The city tour takes you on a drive around the city while visiting the main tourist hotspots. After the One-Pillar Pagoda, we go to the Temple of Literature. The templewas built in October 1073 to worship Confucius and is considered the first university in Vietnam. If Ha Noi is the heart of the country, Hoan Kiem Lake is the heart of Ha Noi. To the north of the lake is the Old Quarter with its many small streets, tiny buildings with vendors selling all manner of goods and an abundance of character. Later in the afternoon, you will be able to take a 1-hour cyclo ride around the 36 streets. Contrast this with the wide tree lined boulevards and splendid buildings of the French quarter including the Opera House, the State Bank, the former Governor's palace, and the Hanoi Cathedral (Saint Joseph’s built in the late 19^th century). In the centre of the lake is the Ngoc Son Temple, our next stop.

A welcome dinner is at one of the many local restaurants. After that, you can explore on your own or simply relax in your hotel.

Hotel in Hanoi for the night.

After lunch, we take a leisurely walk around the Lac and Poom Coong Villages. Yousee the stilt houses where the Tai people live, see the farmers working in fields, local women weaving scarves and meet these warm and friendly locals as they go about their daily lives. In the evening, you have the opportunity to see performances of traditional dance and Thai folk songs.  You will be guests of local people for the night in one of the traditional stilt houses in Mai Chau, enjoying a delicious dinner in spectacular surroundings. 

Homestay in Mai Chau

The ancestors of these people were believed to have originated from Laos. The groups in this area are called Black Zao, Zao with coins, Red H’mong, and especially Lu & Lao. All Ethnic minority groups have their own way of life and style of dress. While in the areas, we will go trekking through the rice terraces and villages of the red H’mong and Red Dzao. And then on to Sapa where we will check into the hotel. Enjoy the afternoon exploring the adorable town of Sapa. There are markets that offer great shopping for fresh produce and handicrafts available from many of the local hill tribes that are selling their wares. You will spend the rest of the night in Sapa.

The afternoon, takes us outside of town to Lao Chai then to visit the Black H’mong Villages.The H’mong people are Chinese descendants who immigrated to Vietnam approximately 300 years ago. You will get to learn about the many different traditions and beliefs of the H’mong people. We then travel 12 km’s before starting our walk to Ta Van to visit the Dzay people. Experience the picturesque panoramas along the way and meet other people from the different ethnic minority groups of the area. We return for dinner in Sapa.

Hotel in Sapa

Leave the market for the H’mong King’s house (King Hoang A Tuong) built by French colonists and the Chinese in 1920. Afterwards we will travel down the mountain to the Lao Cai train station to catch the night train back to Ha Noi.

Soft berth on the train.

We will explore the mystery of Sung Sot Cave, one of the most beautiful caves in Ha Long Bay before getting the opportunity to relax at a beautiful beach where you can also enjoy swimming & kayaking and explore the bay. Later we will head back to the boat to enjoy a relaxing sunset while cruising to the Hang Trong area to anchor at Ho Dong Tien, near Trong cave. During the evening, relax to the casual and comfortable atmosphere on the luxury boat where you will have an elegant dining experience. If we are in the right season, we can see fresh squid being caught the traditional way.

You can then relax under the clear, starry sky, enjoying the peace and quiet of the Bay before retiring to your cabin at your leisure.