Enthralling Sapa & Halong Bay – 5 Days

Brief Itinerary

Day 0: Overnight sleeper bus to Sapa (-)
Day 1: Early morning Sapa – Discover Sapa Town – Exploration Cat Cat Village & Y Linh Ho Village (B, L)
Day 2: Morning explore Fansipan Peak with cable car – afternoon short trek to Heaven Gate & Silver Waterfalls (B, L)
Day 3: Full-day Discover Coc Ly Market (Tuesday only) – overnight on the train back to Hanoi (B, L, D)
Day 4: Early morning enjoy breakfast in Hanoi – drive to Halong Bay – overnight on cruise (B, L, D)
Day 5: Halong Bay – drive back to Hanoi (no tour guide) (B)

Full Itinerary

Day 0 (5 Apr): Overnight sleeper bus to Sapa (-)

In the evening, our sleeper bus will pick you up at the pick-up point and pick-up time below:

PICK-UP point: 70C Nguyễn Hữu Huân street

PICK-UP time: 10:00 PM

Our sleeper bus will transfer you to Sapa in the early morning.

Overnight on the sleeper bus

Meal: None

Day 1 (6 Apr): Early morning Sapa – Discover Sapa Town – Exploration Cat Cat Village & Y Linh Ho Village (B, L)

Early morning, when the sleeper bus drops you off at 06 Vườn Treo, meet our tour guide and private car. Then, we will transfer to have a light breakfast.

Begin your exploration with a visit to the Sapa Stone Church, a French-built Gothic structure in the heart of town. It is also known as the Church of Our Lady of the Rosary and become a suitable colocation for the traditional cultural practices of Christianity of ethnic minority groups there.

Head to Sapa Market, where you can see the vibrant morning activities of the local ethnic minorities. The local market is a selling place for people here, every weekend ethnic minorities come to gather and sell their agricultural products. The market is divided into 3 zones, the first zone is the place for fresh products, the second zone is the place for local food and the final zone is the place for stuff, souvenirs, brocade,…

Visit Mat Ngoc Lake is the name of Sapa Lake, this is the most convenient place to go around and enjoy the sunset, the sunrise, or the air in Sapa.

The endpoint of this tour is the Sapa Museum, A site where papers and artifacts about the history and culture of Sapa and various ethnic groups in Lao Cai province can be displayed and stored with more than 200 sample artifacts, pictures, documents,… The museum was built to resemble the architecture of the Tay people’s stilt house in Sa Pa, with two stories. The ground floor is a large open space with thematic displays and brocade souvenirs.

Back to the center and have lunch at the local restaurant. Then, our tour guide and driver will escort you check-in to your hotel in Sapa for check-in and relaxation.

Have a short rest, then we will begin the journey afternoon.

Highlights:

• Half-day walk through beautiful landscapes with great views over rice-terraced fields.
• Meet the Hmong people and experience their local life.

Itinerary:

09:00 AM: You will be met at your hotel in Sapa and begin your journey by leaving Sapa market town.

• Cat Cat Village: The walk starts downhill towards Cat Cat Village. Enjoy the beautiful landscape and scenery along the road. Upon reaching a waterfall and a hydroelectric station, we will take a short rest.
• Trek through Rice Terraces: Continue trekking on a dirt trail through rice paddy terraced fields. This area is still covered by srain forest, under the protection of Hoang Lien National Park.
• Y Linh Ho Village: Arrive in Y Linh Ho village, inhabited by the Black Hmong people, where we will have another rest before climbing towards the main road.

Return to Sapa: Our vehicle will pick us up from the main road and drive us back to Sapa.

Approximate Duration:

• 15 minutes driving
• 3 hours walking

Note: The trail can be slippery during the rainy season from Cat Cat to Y Linh Ho.

Overnight in Sapa

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 2 (7 Apr): Morning explore Fansipan Peak with cable car – afternoon short trek to Heaven Gate & Silver Waterfalls (B, L)

After breakfast, we take a 4-minute Mountain Train through valleys, viaducts, and tunnels offering beautiful views of surrounding villages as well as nature. Reaching the Cable Car station, we get off the train and enjoy another 20-minute cable car ride up to the top. Normally, it takes at least two or three days to reach the Peak of Fansipan Mountain on foot. However, with the new three-rope cable car system, we can see the peak and spectacular surroundings from the peak within half a day.

After a 20-minute ride, we start challenging ourselves with 636 high steps up to Fansipan Summit – which is considered ‘The Roof of Indochina’ with a 3,143-meter height.

Enjoy the spectacular scenery of Hoang Lien Mountain and lush forest, we walk down to the cable car station and ride back.

Have a buffet lunch at the Fansipan Lounge.

Take the mountain train back to town, then begin the journey afternoon.

Highlights:

• Scenic drive to Heaven’s Gate with stunning views of Mount Fansipan.
• Visit the magnificent Silver Waterfall.
• Experience the breathtaking scenery at Heaven’s Gate and Tram Ton Pass.

Itinerary: Meet your guide and driver at your hotel in Sapa for a leisurely trip.

• Drive to Heaven’s Gate: The journey begins with a scenic drive uphill, showcasing spectacular views of Fansipan Mount. Just a kilometer from town, admire the expansive rose flower farms and chayote fields framed by bamboo structures.
• Silver Waterfall: Stop to take in the beauty of the magnificent Silver Waterfall before continuing further along the road to Heaven’s Gate and Tram Ton Pass.
• Heaven’s Gate and Tram Ton Pass: At 2,047 meters above sea level, this is the highest mountain pass in Vietnam. Enjoy a half-hour walk to appreciate the breathtaking views of both sides of the Hoang Lien Son mountain range, where strong winds continuously move the clouds.
• O Quy Ho: After visiting Heaven’s Gate, descend 7 kilometers to O Quy Ho, where you can capture stunning photos of lush farms growing a variety of vegetables, flowers, fruit trees, and medicinal plants, keeping this part of Sapa ever green.

