Bac Ha market Sapa Trekking Halong bay cruise kayaking diving Cat Ba rock climbing (10 days)

Day 01 (Fri): Arrive Hanoi. Take night train to Laocai.

Upon arrival at Noi Bai airport in Hanoi, FLIGHT???, you will be greeted by Lotussia Travel guide, driver then escorted to Hanoi city center.

Enjoy a half day sightseeing tour of Hanoi capital with the most important city’s highlights including the Ho Chi Minh Complex, containing the Presidential Palace and the Ho Chi Minh's house on stilts. This complex also comprises the One Pillar Pagoda, whose origins date back to the foundation of city. We follow this with a trip to the impressive Ethnology Museum, dedicated to Vietnam's 54 ethnic groups.

Transfer to Hanoi Railways Station for overnight train to Laocai. Train??? Departure at 20:30 (TBA).

Overnight on board/train.

Day 02 (Sat): Arrive Laocai early this morning. River boat trip. Biking to Bac Ha (B,L,D)

Arrive Lao Cai early in the morning. You will be greeted by our local team & transferred to a local restaurant in town for early breakfast.

Travel by car or cycle from Lao Cai town to Coc Ly. The ride is relatively flat from Lao Cai. It will take you through rural area. The road is rougher for the last 16 km. Upon arrval in Coc Ly, take a boat cruise downstream Chay River. Along the ride, you can enjoy magnificent sight of the beautiful caves and life on the riverbank. Lunch will be provided in a Tay village.

After lunch, you first cycle on the dirt trail through the village and cross a narrow stream. Your ride will be then on a good road, which goes uphill towards Bac Ha town.

Diner in a local restaurant & overnight in Bac Ha.

Activities: Approx 5 hours cycling; 1 hours boat cruise; 0.5 hour walking

Day 03 (Sun): Visit Bac Ha Sunday market. Biking to Sapa (B,L)

After breakfast, take a short walk to visit the old castle of the former H’Mong King. From there you can have a view over the town. You will then visit this huge market with its colorful array of ethnic minority people such as Flower Hmong, Phu La, Black Dao, Tay, Nung who gather to buy and sell. After spending the whole morning exploring the market, your lunch will be served in a local restaurant. After lunch you will be able to take a nice ride around nearby beautiful Ban Pho village of Flower Hmong and Nung minorities. After visit Ban Pho village your start heading back towards Lao Cai by cycle (or by car). The ride will be mostly downhill and flat through rural area, which is home to Phu La, Nung and Tay minorities. Before you arrive in Lao Cai, you will be able to stop by china – Vietnamese border, where the Red River flows into Viet Nam territory. Then travel uphill to Sapa.

Free dinner & overnight in Sapa.

Activities: Approx 3 hours cycling; 2 hours walking

Day 04 (Mon): Sapa – Tavan – Seomity (B,L,D)

After breakfast, travel by car toward Muong Hoa valley. Your trek will begin from Tavan village of Giay minority. The first day trek will be mostly uphill. Whenever you stop for a rest, you will be able to enjoy valley view. Before noon, you stop again at a nice spot for lunch.

The trek will be softer in the afternoon. But the scenery becomes even more beautiful. You pass by Seomity village of Black Hmong minority before you arrive in a campsite, which locates nearby a river outside the village. While porters put up tents and cook dinner, you can take a walk to stretch the legs.

Activities: Approx 0,5 hour driving; 6 hours walking

Day 05 (Tue): Seomity – Den Thang – Ta Trung Ho (B,L,D)

The trek today takes you through beautiful rice paddies and over old suspension bridges. You will trek on small trail sneaking through rainforest. You arrive in Den Thang village of Black Hmong by noon. Here you stop for lunch either nearby a river or in a local school according to the weather.

After lunch, the trek wills becomes tough on tinny footpath going up and down, which requires some concentration. You will reach to Ta Trung Ho village of Red Dao minority where you spend the night in local house. Both the valley and the village have just received foreign visitors. The night will be even more interesting when you are in the wonderful hospitable atmosphere of the Red Dao.

Activities: Approx 6 hours walking

Day 06 (Wed): Ta Trung Ho – Sapa. Travel to Laocai for taking overnight train back to Hanoi (B,L)

You are now at the fringe of the rain forest by the Hoang Lien Son mountain range. Fansipan, the highest peak in Indochina with its 3143 m, is located in this mountain range. You will start the trek today by ascending to Nam Toong village of Red Dao minority. Here your lunch will be prepared in a local school.

In the afternoon, before descending to Ban Ho, you can make a stop by a waterfall to refresh. On the last hours you can enjoy the valley one final time whilst trekking up to Su Pan, where your car takes you on the journey back to Sapa.

After a short rest in a local guesthouse/hotel (for shower), transfer to Lao Cai Railways station for the night train back to Hanoi.

Activities: Approx 5 hours walking

Day 07 (Thu): Arrive Hanoi early this morning. Travel to Halong bay. Cruise. Sea kayaking (B,L,D)

Arrive in Hanoi early this morning, you will be greeted by Lotussia Travel guide, driver and transferred to a local restaurant in town for early breakfast.

Then enjoy one-hour massage in one of finest spa salon in Hanoi - A full body massage both invigorating and relaxing. This massage helps to reduce tension, soothe sore muscles and increase circulation.

Travel to Halong bay, enjoying the journey through the rich farmlands of the Red River Delta and the scenery of rice fields, water buffalo and everyday Vietnamese village life. Arrive in Halong and board a wooden sailing junk (Bai Tho, Hai Au or similar). Whilst cruising the exquisite waters sample the regions fresh seafood. Visit the recently discovered Surprise Grotto with its great views, and on the next island see the yawning mouth of Bo Nau Cave. Alternatively journey to Dau Go Cave and nearby see the famous stalagmites and stalactites of Thien Cung Cave. Enjoy two-hour kayak paddling. Watch the sun set over the bay whilst enjoying a delicious dinner.

Overnight on board junk.

Day 08 (Fri): Halong bay diving. Travel to Catba island (B,L,D)

Breakfast on board. At 9h00, will will be picked up at the boat/junk by our Diving Team and transferred by another wooden boat to the first divesite – Chim Island. Enjoy 01 dive before having lunch on board.

In the afternoon, we will move to another divesite – Me Cung Island. There we will enjoy one more hour diving before being dropped off in a simple eco-resort for overnight.

Dinner and overnight by the beach.

Day 09 (Sat): Half day rock climbing. Return to Hanoi (B,L)

Climbing in Cat Ba Island is one of the most personally rewarding and exhilarating activities. Meet up with our team and transfer to the small farming village of Lien Minh. Our expert will give Basic instruction and introduction to Rock Climbing. Then start your adventure experience in Butterfly Valley for about three hours before enjoying lunch on a bee farm with fresh local foods. Return to Cat Ba Town and take speed boat to Haiphong. Join our vehicle again and drive back to Hanoi.

In the evening, attend to the water puppet show, one of famous Vietnamese traditional art.

Overnight in Hanoi.

Day 10 (Sun): Departure (B)

Breakfast at hotel. Free time till transfer to Noibai international airport for your onward flight back home. Flight??? (Hanoi-Singapore). End trip.