Explorient Travel

THE MOST EXCITING TRIP IN THE NORTH OF VIETNAM

Vietnam Tours - Adventure

Description: Ha Giang and Sapa are inhabited by 29 ethnic groups, many of whom maintain a very traditional culture and many live an isolated life from the mainstream society. Furthermore, with scenery magnificent; the craggy mountain ranges covered in mystic clouds make you feel like wandering in a fairyland, valleys between the mountains are enhanced by spectacles of colored villages each with distinctive architectural features and fascinating spots for watching the sunset. If World Heritage had a cultural hotspot for diversity, this would be it.

Besides Ha Giang and Sapa, Ha Long will give you a soothing experience, great for relaxation between the majestic scenery and the most wonderful natureof the world. You also have the opportunity to explore the daily life of people live on the floating villages. This is a really trip of your lifetime.

BRIEF ITINERARY:

ITINERARY:

DAY 1 HA NOI - HA GIANG (Lunch, Dinner)(~300 km)

Vietnam Explorient Travel’s bus and guide pick you up and then transfer to Ha Giang, though Son Nam District of Tuyen Quang province. Enjoy natural landscape and green fields, palm hill and villages. Passing Tuyen Quang town, you can visit village of black Tay minority. Arrive Ha Giang town in the late afternoon, prepare everything for the next day.

Meals: Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Hotel in Ha Giang Town

DAY 2 HA GIANG - MEO VAC - DONG VAN (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner) (~150 km)

After breakfast, depart to Dong Van via Quan Ba. Stop in Quan Ba pass "the Paradise door" where the view is superb, with green valleys and rows of identical hills and mountains. (The Quan Ba Sunday morning markets are one of the most important and interesting meeting places). In this region you find the White H'mong, the Red Dzao and Tay ... who live only in the villages around Quan Ba District.

Lunch in Yen Minh . After bidding farewell, we take time to conquer the Ma Pi Leng Pass is considered like the most spectacular mountain pass in Vietnam, from there we can see and enjoy a beautiful sunset over the Nho Que River.
Drive some more minutes and reach Dong Van Town. Check in hotel and free at leisure.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Hotel in Dong Van Town

DAY 3: DONG VAN – YEN MINH – QUAN BA – HA GIANG (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)(~150 km)

Get up early morning walk to Dong Van market (if it is on Sunday it is really festival with colorful costume of ethnic minority buy and sell local products that cannot be found elsewhere). Breakfast with sticky rice, one of specialty we will continue our trip. Scenery will wake you up. You will be surprised when visiting these remote areas, we will witness how hard the local people struggle with their environment for their survival and development.

Living conditions are extremely harsh, there is barely any arable land within the Rocky Mountains and the people survive on a diet of corn, which is about the only crop able to grow in the rocky soil. Even through this hardship, the local people are very friendly, simple yet develop a strong attachment to other people. They are the soul of this remote area.

We will stop to visit the H'Mong King Palace, built in 1900; Vuong Chi Duc was recognized King of H'mong tribes by French colonialists and then Lo Lo minority village. Lunch en route in Yen Minh town and then transfer back to Ha Giang for overnight

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Hotel in Ha Giang Town

DAY 4: HA GIANG –BAC HA MARKET - SAPA (Breakfast, Lunch) (~150 km)

After breakfast we depart for Bac Ha. After arriving in Bac Ha (approx 3 hours) if lucky in the Sunday you can visit the Bac Ha local markets, the largest and most colorful market in the area..

Bac Ha Market is in Bac Ha District and belong to Lao Cai Province, 80km from Sapa town and over 1hour by car. Bac Ha is one of the biggest Market on Sapa and open on Sunday only. It’s not only the trading center but it’s also the place for couples, friends and relatives. At this market every thing on sales: Pig, dog, cat, houses… so it make this market hotter on Sunday.

