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
• 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.
• 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.
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
