Northern Vietnam Eco Tour 10 Days Sustainable Travel, Sapa Trekking, Halong Bay Cruise & Cultural Experiences

DAY 1: HANOI ARRIVAL ENTER THE MARKETS AND FOOD STORES BY YOUR OWN [Guide]

Upon arrival at Noi Bai Airport, after clearing all customs procedures, please proceed to exit gate and look for your driver who will be waiting at the lobby, holding the Luxury Travel Vietnam signboard with your name on it, if you cannot locate your driver, please go to the Airport information counter situated in the middle of Domestic and International arrival lobby (inside the terminal) and call the emergency numbers +84-986-980-060 for assistance. Your driver will come to meet you up and transfer you to hotel for check in and free at leisure. Discover by enter the markets and food stores by your own.

Overnight in Hanoi

DAY 2: EXPLORE UNCOVER THE CHARM OF THE CAPITAL [Guide/B/L]

Begin your day in the heart of Hanoi's Old Quarter with a morning heritage walk along Phan Dinh Phung Street, where you'll admire the elegant French villas and the historic Northern Gate of the Old Citadel. Visit the World Heritage-listed site of Hanoi's Ancient Citadel, the War Invalids Monument, and the nearby General Giap House. As you pass the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, housed in a colonial-era building with distinctive drum-like architecture, you'll also see the National Assembly House and Ho Chi Minh Museum.

Continue your journey to the imposing French colonial building, once the High School of Indochina, now the Communist Party's central office. From quieter spots, you'll have unique views of the Presidential Palace and Ba Dinh Square. Turning right, visit Quan Thanh Temple, dedicated to Tran Vu Saint, one of the four guardians of Hanoi's Citadel, with the temple overlooking West Lake and its surrounding greenery. Enjoy the fresh air and serene atmosphere along Thanh Nien Street, which separates two lakes, and end your walk at Tran Quoc Pagoda, Hanoi’s oldest pagoda.

DAY 3: LEARNING HOW FABRIC SCRAPS GIVEN NEW LIFE BY DISABLED ARTISTS [Guide/B/L]

Start a journey to Duong Lam Village to trace back the origin of Vietnam's culture and Vietnam's traditions, pass by Ancient Citadel in Son Tay. Arrival village, a great chance explores architecture of ancient houses while wandering along its narrow alleyways. This village has been known as a museum of laterite with ancient houses aged up to 400 years old. It is also the only place in Vietnam where the two kings came from. King Phung Hung and Ngo Quyen - the two heroes who led resistance wars against China's Sung and Southern Han troops to recover national independence. Walk or bike around the village, you will explore the special architecture, traditional culture and traditions of countryside of Vietnam which is still well preserved today. After lunch at local household, head to Mia Pagoda, built during the Tran Dynasty before 1632 and still preserves many ancient artifacts. Mong Phu is the biggest and the most famous commune of Duong Lam Village. Here, you also can admire ancient houses made of laterite and mud, two materials that are abundant in the area, stroll in small lanes, and watch local people in their daily activities. Then drive to Van Phuc village, the place renowned over centuries for its silk-making and silk products. Van Phuc village is in the Centre of Ha Dong District and the biggest silk production village in Vietnam. The sound of looms has filled Van Phuc for a thousand years, and is a touching sound to villagers when returning from far away. Visit a Vun art shop - assemble silk paintings from scraps of fabric from tailors in Van Phuc silk village. Through the hands of disabled workers, scraps of fabric that are no longer valuable are utilized, cut, assembled, and shaped into a variety of paintings. Most of the paintings are exploited from Dong Ho folk paintings, Hang Trong paintings, Kim Hoang paintings, and Sinh village paintings in Hue. Transfer to the Hanoi Station

Overnight on train

DAY 4: LAO CAI ARRIVAL – FANSIPAN PEAK [Guide]

Arrival Laocai station in early morning, transfer to Sapa. After breakfast, start the day with a journey to Fansipan Cable Car Station to start the journey to conquer Fansipan with the world's most modern 3-wire cable car system. Then continue conquering to the top of Fansipan at 3.143m higher from sea-level, the roof of Indochina. You will have enjoyed a beautiful landscape view by rice paddy terraces and mountains covered by rain forests under the protection of Hoang Lien National Park. After lunch, you will be back to the station then start trekking to Cat Cat Village which is occupied by the Black H’mong tribe. Here, you can see the hydroelectric power station which was built by the French in the twentieth century. You will experience the tribal way of life of ethnic minorities while enjoying wonderful views of the terraced rice paddy fields and the waterfall in Cat Cat village. Visitors will also understand culture, unique customs, traditional crafts such as weaving, touching carved silver, forged agricultural tools...

