A 17 DAY ROAD AND RAIL TOUR IN VIETNAM - VERY IMPRESSIVE EXPERIENCE

See Vietnam by train from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City. Vietnam's air-conditioned trains are safe, comfortable & inexpensive, the ideal way for independent travellers to get around and see Vietnam at ground level. The train journeys are an experience in themselves, and become an integral part of your visit to Vietnam. You might even meet some Vietnamese people. Inexperienced travellers often mistakenly think they'll save time by using internal flights - in fact, an overnight train ride from Hanoi to Hue or Danang is not only far more of an experience (and cheaper) than a flight.

 

Day 1:  Arrival Day in Hanoi (D)

On arrival at Noi Bai Airport, you are met and transferred to hotel. Ha Noi, Vietnam’s capital, is one thousand year old city with peaceful lakes, French styled buildings, old quarter streets, tree lined boulevards, brightly painted temples and pagodas. (If time permits) we enjoy a short cyclos ride around the old quarter streets to see the different local ways of life. Overnight in Ha Noi.

Say "Hello" to Hanoi - the capital of Vietnam

Day 2: All day visiting Hanoi then go to Sapa (B)

Today we enjoy a full day city tour starting with the Ho Chi Minh Complex. This famous site contains the mausoleum of the nation’s founder Ho Chi Minh, the Presidential Palace and the Ho Chi Minh’s house on stilts. Close to this complex is the One Pillar Pagoda, whose origins date back to the foundation of city.

We follow this with the Temple of Literature, which is well known as the first university of Vietnam and the impressive Ethnologic Museum, dedicated to Vietnam’s 54 ethnic groups. The beautiful West Lake and the History Museum with an excellent collection of artifacts illustrating the Vietnamese history are also highlight of our trip. We visit these sights before continuing to the peaceful lake of Hoan Kiem. In front of this lake is the famous water puppet theatre where we will see a fantastic performance.

Get an evening train from Hanoi to Lao Cai. Overnight on train.

Day 3: Enjoy your day in Sapa (B/L)

Pick up at Lao Cai station and transfer to hotel in Sapa, the town in the mist of cloud. As soon as arriving in this small quiet town you will be impressed by the romantic appearance of old French architecture and the streets filled with various kinds of hilltribes’costumes up and down the hills.

Sapa makes you feel close to the nature mother

Have shower and then order for breakfast. After a short relax, we start trekking to Laochai — Tavan. You will trek through remote villages of Red Dao, Black H’mong and Giay ethnic groups, pass incredbly beautiful valleys and rice — terraces. Have picnic lunch on the hill. After a 5-hours trek, have a short relax before our Jeep pick you up and back Sapa. Have dinner and enjoy Sapa at night with streets full of local brocade works and children in their colorful costumes walk in group and sing together. The Cathedral is worth seeing, too.

Day 4: Come back to Hanoi (B/L)

Trek for Cat Cat village of Black H’Mong Group where you could witness the daily life, the traditional customs, the brocading process made by small girls or old women. Here you could also see the French Power by Cat Cat Waterfall. Pass some root hang-bridges to back Sapa town. Have lunch. In the afternoon, visiting Silver Waterfall, Dragon Jaw mountain and see garden of Mongolia, Gate of Heaven. Have dinner and take the night train to Hanoi.

Overnight on train.

Day 5: Spend a day roaming in Ha Long (B)

Arrive in Hanoi early in the morning. Have shower and breakfast. Free at leisure and take a ride to Halong.

Visit one of the wonders of the world

Over night in Halong.

Day 6: Return to Hanoi and take a train right away to Hue (B/L)

This morning we have a boat trip (4-6 hours) on Halong Bay to see thousands of strange- shaped islets and islands which will remind of many interesting images in mysterious tales or legends, stop for visit magnificent scenes of Halong through system of Karst caves and grottoes such as: Thien Cung, Sung Sot...Lunch with sea food will be served on boat. We have some swimming in fresh water before go on ahead to Ha noi. In the evening, we will transfer to the train station, and board the Reunification Express to Hue and our bed for the night is a 4-bed sleeper carriage.

Day 7: Visit the ancient temples and palaces in Hue (B)

On arrival Hue in the morning and transferred to hotel. After a morning at leisure, we take a boat trip on the Perfume River, stopping at the beautiful pagoda of Thien Mu and the mausoleum of Emperor Minh Mang, in the tranquil setting garden and lakes.

You might be interested in finding more about these palaces' history

See the full journey now!

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