North Vietnam Tour 9 Days offers the chance to visit the northern Vietnam highlights including Can Cau market, Bac Ha town, Sapa, Lao Cai, Than Uyen, Than Thuoc, Lai Chau, yen Bai and Halong bay. The highlights of the multi-sport trip are the Can Cau Saturday…
Overview
North Vietnam Tour 9 Days offers the chance to visit the northern Vietnam’s major travel highlights including Can Cau market, Bac Ha town, Sapa, Lao Cai, Than Uyen, Than Thuoc, Lai Chau, yen Bai and Halong bay. The highlights of the multi-sport trip are the Can Cau Saturday market, a day walking tour in Sapa, Sapa mountain biking tour, Halong bay junk cruise, sea kayaking and a culture day tour of Vietnam’s capital, Hanoi. The best time for taking this trip is the dry season starting from October until May.
Private-guided walking holidays
Golden Trail Travel Hiking Vietnam specializes in tailor-making trekking and hiking vacations in Vietnam. We offer the widest selection of day walks, jungle trekking, mountain climb, trekking home-stay, camping and wild life discovery in the northern Vietnam. With a dedicated team of senior travel consultants, hiking tour specialists, experienced English-speaking tour leaders, local H’mong, Thai, Tay guides, cooks, porters we can design any trekking, hiking, walking option for any age and budget.
The itinerary above is only a sample that can be further customized to better fit your personal requirements. Just follow it or contact us for designing your own adventure.
Day 1: Hanoi – Lao Cai.
In the evening, transfer to Hanoi Railway Station for overnight train to Laocai. Overnight on board train.
Day 2: Lao Cai – Bac Ha – Can Cau Market – Sapa.
Upon your arrival at Laocai Railways Station, you will be greeted by our local team and transferred to a local restaurant for breakfast. Then start our drive to Can Cau market. The road is relatively flat from Lao Cai to Bao Nhai bridge. After crossing the bridge, we begin our journey uphill offering beautiful views over the valleys. Situated 20 km from Bac Ha, Can Cau is a small, but very colorful market. Opening only on Saturdays, it always delivers a very photogenic display of Flower Hmong, Black Zao, Phu La ethnic costumes. After spending the whole morning exploring the market, you will leave the market for Bac Ha town for lunch (included). In the afternoon, we drive downhill towards Lao Cai for about half an hour. We stop on the way (before reaching Lao Cai) to take a short walk to Trung Do village inhabited by Tay people. Stop by a traditional Tay house for a cup of tea before taking a boat cruise upstream the Chay River. The scenery is very beautiful on both sides of the river. The boat trip will end at Coc Ly where your vehicle will be waiting for you for the journey to Sapa. Free dinner. Overnight in Sapa.
Day 3: Sapa Trekking.
You first sneak through the Sapa market and leave the busy town behind. After a couple of minutes, you follow a road going downhill to Cat Cat village. You will stop by a waterfall and a hydroelectric station for a while before continuing the trek on a dirt trail through rice paddy terraces. You also will enjoy spectacular scenery while walking along a narrow river. You eventually arrive in Y Linh Ho village of Black Hmong minority, where you can take a rest while you are served lunch nearby the river. After lunch, you head toward Muong Hoa valley. You will pass through Lao Chai village of Black Hmong minority and then Tavan village of Giay minority by following a very popular trekking route. You will return Sapa from Tavan by car. Free dinner. Overnight in Sapa.
Day 4: Sapa – Than Thuoc.
Drive uphill towards Tram Ton. It’s a tough climb out of Sa Pa to Heaven’s gate, so your support vehicle will transfer you out to a starting point at the ‘Silver Waterfall’. Then it’s a 3Km climb up the highest mountain pass in Indochina where you’ll stop to marvel at the spectacular view of Hoang Lien mountains before free-wheeling down 26km to Binh Lu Junction. Heading off the main road, its 20kms of sometimes rocky road to Than Thuoc, a charming little tea town where you’ll spend the night in a local stilt house.
Day 5: Than Thuoc – Than Uyen.
