Hanoi Itinerary

This itinerary is for all my readers and friends who have showed interest and would like to visit Hanoi. This was the given itinerary by Jewel Tours, the agent we engaged during our recent trip to Hanoi. When time permits, I will blog about our trip in detail later on :) Our convoy had 7 adults & 3 children under 12 years old. We had a good experience with the tour as the tour guide put into consideration that we had children in our group. He tried to accommodate and move some of the visits around to suit the timing of the children, which I thought was a thoughtful act. Overall, we had fun!

The North of Vietnam Tour

8 Days - 7 Nights

Suggested Itinerary:

15 Nov 2014

Day 1: Hanoi arrival

All guests are warmly welcomed upon arrival at Noi Bai International Airport by our local guide then transfer to check in the hotel. Free at your own leisure until dinner at local restaurant. Overnight at hotel in Hanoi.

16 Nov 2014

Day 2: Hanoi city tour – Lao Cai (B/L)

After breakfast at Hotel, you will visit the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum (closed on Monday, Friday and during the entire months of September & October) and his former residence with Humble House on Stilts (closed on Monday and Friday) and the Temple of Literature, known as the first university of Vietnam and built more than 1,000 years ago. Lunch is served at local restaurant.  

The tour continues with a cyclo tour through Hanoi’s bustling Old Quarter, a place where Hanoians buy everything from noodles to light fixtures to Buddha statues. The quarter’s 36 streets were named for the products that were sold from their shops. Today, vendors on Tin and Bamboo Streets still sell the same wares. After exploring the old quarter’s shady alleyways, sip a strong Vietnamese coffee in a café overlooking Hoan Kiem Lake — an important symbol in Vietnamese folklore. Snap a photograph of the downtown skyline before returning to your hotel at around 4.30 PM.

Around 8.00 PM you will be transferred to Hanoi Railway Station. Overnight train trip to Lao Cai in superior 4-berth compartments sharing with other passengers. Train departs at approximately 21:50 hrs.

Notes: Train schedule is subject to change. Private compartments on request at surcharge. Train journeys are part of a great local experience. Cabins are shared with other local passengers (unless private cabin is requested and all berths paid for - with supplement). Restrooms at either end of the carriages complete the local experience.

17 Nov 2014

Day 3: Lao Cai – Sapa – Lao Chai – Tavan (B/L)

Early morning (approximately 06:30 hrs) arrival at Lao Cai, the border town to Yunnan, China. The journey starts with a 38 km drive on winding roads up the mountains to Sapa, located approx. 1,500 m above sea level. On clear days you can see the highest mountain of Vietnam, the Fansipan. After breakfast at the hotel, drive from Sapa town down to Lao Chai village. Views of the Muong Hoa Valley and magnificent surroundings of mountains and rice terrace fields can be seen from this road. Along the road, people from many ethnic minority groups (H’mong, Zay, and Red Dao) are likely to be met, and there are stalls along the way that serve tea, fruits and sweets.  Soon after turning off the main road and taking a local path, we will arrive in the Black H’mong village of Lao Chai, where you will experience the daily life of the villagers. Continue walking from Lao Chai to Ta Van village, where the Zay hill tribes live. Here you take a rest and enjoy a delicious lunch prepared by your local guide in a local house.  After lunch, continue walking to the meeting point for your transfer back to Sapa town.  The rest of the day is at leisure. Discover Sapa town on your own, its bustling market, the colourful dresses of the ethnic people, tea and coffee shops as well as the local life in this mountain town. Accommodation at hotel in Sapa.

18 Nov 2014

Day 4: Sapa – local market – Lao cai  (B/L)

After breakfast at hotel this morning group will check out and continues to visit Coc Ly local market on Tuesday to visit many minority groups like Flower H’mong, Black Zao, Zay…come to trade for their weekly plan. After lunch, you drive downhill for about half an hour. You will then start a short walk to Trung Do village, which belongs to the Tay minority. Here you can stop by a traditional Tay house for a cup of tea before you get on a boat. You will have a cruise downstream the Chay River to experience the picturesque scenes and the magnificent sight of a beautiful cave. The boat ride ends at Bao Nhai bridge, where you get on the car for the journey back to Lao Cai. After dinner, you will board the overnight train to Hanoi at around 20:15 hrs (shared sleeping compartments, sharing with other passengers in 2 lower & 2 upper berths per compartment). 

