Vietnam North & South Holiday 16 Days

Day 1: Departure
Depart UK on a flight to Hanoi via Kuala Lumpur.

Day 2: Arrive Hanoi
Transit through Kuala Lumpur and fly onwards to Hanoi. Upon arrival you will be met and transferred to your chosen hotel.
In the evening, attend a performance of the famous Vietnamese traditional art of water puppetry. The stage is actually a large container of water where the characters (carved wooden puppets) “act” out the story.

Day 3: Hanoi City Tour (B/-/-)
This morning visit the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and his former residence and the Temple of Literature, Vietnam’s first university. Also visit the Hoan Kiem Lake and Ngoc Son Temple. The rest of the afternoon is at leisure for you to wander the streets of the city at will.

Day 4: Mai Chau Lodge (B/L/D)
We leave Hanoi at 8am for the scenic drive to Mai Chau. On arrival, a welcome briefing on the activity options and Lodge facilities is followed by lunch. At 1pm you can check into your room and take a shower. There is then an optional buffalo cart ride or trek to the nearby Thai villages of Pom Coong and Lac. Here we have time for handicraft shopping from the local artisans or enjoying a coffee with the friendly villagers.

At about 4pm there is an optional trip to a private cave attached to the Lodge. The cave, which used to be a military base, is looked after by a team of local hill tribe people. During the cave tour you will learn more about the limestone karst cave and its history in the local region.
A fabulous dinner is served at 7pm, accompanied by a traditional dance performance by the local Thai tribe.

Day 5: Mai Chau – Hanoi - Overnight sleeper train to Lao Cai (B/L)
After breakfast you are welcome to join a two hour cycling tour or walking trek through the beautiful valley of Mai Chau. You will meet the local hill tribes going about their daily routines such as planting rice, herding buffalos or building traditional houses.
You will then leave for Hanoi after lunch where you will take the overnight sleeper train to Lao Cai in the northern Sapa region. Overnight on board the train. 

Day 6: Lao Cai / Sapa / Topas Eco Lodge (B/-/D)
Early morning arrival into Lao Cai, the border town to Yunnan. Pick up by Topas Ecolodge driver and drive to Sa Pa. The journey starts with a 38km drive on winding roads up the mountains to Sapa town, approx. 1500 m above sea level. Then you will take the hotel bus to the Topas Ecolodge. Rest of the day is at leisure.

Day 7: Sapa (B/-/D)
Today is at leisure. As well as excellent trekking opportunities, there is also a good range of local markets in the region which can be a great place to see the local tribes-people trading goods, having a drink with friends and catching up on the local gossip!

Day 8: Sapa / Lao Cai Overnight train to Hanoi (B/-/-)
Another day at leisure.
Drive back to Lao Cai station to take overnight train back to Hanoi. Overnight on board.

Day 9: Hanoi – Halong Bay (B/L/D)
Arrive into Hanoi at around 04:30 hrs, you have the chance to discover Hanoi in the early morning; enjoy the romantic flower market and join the locals in their morning Tai Chi and aerobics around the beautiful Hoan Kiem Lake.
Depart Hanoi for the drive to beautiful Halong Bay. Board the boat and set sail through the bay while your buffet lunch is served. Enjoy an Asian Buffet lunch as the vessel sails to Halong Bay passing the Fighting cocks islet, the Elephant leg islet, the Castle islet and the Soi Sim Island.

This afternoon enjoy a range of activities on board before enjoying a cocktail at the open air bar located on the sundeck before your 5 course dinner. Overnight onboard Paradise Cruise.

Day 10: Halong Bay / Overnight train to Hue (B/-/-)
This morning you have the option to wake early to join in the tai chi lesson on the back sundeck before your buffet breakfast.
The boat will continue to cruise through Halong Bay until it gets to Titop Island where you can spend some time hiking, swimming, kayaking or simply relaxing on the beach. This afternoon leave your cruise boat and be driven back to Hanoi for your overnight sleeper train to Hue. Overnight on board.

Day 11: Hue (B/-/-)
Arrive into Hue. Meet on arrival and transfer to your hotel. This afternoon drive to the Imperial Citadel built along the same lines as the Forbidden Palace in Beijing, which was the country's administrative centre. Evening at leisure. Overnight Hue.

Day 12: Hue / Da Nang / Hoi An (B/-/-)
This morning take a boat trip on the Perfume River to visit the Thien Mu Pagoda.
Then depart for Danang via the scenic Hai Van pass offering spectacular views of mountains, idyllic beaches and villages. Continue further south to the charming historic city of Hoi An, transfer to your hotel. Overnight Hoi An.

Days 13 – 14: Hoi An at leisure (B/-/-)
Days at leisure to relax and enjoy the Resort and the region.

Day 15: Ho Chi Minh City (B/-/-)
This morning fly to Ho Chi Minh City. Upon arrival, drive to visit to the Cu Chi Tunnels (70km northwest of Ho Chi Minh City), an amazing complex of underground tunnels used during the Vietnam War. After your visit, transfer onwards to your chosen hotel. Overnight Ho Chi Minh City.

Day 16: Ho Chi Minh City / Departure (B/-/-)
Today is at leisure until your flight back to the UK.

Want an independent tour and private tour, please email us at: info@footsteptravel.com to get more information and assistance

Fansipan Trekking 5 Days

Day 1:Night train Hanoi to Lao Cai.
You will be picked up at hotel 1 hour before train departure for transfer to the train station. Night train (soft sleeper,A/C) to Lao Cai. The night train leaves at 21:10. Overnight on train.

