Meet your guide and driver at hotel lobby and depart 2 hour drive to Hoa Lu, Vietnam's first capital under the Dinh Dynasty between 968 and 1009 AD, located in Ninh Binh. Some of the sanctuaries and tombs have survived the years and can still be seen today.
After lunch, enjoy a leisure cruise to visit Trang An, a nature reserve similar to Tam Coc however less visited. Limestone hills surround a peaceful river which passes through a series of caves (one which takes 15-minutes to pass through in darkness). It is an “eco-tourism” area, the only interruptions here are the sound of birds and the gentle paddle of the oar upon the crystal clear river. Back to your Hanoi hotel in the later afternoon.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel in Ninh Binh.
Parameter: 8 hours

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.

Hiking trails to tribe villages

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 regional flight to Luang Prabang.
On arrival, meet up by English speaking guide & private driver to travel to hotel in the downtown.
Bon voyage!
Meals included: Brunch
Accommodation: Hotel in Luang Prabang

This morning you will wake up early (5:30 AM) and meet your guide for a morning daily ritual, where the local monks with their black Alms-giving bowls being given offerings from the local people. Return to hotel for your delicious breakfast.

Later on, enjoy a guided tour to a local market, Phousi mountain for a panorama view of the town. Later on, stop at Royal Palace Museum which was built between 1904 and 1909 during the time of French colonial occupation as the residence of the Laos Royal Family. Then head to Wat Xiengthong, once known as “The Temple of the Golden City”. It’s the most historic and enchanting Buddhist monastery in the entire country.

In the late afternoon, you will take a local boat trip to enjoy marvelous sunset over the Mekong River. While cruising you will admire the sun goes down behind rolling hills and the tranquil atmosphere of the Mekong. This is a perfect way to end a day of touring and exploring.
Meals included: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel in Luang Prabang

After your breakfast at hotel, you drive downriver for 1.5 hours to the famous Kuang Si Waterfall, one of the most spectacular swimming holes on the continent. The jungle around the waterfall remains lush and beautiful year-round. The waterfall cycles between placid, turquoise waters during the dry season to the impressive, roaring falls during the rainy season.
Before taking a dip in the beautiful Kuangsi Falls, you would hike through jungle parklands to Kuang Si Bear Rescue Centre, located nearby. Established in 2003, the center has rescued numerous bears from wildlife traffickers and traditional medicine traders. Here, you will help-out with the bears' midday scatter feed. Afterwards, stroll to Kuang Si Waterfall, where cascading tiers plummet down into azure pools. Relax and enjoy the beautiful natural surroundings. For the adventurous, it is possible to walk to the top of the falls via a steep track where beautiful views and pools await, which are perfect for swimming.
Later on, drive for a visit an organic farm where you experience the new Lao Buffalo dairy that produces cheese and a range of delicious dairy products. The diary provides income and a sustainable future for the Lao people involved. Learn how to milk a Buffalo, cuddle a Buffalo for the perfect selfie and try some incredible ice cream.
En route driving back to hotel, you would make a stop to see the popular Whiskey Village and sample the locally made Lao Lao.
Meals included: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel in Luang Prabang

Free until private transfer to Luang Prabang railway station for your highspeed train to the colonial capital – Vientiene (train schedule: 11:41 – 13:50)
Pick up by your local guide and driver before travel to hotel in city central.

In the afternoon, you will enjoy a guided tour to get acquainted with the city.
Start at Wat Sisaket, believed to be Vientiane's oldest surviving temple, left intact after the Siamese invasion of 1828. The interior walls of the cloister are covered in niches containing over 2,000 silver and ceramic Buddha images. Next is a visit to Wat Phra Keo, now used as a religious museum where you can see Lao and Khmer works of art. It used to host the “Emerald Buddha” that is now on display at Bangkok’s Royal Palace. Continue to Patuxai Victory Monument, Laos' version of the Arc de Triomphe and its most prominent monument. Climb the stairs to the roof for some sweeping, panoramic views over the city. Next, you'll be introduced to see Pha That Luang, the most revered shrine, constructed by King Setthathirat in the 16th century.
End your day tour along the banks of the Mekong River as the sun is reaching the horizon. Stroll along the river to witness slow pace local life, immerse in the tranquil ambiance while stop to enjoy a cold drink, or sample a snack from one of the many local food stalls, if you like, before being transferred back to your hotel.
Vientiane, is the capital and largest city in Laos, still feels like a city steeped in legend and history.
The city is the home of relaxed charm, tree-lined boulevards, French colonial buildings, massive gilded stupa, street markets…This city conjures up exotic images, with the curious mix of Lao, Thai, Chinese, Vietnamese, French influences.
Meals: Breakfast.
Accommodation: Hotel in Vientiane

Leisure time until meet our team again for your transfer to the airport for your outbound flight.
Meals: Breakfast.
Accommodation: none

Thank you for choosing Vietnam Heritage Travel. We trust you have had a great holiday in Vietnam. Hope to see you again!