Hanoi Tour Expert

Best of Hanoi Stop Over Tour 8 Days - 7 Nights

This is the stop over Hanoi Surrounding tour. You will visit the most interesting tourist attractions in the North of Vietnam including Hanoi City tour, Sapa classic villages tours, Halong Bay – the UNESCO natural heritage site , Hoa Lu – the ancient capital date back to 10^th century, Tam Coc – considering Halong Bay on land.

Tour Itinerary:

Day 1: Hanoi Arrival (/)
Our Tour guide and driver will come to pick you up at Noi Bai Airport and transfer to the hotel in the center of Hanoi. Free at leisure.

Day 2: Hanoi City Tour full day (B/L/)
The colonial capital city Hanoi is a unique Asian city with tree-lined boulevards, French colonial architecture, peaceful lakes and oriental pagodas and temples dating back thousand years ago.

We will visit Hanoi's most interesting sights, including the Ho Chi Minh Complex: Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum and his Stilts House, Presidential Palace and the One Pillar Pagoda nearby, the Temple of Literature – the first university of Vietnam date back to the 11th century, have lunch at a local restaurant. After lunch, we will visit peaceful West Lake or Ho Tay with lovers Thanh Nien Street, the sedate Tran Quoc – the oldest pagoda in Hanoi and Quan Thanh temple and one of the city's museums, either the History Museum or the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology. In the late afternoon we will visit the Hanoi Old Quarter also known as the 36 streets and guilds by cyclo tour and enjoy a traditional Vietnamese water puppet show.
Free for your diner until transfer to Hanoi Railway Station for the night train to Sapa. Overnight on luxury wooden cabin with A/C.
Please note that the Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum is open in the morning only, it is closed on Monday and Friday, and most museums are closed on Mondays.

Day 3: Lao Cai Train Station – Sapa – Cat Cat & Ham Rong Mountain (B/L/)
Arrive at Lao Cai Train station at about 6.30. Have breakfast at a local restaurant. Drive about one hour to Sapa and relax before exploring Sapa Town and go to visit Ham Rong Mountain where you can have a very good view of Sapa town, you will have chances to climb up the San May (Cloud Yard) to enjoy the panorama of Sapa Townlet, visit the orchid gardens with beautiful and colorful flowers. In addition, Ham Rong Mountain has numerous caves and stones in extraordinary shapes. In the afternoon, take a 2km trek to Cat Cat Village, home of H’mong Ethnics. Meet & talk with locals to learn more about their daily life. Overnight in Sapa.

Day 4: Sapa Town – Lao Chai – Tavan Villages – Ta Phin Red Dzao Village – Lao Cai – Night Train to Hanoi (B/L/D)
In the morning, check out the hotel and take a drive to visit Lao Chai village – home of Black H’Mong – here you trek through terraced rice fields to villages, meet and talk with locals to learn more about their daily life and habits. You trek through Ta Van village – home of Dzay hill tribe and get on car back to Sapa for lunch. After lunch, drive to visit Ta Phin village with Tafin handicraft shops and explore the daily life of Red Dzao. Transfer to Lao Cai for diner before getting the night train back to Hanoi. Overnight on a deluxe wooden cabin, soft sleeper with A/C. 

Day 5: Hanoi – Halong Bay (B/L/D)

Arrive early morning (around 05:30-06:00) in Hanoi. Have breakfast in a restaurant in Hanoi then transfer to Halong Bay through countryside decorated with endless view of rice field and villages. Stop on the way for taking photos and refreshment.
Scenic Halong Bay, "the Bay of the Descending Dragon", with its emerald water, is dotted with more than 2,000 mountainous islands, each with its own unique landscape. The islands are famous for their dolomite and limestone rock formations, many of which have been given names. Natural grottos, fjords, land tunnels and inlets are also common. The most beautiful and biggest caves, nice beaches, fishing villages, kayaking through the islands and islets, would be of your satisfaction.
12h00 : Upon arrival to  Ha Long tourist wharf, board on junk, check in. Have lunch on junk and welcome wine and fresh seafood.
13h00 : Fantastic cruise in Halong bay, Sung Sot cave, round over Tuan Chau island, Dinh Huong island, Dog island , Ga Choi island, Titov Beach; swimming at Titov beach, kayaking around and enjoy sunset. Overnight on the junk.

Day 6: Halong bay – Hanoi (B/L/)
7h.30: Enjoy breakfast .
8h.30: Get on a small sampan for a visit to Luon cave  , back to junk .
9h.30 Another fantastic cruise in Halong and to Bai Tu Long ( descending child dragon ) bay, round turtle island, teapot island, Bai Tho mountain , Hon Gai .
10h.00: Check out
11h.00 : Have lunch on junk
12h.00: Back to Halong tourist wharf , transfer back to Hanoi. Overnight in Hanoi.

Day 7: Hanoi – Hoa Lu – Tam Coc – Bich Dong (B/L/)
It is always worthwhile to take a day trip to Hanoi’s surroundings for refreshment away from the city noise. Ninh Binh is an outstanding destination that has many attractions and stunning landscapes. First, journey back to the 10th century and visit the ancient capital Hoa Lu. Then, tour the area by row boat, a perfect venue for you to relax and let your mind wander amongst the diverse limestone of Tam Coc

Departing from Hanoi at 8.00 am from your hotel, after 2 hours driving, we arrive Ninh Binh Province. Our first visit is the former capital of Vietnam – Hoa Lu, visit two temples dedicated to King Dinh and King Le, the two heroes who lived in 10th century and chose Hoa Lu to build the citadel of the capital city of Dai Viet. Proceed to Tam Coc for lunch. Tam Coc known as "Halong Bay on land" boasting breathtaking scenery, “Tam Coc” means three caves. After lunch we get on small rowing boats, the boat trip to all three caves takes about two hours.
Continue visiting Bich Dong Grotto(emerald-like grotto), around 2km from Tam Coc by car, climb a little bit till you get to the top of the Upper pagoda and your eyes catch the overall panorama of the paddy fields between Truong Yen Mountain. The king conferred on Bich Dong the title “The Second Most Beautiful Grotto in Vietnam”. A scene of the popular French movie "Indochine" had been completed here in 1991. Get back to Hanoi late in the afternoon. Overnight in a hotel in Hanoi.

Day 8: Hanoi Departure (B)
Free for shopping at leisure until transfer to the airport for the departure flight. End of services.

Tour Includes:
-  English speaking tour guide, other languages are available on request
-  Modern and private transportation with A/C
-  Meals as mentioned in the program (B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Diner)
-  All Admission fees and permits where applicable
-  Services charges and government taxes
-  Accommodation in Hanoi, Sapa
-  Overnight train Sapa – Hanoi and reverse (Soft sleeper, luxury cabin with A/C)
-  Luxury overnight Junk boat in Halong Bay -shared/private junk boat
 

Tour Excludes:
-  Pre & Post trip accommodation.
-  Personal expenses such as telephone, drinks at restaurants
-  Tips and Gratuities
-  Travel insurance