Day 1: Fri 12 Apr: Hanoi Arrival

Fri 12 Apr: Hanoi Arrival
Highlights
• Spectacular landscapes of the northern mountainous region with famous highlights such as: Hoang Lien Mountain range, Chay river massif, Dong Van Limestone Plateau and Ba Be Lake & national park.
• Unique discovery of culture, custom and way of life of different tribal ethnic peoples living in remote far north of Vietnam.
Deatails:
You will be greeted at the airport and transferred to your hotel. Depending on your flight arrival time activities can be arranged for the rest of the day.
Day 2: 13 Apr: Hanoi Full day City tour

13 Apr: Hanoi Full day City tour
Spend today enjoying a guided tour of Hanoi where you can learn about Hanoian culture and take in the city’s top sights. Start by exploring Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum complex, home to his former stilthouse residence, the presidential palace and the one pillar pagoda. From here walk to the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long, an archeological site dating back to the 11th century. After a stop for lunch visit the Temple of Literature, Vietnam’s first university and Long Bien Bridge, built during the French occupancy, before taking a cyclo ride around Hanoi’s Old Quarter. End the day with a chance to talk to your local guide while enjoying a coffee in a local café over looking Hoan Kiem Lake.
Day 3: 14 Apr: Hanoi - Halong Emotion Cruise

14 Apr: Hanoi - Halong Emotion Cruise
Start your journey at around 8am and arrive in Halong Bay at midday to board a traditional junk for an overnight cruise. Halong Bay is widely considered to be one of the natural wonders of the world. Thousands of towering pillars of sea and wind-carved limestone karst make the bay an unforgettable sight. After lunch, explore some of the huge limestone caves dotted around the bay and visit a floating fishing village. Then the captain will find a secluded spot where you can swim, soak up the sun on the top deck, or try your hand at kayaking. In the evening enjoy a seafood feast for dinner.
Day 4: 15 Apr: Halong - Hanoi - Laocai (Sapa) by night train

15 Apr: Halong - Hanoi - Laocai (Sapa) by night train
This morning enjoy an early swim followed by breakfast as you cruise through more spectacular scenery. Arrive in Surprise cave, explore the Cave, one of the most beautiful caves in Ha Long bay.
In the afternoon drive back to Hanoi.
06:00: Arrive to Hanoi, have lunch, relaxe and catch the overnight train to Lao Cai station. You overnight on the train.
Day 5: ( 16 Apr) LaoCai - SaPa - light Trek tour

( 16 Apr) LaoCai - SaPa - light Trek tour
You arrive at Lao Cai train station about 6:00 am, take 1 hour car trip to Sapa. You have Sunrise Breakfast at hotel, keep your luggage in safety and spend your free time to visit Sapa town with the market, the church or just simply sit in a café by the road for watching the colorful costumes of Ethnic Group. You have lunch at local restaurant. After check in hotel, our local guide will meet you there to prepare for 2hrs trekking with 5km to visit Cat Cat Village, home of Black Hmong hill tribe, meet & talk with locals to learn more about their culture. Then you return Sapa in late afternoon on foot. You have dinner (paid by you) and you overnight at 3* hotel in Sapa.
Day 6: (17 Apr) Sapa – Regional tribal market – Bac Ha

(17 Apr) Sapa – Regional tribal market – Bac Ha
- Transfer from Lao Cai to one of the regional markets: Sunday – Bac Ha; Tuesday – Coc Ly; Wednesday – Cao Son; Thursday – Lung Khau Nhin; Saturday – Can Cau. Spend the rest of the morning joining local ethnic peoples for market activities and festive atmosphere. Lunch break in a local restaurant before transferring briefly to Bac Ha. Check in hotel and relax until about 02.00pm.
- Afternoon: Enjoy walking to explore Ban Pho valley inhabited by Flower Hmong, Tay and Nung peoples. There are optional options which takes from 1.5 hours to nearly 3 hours to suit different customers. Back to hotel before sunset and evening is at leisure.
Day summary: Road transfer from 75km to 125km depending on market to visit/ Market visiting, walk and sightseeing 4 to 5 hours/ Acc: standard hotel.
Day 7: (18 Apr) Bac Ha - Hoang Su Phi – Hagiang

