Sea and Mountain: Hanoi, Ha Long, Sapa & Bac Ha – 7 days
Overview
- A tour to regions providing a complete change of scenery.
- The legendary Ha Long Bay
- Sapa and Bac Ha, the mountainous regions of the North with their ancient ways of life and diverse ethnic minorities.
Itinerary Expand All
Day 1Arrival To Hanoi (L)
Upon your arrival at the airport, our guide and driver will greet you and take you to the city center of Hanoi.
Time to exploring the city's most iconic landmarks:
- Temple of Literature: Established in 1070, the Temple of Literature was the first national university, where royal and mandarin sons studied to become scholars and high-ranking officials. This historic site also honors Confucius and the kingdom’s esteemed scholars. With its original architecture arranged around courtyards, ponds, and gardens, it remains a peaceful haven of greenery in the heart of the capital.
- Hanoi Old Quarter: The commercial heart of the capital, bordered by the picturesque Hoan Kiem Lake. Despite the passage of time, the Old Quarter remains an open-air museum, showcasing the city's rich heritage with its distinctive tube houses, narrow alleys, ancient temples, and bustling open-air markets.
- Lunch: Enjoy grilled pork with vermicelli and egg coffee.
Day 2Ha Long - Halong, Overnight On Board (L, D)
08:00 – Pick-up by luxury bus from your hotel in Hanoi Old Quarter. Enjoy the scenic drive through the Red River Delta.
11:30 – Arrival at Tuan Chau Marina, check-in at the lounge.
12:00 – Board Mila Lux Cruises, welcome drink and safety briefing.
12:30 – Lunch on board while cruising past iconic sites: Incense Burner, Dog Islet, Fighting Cock Islet, Three Coconuts Island.
14:30 – Visit a Pearl Farm and enjoy kayaking amid the bay’s stunning landscape.
16:00 – Explore Sung Sot Cave, the largest in the bay, known for its impressive rock formations.
17:30 – Return to the boat. Join a cooking class, enjoy sunset Happy Hour on the sundeck.
19:00 – Dinner on board.
21:00 – Optional activities: squid fishing, movie in your cabin, card games, or relaxing on deck.
23:00 – Overnight on the cruise.
Day 3Ha Long Bay - Hanoi (b, L)
Day 4Hanoi – Sapa – Hmong And Dzay Villages Of Y Linh Ho And Lao Chai (B, L, D)
Day 5Sapa – Muong Bo Valley In The Land Of The Red Dzao – Bac Ha (B, L, D)
Day 6Bac Ha Weekly Market And Flower Hmong Village – Bao Yen (B, L)
After a good breakfast, you will set out to explore one of the weekly markets in the region (you will visit the one that takes place on the day of your presence in Bac Ha): Coc Ly market on Tuesday, Can Cau market on Saturday, and Bac Ha market on Sunday.
Bac Ha's weekly market profoundly showcases the typical cultural traits of ethnic minorities living in remote regions, including various ethnic groups such as Tay, Black Dzao, Phu La, and notably the Flower Hmong.
Enjoy its striking atmosphere with a wide array of goods, vegetables, poultry, horses, buffaloes... on display. Moreover, you will have a good opportunity to see boys and girls dressed in very colorful traditional costumes, heading to the market with the hope of finding a soulmate. It is also an opportunity for them to chat and exchange goods.
A short and easy walk to the Flower Hmong village. Explore the agricultural environment, traditional housing, and lush terraced rice fields.
Transfer by car to return to Hanoi.
Day 7Hanoi - Departure (B, L)
Morning: Visit the Museum of Ethnology, which presents the lifestyles, customs, and traditions of the 54 ethnic groups of Vietnam. Then, visit Tran Quoc Pagoda: Built in 1615 on the shore of the large West Lake.
Affternoon: Visit Ba Dinh District: Walk through Ba Dinh Square, the botanical garden, the former Indochina Governor's Palace (now the Presidential Palace), Ho Chi Minh's stilt house, and finally the One Pillar Pagoda, one of the city's oldest monuments built in 1049.
Prices and Accommodation
How to book?
Enter your travel date, the number of adults, and the language
Click "Book this tour" for price, then "Book now" to reserve.
"Pricing is for up to 6 adults. For larger groups, please request a customized offer in your 'special requests'
Included
- Transportation according to the program in sharing bus or a private vehicle with a driver for your EXCLUSIVE group
- Meals as mentioned in the program: B = breakfast, L = lunch, D = dinner
- English-speaking guide
- Visiting fees and entrance fees to the sites
- One liter of bottled water per day per person
- Kayak, Handling fees
Excluded
- Travelers' personal insurance
- Bank fees, Beverages, phone, personal expenses, and anything not clearly mentioned in the "This price includes" section
- Surcharge during public holidays (if any)
- Tips (based on your satisfaction, a suggested reference is $5 USD/day/traveler for guides and half that for drivers)
Useful Information
- Safety equipment: bring hiking shoes, a flashlight, and mosquito repellent, Sunscreen between April and November, Warm clothing during winter (Mid-November to early March), Towel and toiletry kit.
- The terraced rice fields in the high mountains of Sapa and Bac Ha, cultivated in May and harvested in late August, early September, are nevertheless less beautiful during the winter period, between November and April.
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- The extraordinary landscapes of the terraced rice fields in Sapa and Bac Ha
- The authenticity of Bac Ha, especially with its lively and colorful weekly Ethnic Minorities market
- Nights spent with local inhabitants to stay in close contact with Ethnic Minorities