Day 2:Lao Cai - Sapa.
You arrive at Lao Cai train station early in the morning,from where you will be picked up and have a shared bus transfer to Sapa (35 km - about 1 hour drive). Check-in at Cat Cat Hotel. The guide will provide you with more information about the trek. The rest of the day is at your own leisure and free exploration. Stay the night in Sapa at Cat Cat Hotel.

Day 3:Fansipan trekking. (L,D)
Start at 09:00 you travel by car toward the Silver Waterfall where you will be able to take a short walk to visit and take photos. You will then be driven further to Heaven Gate,the highest peak of the roads in Vietnam. From there you can see Fansipan - the highest peak of the Indochina mountains and enjoy stunning views. The trek will be relatively soft until lunch time. After a couple of hours hiking,you will have a break at a nice spot in the forest and enjoy a good picnic lunch. With new energy you start ascending as well as descending towards the camp-site. En route you have many opportunities to enjoy the scenery and magnificent view to Sapa area and beautiful landscapes of Lai Chau province. You will reach the camp-site at 2900m in the late afternoon. Now it is time to relax and enjoy a well-prepared dinner.

Day 4:Fansipan trekking. (B,L,D)
After having breakfast,you continue climbing to the top,where you can celebrate your victory. From there,you can enjoy the best views of the beautiful nature. You will then start descending. You stop on the way for picnic lunch. After lunch,you continue a tough trek,which is all the way down hill through the rain-forest. This part requires a great concentration to step on step trail until you meet the camp-site at 2.700m. Here you spend another night in tent.

Day 5:Fansipan - Sapa. Night train to Hanoi. (B,L)
After a long sleep,you get up in the fresh air of the wild nature. Before heading back to civilization. You trek down hill through the well-protected forest and after a couple of hours hiking,you stop for picnic lunch. You will then keep descending toward Sin Chai village views and beautiful surroundings. You stop at the village for a while before returning to Sapa town by car. Here you have time to have a shower,relax and celebrate your achievement.
In the afternoon,the bus takes you to Lao Cai train station to catch the night train back to Hanoi. You will arrive in Hanoi next morning.
The tour ends at the Hanoi train station!

Want an independent tour and private tour, please email us at: info@footsteptravel.com to get more information and assistance

North – West Loop(From Ha Noi) 5 days

Day 1(L)Ha Noi - Mai Chau - Son La:
After breakfast at your hotel in Hanoi. You will meet tour guide and driver for travel through the Red River Delta before stopping in Mai Chau valley for lunch and a short walk,and then drive onto Son La . Arrive Son La for visiting prison and museum before check in to your hotel. Overnight in Cong Doan hotel.

Day 2 (BL) Son La - Dien Bien Phu:
Drive up over Fa Din pass you will arrive Tuan Giao. Enjoy delicious lunch in Hoang Quat restaurant . After lunch you'll enjoy the picturesque scenery as you pass the villages of Black Thai,White Thai and Muong peoples. Arrive Dien Bien Phu where you can see largest rice valley in the mountain area. Overnight in Him Lam hotel.

Day 3 (B)Dien Bien Phu - Lai Chau:
In the morning visit Dien Bien Phu Museum,the French ditch defence work at the A1 strong point,the commending under group shelter of Dien Bien Phu. Drive to Muong Lay,the drive is stunning with verdant rice terraces carved into the landscape. Continue to Lai Chau (formerly Tam Duong) for the night. If you happen to be in Lai Chau on a Sunday morning,the town is bustling with activity as the local hill tribes gather for their weekly market day. Overnight in Phuong Thanh hotel.

Day 4 (B)Lai Chau - Sa Pa:
From Lai Chau to Sa Pa you pass through Tam Duong (formerly Binh Lu),and over the 2047 meter Tram Ton pass,Viet Nam's highest mountain pass and considered the most beautiful stretch of road in the country. Sa Pa is nestled at over 1600 meters in the breathtaking Hoang Lien Son Mountains. After lunch trek to Cat Cat cultural village,just 3kms from Sa Pa town. A leisurely walk through the old village offers an overview of the traditional customs and practices of the ethnic Black H'mong minority. Stop by a stunning waterfall and the vestige of a hydroelectric power station,constructed by the French during the colonial era in Viet Nam. Follow a dirt trail snaking through the mountain and enjoy spectacular scenery while trekking along a narrow river until you reach Y Linh Ho village,home of the Black H'mong minority. Take a rest by the Muong Hoa Stream before climbing toward the road where your driver is waiting to transport you back to Sa Pa. Overnight in Chau Long hotel.

Day 5 (B)Sa Pa – Lao Cai - Hanoi:
A short journey of 20 minutes by car takes you to Muong Hoa valley,one of the most beautiful valleys in northwest Viet Nam. Descending into the valley by foot you will see the largest terraced rice paddy in the Sa Pa area (If you visit the valley between May and October,there is a chance to experience and observe how the locals plant and harvest rice). The walk takes you from Lao Chai village of the Black H'mong minority to Ta Van village of the Zay minority,providing the opportunity to see the different traditions and costumes of the two ethnic minority groups. Return to Sa Pa for lunch. After lunch trekking to Suoi Ho village to see tea plantations and cardamom gardens. Follow the buffalo trails to visit the hospitable villages of the Black Hmong minority people in Ma Tra,a very small village hiding away from the civilisation. You will then continue your walk through rice paddy filds and spectacular scenery. During the day you will also be able to visit a local school. We will reach the road where your driver is waiting to transport you to Lao Cai station to catch the night train back to Hanoi.

Want an independent tour and private tour, please email us at: FootStepVietNam@Gmail.Com to get more information and assistance.