7D6N HANOI WITH HIGHLIGHTS OF SAPA ON 2 WHEELS & HOMESTAY from Chan's World Holidays

Highlights:

Arrival on Wednesday
Water Puppet Show
Hanoi City Tour
One-hour buggy tour through the streets of Hanoi
Hoan Kiem Lake
Ngoc Son Temple
Overnight train trip to Lao Cai
Cycle to Muong Hoa Valley
Can Cau hill tribe market
Bac Ha Market
Boat ride up Chay River Valley to Fairy CaveOvernight home stayExplore Flower H?mong Village

7D6N HANOI WITH HIGHLIGHTS OF SAPA ON 2 WHEELS & HOMESTAY

SINGAPORE - HANOI (DINNER)

Upon arrival at Noi Bai International Airport, greet and meet by local guide and transfer to the hotel for check-in. Free at leisure until dinner at local restaurant. In the evening, enjoy one of the bellow famous Water Puppet Show - The Vietnamese traditional art of water puppetry has roots that date back to the 10th century when it originated in the Red River Delta area of northern Vietnam. Overnight in Hanoi

HANOI CITY TOUR - LAO CAI BY LOCAL TRAIN EXPERIENCE (BREAKFAST/LUNCH/DINNER)

After breakfast, visit the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum (closed on Monday, Friday and during the entire months of September & October) and his former residence with Humble House on Stilts (closed on Monday and Friday), One-Pillar Pagoda and the Temple of Literature, known as the first university of Vietnam and built more than 1,000 years ago. Continue the city tour to one of the following museums (note that museums are closed on Mondays). After lunch, enjoy a leisurely one-hour buggy tour through the streets of this fascinating city, come face to face with the daily lives and activities of Hanoi’s streets as you pass through the congested, but delightful, Old Quarter. Ride pass the fascinating streets, which still bear the names of the shops that could be found in them in the 15th to 18th centuries. Then visit the beautiful Hoan Kiem Lake and Ngoc Son Temple. This renowned lake was considered the most beautiful lake in Hanoi when Ngoc Son Temple was built on an island in the 19th century. Initially, the temple was called Ngoc Son Pagoda and was later renamed Ngoc Son Temple, since temples are dedicated to saints. Saint Van Suong, considered to be one of the brightest stars in Vietnam's literary and intellectual circles, was worshipped there along with other National heroes. After dinner, transfer to Hanoi train station to board the overnight train trip to Lao Cai (Note: it will be shared sleeping compartments. Sharing with other passengers in 2 lower & 2 upper berths per compartment). Train departs at approximately 21:15 hrs.

Train schedule is subject to change. Private compartments are strictly on request at a surcharge. Train journeys are part of a great local experience. Cabins are shared with other local passengers in a 4 soft berths cabin with air-condition (unless private cabin is requested and all berths paid for - with supplement). Restrooms at either end of the carriages complete the local experience. Train journey approximately about 8 hours from Hanoi to Lao Cai.

LAO CAI - SAPA - MUONG HOA VALLEY (BREAKFAST/LUNCH/DINNER)

Arrival to Lao Cai Station, the border town to Yunnan, China in the early morning and meet local guide. The journey starts with a 38 km drive on winding roads up the mountains to Sapa, located approx. 1,500 m above sea level. On clear days you can see the highest mountain of Vietnam, the Fansipan. Enjoy breakfast at local restaurant. Cycle 6km to Muong Hoa Valley to visit the Black H’Mong people, then continue ride 3 km along a trail to Ta Van to meet the local Dzay people and enjoy the most beautiful valley in the North of Vietnam. Ride 16km of rocky road down the valley to Ban Ho. Stop at the home stay of your Tay people for lunch, then take a walk around the village to the Lave waterfall for a swim if weather permit. Drive back up the valley to Sapa by car. Overnight in Sapa.

SAPA - BAC HA (BREAKFAST/LUNCH/DINNER)

After breakfast, drive 90km (3 hours) from Lao Cai through Bac Ha town to Can Cau hill tribe market. This colourful Flower H’Mong market is perched high on the mountain side with an amazing view of the local valley sculpted with rice terraces and plum trees. Glide 10km on main road back to Bac Ha town to check in to your hotel. After lunch, continue cycling 10km loop around Bac Ha and Ban Pho village on a dirt road winding through corn fields, plum gardens and rice fields where you will visit minority people. Overnight in Bac Ha.

Bac Ha is a small township up in the mountains with only small hotels with basic amenities available in the region.

BAC HA - TRUNG DO VILLAGES (BREAKFAST/LUNCH/DINNER)

After breakfast, visit the huge Bac Ha market with its colorful array of ethnic minority people such as the Flower H’mong, Phu La and Dao Tuyen who gather to buy and sell their wares. Try the famous local corn whiskey. A short cycle through town visits the impressive house of the former H’Mong King. After lunch, check out and start riding out of town down the stunning mountain road along the Chay River valley past steep tiered rice terraces and plum orchards. Arrive in Bao Nhai and take a 1-hour boat ride up the stunning Chay River Valley to visit the Fairy Cave, then back down (1hr) to Trung Do village. Enjoy a local dinner and an overnight home stay with a friendly Tay family.

Tay is one of the minorities in the highlands and the homestay facilities are basic with limited amenities and with no air-condition.

TRUNG DO VILLAGE - LAO CAI - HANOI (BREAKFAST/LUNCH/DINNER)

After breakfast with Tay people, spend an hour walking around the hamlet to meet the locals and enjoy the breathtaking scenery. Cross the Chay river by boat then explore Flower H’mong village. You will embark on a full day of riding 50km rolling road back to Lao Cai. Stop in Phong Hai town for a lunch of local Vietnamese food and travel back to Lao Cai to visit the beautiful Thuong Temple with its impressive 300+ year old Banyan tree. Have a fresh up shower in the guest-house in Lao Cai. After dinner, catch the night train back to Hanoi.

Train schedule is subject to change. Private compartments are strictly on request at a surcharge. Train journeys are part of a great local experience. Cabins are shared with other local passengers in a 4 |soft berths cabin with air-condition (unless private cabin is requested and all berths paid for - with supplement). Restrooms at either end of the carriages complete the local experience. Train journey approximately about 8 hours from Lao Cai to Hanoi. Train expected to depart Lao Cai around 8pm local time.

LAO CAI - HANOI - SINGAPORE (BREAKFAST)

Arrive Hanoi Central Railway Station in the early morning, meet local guide and transfer to hotel nearby for day use of shower. After refreshing and breakfast, proceed to the airport for your flight.

Remarks: Sequence of itinerary is subject to change without prior notice. Commence from Hanoi on Wednesdays to be in Bac Ha for the weekend markets. Budget hotels and homestay can only be confirmed and advised after booking is made. If a place of visit is closed to visitor, it will be replaced with an alternative. Simple breakfast will be served in the local minority’s houses (homestay) with basic amenities and non-aircon. Lunch and dinner in local restaurants. Hotel official check in at 3pm check out by 12 noon. All commentary will be in English. Tour and hotel rooms subject to confirmation and hotels are subject to ad-hoc rates. Tour may not be suitable for young children or anyone with existing health conditions.

Agency: Chan's World Holidays

7D6N HANOI WITH HIGHLIGHTS OF SAPA ON 2 WHEELS & HOMESTAY

Agency: Chan's World Holidays

7D6N HANOI WITH HIGHLIGHTS OF SAPA ON 2 WHEELS & HOMESTAY

Agency: Chan's World Holidays