VIETNAM NOTHERN & CENTRAL TOUR

Breif Itinerary 
Day 1: Hanoi Arrival
Day 2: Hanoi - City Tour
Day 3: Hanoi - Pu Luong Reserve 
Day 4: Pu Luong Reserve 
Day 5: Pu Luong Reserve - Drive to Ninh Binh
Day 6: Ninh Binh - Night train to Lao Cai 
Day 7: Sapa
Day 8: Sapa - Limousine sharing back to Hanoi 
Day 9: Hanoi - Halong Bay, overnight on cruise
Day 10: Halong - Hanoi - Fly to Danang 
Day 11: Danang - Ba Na Hill - Marble mountain & Han Market - Dragon Bridge - Danang 
Day 12: Danang - Hoi An - walking city tour 
Day 13: Hoi An - My Son Sanctuary - Lantern Town 
Day 14: Hoi An – Depart

Detail Itinerary:

Day 1: Hanoi Arrival (Dinner) 
Welcome up on arrival by local tour guide and driver then we transfer to hotel. After a short rest, we enjoy a 1-hour cyclo tour of the French inspired "old quarter". We will be free for shopping in the old quarter ranges from markets through to designer boutique stores to amazing contemporary art galleries. We will then sit down to enjoy a performance of the city’s famous Water Puppets. After the show, we will have welcome dinner at a fine local restaurant in town. 

Day 2: Hanoi - City Tour (Breakfast, Lunch)
Today we will venture out to explore Hanoi. First up we will drive to the Ho Chi Minh complex where we will spend time at Ho Chi Minh's mausoleum, his former stilt-house, the Presidential Palace, the Ho Chi Minh Museum and One Pillar Pagoda. Followings we visit the Temple of Literature, which originally built as a temple to Confucius.
After lunch, we visit the Hoan Kiem Lake with Red Huc Bridge and Lake of restored sword temple of Mt Jade. Keep walking to visit the ancient house of Ma May street. 
The last but not at least, we will have a cup of coffee at train street. 
Overnight at hotel in Hanoi.  

Day 3: Hanoi - Pu Luong Reserve (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Pick up at hotel in Hanoi, we will take 150 Km drive to Pu Luong. The drive will be around 4 hours passing through picturesque landscape and breath-taking panoramic view of the whole valley. Arrive in Pu Luong at around noon, we check in and lunch in a pleasant surroundings with captivating panoramic views and tranquil setting.

In the afternoon, we will be transferred to a Suspension bridge over Cham River where we will start our walk in search of stunning water wheels and understand how this work. Stop by a local fisherman’s house, we will have a short rest to gear up for a rafting adventure down the river. Float along the calm river and enjoy beautiful scenery along the banks. Arrive at Tan Lap Bridge, we disembark and have a vehicle to transfer us back to Pu Luong Retreat for dinner.
Note: 2.5 Km easy walking (1.5 hours)/ 2 Km rafting (1.5 hours)

Day 4: Pu Luong Reserve (Breakfast, Lunch)
Get up early in the morning to enjoy the beauty of the valley facing our room. After breakfast, we walk around the tumbling rice terraces, trek through small paths to slowly reveal a picturesque village in the base of a towering mountain. Get your camera ready to capture the best moments of this peaceful morning.
Continue to the base of the village, we will sneak into roads and farmland, villages and wild fields, ponds and rivers, mountains and open land, admire the ever-changing scenery as you trek to a beautiful spot. Stop at any family you wish, talk over a cup of tea with the local people before transferred back to Pu Luong Retreat for lunch. 
In the afternoon, you are leisure time at Pu Luong Retreat. Overnight here. 
Note: 4 Km easy walking (3 hours)

Day 5: Pu Luong Reserve - Drive to Ninh Binh (Breakfast, Lunch)
Have breakfast at hotel. Noontime, check out Pu Luong and move to Ninh Binh. It takes 3 driving hours from Pu Luong to Ninh Binh.
Arrive in Ninh Binh, check in hotel & overnight there. 

