The Wild North-West Loop 10 days
Hanoi - Sapa - Phong Tho – Dien Bien - Son La - Mai Chau - Hanoi - Halong
Day 1: Welcome to Hanoi (D)
Welcome at the airport and transfer to hotel for check-in and tour-briefing. In the afternoon, an orientation tour of Hanoi, and a chance to acclimate yourself. You’ll have time to enjoy a walking tour of Hanoi’s famous “Old Quarter,” noted for its 36 guild streets. The evening is highlighted with a welcome dinner at a friendly & typical Vietnamese restaurant invited by VNR Travel and follow by a performance of the famed Water Puppet Theatre or " Tu Phu - Four Places" show of Hanoi, a traditional art form created by village farmers around the Red River Delta region. Unique, but recognized internationally.
Overnight in Hanoi.
Day 2: Hanoi – Sapa (L/D)
Warmest greeting at your hotel and start your adventure trip with the drive to the mountain town of Sapa. The journey to Sapa will take the best part of the day. The drive is, however, worthwhile as the scenery that unfolds as we travel north and into the highlands is both dramatic and breathtaking. Arriving in Sapa late in the afternoon, we check into our hotel and use the remaining daylight to stretch our legs with a short walk around town. This evening we will dine at one of the local restaurants. Overnight in Sapa.
Day 3: Sapa (B/L)
Today you start by getting some exercise with a five to six hour trek to the hill tribe villages of Lao Chai , Ta Van villages of H’Mong and the Zay ethnic people. The H'mong women wear long aprons with embroidered waistcoats and have their hair rolled up into a turban-like hat, whilst the men wear a black skullcap, long waistcoat and loose trousers. Ta Van is home to the Zay people. They have become very adept at rice cultivation and, in marked contrast to the H'mong, they have a higher living standard as a result. As we walk through these villages nestled in the valleys below Sapa, we will meet some of the local ethnic minority people on their way to and from Sapa. These minority people, including the Red Dao, H'mong and Tay people, walk to Sapa to trade at the markets. Overnight in Sapa.
Day 4: Sapa - Phong Tho / Lai Chau (B/L/D)
In the morning you will leave Sapa for Phong Tho town located in the Lai Chau valley, where the Thai ethnic minority people have lived for centuries. After checkin hotel you will have time to discover the town and market and visit the Thai hill tribe villages. Overnight in Phong Tho.
Day 5: Phong Tho / Lai Chau - Dien Bien Phu (B/L/D)
After breakfast at our hotel you board your vehicle for the drive to Dien Bien Phu. It is a 6-hour journey on rough roads, but the dramatic scenery is worthwhile. By midday, we arrive in Dien Bien town and check into our guesthouse for the night.
The name Dien Bien Phu will always be linked with a historical battle, for it was here that Viet Minh soldiers overran a French garrison on May 7, 1954 and ended French colonialism in Indochina. To achieve this legendary victory, Vietnamese forces under the command of General Vo Nguyen Giap dismantled heavy anti-aircraft guns, lugged them up the sleep slopes overlooking the town of Dien Bien Phu and reassembled them. Encircled by artillery, the French could not receive supplies or reinforcements.
In the afternoon visit Dien Bien Phu Old battle field, A1 hill and Dien Bien Phu Museum. Overnight in Dien Bien Phu.
Day 6: Dien Bien Phu - Son La (B/L)
After breakfast you will set out on our drive to Son La. This is in quite a remote area, and as a result some of the roads will be fairly rough and uneven. Yet this is to our advantage as there will be fewer tourists along the way to spoil our views of the beautiful and dramatic scenery that we will encounter along the way. Once you reach Son La, you will check into our hotel and have the remainder of the day to visit the former French prison and SonLa Museum. Overnight in Son La.
Day 7: Son La – Mai Chau (B/L/D)
After breakfast you make your way to Mai Chau valley after a 5-hour drive along a scenic route. You stop at Moc Chau plateau for a cup of tea and visit green tea fields. Upon arrival in Mai Chau valley you are welcome to the village of the White Thai ethnic people. Lunch in the local house and enjoy free time to explore several neighbor villages. Overnight home-stay in the traditional house-on-stilts.
Day 8: Mai Chau – Hoa Binh – Hanoi (B/L)
Wake up to the sounds of the village: roosters, morning vendors and people's voices. You have an early breakfast this morning before bidding farewell to Mai Chau and its friendly people. Your destination for today is Hanoi. It is an 5-hour journey back to the nation's capital with a visit to the Muong ethnic minority in Hoa Binh province.
Day 9: Hanoi - Halong (B/L/D)
In the morning we start our exploration day by a ride to Halong Bay, northeast of Hanoi and enter into the Red River Delta, rich with rural beauty and picturesque rice-farming villages. Not just pictures, we can stop for close-up views of buffalos ploughing, women in conical hats scooping their paddies. Once reaching Halong Bay, we board our cruise and set sail for an extraordinary cruise of Halong Bay. Declared as the World Heritage Site twice for its nature beauty and geological by UNESCO, we’ll cruise through its three-thousand islands and rich rock-formations and stop at Ga Choi Island, Dinh Huong Island, Dog Island, Sail Island… You’ll be able to sample the rich seafood served on-board while viewing the islands. Late afternoon we have chance to explore the bay on our kayaks. We’ll close out the day by a romantic dinner and overnight on board.
Day 10: Halong – Hanoi – departure (Brunch)
Wake-up for sun shine and morning coffee then we take a bamboo boat to visit Sung Cot Cave – one of the largest in Halong Bay. We then continue our exploration by the cruise pass-by the city’s market – Hon Gai and enjoy our last seafood lunch on-board before get back to Halong City. Our car will take us back to Noi Bai airport for flight back your home.
End of services!
• Accommodation ½ twin sharing room
• Transfer / transportation as program
• Meals as mentioned (B= Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner)
• English or French speaking guide
• Sightseeing fees and permits during guided time
• Additional surprises
• Visa in Viet Nam ( compulsory and has to be arranged in advance)
• International and domestic flights - subject to change without notice
• Travel insurance
• Drinks and meals not mentioned in the program
• Tips and personal expenses
• Any other service not mentioned
TOUR PACKAGE
List of hotels recommended by VNR Travel:
Location | ACCOMMODATION |
Superior/ The best available hotels | |
HANOI | Church boutique Hotel |
HALONG BAY | Glory Junks/ Bai Tho Junks |
SAPA | Sunny Moutain Hotel |
PHONG THO /LAI CHAU | Lan Anh 2 Hotel/ Muong Thanh Lai Chau |
DIEN BIEN | Muong Thanh Dien Bien Hotel |
SON LA | Muong Thanh Son La hotel |
MAI CHAU | Homestay |
VNR Travel Co., LTD
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