Tour:

  DISCOVERY NORTH VIETNAM HANOI – CAT BA Island - HALONG Bay – MONG CAI – LANG SON – CAO BANG - BAC CAN – DIEN BIEN PHU – SAPA - LAO CAI. ---- 20 days / 19 nites ---- Day 1: ARRIVAL IN HANOI (by plane, car) Arrival in Hanoi, Warmly welcome to everybody, a moment of courtesy meeting of the tour guide in the meeting point's Noi Bai Airport. Hanoi - its legendary beginnings from 1,010 to 15th century then before the World War II, after 1954 as well, is the cradle of Red River Delta civilization with green rice-fields, its Old streets and colonial Quarter, its calm lakes, the shaded boulevards, its verdant public parks and sunny smiles with truly Far-East Asian faces ...Our experienced tour guides will transmit you the most lovely aspects of Hanoi - the ancient city of 1,000 yrs, during 45' by coach from the Airport to your Hotel in the centre city. Transfer to hotel for check in (at noon) and time of rest after a long flight. Overnight in Hanoi. Day 2:  HANOI fullday tour (by A/C  Car & Your Bicycle) After buffet breakfast, enjoy a fullday tour of Hanoi, let’s experienced the basic concepts of political Vietnam currently by visit to the Chairman Palace area, there are Ho Chi Minh mausoleum, Ba Dinh National square, Stilt House; One Pillar Pagoda, a nice group picture should photo in the parade yard of Ba Dinh National square with the great back view of Ho Chi Minh mausoleum. Continuing to visit Tran Quoc Pagoda & Quan Thanh Temple are located on an islet of West Lake, then Temple of Literature known as Vietnam's first university built on 11th century. You also visit to the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology where contains more than 10,000 objects which depict all aspects of life, customs, and habits of the 54 ethnic groups of Vietnam. Afternoon, enjoy an interesting tour by Bicycle, we will stroll around the Old Quarter and shopping streets, to relax and view to daily-life surrounding or communicating is a good way to have a full impression of the city, catch the spirit of Vietnam. Return back at Return-Sword Lake, to visit Ngoc Son - Heroic Temple, But Tower, where you will be fascinating with legendary stories from 600 years. A moment free in Garden of Hoan Kiem Lake to enjoy the lovely Hanoi landscapes in the sunset until the time of water puppet show, a unique art form of Vietnamese, at Thang Long Water Puppet Troupe, and you will also experience more about a specific culture in South-East Asia coming from an agriculture of wet rice during the performanceOvernight in Hanoi. (B) Day 3: HANOI - CAT BA ISLAND (by A/C car, your bicycle, hydrofoil 130 km) After breakfast, take a trip to Cat Ba Island. This is the largest island in the Cat Ba Archipelago that consists of 350 limestone outcrops adjacent to Halong. Taking a ride or a car for two hours from Hanoi to Haiphong. Landscapes en route are very interesting with the immense rice-fields, farmers are working in the fields, small and peace villages ....there are the sweet beginnings to talk with then explaination of Vietnam by our tour guide. Then on a high-speed vessel for another hours, visitors will arrive at Cat Ba Island, the biggest island (100km²) out of the 366 islands on the Lan Ha Bay. Check-in then take your time to free at leisure at Cat Ba Beach. we highly recommend a strolling walk along the shore of Cat Ba while the sun is setting down, enjoy yourself the pure breeze, beautiful view of glow of sunset in the sky... is the perfect compensation to the busy days recently. Overnight in Cat Ba. (B) Day 4: CAT BA ISLAND Full Day Tour (by A/C Car) To day, we will enjoy full day tour to discover Cat Ba National Park, home to the largest remaining area of primeval tropical forests in Vietnam, is a habitat for over 700 species from 150 families of plants, 20 species of mammals, 69 species of birds and more than 30 species of reptiles and amphibians. Trekking in Cat Ba National Park is a real jungle trek which is ideal for adventure seekers and nature lovers. The trek is a great chance to learn about the biological diversity of the park. Here we also visit to Hospital cave – has a lots of historical significance, it is served as a secret, bomb proof hospital during the American war. And Trung Trang Cave - with many chambers, or to the National Park, or to discover other beaches around the island. Back to your hotel and free leisure at night. Overnight in Cat Ba. (B) Day 5: CAT BA ISLAND - HALONG BAY (20km by  Boat) In the morning, take a boat  to Ha Long Bay. This is a golden time for your voyage - a masterpiece of Nature is dawning in the bright morning sunlight.  