Northern Wonders Deluxe

Day 1 : Fly to Hanoi

Fly overnight to Hanoi.

Day 2 : Explore Hanoi

On arrival, you will be met by your expert tour guide and transferred to your city centre hotel – the rest of the day is entirely yours. Head out into the city and experience Hanoi’s fascinating juxtaposition of eastern and western cultures.

Day 3 : Hanoi, overnight train to Sapa

Begin your Hanoi city tour at Ho Chi Minh Quarter, where you will visit the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum (closed Sep-Dec), Stilt House, Ho Chi Minh Museum and the One Pillar Pagoda. Continue to the serene Temple of Literature before an indulgent lunch at KOTO restaurant. Stretch your legs with a walking tour of Hanoi’s historic Old Quarter. That evening, you’ll transfer to the Hanoi railway station for your overnight train to Lao Cai. (B,L,D)

Day 4 : Sapa’s Remote Villages

Arrive at Lao Cai railway station early in the morning and travel to the picturesque town of Sapa on the luxurious Victoria Express train. Explore Hau Thao Village and take an easy walk to Su Phan Village, enjoying the views over Muong Hoa Valley. (B,L,D)

Day 5 : Sapa’s Hill Tribes

Enjoy the stunning views as you drive along the winding mountainous road to visit a lively local market, where ethnic people from surrounding regions gather in colourful traditional costumes to sell farming products and buy necessities. Later that day, return to Sapa, where you have the afternoon at leisure. (B,L,D)

Day 6 : Sapa to Hanoi

Start the day with an easy walk through the Black H’mong ethnic minority village of Matra, passing rice paddy fields and spectacular scenery along the way. Visit the Taphin village where you can observe the everyday life of the two largest ethnic groups in the area, the Black H’mong and Red Dao. That evening board your overnight soft sleeper Victoria Express train to Hanoi. (B,L)

Day 7 : Hanoi’s Water Puppets

Arrive into Hanoi railway station and transfer to your hotel where you will have the morning at leisure. That afternoon, visit the Ethnology Museum and later enjoy a performance of the world famous Water Puppets. That night, you will dine at the iconic Press Club Hanoi. (B,L,D)

Day 8 : Halong Bay Junk Cruise

Depart Hanoi early and make your way to the Jewel in the Crown of Vietnam, Halong Bay. Spend the afternoon cruising around the 3,000 islets that rise from the clear emerald waters of the Gulf of Tonkin, stopping to tour the floating village of Vung Vieng. Later cruise to Bai Tu Long Bay for your first night on the deluxe Au Co Junk Boat. (B,L,D)

Day 9 : Cruise & Kayak

Awake to the gentle bobbing of your junk boat for an optional early morning Tai Chi class. Later in the day, head out on a guided kayak tour or take a swim in the Vung Ha area of Halong Bay. Afterwards, sail towards Lan Ha Bay and Cat Ba Island and visit the Au Co organic farm. (B,L,D)

Day 10 : Halong Bay to Hanoi

Spend the morning on a guided visit of Sung Sot (Surprise) Cave. After your delicious farewell brunch, disembark in Tuan Chau Marina before returning to your hotel in Hanoi. The remainder of the day is at leisure. (B,L)

Day 11 : Depart Hanoi

The morning is free – buy any last minute souvenirs, before you are transferred to Hanoi Airport to board your flight back home to the UK – arriving the same or following day. (B)

Tour includes:

all international airfares
all domestic transportation, departure taxes and current fuel surcharges
all accommodation
meals as stated
entrance fees, guides and daily tours
visa fees for UK and EU passport holders

Wendy Wu Tours is the leading independent specialist tour operator to China in the UK. They offer an extensive range of tour itineraries to enable you to visit famous tourist attractions such as the Great Wall, the Yangtze River or the Terracotta Warriors in China, Angkor Wat in Cambodia and the Taj Mahal in India.

Many of their tours also take you off the beaten track, to emerald lakes and traditional villages, allowing you to enjoy the authentic China experience. Other unforgettable excursions include a rickshaw ride through Beijing’s traditional Hutongs, attending a Buddhist ceremony or cruising on a traditional junk boat. They also offer the opportunity to explore a bustling city like Hong Kong or Dubai en-route for a few nights.

Our Opinion
Wendy Wu Tours allow you to not only visit famous attractions but really discover the country’s culture, natural beauty and hidden treasures. Coupled with their affordable, all-inclusive style pricing, it’s no surprise that the company is growing from strength to strength and winning multiple industry awards along the way!