Duration: 10 Days/ 9 Nights
Hanoi > Ninh Binh > Sapa - Bac Ha > Perfume Pagoda
10 Days Highlights Of The North Vietnam Tour: Discover the true north including the ancient capital of Hanoi, the ethnic minorities and stunning landscape around Sapa, the Perfume pagoda, World Heritage Ha Long Bay, and the traditional pottery village of Bat Trang.
This post was last modified on February 27, 2024 6:18 am
On arrival at Noi Bai Airport, you are met and transferred to hotel. Ha Noi, Vietnam’s capital, is a stylish and gracious city that retains an unique old world charm and some Asia’s most striking colonial architecture. (If time permits) we enjoy a short cyclo ride around the old quarter streets, giving you a chance to explore the different local ways of life.
Overnight in Hanoi.
Hanoi – Cyclo Old Quarter
Today we enjoy a full day city tour starting with the Ho Chi Minh Complex. This famous site contains the mausoleum of the nations founder Ho Chi Minh, the Presidential Palace and the Ho Chi Minhs house on stilts. Close to this complex is the One Pillar Pagoda, whose origins date back to the foundation of city. We follow this with a trip to the Temple of Literature, which is well known as the first university of Vietnam and the impressive Ethnologic Museum, dedicated to Vietnam’s 54 ethnic groups.
The beautiful West Lake and the History Museum with an excellent collection of artifacts illustrating the Vietnamese history, are not to be missed. We visit these sights before continuing to the peaceful lake of Hoan Kiem. In front of this lake is the famous water puppet theatre where we will see a fantastic performance.
Overnight in Hanoi.
Museum of Ethnology – Hanoi
AM: after breakfast, we drive about 2 hours to the south of Hanoi to Ninh Binh province. It will be an exciting day highlighted firstly by 2 hours local boat ride in Tam Coc streams that we will enjoy the spectacular scenery while gliding along the river among rice paddies and ranges of Limestone Mountains peaking up towers over you.
Tam Coc – Ninh Binh
PM: After lunch served with local food at a restaurant riverside, a short transfer through the peaceful country road to Hoa Lu, once the Vietnam’s ancient capital 11 centuries ago. Here are the two temples dedicated to the King Dinh and King Le, the founder of the capital in 10th century.
Return to Hanoi and have dinner, then we take night train to Lao Cai that depart at 21:15
The range of Phan Si Pan boasts Vietnams highest mountain and lends an alpine feel to the area surrounding this hill station. Today we have enough time to visit the bustling SaPa Market where the Red Dao, Black Hmong, Tay and Xa Pho ethnic minorities converge from the nearby mountainsides and valleys to trade their goods and buy provisions.
We then get well off the beaten track as we embark on a walk to explore this beautiful mountain region. Along the way we visit several rustic villages and see many mountaineers doing their daily works such as logging, herding buffalo and tilling the field. The blend of verdant mountain backdrop and colorful population makes for an unimaginable view.
Overnight in SaPa
Upon leaving SaPa we set off on our scenic drive through the border town of Lao Cai to the colorful Sunday Market at Bacha. This market also attracts a wide variety of ethnic minority groups including the Variegated Hmong, Dao, Phu La, La Chi and Tay.
Bac Ha Market – Sapa
They still retain their old cultural traditions and are recognisably distinct from each other by their dress. The experience of this congregation is colorful and unique. After the market we enjoy a walk around the area, visiting the Hmong Kings former residence and Ban Pho where the villagers make the potent local maize alcohol.
Overnight in Bac Ha.
The return journey begins as we depart Bac Ha Town and pass through the verdant and rugged mountain scenery to Hanoi. These back roads are a great way to explore the real Vietnam. We see very few other travelers, mostly rural dwellers who are just as interested in finding out about our lives as we are of theirs.
You are then drop at Railway Station for night train back to Hanoi (Optional to visit Coc Ly Tuesday Market, Can Cau Saturday market)
Tourists Trading At Sapa Ethnic Market
Arrive early morning, you are picked up and have breakfast at hotel and refresh, then we have an interesting drive through the rich farming land of the Red River Delta to the Perfume Pagoda, which is not just one pagoda but many shrines and sanctuaries built into mountainsides. This famous complex of pagodas is also one of Vietnam great pilgrimage sites.
Perfume Pagoda From Above
On arrival we enjoy a leisurely boat excursion on the Yen River past the spectacular landscape of flooded rice fields and undulating mountains. After two hour river trip we embark on a rugged walk uphill to explore some of the many pagodas and the sacred grotto of Huong Tich.
We then drive back to Hanoi for overnight.
Heading out of town we travel by roads to Halong Bay, truly one of Vietnams most impressive scenic sights. On arrival we embark on a boat for a memorable trip around the Bay which will give us a chance to explore the picturesque scenery blending with the sky and some 3,000 limestone islands, rising amazingly from the clear and emerald water.
The limestone karst formations are littered with beaches, grottoes and beautiful caves. Along the way we will anchor for a leisurely swim in a secluded cove and an enjoyable visit to one of the many hidden grottoes beneath towering cliffs. After a seafood lunch on board we continue our exciting cruise and have time for another swim.
Overnight in Halong.
Halong Bay
The very good roads make our journey back to Hanoi much more pleasurable.
Today we have plenty of time to observe the rural landscape and visit the riverside village of Bat Trang, where distinctive ceramics are made and used throughout the delta region for over 500 years. The vitality of this village is still blown up by the hundreds of pottery kilns on fire day and night. We stroll around various cottage industries and watch craftsmen forming, painting and glazing their products in traditional ways. The reminder of the day will be free to explore Hanoi’s older quarters or simply to relax.
Overnight in Hanoi
Bat Trang – Hanoi
There is a free time for you to relax or further explore Hanoi. The trip ends after your transfer to Noibai Airport for your ongoing flight.
End of the tour.
Prices are in USD, per person.
| Hotel / Group | 2 guests | 3-4 guests | 5-6 guests | 7-8 guests | 9-12 guests | Single surcharge |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 Star | 1147 | 915 | 848 | 765 | 761 | 243 |
| 4 Star | 1373 | 1141 | 1066 | 990 | 977 | 401 |
| 5 Star | 1638 | 1406 | 1329 | 1254 | 1239 | 603 |
– There may be cancellation fees charged by suppliers (hotels, airlines…) once these bookings are made and paid. These fee shall by paid by travelers.
– These are maximum cancellation fees to be flexible applied:
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