Very interesting trip!

Hi Tuan,

As promised, please find hereby our feedback regarding the trip.

The NW-tour was very interesting, because of the remoteness, interaction with locals and great scenery. We hardly saw any other tourists. Both guide and driver we're up to the job. Good knowledge and skills. Lot's of interaction with the locals and fun as well.

Halong was beautiful, we we're so lucky with the weather. More or less three days of blue skies and sunny weather. Having the boat to ourselves was very nice.

Quiteness, easy going and great food did it all. Our guide was very nice and knowledgeable. She was very considering and helpful. Lot's of stories from her (tribe) background too.

In between and last night we stayed in Elegance Saphire and Emerald hotel, both are very good.

Thanks for your assistance and quick response. Meanwhile we arrived in Hue. From here we'll plan the next trips in Vietnam; may be we ask for your assistance again.

Thanks again!

Henriette & Freek

AT02: Vietnam Northwest Adventure

Hanoi – Mai Chau – Son La – Dien Bien – Muong Lay – Sapa – Coc Ly – Vu Linh – Hanoi – Cat Ba – Halong

ITINERARY

26 Oct 11            Hanoi – Mai Chau  (Pick up at 08h30 AM)

Meals: L, D

+Guide

After breakfast, we start one of the most beaufiful Vietnam Tours to the North - West. From your hotel, we will be driving our own way through villages, valleys of Hoa Binh province. Lunch break in Hoa Binh town, Visit Hoa Binh Hydro power, the biggest one in Vietnam, then continue the road up hills to Kun pass that offering spectacular views over the valleys and mountains. Arrive in Lac village of the Thai people in Mai Chau. Check in a stilt house then take a short walk around. After dinner, enjoy the traditional dance and music show of the White Thai people, taste Ruou Can - the special wine of the local made from rice and a kind of tree leaves. Overnight in Thai’s house on stilts.

Accommodation: Homestay

27 Oct 11 Mai Chau – Son La

Meals: B, L, D

+Guide

After breakfast, we drive to Son La, a stop in Moc Chau with hundreds of giant grass farm for cows, You will know why this is the biggest milk centre in Vietnam, continue driving to Son La and enjoy the view of the Northern mountains, arrive in Son La at noon, check in hotel before visit “Son La prison" in the French war. Walk around the town and overnight in Son La.

Accommodation: Trade Union Hotel / ROH

28 Oct 11 Son La – Dien Bien Phu

Meals: B, L, D

+Guide

Drive to DBP, famous in Indochina War.  Visit very primitive village of the Black Thai village on the way that you can see the very basic conditions of life. Continue to biggest daily hilltribe market in Thuan Chau, see different ethnic groups, local fruits, food, but it will be much more beautiful experience when reaching amazing Pha Din Pass, time for photos. Continue our drive to Dien Bien. Overnight in Hotel

Accommodation: Him Lam Hotel / ROH

29 Oct 11 Dien Bien Phu – Lai Chau

Meals: B, L, D

+Guide

Morning visit of the museum and sites of Dien Bien Phu. Drive to Lai Chau, Visit a village of the Black Dao People, if lucky, you will see an art of hair make-up of the old ladies on the way. Tonight, we stay in Muong Lay, a very lovely town by “Black River”. Overnight Lan Anh Hotel.

Accommodation: Lan Anh Hotel / ROH

30 Oct 11 Lai Chau – Sapa

Meals: B, L

+Guide

Drive to Sa Pa, during your way, you will see many different ethnic villages of the Lao, Lu, Black Dao, Tien Dao, Day, Red H’mong before driving up to the highest pass in Vietnam - Hoang Lien Son. Stop over at “Heaven Gate” for a wonderful view over the amazing valley and Fanxipan - the highest mount in Vietnam (Roof of Vietnam). You also visit “Silver Waterfall” - the nicest one in the area before getting to your hotel in Sapa. Overnight in Sapa.

Accommodation: Sapa View Hotel / Deluxe

31 Oct 11 Sapa Trek – Lao Chai – Ta Van

Meals: B, L

+Guide

Sapa - The Queen of the Mountains, overlooking a beautiful valley, lofty mountains towering over the town on all sides, Sapa Tour is gateway to another world of mysterious minority cultures and luscious landscapes and great choice for Vietnam Tours maker to arrange Vietnam Culture Tours, Vietnam Trekking Tours, Vietnam Homestay Tours... After breakfast, we will do one of the most beautiful Sapa Tours with the drive to visit Lao Chai and Ta Van village of the Black H'mong and the Day people where you can enjoy fresh air, amazing scenery of the imposing mountain range, trek down world's most beautiful terraced rice fields, visit some local family on the way and learn unique culture and life of these ethnic groups. Back to Sapa by private car, free at leisure for the rest of the day. Overnight in Sapa.

