Day 1 - Arrive Hanoi 

Welcome as you join us on a scenic journey along the highlights of Vietnams Central & Northern areas. Your tour begins in Hanoi on arrival you will be met by a representative and transferred to your accommodation, the rest of the day is at leisure, in the evening, watch a performance of the renowned water puppet theatre, an art whose origins date back over a thousand years.

Day 2 - Hanoi

Breakfast at the hotel, then you will have a full day to explore Hanoi's illustrious history.  In the morning, visit the Ho Chi Minh Complex containing his mausoleum, former residence and the One Pillar Pagoda.  Also visit the Temple of Literature.  In the afternoon, visit the Vietnam Museum of Fine Arts, Hoan Kiem Lake, Ngoc Son Temple and the 36 streets of the old quarter.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 3 - Hanoi - Halong Bay

After breakfast you will drive to Halong Bay.  Board a refurbished wooden sailing junk for a cruise through the hundreds of islets of Halong Bay.  Enjoy a seafood lunch and a swim (weather permitting).  In the afternoon visit to a grotto before dropping anchor for the night on Halong Bay.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 4 - Halong Bay - Hanoi - Lao Cai

Breakfast onboard the cruise before spending the morning cruising through the limestone cliffs and emerald waters of Halong Bay before arriving back at the wharf in the early afternoon.  Return to Hanoi stopping enroute at a ceramics factory.  In the evening, board the overnight train to Lao Cai on the Chinese border.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 5 - Lao Cai - Ethnic Market - Sapa

Morning drive to the mountain town with its colorful array of ethnic minorities to visit a market, one of the most exotic ethnic markets in northern Vietnam, which attracts a large number of minority peoples.  Afternoon is free at leisure.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 6 - Sapa - Y Linh Ho - Ma Tra

Breakfast at hotel. This morning you will take a drive to Y Linh Ho.  Start trekking down the valley to enjoy views over beautiful terraced paddy fields in the Muong Hoa valley, the largest in the area.  Trek for 3 hours along the Hoang Lien mountain ridge with photo stops and chance encounters with the local H'mong people enroute.  Trek up to Lao Chai junction and the main road to enjoy the panoramic view of the Muong Hoa valley before returning to Sapa by car.  Afternoon walk through the town of Sapa and along a dirt trail through the beautiful gardens and lush pine forests.  Then hike through the Black H'mong ethnic minority village of Ma Tra, a very small village largely hidden away from civilisation.  Continue hiking through the terraced rive paddy fields and spectacular scenery.  During the day there is a visit to a local school.  From the school, head to the church of Taphin, to be met by the car for the trip back to the hotel.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 7 - Sapa - Lao Cai - Hanoi

After breakfast, this day is free at leisure to explore the town.  Late afternoon transfer to Lao Cai train station and the train journey down to Hanoi

Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 8 - Hanoi - Danang - Hoi An

On arrival you will be picked up and transferred to a local restaurant for breakfast before transferring to the airport for the flight to Danang.  Upon arrival you will be picked up and transferred to your hotel in Hoi An where the rest of the day is free at leisure.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 9 - Hoi An

This morning you will embark on a half day walking tour of this quaint old town visiting ancient merchants houses, a Hokkien temple, a 400 year old Japanese bridge and the vibrant riverside market.  In the afternoon you will take a trip to a lantern workshop to learn the techniques involved and then create your own.  Finish the day with a sunset boat trip on the Thu Bon River to Than Ha pottery village.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 10 - Hoi An - Danang - Hanoi - Departure

Breakfast at hotel, this morning is free at leisure before transferring to the airport for your flight to Hanoi to connect to the UK.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Hotels Used:

Hanoi - Superior: Maison D'Hanova, Deluxe: Silk Path, First: Movenpick

Junk Boat - Superior: Huong Hai Junk, Deluxe: Paradise Cruises, First: Jasmine Junk

Sapa - All categories: Victoria Sapa

Hoi An - Superior: Ancient House, Deluxe: Hoi An Beach, First: Victoria Hoi An

Tours is available throughout the year and is based on a minimum of 2 persons travelling.