NORTHERN VIETNAM TREASURES

Arrive into Hanoi and check into the hotel. The day is at your leisure for you to start seeing Hanoi.

Enjoy a city tour of Hanoi, taking in its rich history, museums, the rambling Old Quarter and the many parks and lakes. In the evening, sample some of Hanoi’s finest cuisine before experiencing a traditional water puppet theatre performance. Spend the day at leisure to explore Hanoi’s shopping and café culture, before boarding the overnight sleeper train north to Sapa in the evening.

At an elevation of 1600 metres, Sapa is a delightful former French hill station situated in the mountainous region of Vietnam’s northwest, close to the Chinese border. The region is home to many ethnic minority groups each wearing their traditional, colourful attire. Today, take a guided walk through emerald rice paddies and tiny hill tribe villages. The afternoon is spent exploring the fabulous markets selling traditional art and crafts, embroidery and silver.

Spend the day hiking to hill tribe villages before taking the overnight train back to Hanoi.

Arrive early morning and dine ‘Vietnamese style’ before driving east to the World Heritage sight of Halong Bay. With thousands of limestone peaks, dotted caves and traditional fishing villages, it’s a place you will never forget. Spend two nights cruising through the magic of the Bay on a traditional junk.

Explore caves, kayak, swim, sunbathe and feast on fresh Vietnamese seafood. Optional rock climbing in one of the best climbing sites in South East Asia.

Transfer to Hanoi for your flight home.