Drive more an hour and reach Sapa in late afternoon. Check in hotel and free at leisure.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Hotel in Sapa

DAY 5: SAPA - TREKKING CATCAT VILLAGE (Breakfast) (~4 km)

Have breakfast in hotel then stroll around Sapa town, visit Sapa market and chatting with H’Mong, Dao people who come to market for trading. Colorful tribal dress, purses, aluminum bracelet, silver necklaces, horn comb at all sorts can be found from stalls on the second flour of the building.

Downstairs flour of the market is lively with all sorts of green vegetables, fruits, foods cultivated in Sapa. We have scheduled a special lunch of typical Sapa foods at a popular local eatery in Sapa town.

After lunch, you enjoy walking down hill to the nearby Cat Cat village of the Black H’Mong people. Visit a local H’Mong friendly family and enrich your tribal knowledge with our local guide’s passion.

Transferred back to Sapa, and you enjoy your time at leisure. Dinner tonight is on your own.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel in Sapa

DAY 6: SAPA – TA PHIN VILLAGE - HANOI (BREAKFAST) (~20 km)

Have breakfast in hotel, then drive to Ta Phin village, and meet another interesting tribal who dress up nicely in their respective traditional costumes and wearing a bright red turban. They are the colorful Red Dzao people - the people of interesting legend. We also visit a family for learning local culture and life style.

Transfer back to Sa Pa by lunch time. You are free at leisure until being transfer to Lao Cai railway station. We will also visit China border, 3 km from Lao Cai station before boarding the night train.

Lunch today and dinner tonight is on your own arrangment.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Overnight train back to Hanoi

DAY 7: HANOI ARRIVAL – DRIVE TO HALONG BAY (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner) (~300 km)

Our train will arrive in Hanoi at about 5h30.

You will be met by your guide at Hanoi’s railway station. After breakfast you will have over 3 hours drive along the country side of the Red River Delta to the UNESCO world’s heritage site of Halong Bay.

A traditional style Vietnamese Junk Cruise is waiting your arrival and will set sail at noon today. Lunch will be served on board amidst spectacular views of the bay.

Today you will visit one of the largest caves in Halong Bay and included is a beach stop where perhaps you may want to take a swim or dip in the water of the South China Sea.

Tonight enjoy a fresh seafood dinner on the Junk.

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch& Dinner
Accommodation: On board

DAY 8: HALONG BAY – HANOI DEPART (Breakfast, Lunch) (~150 km)

Participate in Tai Chi on the top deck or simply watch the sunrise over the magnificent bay. Enjoy your morning cup of coffee or juice before setting out to the near- by cave on row boat. Watch for monkeys high on the cliff tops. Return back to the junk, where breakfast is served, while sailing around Bay Tu Long bay where the film “Indochine” was made.

Your cruise will end at noon and you will be met by your guide & driver for the trip back to Hanoi.

The trip ends in Hanoi at 4:00 PM.

After arrival to Hanoi you may want to catch up on your the later afternoon departure flight or you could have extension visit in Hanoi.

End of trip

Meal: Breakfast
Accommodation: None

PRICING & INCLUSION:

This rate is quoted in USD per person, based on Double/Twin occupancy with 3-star hotel standard.

Valid until 31.December - 2013

Price Inclusion:

• All land transportation by private air conditioned vehicles
• Tour arrival and departure airport transfers
• Hotel accommodation on a double or twin-share basic
• Double or twin-share bedroom on Halong bay
• Soft sleeper in cabin 4 berths with A/C
• Meals as mention in the program
• Local English speaking guides
• All entrance and sightseeing fees
• Travel insurance
• Visa approval fee
• Mineral water

Price Exclusions:

• Airfare and airport tax in & out Vietnam
• Drinks and other meals do not indicate in the program
• Early check-in and late check-out at all hotels
• Personal expenses (laundry, telephone, shopping...)
• Tipping/ Gratuities
• Additional expenses in case of force majeure