Northern Highlights

  Vietnam

• Hanoi: 
Hanoi
• All Other Areas in Vietnam: 
Sa Pa

Description: Hanoi - Halong Bay - Sapa - Hanoi
10 day tour with cruise, kayak, trek and homestay
Grade: Introductory
From 752 USD per person

Northern Vietnam is a captivating blend of stunning landscapes, enchanting people and dynamic cities. Capture the spirit of the north in this quick-paced adventure from the delightful city of Hanoi to the amazing World Heritage Site of Halong Bay and to the hill station of Sapa. The tour offers a great opportunity to explore the unique culture and beautiful nature of northern Vietnam in an active way.

Day 1: Arrival in Hanoi
Arrival in Noi Bai airport. You'll be greeted at the airport and transferred downtown to check into your hotel. Depending on your arrival time, you may have time to explore a little of downtown and enjoy a stroll around Hoan Kiem Lake.

In the evening, enjoy a special Water Puppet show and have welcome dinner with local delights. Overnight Hanoi.

Summary
Transfer: 45 mins
Transportation: AC vehicle
Activities: Water puppet show
Meal:    Welcome Dinner
Accommodation: Hotel in Hanoi

Day 2: City tour of Hanoi
After breakfast in the hotel you will take an interesting guided city tour of Hanoi including Ho Chi Minh complex (the mausoleum, the house & garden and the museum) and One Pillar Pagoda, a unique ancient architecture. After here we move to Temple of Literature, the site of Vietnam's first university, dates back to 1070. Its peaceful gardens and pavilions offer a relaxing respite from Hanoi's busy streets. Lunch in local restaurant.

In the afternoon, we enjoy a relaxing cyclo tour in the ancient part of Hanoi. Walking down some small and lively street to see busy local market then join locals for green tea or coffee in local café. Free time for shopping. Overnight in Hanoi

"Cyclo is three wheeled rickshaws, operated by pedal-power, with a seat attached to the front.

Summary
Activities: Full-day city tour
Transportation: AC vehicle
Meals:    Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Hotel in Hanoi

Day 3: Kayaking Halong Bay
Leave Hanoi for Halong Bay at 8.30am.
On the way we will have a short break for refreshment at a handicraft centre. Upon arrival in Halong City we board a wooden boat for a fine seafood lunch and a short cruise to Thien Cung Cave. After a short exploration of the cave we start our kayaking time paddling through an amazing area of limestone islets. We will pass a floating village to reach Luon Cave, which is a tunnel thrusting through a mountain. Paddling through the tunnel to explore a beautiful secluded lagoon. We will meet the mother boat, a junk in Chinese style, in front of the cave. Aboard the junk for dinner and overnight in AC, private cabin.

Summary
Transfer Hanoi Halong: 3.5 hrs
Transportation:   AC vehicle, Boat, Kayak
Activities:    Kayaking 2.5 hrs, Cruising
Meals:    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation:   Twin shared cabin

Day 4: Kayaking Halong Bay
After breakfast we start paddling to Van Chai Floating village and then continue paddling to Dark Cave. Tide permitting, we explore this amazing cave by kayak. The cave is a 200m long, dark tunnel thrusting through a limestone mountain. The tunnel is the only entry to a secluded and beautiful lagoon. Lunch on support boat in front of the cave. After lunch we paddle to Ba Trai Dao Lagoon, along a stunning and fairly rough sea channel, to explore its beautiful beaches. Continue paddling to Lan Ha Bay, which is smaller than Halong bay but much more interesting with lots of secluded beaches. Cruise back to Halong Bay for dinner and overnight on mother boat

Summary
Activities:   5 hr kayaking
Transportation: Boat, Kayak
Meals:    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Twin shared cabin

Day 5: Halong Bay Hanoi Take overnight train to Lao Cai
Breakfast on the junk and enjoy the sundeck of the junk while she navigates amazing rock formations of Bai Tu Long Bay to get back to Halong City. Lunch on the junk before reach Halong Harbor for a drive back to Hanoi. On the way back to Hanoi we will have a stop in Dong Trieu Town for refreshment and visiting to a ceramic factory.