Ha Long Bay is constituted by 3000 small and big islands of all shapes. In 1994 UNESCO classified Halong Bay as a World Natural Heritage and in November 2000, the World Heritage Committee reconfirmed this classification, your excursion to Halong Bay will re-evaluate the classification of UNESCO to this fairyland. In the book intituled "Wonders of the World" published in 1950. The French marshal Lyautey compared it with Venice rocks in the "Letters of Tonkin and Madagascar " (June 24, 1895). The French novelist Yvonne Schultz did not hesitate to praise the miraculous beauty of this bay: All heights and ten thousand forms; imagination, imitation, pagodas, Hindu temples, menhirs, Chinese towers, pieces of chess-board or true immense mountain. And the extraordinary flows simulating the ruined keeps, the broken down bastions, a succession of palaces with the open belly and tribes of mutilated idols. HALONG BAY is nearly a hidden bay with thousands of limestone islands densely rising from the blue jade water in a sea area of over 1500 square kilometers. Its 1969 green islands enfeeble the strong winds blowing from the ocean to leave the transparent water of the bay often calm in cool and healthy air. From time to time, sailing Junk appearing and disappearing between the islands make the poetic sight more colorful like sparkling pearls or coral reefs found out in the bay. The beauty of the bay is not monotone, at different positions of viewing, it will astonish viewers with quite different fascinations. In the caves and grottoes of stone islands, visitors will discover and admire how many impressive stalactites and stalagmites. The caves have strange but very accurate names, have their own legends in their names as Thien Cung (Heaven Palace) grotto, Dau Go (Wooden Head) grotto, stop-over to visit the caves, your sailing Junk will continue to visit around the shapely islets of fighting cock, incense-burner and others. Landing in Titop Islet, there is the calm and so clean sand & transparent beaches, somewhat little rocky mountains and a beautiful tall terrace, enjoy sun-sea bathing there that always waits to give you the most wonderful sea bathing in calm, transparent water under the sunlight. Fresh sea-food lunch (not included) is very available on board, the Junk sailing back to Marina, then check in your hotel and free at leisure for your own activities. (we highly recommend a strolling walk along the shore of Halong Bay while the sun is setting down, enjoy yourself the pure breeze, beautiful view of glow of sunset in the sky... is the perfect compensation to the busy days recently). Overnight in Halong Bay. (B) Day 6: HA LONG BAY - MONG CAI (by A/C  Car & Your Bicycle, 140 km) After breakfast, continue your trip to Mong Cai - capital town of Hai Ninh district, Quang Ninh province on Vietnam- China frontier (adjoining to the Toongsing town Fong Chen district Guangxi province of China) has both national and international gate. The Journey will cost you about 2- 3 hours usually. Arrival in Mong Cai transfer to hotel for check in and start to visit to Tra Co Church - the large and beautiful church, built in 1880. In 1995, the church was restored to its form of 100 years ago. Among it relics, there is a giant bell and hundreds of beautifully crafted sculptures. Continue visit to Tra Co Communal House, which was built in 16th century, Photo-stop at at Mong cai - China check-point. Rest of the day free at leisure on Tra Co Beach one of the most beautiful beaches in Viet Nam. Overnight in Mong Cai. (B) Day 7: MONG CAI - LANG SON (by A/C  Car & Your Bicycle, 180 km) To day, we will drive straight to Lang Son - is a frontier mountainous province in the North-East of Vietnam. Lang Son has two international border gates including Dong Dang railway border gate and Huu Nghi road border gate with China. The Journey will cost you of 3- 4hours usually, since we have to stop somewhere for the rests and it was a pleasure to be able to get up some speed also. Arrival in Lang Son transfer to hotel for check in and free leisure for your own activities. Overnight in Lang Son. (B) Day 8: LANG SON full day tour (by A/C  Car & Your Bicycle) After breakfast, enjoy full day tour in Lang Son by visit to Tam Thanh Grottoes (Nhat Thanh, Nhi Thanh, Tam Thanh). The most famous is Tam Thanh on the western end of Ky Lua street, because it resembles a crouching elephant on a vast grassy field. The entrance to the grotto is almost obscured from sunlight, because it is covered with a dense foliage of trees. Here you slso visit to  Tam Thanh Pagoda. Then Mac Dynasty Citadel - The defile consists of a valley surrounded by high mountains and through which runs the Thuong River. And Vong Phu Mountain - There is a status on the peak of the mountain. Legend of the story that Lady named To Thi and her child turn into stone because of waiting so long for her husband back from war and finally we will visit and shopping at old Ky Lua Market of local people and ethnic minority surrounding. Back to your hotel and free leisure at