Day 1: Arrive in Hanoi (D)

Arrive in Hanoi . Transfer to hotel. The rest of the day is at leisure. Overnight in Hanoi .

Day 2: Hanoi (B, L, D)

City tour in Ha Noi to visit One-Pillar Pagoda, Temple of Literature and Ngoc Son Temple with Hoan Kiem Lake . One-hour cyclo ride in the Old Quarters of Ha Noi. Afterwards transfer to hotel in Ha Long city. Overnight in Ha Long

Day 3: Ha Long - Ha Noi (B, L, D)

Five-hour boat cruise on the magnificent Ha Long Bay to enjoy swimming and exploring limestone caves. Return to Ha Noi in the afternoon. Enjoy a traditional Vietnamese water puppet show in the evening before having a dinner. Overnight in Ha Noi.

Day 4: Ha Noi-Sapa (B, L, D)

Leave Ha Noi by road for the picturesque day’s journey to Sapa, in the far northwestern corner of Vietnam . There are many photo opportunities along the way and after a lunch stop at Yen Bai visit Dao and H’mong villages en route. Arrive at Lao Cai in the late afternoon where you can gaze across the Red River at China on the opposite bank. From Lao Cai the road winds up the terraced hillsides to Sapa, a former French hill resort and home to some of Vietnam ’s most colourful ethnic groups. Transfer to hotel. Overnight in Sapa.

Day 5: Sapa (B, L, D)

A morning walking tour of Sapa visits the busy market where Dao, H’mong and other hill tribes converge from the surrounding countryside to sell their embroidery, silverware and handicrafts and to buy provisions. In the afternoon visit some of nearby hill tribe villages, such as Cat Cat or Ta Fin. Overnight in Sapa.

Day 6: Sapa-Hanoi (B, L, D)

Return to Hanoi after breakfast via Lao Cai. Transfer to hotel on arrival in Hanoi . Overnight in Hanoi .

Day 7: Ha Noi - Ninh Binh - Ha Noi (B, L, D)

A 70km drive through rural northern Vietnam to the site of Vietnam ’s first capital, Hoa Lu. After visiting the two remaining sanctuaries of the ancient citadel, take a sampan on a river through the rice paddies to the grottoes of the sacred Tam Coc Caves . Enormous limestone karats jut out from the green rice fields giving rise to this place’s other name, ‘Ha long on Land’. Overnight in Hanoi .

Day 8 : Hanoi (B)

At leisure until transfer to Noi Bai Airport for onward flight.