(18 Apr) Bac Ha - Hoang Su Phi – Hagiang
In the morning, visit Bac Ha market, considered one of the most colourful ethnic markets in the Northwest. Flower H'mong, Phu La and Dao Tuyen minorities gather every Sunday at Bac Ha to buy and sell their handicraft products and fresh produce. We set off on a full day journey through Sin Man and Hoang Su Phi to Ha Giang town. The rough but scenic route traverses a dense jungle before crossing over a pass and dropping down to Sin Man. Along the way we may encounter the Nung Ing, Tay, Red Dao, Dao Ao Dai, La Chi and Co Lao, just some of the many hill tribe groups who have settled in the area. Accommodation at Huy Hoang Hotel in Ha Giang.
Day summary: Road transfer 145km, approx. 4 hours/ Walk and sightseeing 4 to 5 hours/ Acc: Tien Dat or Panhou Lodge.
Day 8: (19 Apr) Ha Giang - Saphin - Dong Van

(19 Apr) Ha Giang - Saphin - Dong Van
The remote region of Dong Van and Meo Vac is a land of rugged mountains and beautiful hill tribe villages which have remained unchanged for centuries. Today we head northwest out of Ha Giang Town towards this northernmost tip of Vietnam. The former H’mong royal house at Sa Phin is a primary attraction of the region, but the blend of the hill tribe people's colourful costumes and the majestic mountainous scenery make this long and sometimes bumpy trip an unforgettable experience. Accommodation at Cao Nguyen Da Hotel in Dong Van.
Day summary: Road transfer 165 km, approx.5 hours/ Walk and sightseeing 3 to 4 hours/ Acc: Thao Nguyen hotel – standard.
Day 9: (20 Apr) Dong Van-MeoVac - Babe Lake
Today, the journey takes you through the rolling hills and the picturesque scenery to Ba Be National Park. We have time to visit Dong Van Town before continuing to Meo Vac which is inhabited mostly by the Lo Lo and Pu Peo ethnic minority people. They still retain their centuries old cultural traditions and are recognizably distinct from each other by their dress. The remoteness and the simple lifestyle of the area’s local people are highlights of Meo Vac. Living conditions are very basic here. Roads are bumpy and zigzagging through the mountains. But the journey is more than rewarding. Meet the locals and learn more about the life and culture of the Hmong, Dao, Tay and Nung ethnic minorities who make for the main population in this region. Surely, your presence will attract the locals’ attention as this part of the country still receives very few visitors. Depending on road and traffic conditions, we arrive in Ba Be by late afternoon or early evening. Simple accommodation at a village home stay.
Day summary: Road transfer 82km, approx.3 hours / Walk, sightseeing, village visiting 4 to 5 hours/ Acc: Hoa Cuong hotel.
Day 10: (21 Apr) Exploring Babe Lake

(21 Apr) Exploring Babe Lake
The legendary lake of Ba Be is just one continuous water body although the name means “three lakes”. Today we embark on a boat cruising down the Nang River which is the main water source of the lake. This exciting boat trip will give you a taste of the tranquil countryside at Ba Be National Park. Visit the Poong Grotto before stopping at some nearby hill tribe villages and getting off the beaten track to the scenic Dau Dang waterfalls. Simple accommodation at a village home stay.
Day 11: (22 Apr) Babe Lake - Back to Hanoi

(22 Apr) Babe Lake - Back to Hanoi
After breakfast return to Hanoi , check in Hotel. Overnight in Hanoi
Day 12: (23 Apr) Hanoi Departure

(23 Apr) Hanoi Departure
Breakfast, free until time transfers to airport for your flight back home.