night. Overnight in Lang Son. (B) Day 9: LANG SON - CAO BANG (by A/C  Car & Your Bicycle, 132km) This morning, we will continue our journey to Cao Bang Province - is located in the Far North – East, shares borders with China on the north and east. Arrival in Cao Bang transfer to hotel for check in and enjoy an interesting tour with visit to Thang Hen Mountain Lake - It consists of 36 small lakes forming a large one, with clear water over four seasons reflecting trees that grow from its limestone borders and Pac Bo Cave - known nationwide as a revolutionary resistance base, where President Ho Chi Minh established his residence and worked on Vietnam’s revolutionary course after returning from 30 years abroad. Back to your hotel and free at leisure at night. Overnight in Cao Bang. (B) Day 10:  CAO BANG - BAN GIOC WATERFALL  full day tour (by A/C  Car & Your Bicycle, 85 km) After breakfast , take a trip to Ban Gioc Waterfall. It is the probably the most beautiful and imposing waterfall in Vietnam, situated in Dam Thuy Commune, Trung Khanh district, near the Sino-Vietnamese border, about 85km from Cao Bang province. On the way, we stop to visit to ethnic minorities - Nung villages to see the real lifestyle of native people and experience the daily lives to understand better their culture and customs. Water of the Fall flows from the Quy Xuan river cascades over the rocks produce water droplet columns that can be seen in the distance. In the middle of the fall is a rock landing covered by trees that divides the stream into three currents and creates a thin mist that cools down the temperature. At the foot of the waterfall is a large river, as calm as glass, surrounded by many precious kinds of flowers. Ban Gioc Fall is famous for a famous fish named tram huong. In the early 1920s, French people started building cottages on the river banks. They would come here to relax, fish for tram huong, and hunt deer. After an interesting journey, back to your hotel and free at leisure for your own activities. Overnight in Cao Bang. (B) Day 11: CAO BANG - BAC KAN / BA BE (by A/C  Car & Your Bicycle, 150 km) Continue your trip to Bac can - a diversified and complicated topography with many rivers and springs. Its Ba Be Lake is one of the most beautiful spots in Vietnam - a great potential for tourism. Bac Kan's natural resources are abundant and diversified, favourable to mining, processing and tourism. There are many historical vestiges and revolutionary relics. Arrival in Ba Be, transfer to hotel for check in and amoment of rest. Later, take an walking tour along the lake to visit to Pac Ngoi village one of the village of Tay hill tribe people. Back to your hotel or guesthouse for overnight. Overnight in Ba Be. (B) Day 12: BA BE NATIONAL PARK & LAKE (by A/C car, boat) After breakfast, you will have time to discover Ba Be National Park - a valuable natural heritage. Covering more than 23,000 hectares, this beautiful region is a tropical rainforest area with over 410 named plant species and 300 wildlife species. It is surrounded by steep mountains up to 1554m and Ba Be Lake and its area such as Nang river, grottos, waterfall... ect. The freshwater Lake Ba Be is the only significant natural upland lake in the North of Viet Nam. The lakes actually consists of three lakes called Pe Lam, Pe Lu and Pe Leng, and derives its name Ba Be (which in Vietnamese means Three Seas) from this, Lake Ba Be is surrounded by limestone mountains and thick forest, home to many species of rare birds and animals. You will take a boat (5 hours) to visit the small islands of Po Ga Mai and An Ma, and Puong Grotto. Especially the Puong Grotto is about 200m long, and 20-30m in height and width. The stalagmites and stalagmites inside the grotto are beautiful and diverse in forms. Some of them look like a reclining Buddha, a sitting tiger, climbing monkeys and thousands of bats in the cave. You also to visit Dau Dang Fall. The 100-m, three-level waterfall makes the scenery even more magnificent. Back to your hotel and free at leisure. Overnight in Ba Be. (B) Day 13: BAC KAN/ BA BE - HANOI (by A/C  Car & Your Bicycle, 166 km) This morning, say goodbye Ba Be, we will ride back to Ha noi. On the way pass Thai Nguyen Province, we stop to visit to the Museum of the cultures of vietnam’s Ethnic Groups. It is the largest Montagnard museum in Vietnam, where representing the 50-odd hill tribes residing in Vietnam and it was a pleasure to be able to get up some speed again.Arrival in Hanoi, transfer to hotel for check in and free leisure for your own activities. Overnight in Ha Noi. (B) Day 14: HANOI - HOA BINH - MAI CHAU (by Plane, A/C  Car & Your Bicycle, 190 Km) Today, morning excursion to Hoa Binh province with many beautiful landscapes. Sightseeing of Song Da (Da River) that you will feel its beauty and discover practical