Arrive in Hanoi we then have time to shop around the Old Quarter and have dinner before being transferred to Hanoi Railway station to catch the night train to Lao Cai (9.30pm 5.30am). Overnight on train

Summary
Transfer Halong Hanoi: 3.5 hrs
Transportation: AC vehicle, Junk, Overnight train
Activities:    Sightseeing
Meals:    Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: AC, soft sleeper cabin on train

Day 6: Trekking Sapa
Arrival in Lao Cai and take a 1.5 hour drive up the stunning mountain range sculpted with tiered rice terraces to the charming little town of Sa Pa, which nestles at 1632 meters. Lots of sightseeing en route. After checking into your hotel you'll have free time to explore the town and its great market.

After a lunch of Vietnamese food in a local restaurant you'll take a 3 hour trek down the valley to visit a H'mong hill tribe village. Return to Sapa and overnight in hotel.

Summary
Transfer Lao Cai Sapa: 1.5 hrs
Transportation: Bus (or van), On foot
Activities:    3-hr easy trek
Meals:    Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Hotel

Day 7: Trekking & home-stay
After breakfast you begin your trek around 9am. You first descend the valley on tarmac then hit a beautiful dirt path which runs through rice terraces and minority villages. You will have a break in Lao Chai Village to visit the local H'mong minority group. You'll stop beside a stream and enjoy a picnic lunch. After lunch you continue trekking to Ta Van village, home of the Dzay hill tribe. You will spend to night with a Dzay family. Your dinner will be cooked by your local guide and the hosts.

Summary
Transportation: On foot
Activities:    5-hr intermediate trek
Meals:    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Home-stay

Day 8: Sapa Lao Cai Overnight train to Hanoi
Breakfast at the home stay. We say goodbye to the hosts and head to the main road where you will be transferred back to Sapa town. Lunch in local restaurant and then spend the rest of the day for shopping or walking the beautiful Ham Rong Park. In the late afternoon you will be transferred to Lao Cai for overnight train back to Hanoi.

Summary
Transfer village Sapa: 35 mins
Transfer Sapa Lao Cai: 1.5 hrs
Transportation: Bus (or van)
Activities:    Sightseeing
Meals:    Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: AC, soft sleeper cabin on train

Day 9 Free day in Hanoi
Arrive in Ha Noi 4.30 am. Check into your hotel. You'll welcome this free day to relax and recover from you journey north. Lots of time to explore more of Ha Noi and pick up some of those last minute souvenirs. Overnight in hotel

Summary
Activities:    Free time
Meals:    Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel

Day 10: Departure
Breakfast and free until you are transferred to the airport for the flight to onward destination.

Summary
Transfer Hanoi Airport: 45 mins
Transportation: AC vehicle
Meals:    Breakfast

Note on client safety
We reserve the right to deviate from this itinerary for any reasons, including road and weather conditions, frequency of visits to a village, or for any other factor which may influence client safety.

Highlights:     * City tour of Hanoi
    * Kayaking in the amazing Halong Bay
    * Trek & homestay in Sapa

Cost in US$: From USD 752 per person

This Program is open to Worldwide Participants.

Participants Travel to Vietnam Independently

Typically Participants Work Independently

Application Process Involves:

• Disciplinary Clearance Form
• Essay
• In-Person Interview Required
• In-Person Interview when Feasible
• Letters of Reference
• Online Application plus Application Assessment
• Other
• Phone Interview
• Physical Exam/Health Records
• Resume
• Transcript
• Written Application

Post-Program Services Include:

• Alumni Network
• Exit Debriefing Abroad
• Job and Internship Network
• Re-Entry Debriefing at Home

Active Travel Asia's Mission Statement: ACTIVETRAVEL ASIA (ATA) offers a wide selection of Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar adventure tours, including hiking and trekking, biking, motorcycling, overland touring and family travel packages. Our packages and custom itineraries will take you through exotic destinations to really experience the culture, history and nature of Asia. Outdoor enthusiasts will enjoy an unforgettable active vacation. We run the most adventure tours available in the area. Our active trips are designed for all levels of outdoor enthusiasts, real people seeking real fun and adventure.

Year Founded: 2002