HIDDEN NORTH DISCOVERY (12 days)

HIDDEN NORTH DISCOVERY
(12 days)

Day 1: Arrival - HANOI (-/-/-)
Meet on arrival at Noi Bai Airport, transfer to hotel for check in. Then you enjoy a tour by cyclo around the old quarter streets to discover the local people life.
O/N in Ha Noi.
Day 2: FULL DAY HANOI CITY TOUR (B/-/-)
Morning: A half day city tour includes Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum with its house on stilts and One pillar pagoda. An orientation drive via colonial quarter to the West lake before taking a visit to Temple of Literature well known as Vietnam’s first university.
Afternoon: Transfer to visit the Ethnology museum. Enjoy your time to learn about 54 ethics in Vietnam.
Then continue visiting to the Hoan Kiem Lake with Ngoc Son temple. The rest of time for a cyclo ride in the old quarter streets to discover the local people life.
Evening: Water Puppet Show, the traditional unique Vietnamese art.
O/N in Ha Noi.
Day 3: HANOI - MAI CHAU (B/L/D)
Today, we start the adventure journey to the hidden North Vietnam by
In the morning, we start from Hanoi to Hoa Binh - the nearest place from Hanoi that we can see the ethnic minorities.
Upon arrival in Hoa Binh, we will take a 2-hour boat trip on Hoa Binh Lake for relaxation & viewing daily local life of Muong and Dzao People living around the lake. After lunch at Hoa Binh, proceed to Mai Chau. The valley of Mai Chau, with Thais’ s houses-on-stilts, is surrounded by rice fields, mountains and forest.
Free time in Mai Chau valley & view sunset behind the hills. After dinner in a family, we have the opportunity to take part to a traditional dance show.
O/N at house on stilts in Pom Coong remote village.
Day 4: MAI CHAU - SON LA (B/L/-)
This morning we are going to have a short trekking journey (or bike tour) to some of remote villages of Thai People inhabiting in Mai Chau valley. This trip to the northwest highland of Mai Chau offers a balance of cultural and physical activities set amongst some northern Vietnam's stunning natural landscape.
Then transfer to Son La. During a long day traveling, you have the opportunity to enjoy the northern scenery.
O/N in Son La.
Day 5: SON LA - DIEN BIEN PHU (B/L/-)
The morning we visit Son La old Prison and some of nearby hill-tribe villages before we depart for Dien Bien Phu, the site of the decisive battle in Vietnam’s struggle for independence in 1954. The scenic route climbs over Pha Din Pass before dropping down to Dien Bien Phu Town where we have chance to visit the museum, A-1 hill and the former French command post with its trophy tank.
O/N in Dien Bien Phu.

Day 6: DIEN BIEN PHU - TAM DUONG (B/L/-)
Upon leaving Dien Bien we spend a full day traveling through Vietnam’s most mountainous region. Along the way there are some opportunities to explore the spectacular scenery with a mixture of terraced fields and hill villages and visit the Red Hmong, Kho Mu, Mang, Dao hill-tribe people.
O/N in Tam Duong.
Day 7: TAM DUONG - SAPA (B/L/-)
After a morning bumpy drive through the most beautiful hidden-north landscapes region, we arrive in Sa Pa. At an elevation of 1,500 meters, Sa Pa is a former French hill resort and home to some of Vietnam’s most colorful ethnic minority groups. Free afternoon to discover the town with its villas in French architecture, church and Ham Rong Mountain.
O/N in Sa Pa.
Day 8: SAPA (B/L/-)
Time to visit Sa Pa Market where the Red Dao, Black Hmong, Tay , Xa Pho ethnic minority people converge from the surrounding mountainsides or valley to trade their goods and enjoy a walk to some nearby hill tribe villages such as Cat Cat, Lao Chai and Ta Van villages.
O/N in Sa Pa.
Day 9: SAPA - BAC HA MARKET - BACK TO HANOI BY TRAIN (B/L/-)
We continue venturing into northern Vietnam with the next stop being Bac Ha Market, which also attracts a wide variety of ethnic minority groups including the Variegated Hmong, Dao, Phu La, La Chi, Tay. The experience of this congregation is colorful and unique.
Afternoon, enjoy a boat trip down stream Chay River and take visit to villages along the river, discover the local people life.
Transfer to Lao Cai Railways Station for overnight train back to Hanoi.
O/N on board.
Option 1: Bac Ha & Muong Khuong Market on Sunday
Option 2: Coc Ly Market on Tuesday
Option 3: Lung Khau Nhin Market on Friday
Option 4: Can Cau Market on Saturday
Day 10: HANOI RAILWAYS STATION - HALONG BAY (B/-/-)
06h00: Arrive at Hanoi Railways Station, transfer to hotel for leisure and breakfast.
09h00: Transfer to Halong Bay.
A 5-hour boat trip to visit Ha Long Bay, listed as a World Heritage Area of outstanding natural beauty. This picturesque “Dragon descending to the sea” Bay has 1,969 limestone islets rising from the sea, many of them containing beautiful grottoes. Visit of a grotto then seafood lunch on board.
O/N in Ha Long.
Day 11: HALONG BAY - HANOI (B/-/-)
After breakfast at hotel, drive back to Ha Noi.
PM: At leisure for own activities.
O/N in Ha Noi.
Day 12: HANOI - Departure (B/-/-)
At leisure until transfer to Noi Bai Airport for departure flight (check out hotel before 12h00).

Cost in US$ per person in the party (valid until 30 Sep'11)	HIDDEN NORTH DISCOVERY
	Standard	First	Superior
2 pax	1,204	1,301	1,382
3 - 6 pax	1,019	1,115	1,197
7 -10 pax	783	880	961
11 - 14 pax	685	781	863
Single supplement	219	316	385
Full board supplement	180	180	200

INCLUDING:
• Transportation in private air-conditioned vehicle with driver
• Accommodation in hotels, guesthouses (twin shared room)
• Meal as mentioned: B = breakfast, L = lunch, D = dinner
• English or French speaking guide
• Entrance fee to indicated sights
• Water puppet show, traditional dance show in Mai Chau
• Boat trip
EXCLUDING: Other meals, tip, drinks, airport tax, single room, personal expenses, insurance...