ITINERARY IN BRIEF
DAY 1: HANOI ARRIVAL
DAY 2: HANOI
DAY 3: LAOCAI – SAPA – BACHA MARKET
DAY 4: SAPA – LAO CHAI – TAVAN VILLAGE – HANOI  
DAY 5: HANOI DEPARTURE

DAY 1: HANOI ARRIVAL

On arrival at Noi Bai Airport, welcome to Vietnam by our guide and transferred to hotel for check in. Ha Noi, Vietnam's capital, is a stylish and gracious city that retains an unique old world charm and some Asia ‘s most striking colonial architecture. The many lakes and parks make for relaxing atmosphere. Depending on arrival time optional activities can be arranged on this day. Meet our guide and transferred to hotel for check in.

Overnight Stay at hotel in Hanoi

DAY 2: HANOI – SAPA

Morning, city tour to visit Hochiminh Complex, this complex  comprises the Mausoleum of the nation’s founder Hochiminh (closed on Monday, Friday and the whole months of October-November), the Presidential Palace and the Ho Chi Minh’s house on stilts, the One Pillar Pagoda, whose origins date back to the foundation of city. We follow this with a trip to the Temple of Literature, which is well known as the first university of Vietnam built in 1070.
Afternoon, we visit the Ethnological Museum, the most interesting museum in Hanoi. We will view Tran Quoc Pagoda, Vietnam's oldest pagoda, built in the 6th century and located on Cayang Island in the middle of the lake.  We visit these sights before continuing to the peaceful lake of Hoan Kiem with Ngoc Son Temple, take 1-hour Cyclo trip around with 36 streets of Ha Noi old quarter and enjoy the performance of the famous Vietnamese traditional art of water puppetry at Thang Long theatre.
Evening, free until transfer to Hanoi station for train to Laocai (dep at 8:20pm).

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Overnight Stay on Tulico Express or similar

DAY 3: SAPA – BACHA (Sunday) – SAPA

Arrrival Laocai, transfer to local restaurant for breakfast.We travel by car to Bac Ha Market (approximately 2.5 hours). Arriving at Bac Ha, we visit the big outdoor market with its colorful ethnic minority people, such as Flower Hmong, Phu La and Dao Tuyen, who gather here to buy and sell their handicraft products.   After visiting the market, you will enjoy lunch at a restaurant. We leave Bac Ha Market for Trung Do Village, where we will enjoy a magical water buffalo cart ride while traveling through amazing countryside inhabited by the happy and hospitable Tay minority people. From the village we will travel by boat down the Chay River to experience the picturesque scenery and magnificent sights along the river. After the boat trip we will enjoy a refreshing cup of tea.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Overnight Stay at hotel in Sapa

DAY 4: SAPA – HANOI

Morning, free at leisure, relax and enjoy the beautiful landscape from your balcony.
The journey will commence with a drive southwards Muong Hoa valley. You will then start your descending walk into the valley, which is the largest paddy terrace in Sapa area. The guide can provide you with interesting information about rice and rice growing. If you visit the valley some time in between May and October, you will be able to experience how the local do planting and harvesting, one of the most important activities in their daily life. The walk takes you from Lao Chai village of Black H'mong minority to Ta Van village of Giay minority including a visit to the local Catholic Church.
After visiting Ta Van,  transfer back Laocai for train to hanoi.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Overnight Stay on Tulico Express or similar

DAY 5: HANOI – DEPARTURE

Early morning, arrival Hanoi and enjoy Vietnamese Traditional Noodle and Coffee.
Free at leisure for shopping in the old quartern before transfer to airport for flight departure.
Meals: Breakfast



Price Include: 

• 2 nights accommodations at 3 stars standard hotel with daily breakfast based on twin sharing
• Private transportation with English speaking guide.
• Entrances fees + sightseeing as indicated.
• Return train ticket from Hanoi – Sapa – Hanoi,
• Vietnamese food as mentioned in the program
• Gov’t tax and service charge,
• Mineral water is available (free)
• Vietnam Visa Approval letter (free)
• Vietnam Traditional Gift (free)

Price Exclude:

• Visa, Insurance, drinks, personal expenses, others not mentioned in details, tips are welcome!
• Surcharge for booking during Chinese New Years from 20 – 30 Jan 2012: US$ 15/ pax/ day
• Surcharge for Compulsory dinner for Xmas and New Year Eve