Day 6: Ninh Binh - Night train to Lao Cai (Breakfast, Lunch)
Have breakfast at hotel and we will visit Hoa Lu Ancient Capital dated back from 10th and 11th centuries. The area is one of rice fields broken by picturesque limestone mountains. It features several dozen monuments, including King Dinh and King Le Temple & Tombs….We then stop at a local restaurant for lunch. 

In the afternoon, we will take a pleasant boat rowing in Hoang Long River to visit Trang An Eco-Tourism complex. The complex is surrounded by picturesque landscape with thousands of hectares with more than 100 caves which can be explored by boat. It is also a home of 600 kinds of flora and over 200 kinds of fauna that many of them in the Red book of Vietnam. It is also a gathering of 31 valleys, 48 cross-water caves and we will visit 3 to 6 of them. On the rowing boat, we can enjoy the fresh air, clean and clear water with under water grass. Experience ourselves the feeling and emotion when we are on the water caves…. In the afternoon, at around 4 PM, we will be driven back to Hanoi for dinner. 
At 21h30 we move to train station for night train to Sapa. Train to sapa has a private cabin for 1 person, 2 persons and standard cabin is for 4 persons. Your group has 05 adults, you will have one standard cabin and one sharing standard cabin. 

Day 7: Sapa (Breakfast, Lunch)
The train arrives at 5h00 AM at Lao Cai train station, our local guide and driver will pick up & transfer to Sapa town in 40 driving minutes. 
Have breakfast at local restaurant or at hotel (no room for early check in, if you prefer, pls let me know). 
After that, we take 4-minute Mountain Train through valleys, viaducts and tunnels offering beautiful views of surrounding villages as well as nature. Reaching the Cable Car station, we get off the train and enjoy another 20 minutes cable car ride up to the top. Normally, it takes at least two or three days to reach the Peak of Fansipan Mountain on foot. However, with the newly three-rope cable car system, we can see the peak and spectacular surrounding from the peak within half a day.

After 20-minute ride, we start challenging yourself with 636 high steps up to Fansipan Summit – which is considered ‘The Roof of Indochina’ with 3,143-meter height. Enjoy spectacular scenery of Hoang Lien Mountain and lush forest, we walk down to the cable car station and ride back. Take the Mountain Train back to town and have lunch in a restaurant.
Check in hotel and leisure time for afternoon. 
Overnight at hotel in Sapa. 

Day 8: Sapa - Limousine sharing back to Hanoi (Breakfast, Lunch)
Villages: Y Linh hồ - Lao Chải - Tả Van  
Have breakfast at hotel. 
Our driver and guide will come and start trekking. The first part is on the road but we soon turn to the right and walk on a small path down the valley to Y Linh Ho village settled down by the Muong Hoa River and from here to the Black H’mong village of Lao Chai. Black H’mong is one of the biggest minority groups in the Sapa area. They are proud of their culture and keep their traditions and way of living. They have their own language and wear traditional indigo blue clothing. The H’mong peoples have just recently changed their living way from sifting style into the sedentary one. So there are still a lot traces of the past time can be seen: rudimentary houses, stone wall around homes…
Transfer back to the town and have lunch at local restaurant. 
Take a sharing limousine van back to Hanoi. 
Arrive in Hanoi and check in hotel for overnight. 

Day 9: Hanoi - Halong Bay, overnight on cruise (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
La Regina Legend Cruise luxury limousine picks you up from your hotel in Hanoi Old Quarter to start your journey to La Regina Private Lounge. (optional)
Arrive at La Regina private lounge – Lot 24, Tuan Chau Marina – Ha Long, enjoy welcome drink and express check-in before boarding.
Transferred by tender to La Regina Legend Cruises. Welcome aboard the cruise, refresh with our welcome drink while Cruise Manager briefing cruise orientation, activities & on board safety. The boat starts to cruising to Lan Ha bay.
Cruise leaves to explore Lan Ha Bay. You will be enjoying a meal that features the distinctive Vietnamese cuisine taste while relaxing and avoiding the crowds on well-traveled roads.
You will arrive at Light and Dark Cave – one of the best attractions on Lan Ha Bay which is best known for its pristine and tranquil beatuty. Exploring the area by local boat or kayaking. After that, you can swim in the green emerald and cool water around the cruise.

