COLOR OF TONKIN

Evening transfer to the station for the train to Lao Cai, departure around 9 p.m. Overnight on board in fairly comfortable sleeper wagon

We will arrive in Lao Cai around 6:00 am and continue to Sapa, situated 40km further, with a private car. This day is devoted to a beautiful hike through the breathtaking scenery of Sa Pa valley. Start your walk in the ancient and busy Cau May street in the center of Sapa Town. En route, admire the rice terraces playing hide and seek with the morning mist, a truly awe-inspiring sight.
Follow a small track and cross Muong Hoa River on your way to the Black Hmong village of Lao Chai. Past the colorful rice terraces, you will reach the village of Ta Van Giay. As you continue your trek along the Muong Hoa River, you will cross a small suspension bridge, roughly 2km from the settlement. Here you can discover a fascinating collection of rock carvings. These engravings depict some beautiful images of man, stilt houses and decorative patterns. We will have lunch at a local home. The walk continues through a bamboo forest to Giang Ta Chai, a Red Dao ethnic minority village. Rest and refresh yourself near a waterfall, then climb uphill where a car is waiting to take you back to Sapa for overnight.

This is the biggest local ethnic market of the region and it takes place every Sunday. Tribal people from surrounding villages flock here to exchange their products. Join the local ethnic people for about 2 hours to enjoy the exciting atmosphere as well as the activities of this weekly market. Walk from section to section, seeing and smelling different local products, spices, vegetables, farming tools, handicraft, even medicinal herbs… above all meeting smiling people everywhere. The market is always crowded from the morning to over after lunch time. Finally take a 46 km road transfer back to Lao Cai station to catch a night train to Hanoi. 

In the morning, our car and guide will pick you up to travel to Hoa Lu, the former capital of Vietnam, about a two-hour drive from Hanoi. Upon arrival, you will visit two temples, one of them dedicated to Emperor Dinh and the other in memory of Emperor Le, followed by a brief visit to the remains of the Old Palace. After lunch at a local restaurant, you will visit the three caves of Tam Coc, a peaceful valley often compared to Halong Bay on the dry and probably Vietnam’ most underrated destination. There, you will be rowed down a gentle river along rice paddies and through the caves. After the boat trip, we will cycle the rest of the day along winding roads passing lotus ponds, temples and cottages, typical of Vietnamese countryside to visit Bich Dong Pagoda situated on a hillside.

After breakfast, depart to Halong Bay via Thai Binh and Nam Dinh, passing a peaceful countryside typical of the Red River Delta with endless rice fields and winding rivers. We will arrive at Halong’s tourist wharf around noon and embark on an elegant wooden junk. Lunch will be served while the boat gently cruises past numerous islands and limestone structures rising from the emerald water. A fresh seafood dinner will be prepared by an experienced chef and served on deck. A peaceful night on board in your private cabin.

Awakening to the tranquil beauty of the bay, you have time for an early morning dip while the sun rises, followed by breakfast on board. We will sail through the bay all morning to explore more secluded areas. The junk will stay close at all times serving as a backup vessel for those who require it. Around midday we will return to the main harbor and drive back to Hanoi. End of our services.