Overnight in Sapa

DAY 5: TREKKING THROUGHT BAMBOO FOREST [Guide/B/L]

You will start by a short driving south toward Muong Hoa valley which is the largest rice paddy terraced among Sapa area. The trek commences from Ta Van village of Black H’mong & Day people. on the way you will learn more about the rice cultivation by very traditional methods, from when the seed sowed to harvested, until being served as cooked rice on your table. The trip offers an opportunity to meet Black Hmong, Giay and Red Dao minorities as well as explore their different cultures.

This portion of the trek offers stunning view of Muong Hoa valleys as well as chances to understand life of tribal peoples in remote land when paying visit to a minority's house.

Continues through a bamboo forest to Giang Ta Chai, a Red Dao and Black Mong ethnic minority village. Take a rest nearby a waterfall to refresh

 After a short time for discovery the rock field, you follow a dirt trail going uphill to rattan bridge. Then transfer back to your hotel with your own time to enjoy swimming  or relaxing.

Overnight in Sapa

DAY 6: ETHNIC MARKET – OVERNIGHT ON TRAIN [Guide/B/L]

In the morning, transfer to an ethnic market which only takes place once every week to explore and enjoy the beauty of nature and local ethnic minorities' people cultures. Witness how ethnic people enjoy their lives and dress up in their traditional costumes. Besides normal goods traded in any other market, each mountainous market has its own typical products for sale. After lunch, transfer back to Lao Cai Station to get on the train.

Overnight on train

DAY 7: MAKING FINEST LACQUER WORKS – ROWING BOAT THROUGH THE INCREDIBLE SCEBERY [Guide]

Pick up and transfer to visit a lacquerware workshop in Ha Thai village to meet with an artist who is skillful of making finest lacquer works, learn about our centuries-old technique of applying and polishing layer upon layer of varnish. Take a look around the workshop and learn about lacquer making procedures, how local people doing their craft works every day. Then roll up your sleeves and immerse yourself in an interactive and funny making a folk artwork under instructions of the host, a skillful artist, from beginning choosing materials, drawing, painting, sharpening and polishing. You will see how your product turning into an artwork.

Let your creativity soar and make an ideal gift or memento of your journey to Vietnam. After lunch, keep riding to board the small rowing boat to explore the incredible scenery of Tam Coc - a beautiful natural setting boasts endless rice paddies surrounded by towering limestone karst mountains. The boat floats through the fields and three natural caves - a precious chance to capture the breath-taking scenery and enjoy watching the water-plants underneath

Overnight in Ninh Binh

DAY 8: TREKKING THROUGH CUC PHUONG NATIONAL PARK [Guide/B/L]

Start the day with an excursion to Cuc Phuong National Park which is home to an extraordinary variety of species. Established in 1962, it is considered to be one of Vietnam’s most important nature reserves. Before entering the park gates, stop at Endangered Primate Rescue Centre where nearly extinct primates are from hunters and medicine seekers. The center is run by German and Vietnamese biologists and is home to different gibbons, langurs and lorises before they are reintroduced to the wild life again.

Head to the park central to discover ancient human cave and have lunch at the stilt-house there. Take a short trek into the National Park for sightseeing and learn more about the fauna and flora in this oldest forest of Vietnam. Grab the chance to take picture of one-thousand-year-old tree before coming back to the central.