Return to the cruise and enjoy the Bay sunset while enjoying the "Happy Hour" special. You may also join our chef in the kitchen to learn how to make traditional spring rolls.
19:00 If the weather permits, enjoy dinner on the sundeck or in La Corona Restaurant, which is on the second floor. You will have the chance to savor meals produced from premium, fresh ingredients in a distinctive fusion style that fuses the essence of traditional Vietnamese cuisine with the innovative influences of modern cuisine.
After dinner, it’s your choice for a fun squid fishing, spa (charge fees) or relaxing.

Day 10: Halong - Hanoi - Fly to Danang (Breakfast, Lunch)
Greet the new day on the sundeck with a tachi session. Enjoy the fresh air on the bay while you unwind with a cup of tea or coffee.
Enjoy a quick breakfast on board and get your day going with plenty of energy.
You will join the tour of Cat Ba Wolrd Biosphere. It will take you around 30 minutes to transfer from Gia Luan to Trung Trang – one of the most imperrsive caves in Cat Ba Island, Vietnam.

Lunch is served in the restaurant while the boat heads back to the harbor.
Disembark from the cruise as our crew sa farewell, back to Tuan Chau Marina by our tender.
Transfer back to Hanoi & transfer to airport for a flight to Danang. 
On arrival in Danang, our guide and car will wait in Danang International airport to transfer you to hotel in Danang. 

Day 11: Danang - Ba Na Hill - Marble mountain & Han Market - Dragon Bridge - Danang (Breakfast, Lunch)
After breakfast at hotel, we drive to Sun World Ba Na Hills and have full day entertain in Ba Na Hills. We first take the cable car up to the mountains, enjoy the specular of Truong Son Mountains and most specially, the Golden Bridge – the new symbol of Danang thanks to its unique design and magical settings.
Free time to wander through the Le Jardin Garden with hundred kinds of flowers or admire the architecture buildings at French village. Buffet lunch is included. In the afternoon, we take the cable car down and transfer back to Danang and explore: Han Market and Dragon Bridge. 
Overnight at hotel in Danang. 

Day 12: Danang - Hoi An - walking city tour (Breakfast, Lunch)
Have breakfast at hotel. We will transfer to Hoi An and visit the Marble Mountain – the five elements of the Universe (water, wood, air, fire and earth) on the way. 
Arrive in Hoi An, we will start our walking tour around the ancient town to visit the Japanese Covered Bridge, the Pottery Museum, Tan Ky old house, the Cantonese congregation, the silk street of Hoi An, the temples and pagodas of Chinese appearance.
After dinner, we move to Hoai River and take a boat ride for lantering leavings. Then, we are back to our hotel for overnight. 
Overnight at hotel in Hoi An. 

Day 13: Hoi An - My Son Sanctuary (Breakfast, Lunch)
My Son, located 69 km southwest of Danang, was an imperial city during the Cham dynasty, and 75km far from Hoi An. My Son is the former capital of the ancient Cham civilization that ruled Central Vietnam from the second to the thirteenth century. Their religion was primarily derived from Indian Hinduism. My Son is considered to be one of the best-preserved Cham structures in Vietnam. The complex is comprised of seventy Hindu-like towers and temples dating from the second century. My Son Sanctuary is a large complex of religious relics that comprises more than 70 architectural works. They include temples and towers that connect to each other with complicated red brick designs. The main component of the Cham architectural design is the tower, built to reflect the divinity of the king.

We are picked-up at hotel at 8AM by local tour guide and driver then depart for the ancient Cham ruins of My Son. Once there, we visit the Tra Kieu capital which was the former administration center of Champa Kingdom. Discover the majestic ancient ruins at My Son including ancient towers which were built from the fourth century. 
In the afternoon, we will return to our hotel for overnight accommodation.

Day 14: Hoi An – Depart (Breakfast)
After breakfast, we will be free until your driver arrives to take you to airport for your departure flight. Tour ends.