things are why it is very useful natural resource for producing electricity in Hoa Binh Hydro-Electric Power Plant - the largest one of its kind in Vietnam. Transfer to Mai Chau, a beautiful village of the Thai ethnic minority. All around you are mountain peaks, fertile valleys and lush vegatation. Visit to real hill tribe villages in Mai Chau to explore the lives of local people in houses-on-stilts. Check in hotel and free time at leisure. Overnight in Mai Chau. (B) Day 15: MAI CHAU - SON LA (by A/C  Car  & Your Bicycle, 170 km ) After breakfast, set out a trip to Son La province for visiting Son La prision where thousands of Vietnameses were imprisoned between 1930 and 1945. It was classified by the Ministry of Culture as one of the numerous revolutionary heritage sites in the country in 1962. Stopover to visit Thai minority village and to take photos en route. Transfer to hotel for check in and rest time at night. Overnight in Son La. (B) Day 16: SON LA - DIEN BIEN PHU (by A/C  Car & Your Bicycle, 167 km ) Morning travelling to Dien Bien Phu in Lai Chau Province. It once was the violent battlefield where historical combats between Resisted Vietnamese and the French Colonialists Expeditionary Corps took place. It is the beautiful valley, surrounded by the river of Namyoum and the high mountain with different ethnic minorities. Stopover at hill tribe market of Thuan Chau for visiting. In the afternoon, come to visit the vestiges of the War such as : Dien Bien Phu Museum, War Cementary, Eliane Hill, De Castries bunker and hamlets of ethnic minorities in surroundings. Overnight in Dien Bien Phu. (B) Day 17: DIEN BIEN PHU - SAPA (by A/C  Car & Your Bicycle, 285 km ) This morning, after breakfast, drive to Lai Chau town, 110 km from Dien Bien Phu, stopover at H’Mong minority village. Then continue to Sapa Town, , a small market town perched dramatically on the western edge of a high plateaufacing the hazyblue peak of Fan Si Pan Mountain. The refeshing climate and vaguely Alpine landscape struck a nostalgic chord with European visitors. On 1,600 meters above sea level, is the kingdom of colourful Orchirds, a big summer resort, the homeland of Nung, Dao, Tay, Cao Lan, Paxi, and Xa Phong minorities. Sapa’s invigorating air is a real tonic after the dusty plains, but cold nights make warm clothes essential throughout the year. Arrival in sapa, check in hotel and rest time after your long trip. Overnight in SaPa. (B) Day 18: SAPA TREKKING (by A/C  Car & Your Bicycle) After breakfast inside Hotel, then enjoy a walking tour to visit the most lively context of Sapa, visit Sapa Market, is crowded and merry, and is especially attractive to visitors. Minority groups come here to exchange and trade goods and products, proceeding to Sapa Church – as an impress mark, timing witness of this solitary mountain region. Followed-up is drive to CatCat village (2 km from Sapa Townlet), is an age-old village of H'Mong ethnic group remaining unique customs, including the custom of “pulling wife” and practices that are lots in other villages, live Red Dao, black Hmong minorities. Walk inside the village to visit Red Dao, black Hmong houses and experience the daily lives to understand better their culture and customs. Taphin village (15 km from Sapa) where live Red Dao, black Hmong minorities. Walk inside the village to visit Red Dao, black Hmong houses and experience the daily lives to understand better their culture and customs. (Well-prepared gumboots or trekking shoes for hours trek through terraced paddy fields). Overnight in Sapa. (B) Day 19: SAPA - LAO CAI - HANOI (by A/C  Car & Your Bicycle, 360 km) After breakfast, say good-bye Sapa and Lao Cai town, 37 km from Sapa. The landcapes en route is very scenic with spectacular views as the road winds up the terraced hillsides and then drive back to Hanoi capital. since we have to stop somewhere for the rests or visiting also. It is a good chance to have an  insight the life style of local people.  Arrival in Hanoi, check in hotel and free at leisure for your own activities. Overnight in Hanoi. (B) Day 20: FLY BACK HOME FROM HANOI (by plane, A/C car) After breakfast, take time to free at leisure until check-out (at noon), transfer to the Noi Bai airport for a flight back home. It’s time to say Vietnam. We (Toan Vinh Tours / Indochina Incentive House) thank you very much for your choice of our company as your ground handler in Vietnam and Indochina region. It is our great honour to welcome you in the other voyages to Indochina upcoming days in order to discover, to experience the endless imposing landscapes, then to get the really restful moments in a diversified World and this colourful Subregion of Mekong River: VIETNAM – LAOS – CAMBODIA – THAILAND – MYANMAR ! GOOD-BYE & SEE YOU AGAIN (B)

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