Northern Vietnam Family Vacation – 8 Days

Day 1: Hanoi arrival (D)

On arrival at Noi Bai airport in Hanoi, we will be welcomed by our guide and transfer to the hotel to check in. After a short rest, we enjoy a 1-hour cyclo tour of the French-inspired “old quarter”. We will then sit down to enjoy a performance of the city’s famous Water Puppets. After the show, we will have welcome dinner at a fine local restaurant in town. Overnight in Hanoi.

Day 2: Explore Dong Ngac Cultural Village & Food Tasting Experience (B, L, D)

Today we travel to Dong Ngac Cultural Village, which is, located about 15km from Hanoi center. This is an ancient village and a Cultural Heritage Site in honor of its educated and heroic people recognized by the kings of Vietnam. Here we embark on an interesting market tour, experience the bustling market and local life as the host; try to purchase all the ingredients which we need to cook for our lunch today with the help of tour guides. After that, we transfer to the traditional house for a welcome drink and leaving all pieces stuff we had bought at the local market.

Take our bikes and venture deeper into the village including Dong Ngac Communal House, the oldest house in the village and the oldest school built in 1921. Back to the traditional house, it is time for our private cooking demonstration. After watching our host then practice ourselves and then the best part of all, try our dishes! After having a delectable lunch, you can rest back into some reclining chairs in the fragrant retreat of our host’s village garden.

Say goodbye to your new friends at around early afternoon and take our car back to the city center. Have a short rest at the hotel, at around 3.30 PM, we start our Food Tasting Adventure by walking down the Old Quarter for visiting the local market, we are guided all the ingredients as well as inhabit of local people here.

Stroll around the Old Quarter, you can taste many kinds of local food such as oil-fried pastry, tofu, rice pancake, pillow cake, sweet soup, stuff pancake with pork, draught beer, and more. We also visit Dong Xuan wholesales market where you can find many kinds of ingredients being sold. Then, we will stop at a hidden coffee in the Old Quarters to sip a cup of ‘egg coffee’ in a pleasant surrounding overlooking Hoan Kiem Lake. The trip ends around 8h30 PM at hotel. Overnight in Hanoi.

Day 3: Hanoi – Halong Bay – Overnight Cruise (B, L, D)

Today we set off to the ‘Jewel in the Crown of Vietnam’ – Halong Bay. Halong Bay was voted one of ‘The New 7 Wonders of Nature’ in 2011, and once here you will know why it was included in this group.
Upon arrival, we will start your scenic cruise trip to explore thousands of extraordinary limestone Karst formations. Then, we will enjoy a delectable lunch on the cruise. In the mid-afternoon, we will kayak among the hidden areas of the bay, around the Bo Nau Cave area before going back to the cruise and continue cruising to Soi Sim Island. You can swim and relax at the beach of Soi Sim or climb up to the top of the island to get a breathtaking view of Halong Bay. In the evening, we will cruise back to the main boat for a shower before having dinner and spend the night onboard.

Day 4: Halong – Hanoi – Overnight Train to Sapa (B, L)
Wake up early in the morning and start your day with Tai Chi exercises or a photo hunt before having breakfast. Then, we will head to Sung Sot Cave to admire its stunning beauty. After that, we will return to the boat, freshen up and check out of your cabin. Next, we will continue exploring the Bay, visit Ba Hang fishing village, Dog Islet, and more.

While turning back to the harbor, you will watch the cooking demonstration before enjoying a mouthwatering traditional Vietnamese lunch. We will disembark at noon and find your car is waiting and take you back to Hanoi.
The rest of the day will be free until our car arrives to take us to the Railway Station to board the overnight train to Sapa. Overnight on the train.
Note: Hotel in Hanoi is NOT included on this day

Day 5: Lao Cai – Sapa – Cat Cat – Y Linh Ho – Lao Chai Homestay (B, L, D)
Arrive in Lao Cai Station in the early morning, we will be welcomed by our local guide and transfer to Sapa. After breakfast in a local restaurant, we will trek to Cat Cat Village then to Y Linh Ho village of the Hmong people. After having lunch, we will move to Muong Hoa Valley. On the way, we will pass through the villages of Lao Chai and Ta Van where we will have a chance to meet some of the locals. Overnight in a homestay in a village in Sapa.
Note: For Luxury option, clients will be back to Sapa to spend a night at a hotel.

Day 6: Lao Chai Village – Giang Ta Chai Village – Sapa (B, L)
We will enjoy a breakfast with our hosts before bidding them goodbye. Today will include a visit to the Giang Ta Chai village of the Red Dao minority people, we will also trek through a bamboo forest and pass by a majestic waterfall; taking time to rest and enjoy the surroundings.
Arriving in Sapa town, the rest of the day will be free to visit Sapa town market. Overnight stay in a hotel in Sapa town.

Day 7: Sapa – Fansipan Peak – Bus back to Hanoi (B, L)
After breakfast at the hotel, we will visit Fansipan Summit – which is considered ‘The Roof of Indochina’ which is 3143 meters high. Normally, it takes at least two or three days to reach the Peak of Fansipan Mountain on foot. However, with the newly three-rope cable car system, we can see the peak and spectacular surrounding from the peak within half a day. The cable car ride will take around 20 minutes up to the top. After visiting the Fansipan Peak, we will be back to the town center and have lunch.After lunch, we will have a short time free at the town center visiting its market before getting in the Express Bus and transfer back to Hanoi at 4 PM. Arrive in Hanoi at around 9 PM, you will be transferred to your hotel in Hanoi for an overnight stay.

Day 8: Hanoi Departure (B)
Enjoy your leisure time until our car arrives at the hotel to take you to the airport in good time to board your departure flight. Trip ends.