Today you will explore Vietnam’s charming capital. With its wide tree-lined boulevards, French colonial architecture, peaceful lakes, and ancient oriental pagodas, Hanoi is an eclectic mix that offers something for everyone. Full day exploring the ancient capital will take you to Hanoi’s key sites. In the morning, you start a visit to the Ho Chi Minh Complex (the exterior of Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum and stilt house), the nearby One Pillar Pagoda; the Presidential Palace; the Temple of Literature. In the afternoon, stop at the sedate Tran Quoc Pagoda & West Lake, then travel back to French quarter for Hoa Lo Prison Museum – also known as “Hanoi Hilton” and “Maison Centrale”, a key historical site during French colony and Vietnam war. Ending the tour with the Water Puppet Show about daily Vietnamese in the countryside that used to be performed in Lakes or Ponds in the traditional villages. Back to your hotel for a short rest. Late check out included until transfer you to the train station to catch your night train to Sapa. Meals included: Breakfast Accommodation: on train (4 soft-berth sharing cabin) Optional – Night street food explorers (with supplement) You are a local food lover, who find no hesitation to try the exotic but yummy dishes to truly connect to the local life. Accompanied by your expert guide, you are walking through small alleys of hustle and bustle of Old Quarter, Markets…tasting a number of signature food courses such as Nem Ran - Hanoi Spring rolls, a choice of Bun Cha – pork barbecue with fresh noodle or Banh Cuon – steamed rice rolls, Banh My- well-known Vietnamese baguette, fried sesame rice ball and so many others are waiting for you to try.

Arrival in Laocai train station in the early morning then meet your local guide and driver. Have simple breakfast in a local restaurant before setting out on a half day trek to Cat Cat village, where the Black H'mong live. There, hike through the terraced rice fields, tribe villages and refresh yourselves under the waterfall, before you attend a scheduled ethnic dance and folk singing show presented by the local artists of the villages. After that, continue your hike to Sin Chai village passing along beautiful terraced rice fields before returning to Sapa. The rest of the day is yours to leisure at hotel or wander around the town. You may want to check out the night market and the Stone Church. Meals Included: Breakfast Accommodation: Hotel in Sapa

After breakfast, heading out for another trekking day with your local guide. Hike through yawning valleys decorated with incredibly beautiful terraced rice fields and pass through remote hill tribe villages. Three trekking options are specially customized as your favor: Soft trek (~ 3 km), medium trek (~ 6km), and long trek (~ 12km). Trekking is an excellent way to explore daily life and familiarize yourself with the cultures of the Hmong, Dzao, and Dzay people who populate the region. Have lunch (on your own budget) at a hill tribe village then travel onward to Hanoi by a limousine shuttle bus, a great way to see the beautiful and peaceful countryside on the way! We arrive back in Hanoi city in the evening and check in to the hotel. Enjoy a free evening in Hanoi’s colonial capital and explore until your heart’s content. Meals Included: Breakfast Accommodation: Hotel in Hanoi Distance: Sapa – Hanoi: 300km – 5.5 hour drive per way

After breakfast, we depart by car to Halong - the UNESCO World Heritage Site. On arrive at the jetty in Halong City around noon, embark on your cruise and get a warmly welcome onboard. In the afternoon, the cruise itinerary includes more activities such as kayaking or cave visits on the vast sea, cooking class onboard to challenge your skills in preparing a very famous Vietnamese dish (depending on each boat’s itinerary) or you can just spend some time relaxing on board. Towards the end of the day the boat sets anchor for the night among the karst formations. You will be served lunch and dinner on board. Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Accommodation: on cruise

The sun rises on Halong in the morning and a light breakfast is served on board, followed by brunch time while cruising slowly back to the shore. This is the time you can take advantage of the sundeck and admire the amazing rock formations of the bay as you navigate back to Halong City. Disembark at noon and meet your driver at the dock and drive to Noi Bai Airport to catch your departure flight back home or to next travel destination. You will reach Noi Bai airport around 14:00. Bon voyage! Meals included: Brunch Accommodation: N/A Thank you for choosing Vietnam Heritage Travel. We trust you have had a great holiday in Vietnam. Hope to see you again!