Halong bay and Nam Cang Retreat 8 days

Welcome to Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam! You will be greeted by our tour guide and transfer directly to hotel in Hanoi.

Check in time will be available at 2:00pm, and in case that you would like to secure an early-check in, an additional charge will be applied.

Optional: The rest of this day is free at leisure. You might have a sleep to recover, or wander around for some own exploration, or consider taking part in one of our suggested activities below:

• Water Puppet Show: A traditional Vietnamese water performing art, at which Vietnamese folk tales, history and local lives are introduced via colorful puppets.

• Vietnamese Cooking Class or Foodie Tours: Food in Vietnam, especially Hanoi, is totally tasty and able to mesmerize any visitor. A short walk around Old Quarter for some of Hanoi’s best food, or participation in a fun Vietnam’s cooking class could be a good start to your journey in this lovely country.

Please contact our travel consultant if you are interested in these services, and we are available 24/7 for assisting you.

Note: Please be advised that both international and domestic might be crowded at sometimes during the day, so in case that you arrive and cannot find our representatives, please be presented at Pole No.10 (Outside the Terminal Gate) and contact us, so we could easily search for you.

• Hoan Kiem Lake

Morning or afternoon departure depend on availability

Half day Hanoi city tour (by car or by motorbike – upon client’s interest) - Routes can change subject to client’s interest.

Begin the first day of the trip with a tour of Hanoi. Depart from the hotel for a visit to Vietnam’s first university: the Temple of Literature. Founded in 1076, Quoc Tu Giam was established within a temple to educate Vietnam's royalty, mandarins and members of the elite.

Continue with a visit to the iconic One Pillar Pagoda, one of Vietnam’s most iconic temples. Nearby is the Mausoleum of the historic father figure of modern Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh, and his modest house on stilts. (Sites are viewed from outside; closed Mon and Fri and from Jun - Aug)

Visit the picturesque West Lake and its sixth century Tran Quoc Buddhist Pagoda. Tran Quoc Pagoda is regarded as the most ancient pagoda in Hanoi with its history line of more than 1,500 years.

After visiting, you will have a meal at an authentic Vietnamese Restaurant. 

At 5:30 PM, meet at meeting point then start your walkie foodie night with our Hanoi Street Food Tour. We will take you to go through the small streets and alleys inside the Hanoi Old Quarter and show you how the truly Hanoians live, work and eat. The old quarter of Hanoi formed the core of the legendary “Hanoi of 36 guild streets” where goods and crafts were traded in specialized streets by traders and craftsmen from clans and villages all over the country. After their immigration into Hanoi, they brought their culture, habits and local cuisine that were gradually adapted to the Hanoians’ lifestyle. Therefore, the overwhelming Hanoi street food scene should not be missed during your journey to the stunning Vietnam Capital. Embarking on a walking street food tour through Hanoi’s best culinary spots alongside an experienced tour guide and this local insider possesses an enormous passion for Hanoi cuisine and also know all the streets in Hanoi Old Quarter like the back of his hand.

Joining with our tasty walking Hanoi street food tour, a comfortable pair of walking shoes is highly recommended! By far our most popular tour, this tour is the funniest and most perfect way to discover some of the lesser known dishes of locals. From Pho Bo (Vietnamese Beef Noodle), Banh Cuon (Steamed rice rolls), “Banh Mi” (Vietnamese Baguette), etc. then finish the tour with unique Ca Phe Trung (Egg Coffee) which will round off our Hanoi street food discovery perfectly. Local life, local stories; local food and local drink tasting, it's the little things that make the difference in your travel experience in Hanoi!

• Our Professional tour guide

From 6:30 – 7:00 AM, the Limousine Express shuttle bus will pick you up at your Hanoi hotel before departing for a nearly 5 hours transfer to Thanh Phu Bridge, followed by a short transfer to Nam Cang village. The afternoon is perfect for visiting the Red Dao minority village. Nam Cang locates in the most remote area of Sapa and the Red Dao women wear some of the most colorful and diverse costumes of all Vietnam’s ethnic groups. Herbal bath, local medicine and embroidery are some of the things that the Red Dao are very skilled at. Accompanied by your guide, you will explore around the village and learn how the local villagers make writing paper from rice, silver jewelry and embroidery. Back at the lodge you may want to try a special herbal bath, made by handpicked herbs collected by your host in the jungle located just behind the house. Approx: Grade: Easy/ 1,5 – 2 hours walking.

• Village in Sapa

In the morning you take a walk up to the jungle to explore the beautiful surrounding nature. You will encounter with the locals walking with their barefoot. The higher you go, the more you will be inspired by the origin of the nature. On the way back, you will visit one of the small houses of remote located Red Dao minorities, who are very poor and live just outside the forest. Now, the forest opens up to a great view into the valley, a big stream and several forests covered hilltops. Arrive back at Nam Cang Riverside Lodge, you may want to take a swim in the river before enjoying your lunch. At 14:40, you have a transfer by shuttle bus to the Topas Ecolodge. From your bungalow’s balcony, you may enjoy your aerial view over the mountainous area where you have just been.

• Trekking In Nam Cang Village

The morning is at your leisure at Topas Ecolodge. You can either relax or borrow free of charge high quality mountain bikes from the lodge for an exploration to the surrounding area. You can also take a scheduled shuttle bus to Sapa to visit the town or book a half day tour to explore the highest peak of Indochina, Mt. Fansipan (3.143m) by the newly launched cable car. Finally you may want to book a treatment in the lodge’s newly opened hilltop spa. At 15:00, Limousine Express shuttle bus departs from Topas Ecolodge and returns to your hotel in Hanoi.

• Topas Ecolodge

After breakfast at hotel, driver picks up and transfer to Halong Bay, listed as a World Heritage of outstanding natural beauty, known in Vietnamese as “Dragon descending to the sea”.

Upon arrival, the boat crew welcome you and check in then enjoy a cruise around Halong Bay with a delicious local seafood lunch served on board. You can also behold thousands of limestone islands and grottoes rising from the clear, emerald water.

Following break, depending on each cruise’s itinerary of the day, you’ll join some activities on boat to discover the beauty of the bay such as visit a cave, doing kayaking or enjoy swimming in the sea before getting back to the junk for relaxing and dinner. Overnight on board.

• Halong Bay

Early risers can enjoy a memorable sunrise over the karst formations of Halong Bay. Breakfast will be served shortly thereafter. Enjoy breakfast (brunch on some boats) while the vessels cruises slowly through the magnificent rock formations back towards port. Upon disembarkation, our driver will be waiting to provide transport to Hanoi hotel for check in Rest of the day at leisure

• Kayaking in Halong Bay

Have leisure time before your departure flight. Please note that hotel check-out time is at 12:00. A late check-out can be arranged subject to room availability and a surcharge will be applied.

• Hanoi