karst limestone islets rising above the sea. Upon arrival at noon, board a luxury cruise we selected based on our experience to fully explore the bay. After savoring Vietnamese cuisine on board, enjoy your sightseeing here. Signature Royal Cruise will show you around Bai Tu Long Bay in the northeast and get you a close look at a local floating village.

In the early morning, generally from 05:30 to 07:00, you can participate in the Tai Chi class on the top deck if you like. Feel free to enjoy morning tea, coffee and pastries in the dining room. If you take the Signature Royal Cruise, explore the Thien Canh Son Cave to admire the stunning stalactites and stalagmites and climb to the peak for a 360-degree view of the Bay. Provided it is a good weather, you will also have a good time lying on the beach and swimming in the clean and warm water. After some leisure time, return to the ship to have a brunch while sailing back to the pier. After disembarking, you will meet your driver at the dock and then be driven to Hanoi International Airport for your flight. Your trip with us will draw to an end here. Wish you a nice trip home!