Overnight in Ninh Binh

DAY 9: NINH BINH – HALONG BAY WITH BIRD EYE’S VIEW AND LEISURELY CRUISING [Guide/B/L/D]

In this morning, you are leisurely enjoying your breakfast until transfer time to the pier, from there, you will be welcome at Cruise’s lounge before boarding. Once the cruise set sails, your lunch will be served at the restaurant on the main deck. Enjoy delicious Vietnamese foods while admiring the grace of the bay. The cruises vessel then approaches Cave – a spectacular destination with plenty of historical and archaeological values about Ha Long Culture from 10,000 years ago. You will be charmed by the magnificent complex structure with stalactites and stalagmites in various shapes and the most diverse ecological system in Halong Bay. And then, you will have free time for guests to paddle on colorful kayaks to explore the stunning landscape of Halong Bay. Back to the cruise, attend the afternoon tea with music on Sundeck and join in the cooking demonstration and try your skills in the art of traditional Vietnamese cooking in a truly stunning setting. Enjoy your dinner as you experience the charm of Halong Bay at night.

Overnight on-board.

DAY 10: ENGAGING IN CAVE EXPLORATION – NOI BAI AIRPORT [Guide/B]

Start the day with a session of Vovinam on the sundeck, followed by a light breakfast. Then take a bamboo boat out to explore the Dark and Bright Cave. Then return to the ship for checkout. Enjoy a brunch while cruising back, arriving at harbors and relaxing at our lounge while your transportation arrives at the harbor by noon for the drive back to Hanoi airport for your onward flight to your home.

Services Included

• Accommodation in 4-star luxury hotels or 5-star prestige hotels according to the selected option, where available.
• Best available boutique hotels, eco-retreats or premium local stays in Sapa, Ninh Binh and nature regions according to the selected package and local availability.
• One overnight cruise in Halong Bay or Lan Ha Bay in a private cabin, with cruise category depending on the selected package.
• Hanoi – Lao Cai sleeper train or private road transfer for the Sapa section according to the confirmed program and selected cabin category.
• Private air-conditioned vehicle with professional driver for all transfers and sightseeing mentioned in the itinerary.
• English-speaking local guide during sightseeing days and trekking sections as mentioned in the program.
• Airport transfers in Hanoi according to the itinerary.
• Meals mentioned in the itinerary: breakfasts, lunches and dinners as specified.
• Entrance fees for all sightseeing places mentioned in the program.
• Hanoi heritage walk including Old Quarter backstreets, French villas, Northern Gate of the Old Citadel, Ancient Citadel area, Ba Dinh Square, Quan Thanh Temple, West Lake and Tran Quoc Pagoda according to the itinerary.
• Duong Lam ancient village experience including laterite houses, Mong Phu commune, Mia Pagoda and local household lunch according to the program.
• Van Phuc silk village visit and sustainable fabric-scrap art experience with disabled artists according to the program.
• Sapa experience including Fansipan cable car, Cat Cat village, Muong Hoa Valley, Ta Van village, rice terraces and ethnic minority encounters according to the itinerary.
• Ninh Binh and Tam Coc experience including rowing boat trip through rice fields and limestone caves according to the program.
• Cuc Phuong National Park visit including Endangered Primate Rescue Center, ancient human cave, rainforest walk and thousand-year-old tree according to the itinerary.
• Halong Bay luxury cruise with private cabin, meals on board, kayaking, afternoon tea, cooking demonstration, cave exploration, bamboo boat and onboard activities according to the cruise program.
• Bottled water during private road transfers.
• Local taxes and service charges for included ground arrangements.
• 24/7 local support during the trip.

Services Not Included

• International flights to and from Vietnam.
• Domestic flights, if requested in a customized version of the itinerary.
• Vietnam visa stamping fee or e-visa fee, if applicable.
• Personal travel insurance, including medical, cancellation, baggage and trekking activity coverage.
• Fansipan mountain train or upgraded cable car services if not specified in the confirmed quotation.
• Drinks, minibar, laundry, spa treatments, wellness treatments and personal expenses.
• Meals not clearly mentioned in the itinerary.
• Single room supplement.
• Early check-in and late check-out at hotels unless specifically included.
• Hotel room upgrades, suites, premium eco-lodges, luxury train cabin upgrades or private cruise upgrades if requested.
• Optional private cooking class, private craft workshop, photography tour, wellness program or special cultural performance unless clearly included in the confirmed program.
• Tips for guides, drivers, cruise crew, porters and local service staff.
• High-season, Christmas, New Year, Lunar New Year or public holiday supplements, if applicable.
• Additional costs caused by weather, road conditions, train schedule changes, cruise operation changes, cable car suspension or force majeure events.
• Any service not clearly listed under “Services Included”.