After breakfast, your support vehicle will transfer you up a steep mountain pass to the starting point where you’ll glide down 20kms to Than Uyen through valleys where the old growth forest, tea plantations and verdant rice paddies surround you during your ride. After lunch in Than Uyen, you’ll have a wonderful afternoon as you explore some single track trails to visit local minority villages, including the interesting Lu people with their distinctively black teeth. Arrive back in Than Uyen for dinner and overnight in the local guesthouse.
Day 6: Than Uyen – Lao Cai – Hanoi.
After breakfast, ride 40kms around the other side of the stunning Muong Kim valley with time for lots of stops to take pictures of the local hill tribe people and the stunning scenery there. Arrive in Van Ban for a late lunch then hop on the minivan to drive back to Lao Cai. Overnight on board train.
Day 7: Hanoi – Halong Bay Cruise.
Upon your arrival at Hanoi Railways Station, you will be greeted again by our team (private car & guide) and transferred to a local restaurant for breakfast and a short rest. At 8:00: you will be picked up by our sharing shuttle bus (no guide). Depart for Halong bay. Enjoy the journey through the scenery of rice fields, water buffalo and everyday Vietnamese village life. Arrive in Halong bay around noon and board the Bai Tho traditional sailing junk (or similar junk). Whilst cruising the exquisite waters sample the regions fresh seafood. Round over Thien Cung cave (palace of heaven), Dau Go ( grotto of wood ), Tuan Chau island, Dog island, Dinh Huong, Ga Choi (fighting cock mountain), Turtle island. Visit Sung Sot cave and enjoy one-hour kayaking trip or have a swim at Titop beach or Soi Sim beach. Watch the sun set over the bay whilst enjoying a delicious dinner. Overnight on board junk.
Day 8: Halong Bay Cruise – Halong Bay Kayaking.
Breakfast on board junk. Continue visiting, cruising, kayaking Halong bay while the boat cruise through Man’s head island, Tortoise island. Visit Luon cave by a small bamboo rowing boat. Lunch will be provided on board. In the afternoon, visiting Ba Ham lake, fishery village,Cua Van, swimming at Ba Trai Dao beach. Having dinner and overnight on the junk.
Day 9: Halong Bay – Hanoi.
Breakfast on board. Then we continue our cruise while the boat is going back to shore. Arrive at Ha long wharf about 11h00 and join our vehicle again for journey back to Hanoi.
HOTELS
Homestay
Economy 2*+ Hotels
Superior 3* Hotels
First Class 4* Hotels
Deluxe 5* Hotels
Luxury 5*++ Hotels
Notes:
*All prices are based on per adult, in Double/Twin sharing
Surcharge will be applied for single traveler or single room request
Important Notes:
HOTELS, PROGRAMS & SCHEDULES SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT PRIOR NOTICE
GUIDE/LEADER:
English speaking guide. French , Germany , Spanish, Italian, Russian speaking guide can be arranged with on request.
What’s included
English speaking Trekking guide ( other languages upon requests)
Accommodations are based on double/ twin occupancy
Private Eco homestay village based on size of group
Meals details in itineraries ( 13 breakfast, 14lunches, 13 dinners)
Van or bus transfer And supported and carry luggage to homestay each day.
Sightseeing excursions as outlined itineraries
First aid kit
Cold water box, small fresh towel.
Mineral water for drinking
Permission paper entrance to visit frontier region or restricted areas
Support crew to supply picnic lunches and water on trekking day, prepare breakfast, lunch and dinner in trekking.
Local trekking guide
What is not included
International airfare
Travel insurance
Items of personal nature
Alcoholic beverages and soft drinks in meals
Mineral water beyond that supplied
Optional excursions
Additional transport required due to any emergency situation
Personal expenses such as telephone, laundry bills.
Visa fee
Departure tax
Tip for team and guide
The following brings are essential suggested for trekking days only:
Backpack specialized for trekking.
Trekking shoes (extra light sandal suggested).
Light and comfortable trousers (02 pcs)
Cotton long sleeve: (01pc for each day)
Long socks (01 pair for each day)
Water proof jacket: 01
Pullover: 01
Coat to keep warm at night and waypoint: 01
Durable flash light.
Hat, Sun glasses and other manddatory
Camera (compact camera is suggested)