Accommodation: Sapa View Hotel / Deluxe

01 Nov 11 Sapa – Coc Ly Market – Thac Ba Lake (Vu Linh)

Meals: B, L, D

+Guide

After breakfast in a local restaurant, we drive to visit famous Coc Ly Market where many ethnic minorities come to town for trading their local products. The maket is also a meeting place for men to drink away troubles, women to talk, the young to find lover. Around noon, take a beautiful boat trip on Chay River to enjoy stunning scenery. After picnic lunch on boat, we can walk to visit some ethnic villages on the way to learn about their life and culture. Boat trip ended in Bao Nhai where our vehicles waiting for the beautiful drive through picturesque mountain scenery and ethnic villages to Thac Ba Lake. Tonight, we stay in the homestay with a Dao family (house on stilts). The family is friendly and welcome dinner is exceptional wih a lot of ricewine. Do not be drunk! Overnight in Vu Linh village.

Accommodation: Homestay

02 Nov 11 Vu Linh – Hanoi

Meals: B, L

+Guide

Thac Ba artificial lake has an area of 23,400 ha and 1,331 islands and hills with diverse ecological environments. The water in the lake is blue and clear, and imprinted with the reflections of the surrounding ancient forest. After breakfast, we do the boat trip to enjoy the peaceful and beautiful scenery of the lakes which has some thousands of islets. You will have also have change to see people fishing with the net and rowing with their feet. Say goodbye to the family and drive back to Hanoi.

Accommodation: Elegance Sapphire Hotel / Superior

03 Nov 11 Hanoi – Hai Phong – Cat Ba Island

Meals: B, L, D

+Guide

- Early pick up from your hotel and drive to Hai Phong – the sea port city

-After 2 hours driving from Hanoi to Hai Phong, you take hydrofoil (speed boat) from Hai Phong to Cat Ba Island (45 minutes).

- Have coffee break

- 11 AM welcome to get on board. The junk will cruise to take you to pass by the floating village.

- Enjoy fresh seafood lunch on Lan Ha bay.

- The boat takes you to some narrow lanes of the bay.

- Visit the floating fish farm. You will learn how the local people there make their livings. You also can try fishing there.

- Start kayaking to get closer to the islands, pass through tunnel cave (Hang Luon) and get to secluded beaches. If it is low tide, you will kayak at Ba Ham tunnel caves instead.

- Anchor at a calm water area for dinner and experience the peaceful night on the junk among beautiful mountains.

Accommodation: Eco Boat / Private boat (Private boat just for two of you)

04 Nov 11 Explore Halong Bay & Lan Ha Bay

Meals: B, L, D

+Guide

- Wake up to see the dawn on the bay and then have breakfast.

- Keep cruising to the most scenic areas of the bay with hundreds of beautiful islands.

- Kayak through the narrow lagoons and tunnel caves called Hang Ca (Bat cave).

- Cruise to Ba Trai Dao (Three Pearls) and stop for lunch.

- Free for swimming and kayaking to beaches.

-  Enjoy sunset before dinner and spend another lovely night on the bay.

Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner

Accommodation: Eco Boat / Private boat (Private boat just for two of you)

05 Nov 11 Cat Ba Island – Hai Phong – Hanoi

Meals: B, L

+Guide

- Have breakfast on boat

- Cruise more to Monkey island for monkeys watching and relaxing on the beach (if the tide is high enough and the sea is not too rough) or kayak some more around the bay.

- 11 AM get off the boat to Cat Ba.

- Free to take motorbike tour (with or without driver) to go around and visit Cat Ba island; or you walk yourself to see Cat Ba town, beaches and local market (optional).

- Have lunch in a local restaurant.

- Take hydrofoil from Cat Ba to Hai Phong and drive back to Hanoi. Drop off at your hotel.

END OF SERVICE

Inclusion:

•    All transfers and transportation in private air-conditioned vehicle with driver

•    Hotel accommodation in double/twin sharing room

•    2 nights on board the junk in Ha Long & Cat Ba

•    Meals as indicated in the itinerary

•    English speaking guide

•    Music show in Mai Chau, Private Boat Trips in Coc Ly,  Thac Ba Lake

•    All entrance fees to indicated sights

•    Bottled mineral water during touring days (not included on board)

Exclusion:

•    International FLIGHTS

•    Drinks

•    Other meals

•    Insurance

•    Personal expenses

•    Expenses for any optional tours or activities during free time