Notes: Train schedule is subject to change. Private compartments on request at surcharge. Train journeys are part of a great local experience. Cabins are shared with other local passengers (unless private cabin is requested and all berths paid for - with supplement). Restrooms at either end of the carriages complete the local experience.

19 Nov 2014

Day 5: Hanoi – Halong Bay (B/L/D)

Arrive in Hanoi early this morning, pick up from the train station and transfer to the a mini hotel for breakfast, shower and freshen up. At 8:00 AM, you take a transfer to to Halong Bay – the number one’s destination in Vietnam. Arriving just before lunch, you’ll embark on a traditional Vietnamese junk. Take lunch on board and enjoy the afternoon and overnight cruise as it provides you with fantastic views of the fabulous scenery blending with the sky and some 3,000 limestone islands which amazingly rise from the clear and emerald water. The limestone karst formations are littered with beaches, grottoes and beautiful caves, some of which you’ll visit.  Overnight on board in Halong Bay.

20 Nov 2014

Day 6: Halong Bay – Hanoi (B/L)

The tour continues with a morning spent cruising on to the Man’s Head, Tortoise islands and then Luon Cave by small bamboo boat.  After an brunch check out and continue to travel though Bai Tu Long to the harbor for disembark, meet the driver and guide to transfer you back to Hanoi. You are arriving just in time to enjoy the traditional water puppet show. The Vietnamese traditional art of water puppetry has roots that date back to the 10th century when it originated in the Red River Delta area of northern Vietnam. The farmers in the region celebrated festivals and harvests by performing this unique art form. Learning to manipulate the puppets is usually a tradition that is passed on as a family secret. It takes a great deal of skill and because the puppeteer’s hands are underwater, it is easy for them to hide their methods. The fascinating part is that the central stage is below the water line, and the puppeteers stand in the waist-deep water. A rattan curtain hides them, but they can see the stage and the audience through the bamboo slats. Overnight in Hanoi.

21 Nov 2014

Day 7: Hanoi free day (B)

Today you have free day for shopping or discover the city of Hanoi by your own. Overnight in Hanoi.

22 Nov 2014

Day 8: Hanoi – Departure (B)

After breakfast at hotel, depends on you flight time the departure transfer will be arranged.

*** End of services ***

HOTEL LIST:

No.	City	Hotels – 3 star
1	Hanoi	Authentic Hanoi (Superior)
2	Sapa	Sapa Paradise view (Superior)
4	Halong Junk	Marguerite Garden (Superior)

Included in the tour price: 
• Transportation in private air-conditioned vehicle with driver
• Accommodation: double or twin sharing room at mentioned hotel or similar
• Return train ticket: Hanoi – Lao Cai – Hanoi (Soft sleeper cabin of 04 persons) 
• Meal as mentioned in the program: B= breakfast, L= lunch, D= dinner
• Entrance fee to indicated sights

• Boat trip as mentioned in itinerary
• Overnight cruise in Halong Bay
• English speaking guide throughout the trip

Exclusive:
Other meals, tips, drinks, international airport taxes, single room supplements, peak season surcharges, personal expenses, travel insurance, visas, flights in and out Vietnam, any optional additional tours or activities during free time.

Our tour was arranged by Jewel Tours.

https://www.facebook.com/JewelTours#

Email : info@jeweltours.com 

** As a token of appreciation, Jewel Tours would like to offer a 5% discount which, also extends to your family or friends for any new bookings made before 30th June 2015 and travel to either Vietnam, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia or Myanmar with Jewel Tours within 2015. ** I guess just mention Josie Recommend. :D