Up & Down of Vietnam in 12 days

March 16, 2009 - PRLog -- Day 1: Hanoi arrival
Arrive in bustling Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam. As passengers will be arriving at various times today, there are no planned activities. Spend overnight at Movenpick Hanoi Hotel

Day 2: Hanoi – Halong Bay
We'll transfer directly to Halong Bay (3 hours). Thousands of islands rise dramatically from the waters of Halong Bay and, to further their beauty, intricate caves have been hollowed out through these limestone karsts formations. Aboard Indochina sails junk visit some of these islands and caves, perhaps taking a pre-dinner swim, before spending a peaceful night beneath the stars. Evening activities included film entertainment in the dining room, board games and playing cards, squid fishing with crew members. Let’s enjoy happy hour “buy one get one” at bar on board or sun desk. (B,L,D)  

Day 3: Halong Bay – Hanoi – Lao Cai
In early morning, enjoy Tai Chi on the sun desk, continue the cruise to Surprise Cave or relax on board with massage service available. After an early brunch on board head back to Hanoi with few hours in the hotel until boarding overnight Victoria Express train to Lao Cai province (approx 9hrs). (B,L)

Day 4: Lao Cai – Sapa
After arriving in Lao Cai in the morning, we transfer 45 minutes to Sapa. Let’s relax whole morning at Victoria Sapa Resport & Spa. An afternoon excursion will take us to the village of Ta Phin where we'll have a chance to interact with some of the local ethnic minorities such as H'mong, Dao, and Zai. We will spend an hour or two strolling through the villages before returning to Sapa early evening.  (B,L)

Day 5: Sapa – Camp
Meet our guide and black H'mong porters, then start heading to Mount Fansipan. We will trek through Sapa Market, Black H'mong village of Cat Cat. At the bottom of the valley we will cross Linh Ho River, carefully keep the balance on the fragile bamboo bridge. We start the long climbing upwards. Stop and set up the rent late in the middle of Rainforest of Hoang Lien National Park, at the altitude of 2200m. Dinner served on open fire and let’s enjoy overnight in your tent. (B,L,D)


Day 5: Camp – Fanxipan Summit – Camp
Today is summit day, we leave our base camp around 7.00 am and start climbing upwards. As we continue on we pass through primary forest containing giant, centuries old pine trees and expanses of yellow bamboo. Our continuing trek will take us to an altitude of over 3,000m as we arrive at the roof of Vietnam: Fanxipan Peak, where we have a little feast celebrating the climb and simply enjoy life! If the weather is clear, once at the summit we will have time to savour the best panorama in Vietnam. From here, you can see all the way to China in the North and West and Lao in the South. The duration of our stay at the summit depends on the weather conditions, but normally it takes around four hours to get back to our camp. (B,L,D)

Day 6: Camp – Sapa – Hanoi
Today it's downhill just about all the way. Following breakfast we begin our descent and reach Sapa by around lunchtime. The afternoon will then be free at Victoria Sapa Resport & Spa or explore the charms of Sapa town before head back Hanoi by Victoria Express train at 21:00 and arrives in Hanoi at 6 am next morning. (B,L)

Day 7: Hanoi – Nha Trang  
We'll arrive off the train in Hanoi in early morning; we will then take a tour of Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum and Museum. The Mausoleum houses the remains of Ho Chi Minh, the founding father of the unified Vietnam (the mausoleum and museum is closed in October-December), walk through Hanoi's Old Quarter – a maze of street, each one traditionally devoted to a different product or industry. On the evening, head to Hanoi airport for short flight to Nha Trang. There will be a great relaxation during your stay at the Six Senses Spa (B/L)

Day 8: Nha Trang
Today we will enjoys the well deserved reputation of having the best climate in Vietnam, with an estimated 250 days of sunshine a year and temperatures between 24 – 38 Oc. On the afternoon, we start cruise at night to Tam Island, where you stop for fishing & snorkeling to see the live coral reefs at the sea bottom of Nha Trang Bay. Fruits & cocktails, mineral waters are served whilst cruising on the sea. Enjoy your BBQ dinner on Bamboo Island under a fire of six torches with natural music from the sea & romantic atmosphere, enjoy the sunset and view Nha Trang City by night before return hotel. (B/D)      

Day 9:  Nha Trang – Hochiminh City
We will be free this morning until leaving Nha Trang for Hochiminh City by plane (approx 55 min). Hochiminh City is a sprawling metropolis that was once the capital of South Vietnam and remains the country’s commercial center. Spend your night in New World Saigon (B/D)

Day 10:  Hochiminh City
Heading to Vam Sat mangrove forest, a part of the ecosystem of Can Gio mangrove forest with an area of 1,862ha, we will have more funs with excursions named “On boat to fishing crocodile”. Fishing boat is specifically made of composite with air balance holds alongside. The boat is totally protected from crocodiles attacked but your hands will still tremble and your heart beat like war drum. Instead of expecting the crocodiles to swallow the bait, you will always say: Spit it out! Spit it out! Before heading back to Hochiminh City, let’s enjoy your swimming at the “Dead Sea”. Even when you can not swim, you can keep yourself bobbing here, and even as you wish to sink, it is impossible in this sea pond. How strange it is? This unique idea is “copied” from Jordanian Dead Sea: the salinity in the pool is rather high at 30% - ten times as high as that of seawater. (B/L)

Day 11: Ho Chi Minh departure
Departure is after breakfast, when our tour ends  (B)

Tour price: from 2.440$ per person

What's Included
Halong Bay boat cruise, trekking to Fanxipan Mount, snorkeling in Nha Trang, and Hochiminh excursions  

Group Size
Min. 2, Max 20, Avg 10

Group Leader
Local guides (Russian speaking)

Accommodation
Hotels (7 nights), 4-berth Superior train (2 nights), junk boat (1 night), outdoor tent (2 nights)
o Hanoi: Melia Hanoi (Deluxe Royal) https://www.meliahanoi.com  
o Halong Bay: Indochina Sails (Deluxe cabin) http://vietnamcruises.asianatravelmate.com
o Sapa Highland: Victoria Sapa (Deluxe) http://www.victoriahotels-asia.com/eng/hotels-in-vietnam/...  
o Fanxipan Mount: Outdoor Camping Tent (Private Standard)
o Nha Trang: Ana Mandara (Deluxe Seaview) http://www.sixsenses.com/Evason-Ana-Mandara-Nha-Trang/index.php
o Hochiminh: Deluxe R.O.H http://www.sixsenses.com/Evason-Ana-Mandara-Nha-Trang/index.php

My Own Room: +750 USD
Please note that if you have booked the "My Own Room" option for this tour, you will receive your own single room for all night stops, with the following exceptions: sleeper train

Transport
Super Express Train, high-end van/bus, luxury boat, and airplane.

Meals Included
11 Breakfasts, 9 Lunches, 4 Dinners.

Meal Budget
Allow USD400 for meals not included.

# # #

Built its reputation on quality service, integrity and commitment excellence. We are able to provide alternative services for Destination Management, Trade Show, and Meeting & Incentive Plan and execute a successful event in Vietnam.