SPECIFICALLY NORTHERN

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ITINERARY IN DETAIL

DAY 1: ARRIVAL IN HANOI (D)

Welcomed by THREELAND tourguide at Hanoi airport, transfer to the city and have a city tour – an essential preparation for your next excursions. Have a look at the Ethnology Museum, where we can learn much about the hill tribal culture of Vietnam before our upcoming visit to Sapa. A cyclo visit is probably the best way to experience the Old Quarter of Hanoi, stop at Ngoc Son Temple located on the Hoan Kiem Lake (the “Sword” Lake) and at the Temple of Literature, the very 1^st high school of Vietnam since 11^th century. Late afternoon we will enjoy a unique fascinating show of Water Puppetry, a traditional stage art of Northern Vietnam. Dinner and overnight in Hanoi. (lunch at your own arrangement for flexibility)

Please note! The program will be adjusted in accordance with your arrival time.

DAY 2: HANOI - HALONG BAY – TRAIN TO LAO CAI (B/L/D)

Early depart for Halong Bay, a World Heritage as designated by UNESCO in 1994, with thousands limestone islets with stopovers en route to visit the rural life of the Red River Delta’s farmers (esp. in transplanting and harvest times), or the ceramic town at Dong Trieu.  Upon arrival, take a boat trip for about 5 hours to cruise Halong bay (width 1,500 sq. km) to enjoy its splendid seascape of thousands odd-shaped rocky islands, visit the inside-island grottoes and / or swimming. Lunch of fresh seafood served on board by the crew. Late afternoon back to Hanoi for dinner before transfer to the Railway Station to take a night train to Lao Cai. Overnight on the Train.

DAY 3: VISIT SAPA (B/L)

Around 06.00am, we’ll arrive at Lao Cai Station, a borderland city that looks over China and that is closest to Sapa Hill Resort. Transferred to Sapa. The road is 40km long and very sight-worthy with terraced paddy fields, small waterfalls and pinewoods. Have breakfast at your hotel in Sapa and leave our luggage here before hanging around with our tourguide to Sapa market, then climb up the Dragon Peak to have the panorama of Sapa with pine trees, old colonial-styled villas and numerous hill tribal people. Afternoon walk downhill from Sapa to Cat Cat village of the Hmong people (4km) to visit the daily life of the Hmong ethnic group and enjoy the landscape in Cat Cat. Overnight in Sapa.

(Dinner at your own arrangement).

DAY 4: A COLOURFUL WEEKLY MARKET IN BACHA SURROUNDINGS – LAOCAI (B/L/D)

Today should be Saturday, Sunday or Tuesday. Any of these days will offer us a great chance for a memorable trip to a weekly market of the hill tribes living surrounding Sapa. Alternatives are Can Cau market on Saturday, Bac Ha market on Sunday or Coc Ly market on Tuesday. On Sunday, we can even choose to stay in Sapa Town to enjoy the market of Black Hmong and Dzay people. To reach any of them, we will drive from Sapa about 3hours to the marketplace, where hundreds of people from tribes Hmong, Tay, Dzay, Dzao, Kinh gather for meeting, hanging around, shopping and exchanging their goods, especially fabrics and handicrafts weekly. After enjoying the market for 2-3 hours, we can visit a village nearby the marketplace (alternatively), take a boat on Chay river (during Coc Ly market only) or leave for Lao Cai and have a look at the Chinese border in Lao Cai. Take the night Train to Hanoi at 19.00 or 21.00 and overnight on the Train. (Lunch at restaurant; dinner in Lao Cai)

DAY 5: HANOI DEPARTURE (B)

Arrive Hanoi about 06.00am. Have a circle surrounding Hoan Kiem Lake to watch the morning exercises of the Hanoians surrounding the lake, inclusive of yoga, jogging, dance, martial art, and taichi-quan. Visit the Mausoleum and House of Ho Chi Minh before transfer to the airport for your departure flight.

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