The car/van picks you up from Noi Bai airport (in Ha Noi) to take you to the heart of the city. After arriving at the hotel after a 40-minute drive, check in and have a free time to walk around Old Quarter or explore the night market in Ha Noi downtown.

Until 21:00 pm: Our guide will pick up you at your hotel for boarding the train to travel to Lao Cai.

Morning: We will arrive at Lao Cai Train station in the early morning. Your tour guide will pick you up and take for an hour drive to Sapa. The luggage is placed in the hotel. Then, you have a good time to enjoy breakfast and take a shower.

After breakfast at a local restaurant, start trekking to Cat Cat Village, about 45-minute walk from Sapa. This is the village of Black H’Mong hill tribe which is on the slope of the hill and which is easy to walk. Rice and corn are grown here.

Visiting Cat Cat village, you will have the chance to visit a big waterfall on the stream and the old Hydro Electric Power Station built by French people. That is the image of young women sitting by looms with colorful pieces of brocade decorated with designs of flowers and birds. When these pieces of brocade are finished, they are dyed and embroidered with beautiful designs. One thing to note is that H’Mong women use indigo plants and leaves to dye these brocade fabrics. And then they roll around and smooth the section of wood covered with wax on fabrics to polish them, making their colors durable.

Lunch at a local restaurant
Afternoon: Free time at leisure to relax
Evening: You are free to explore the charm of Sapa by night: enjoy roasted corn, baked eggs beside charcoal fire or go shopping. On Saturday night, we highly recommend a stop at the Love Market which has one of the unique cultures of ethnic minorities: HMong, Dzao in Lao Cai in particular and North West of Vietnam in general.

Dinner at a local restaurant and overnight at the hotel in Sapa.

After breakfast, start trekking from Sapa toward Muong Hoa valley where we can admire magnificent landscapes. Trek through Y Linh Ho village with Black H’mong tribe and keep trekking through lush rice – terraces towards Lao Chai village to experience Black H’mong people’s daily life and their traditional culture. Y Linh Ho village is a small commune composed by a dozen of small hamlets scattering on the very tough mountain terrain with high and steep mountains. There are some hundred inhabitants from the Black H’mong only living in this commune. They built their rudimentary houses on their farmland and mainly cultivate corn and dry rice on the steep hillsides. The only way to get to the commune is on foot from the main road. This village is home to the Black H’Mong people who wear very dark clothing in black and navy dyed with indigo (often seen on the hands of older H’Mong women).

Then, arrive at Lao Chai and Ta Van villages. Have lunch with the locals in one of the local houses.
Lao Chai & Ta Van Villages, about 8 km from Sapa town, is where black H’mong and Giay people are living. It is also the beginning of the valley which is called Muong Hoa. From a high point of the main road, there's a great view of the whole village, with marvelous panoramic views, backed by high mountains which is facing the river. Here you will enjoy fresh air, see terrace fields, stream, discover and visit some Black H’mong families. You will have a welcome feeling at any house of the hospitable people there. You can interact them, learn about their culture and customs.

The bus will pick you up from Ta Van village to Sapa Town and transfer to Lao Cai Railway Station.
Dinner at a local restaurant near by the Railway Station and overnight on the train back to Hanoi

Upon arriving in Hanoi in the early morning at 05:00 am, the Vietnam Adventure Tours staffs will pick you up, and escort you back to our hotel. Early check in to take a rest and have breakfast.

7:45 – 08:20 approx
– Our guide will meet you at your hotel. Ride the shuttle bus or a private car pick up.
– Enjoy the peaceful scenery as we travel through the countryside, farmlands and Red River delta.
– You will have the chance to take photos. Comfort break. The time from Hanoi to Halong bay is approximately 3 ½ hours.
12 – 12:30 noon approx
– Arrive in Tuan Chau Marina. Welcome aboard the cruise. Meet the captain and crew and join us for welcome cocktails as we tell you about life onboard.
– Check into your cabin. Time to refresh and unwind.
– Set sail as lunch is prepared by our chef.
– Join us for a relaxing lunch in the restaurant or at the outdoor dining area. Enjoy the stunning views of the bay and its dramatic limestone islands as we sail through the calm waters.

Afternoon
– While we make our way to the amazing Van Gia fishing village, relax on the sundeck and watch the world go by or take an afternoon nap in your cabin. Arive at Van Gia floating fishing village in mid afternoon.
– Drop anchor.
– Our guide will give you some information and interesting facts about this fascinating village and its local community.
– Disembark and you can choose which options when you visit the village: by kayak or local bamboo boat. They will be your guides through their fishing village where you can meet the locals, see first-hand what life is like living on the water. We are proud of our working partnership and support of this community.

– Our cruise will take you to the Soi Sim natural beach for swimming and snorkeling. You can enjoy our interesting games such as football and basketball. While cruising, you will enjoy with us the sunset party with fruits and wine as our complimentary food and drink.
– Back on board the cruise, we head towards the sleeping area.

Early evening
– Take an opportunity to refresh and then join friends for a pre-dinner drink in the bar.
– Dinner is served in the restaurant or at the outdoor dining area if the weather permits, which is a gastronomic delight. After dinner, unwind in the bar where there is a selection of books, magazines and board games or watch a movie on our plasma TV. You can also join some of our team to go cuttle fishing at night.

Accommodation and overnight on boat

(Tai Chi – Breakfast – Surprising Cave – Cooking Demonstration – Lunch – Your hotel and Farewell)

06:30 am
– For the early risers, join us for a Tai Chi session on the sun deck. Tai chi helps focus the mind and condition the body and there is no better environment to practice this than amongst the limestone peaks and islands.
– Breakfast, coffee and tea are served.
After breakfast, we sail through the waters and pass by a number of caves and we drop anchor at Surprising (Sung Sot) Cave.
– Disembark and visit Surprise Cave located on Bo Hon Island. It is one of the widest grottoes in Ha Long Bay with thousands of stalactites and stalagmites
09:30 am
We board the cruise again. Take time to refresh and relax before checking out. Bags can be left in the luggage store. You will join our short class of cooking demonstration and learn how to make spring rolls before an early lunch is served.
12 noon
Return to the shore and disembark from the cruise as our crew say farewell. Transfer to minibus or private and return to Hanoi. Arrival back at your hotel approximately 16:30/17:00.

Overnight in HaNoi

Free time in Ha Noi old quarter. Walk around to visit Hoan Kiem lake, Ngoc Son temple, Quoc Tu Giam, and Ho Chi Minh mausoleum. Transfer to the airport for your flight.