Sapa and Red Dragon Cruise

Posted in 4 days, In the North

Northern Vietnam Tour: Based on many requests from the customers, First Choice will launched a popular travel packages: Halong Bay & Sapa.

With the success of the Red Dragon Cruises on Halong Bay (www.reddragoncruise.com), many customers come to us with an extensions to Sapa, the hill tribe town in Northern Vietnam.

After Halong Bay with Red Dragon, First Choice will arrange the combined trip to Sapa by overnight train

First Choice will use first-class trains like King Express, Livitrans, Orient Express and Hara Royal Trains.

We set up an excellent accommodation in Sapa like Bamboo, Chau Long Hotel (new wing), Victoria Resort & Spa. Home-Stay is also a good choice for travelers to gain another experience.

TRAVEL ITINERARY

The night before: 19.45 pm transfer to the Hanoi train station for boarding at 21:10. You will be in shared AC soft sleeper cabins to travel North to Lao Cai town.

Day 1: Hanoi – Lao Cai – Sapa, trek to Ta Phin (~ 14 km)

Today’s morning: The train arrives at about 6:30 am; look for your name sign when you exit the train station, as our guide will pick you up. Then take a morning drive through the clouds by car / van to Sapa (~ 1 hour). When you arrive in Sapa you will be taken to a local restaurant for a morning shower & breakfast.  We will then take short ride from Sapa to our trekking base where we start our trek up and down hills through terraced rice fields, bamboo ranges and many minority villages. Lunch break before we keep hitting the road to Ta Phin village. Our Dao host family will welcome you to their traditional home where we will share in an ethnic style dinner and stay the night.

Day 2: More in Ta Phin, back to Sapa, then Lao Cai for night train to Hanoi

At the first gleam of daylight, you will see and hear the sounds of morning village life. You can join your host family in some of their activities like feeding the animals, cleaning the houses, gardening or preparing breakfast. After breakfast, we could take a short morning wander around the village or resulting in more time spent with the host family.  You will be then supported by our car / van back to Sapa (30 minutes). When we arrive back in Sapa. Take a rest and pause for lunch on your own. At 14:30 we will take an easy walk (~ 5km) to Cat Cat village, homeland of Black H’mong hill tribe and to take part in a traditional ethnic music performance put on by the ethnic minority people. We will then be picked up at Sapa town for our ride to Lao Cai. Dinner on your own well before the train leaves for Hanoi. Arrive in Hanoi at about 5:00 A.M. Please find your own way back to your hotel.  Note: The music show in Cat Cat is closed on Wed afternoon, an alternative will be arranged.

Day 3: Hanoi – Ha Long, welcome on the boat

Arrival in Hanoi in the early morning at around 5:00 am. Please find your way by foot back to a mini hotel near the Tran Quy Cap station gate to have shower and basic set menu breakfast.  Depart, 8:00 – 8: 30 am on a shared van from your hotel to Halong city. After 3.5 hours driving and viewing simple, country side, rice paddy life, we arrive at the at port. At 12.00, the junk crews welcome guests on board at Hon Gai Wharf. Check- in, enjoy welcome drink & cruise briefing. Lunch with fresh local seafood while cruising to Bai Tu Long bay via Indochina film studio, Teapot islet, Blockhouse islet, Goat Head islet. Stop for swimming, visit mysterious Thien Canh cave. Relax at a wild beach, swim & kayak to explore the bay. Back to junk to enjoy relaxing or the sunset. Dinner and overnight on board nearby Vong Vieng village or Trinh Nu cave.

Day 4: Explore the tranquil scenery in Bai Tu Long bay, back to Hanoi.

Early risers can enjoy the sunrise and the quiet breath-taking beauty of Bay’s landscape. From 7.30 to 8:00 am have breakfast in the fresh air then visit Vong Vieng fishing village by a rustic row-boat. Meet the locals, visit floating school & fish farms. More time to swim in the middle of the bay. From 10: 15, we serve on a La-Carte-Menu, you can order any dishes in the menu whenever you want for breakfast and lunch. Continue cruising through the bay, along the way seeing more of the fascinating formations. 11: 45 check out cabin while cruising back. By noon at 12:00, we will be ashore then hit the road back to Hanoi at around 4:00 pm. Tour ends at your hotel in Hanoi.

PRICE in USD per person

Includes  

Train tickets Hanoi- Lao Cai- Hanoi  Guide

Car & transportation  Meals as mentioned

Entrance fees

Homestay

Cruise with full meals on board

Minivan Hanoi- Halong- Hanoi

Excludes

Drink

Tips to guide

Taxi to hotel in Hanoi (morning after Sapa train)

Hotel for morning before Halong Tour

Notes:

– Sleeper Train to Sapa: Livitrans, Orient Express

– Homestay condition: Very basic

– Meals: Vietnam food

– Halong Bay tour: We share mini – van, deluxe Red Dragon or Prince Junk with maximum 10 people and twin shared cabin aboard.

– Car / Van Quality: Using new AC car or van depending on your group size

– Tour guide: English speaking guides (on site).

– The trek time is just approximate and depending on speed and weather.

– Please be aware that flight times, trains, hotels and other services are subject to availability. Where flights/trains are cancelled or delayed First Choice will endeavor to secure alternative arrangements of similar value,

– Train’s details will be updated at time of booking confirmed (your email of confirmation)

– Check – in: 14:00; out: 12:00 noon. Early check in if it is subject to availability.

– This itinerary and supplementary information has been complied in good faith and was accurate at time of writing