Return to Sapa: After the visit, transfer back to your hotel or a requested location.

Approximate Duration:

• 2 hours driving
• 1 hour walking

Note: The road may be winding and steep, so be prepared for a comfortable drive.

Overnight in Sapa

Meal: Breakfast and buffet Lunch in the Fansipan

Day 3 (8 Apr): Full-day Discover Coc Ly Market (Tuesday only) – overnight on the train back to Hanoi (B, L, D)

Please check out of your hotel room before departing for Coc Ly Market. You may leave your luggage at the hotel lobby during your time in Coc Ly Market; however, please make sure to carry any valuable items with you to ensure their safety.

Highlights:

• Explore Coc Ly Market, a vibrant event held only on Tuesdays, showcasing products from ethnic minorities like Flower Hmong, Black Zao, Phu La, Nung, and Tay.
• Enjoy a boat cruise along the stunning Chay River, featuring caves and riverside views.
• Visit Trung Do Village to experience the traditional lifestyle of the Tay minority.

Detailed Itinerary:

• Morning: Depart by car from Lao Cai Railway Station after breakfast. The journey is mostly flat, with rural scenery and a rougher road for the last 30km. Arrive at Coc Ly Market during its busiest hours.
• Market Exploration: Stroll through the vibrant market, located by the Chay River, and interact with locals from surrounding villages.
• Boat Ride: After visiting the market, take a scenic boat trip downstream. Marvel at the caves and daily life along the riverbanks.
• Lunch: Enjoy a picnic-style lunch on a river beach or in a nearby village.
• Trung Do Village Visit: Walk to Trung Do Village, visit a traditional Tay house, and immerse yourself in their culture.
• Return: Continue the boat ride to Bao Nhai Bridge, where the car awaits to take you back to Lao Cai.

Approx: 5 hours driving / 1-hour boat cruise / 0.5-hour walking / 1-hour lunch

Note: If water levels are low, the boat trip will be replaced with a buffalo cart ride in Trung Do Village

After the trip, our guide and driver will escort you to have dinner at the local restaurant.

Then, transfer to Lao Cai Station to catch your train back to Hanoi.

Overnight on a train back to Hanoi

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 4 (9 Apr): Early morning enjoy breakfast in Hanoi – drive to Halong Bay – overnight on cruise (B, L, D)

This morning, the train will arrive at 5:30 am and our guide will pick you up at Hanoi Station and we all will transfer to eat Phở as breakfast. After breakfast, we will have a cup of coffee at the coffe shop waiting for the private car to pick you up to start our journey. (No guide escort to Halong Bay)

08:00 – 08:30 | Pick-up

Transfer from your hotel to Tuan Chau Harbor. (only driver, not including tour guide)

12:30 Welcome on board.

13:00 Lunch (During lunch, the boat is cruising pass the small fishing village)

14:30 – 15:30 Go to visit Sung Sot cave (you should bring hiking shoes, a camera, etc.).

15:30 – 16:30 Visit Titop Island, where you can go swimming and hiking. (When we go, you need to bring a swimsuit, sun cream, sunglasses, and a little money.)

18:00 Enjoy Cooking Class & Happy Hour for drinking, and the Sunset party on the sundeck on the 4th floor.

19:30 Dinner is served.

20:30 Relaxing time

Overnight on the cruise in Halong Bay

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner on the cruise

Day 5 (10 Apr): Halong Bay – drive back to Hanoi (no tour guide) (B)

06:45 – 07:30 Breakfast is served.

07:30 – 08:30 Kayaking to Luon cave (please change your clothes because it will be wet, we don’t recommend you take your camera, cell phone together.)

09:45 Check-out time (for a better arrangement, please put your luggage out of the door and return the room key at the reception). Our staff will help you transfer your luggage to the jetty in advance.

09:45 – 10:30 Early lunch is served.

10:30 Pay the bill at the bar counter on the second floor.

11:00 Say good bye to the crew and disembark in Alisa Harbor.

12:00 Get on the private car and come back to Hanoi.

CHANGE OF THE ITINERARY

The itinerary may change from time to time depending on the weather forecast or the instructions given by the Halong Bay Management Authorities.

WIFI ONBOARD

• Wi-Fi is available onboard the Cruise but is sometimes unstable due to weak signal points across the mountainous bay.

Overnight in Hanoi

Meal: Breakfast and brunch on the cruise

Trip ends! Thanks for choosing us to arrange your Vietnam Tours!

Inclusions & Exclusions

Inclusions

• Accommodation with daily breakfast as per detailed itinerary
• Transfers by private air-conditioned vehicle with experienced driver
• Meals as specified in the itinerary with authentic local food. Western food is available (upon request) (B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner).
• Local-stationed English-speaking tour guide
• Entrance fees & permits
• Bottle of drinking water

Exclusions

• International flights and airport taxes
• Domestic flights and airport taxes
• Vietnam Visa stamp (US$ 25.00 per person)
• Travel insurance with Covid protection term up to $10,000
• Other meals which are not indicated above
• Surcharge and Compulsory dinners (if any)
• Beverages in the restaurants where meals are included
• Gratuities to guides and drivers
• Personal and other expenses such as porter, bar bills and laundry not stated in the itinerary.