Welcome to Vietnam!

After arriving at Noi Bai Airport, you will be picked up and transferred to the hotel in the city center. Hotel check-in is available from 2 pm. The rest of the day is free for relaxing or discovering the city by yourself. Overnight at the hotel.

After a delicious breakfast, the tour guide will pick you up to participate in a cooking class. Firstly, we will walk to the local market to buy traditional ingredients. There is a great variety of fresh foods on offer on all the street groceries stores such as: herbs, spices, vegetables, meats, fish, fruits, etc. You will learn about how important herbs and spices are in authentic Vietnamese gastronomy. Have a fun time while you try to communicate with local vendors by using body language. Do not forget to take some photos with them too! After food shopping, we will go back to prepare and cook some tasty food dishes. The tour guide will take you through all the necessary steps, from marinating and spicing, to decorating dishes with carved carrot flowers, lemongrass stems, banana leaves and curved chili. You will learn how to make an authentic magical sauce mixed from fish sauce, water, sugar, lime, chili, garlic, and herbs. And finally, you will get to enjoy a delicious lunch together with all the food you have prepared.

In the afternoon, we will discover the Old Quarter. It’s time to get lost in the labyrinth of lanes, in which each narrow street once specialized in a specific type of manufacturing or trade. There is no better way of exploring this commercial quarter than on foot to capture all aspects of local daily life: crafts, Buddhism, temples, gastronomy, local markets, traditional tube-houses (a Vietnamese particularity) and medicines. The street food tour will end with a walk around Hoan Kiem Lake (Lake of the Restored Sword) before watching a traditional water puppet show. At the late night, transfer to station for the train (max 4 people) or cabin car to Sapa. Overnight at a comfortable cabin.

The train arrives in Lao Cai early at 6.00 am. We will have breakfast in a local restaurant before heading to Sapa. We will have a beautiful hike through the amazing scenery of Sa Pa valley. On the way up, we have a panorama view on rice terraces hidden behind morning fog. Following a small track and crossing the Muong Hoa River to Lao Chai Village of Black Hmong people, we will pass by well-tended paddy fields. We continue walking through the beautiful terraces to reach Ta Van Giay village. We will have lunch with a family in the village. In the afternoon, we will continue hiking through a bamboo forest to Giang Ta Chai – the village of Red Dao ethnic. After taking a rest next to a waterfall, we will start climbing uphill to the main road where the car is waiting to take us back to Sapa. Overnight at a hotel.

After having a tasty breakfast, you will be transferred to Fansipan mountain. You will travel on a soil road with wildflowers on the two sides. The water starts from the peak of Fansipan Mountain and rushes noisily into the Golden Stream, which runs along with green grass plots and bamboo clusters. We will return to Tram Ton Pass and then continue to drive uphill to the Heavens Gates situated between Lai Chau and Lao Cai province. From the highest stretch of road in Vietnam, you can have a fantastic panoramic view over the valley. Afterwards, we will go to the cable car station where you will make a trip amidst the clouds to reach Fansipan Mountain. Reaching an altitude of 2800 meters, you will have time to admire grandiose mountains, the splendid view of the thick forest and breathe cool fresh air. Trek up to approx. 600 steps and you will reach the summit of Fansipan – the Roof of Indochina. After that, return to Sapa for lunch at your own charge and come back to Hanoi in limousine car. Overnight at the hotel in Hanoi

At 8.30 AM, we will pick you up at your hotel and depart for Ninh Binh province. On arrival, we will take a boat trip to discover the Trang An grottoes, where you will find forested limestone mounts contrasted against emerald water, caves, lowland and rivers. We will visit the 7-caves-chain with beautiful stalactites of all shapes and colours. In the afternoon, you will transfer to Mua caves and learn about their interesting history, told by our guide. After conquering the 500 stone steps, you will reach the top of the mountain, from where you can enjoy a stunning panoramic view of the Tam Coc landscape and the wonderful Ngo Dong River. For the rest of the day, we will ride bicycles along winding roads, passing through quintessential Vietnamese countryside; lotus ponds, temples, and cottages, on our way to visit the hillside pagoda of Bich Dong. Afterwards, you will transfer back to the hotel in Ninh Binh for overnight.

After breakfast at the hotel, transfer to the harbour of Ha Long Bay, whose name means ‘where the dragon descends into the sea’, already recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. Accommodation in the furnished cabin with a splendid view of the bay, welcome drink and an information briefing about your stay on board. An exquisite lunch is served with fresh seafood. Free time to relax before the afternoon’s interesting activities.

Start with an exploration of Luon Cave which is considered as one of the most ideal places in Halong for kayaking or rowing boat. After that, you can visit Titov Island, where you can go swimming or hiking to the top for another stunning, panoramic view of the Bay. Enjoy your special dinner in restaurants with the best view of Halong bay.

Free time to challenge yourself in the night squid fishing or enjoy the tranquility of the night on your cruise.

Wake up early to witness an enchanting sunrise. For those interested, a short Tai Chi lesson on the terrace will refresh your mind and body. In the morning, you can also enjoy a cup of tea or coffee while admiring the extraordinary landscape.

Your next excursion is a visit to the magnificent Sung Sot Cave, where you can take in the panoramic views across Halong Bay. You can also participate in a cooking class. The chef will show you the tricks of cooking our country’s typical dishes and then enjoy them with brunch.

Disembark from the cruise around noon and transfer to Noi Bai airport. Flight back to your country.

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Thank you very much for travelling with Asia Viva Travel.