Destination: Bangkok/Koh Samet/Hanoi/Ha Long Bay/Ninh Binh/Sapa

Descriptions: Explore the best of Northern Vietnam and Thailand on this 14 day tour. Tour vibrant cities; see towering mountains, cruise on Ha Long Bay - a World Natural Heritage Area for its exceptional scenic beauty and outstanding geological and geomorphic values, visit colorful ethnic markets. And have plenty of time to just relax amid some of the most beautiful beach in Thailand.

B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner, G = Guide

Day 1: Bangkok arrival (G)

On arrival at Suvanphumi Airport, you’ll be driven to your hotel. Rest of the day, you'll be free to stroll around the city as you wish. You’ll spend the night in Bangkok.

Day 2: Bangkok City Tour (B, L, G)

After breakfast, you’ll begin your tour of Bangkok with a long tail boat ride along the Chao Phraya River to see many lively inner canals which provide some fantastic views of the local life. Along the way you will stop over at Wat Arun, the temple of dawn, before continuing to the Grand Palace which dedicated to the Thai Royal Family’s ceremonies. Nearby is the magnificent Wat Phra Kaew, which is famous for the Emerald Buddha Image. After seeing this complex, you will drive through the many vibrant streets of China Town to some of the most significant temples in Bangkok. The landmark of Wat Traimit is well known as the Golden Buddha Temple while Wat Po houses a gigantic Reclining Buddha. You will spend the night in Bangkok.

Day 3: Bangkok/Koh Samet (B, G)

Upon arrival, our representative will meet on arrival at Bangkok international airport and transfer to Ban Pe pier for ferry across to Koh Samet. On arrival at Koh Samet check into beach resort and free at own leisure.

Day 4 to Day 6: Koh Samet free day (B)

Breakfast at hotel and free at own leisure on beach with accommodation.

Day 7: Koh Samet/Bangkok/Hanoi (B, G)

Breakfast at hotel. Free until checkout time at 12:00 hrs. Transfer to Bangkok airport for flight to Hanoi. Arriving at Noi Bai airport in Hanoi, you’ll be met and driven to your hotel. Your overnight stay will be in Hanoi.

Day 8: Hanoi (B, L, G)

An all day city tour, possibly including the Temple of Literature, (the first university in Viet Nam dating back to the 11th C), the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, the Ethnology Museum and the centre of Ha Noi, including the Hoan Kiem Lake, the Ngoc Son temple and the bustling Old Quarter with a complex of architecture - traditional tube houses, religious buildings and the colonial houses. In the evening, you’ll have tickets for a performance of Cheo (an traditional music typical for the northern Viet Nam). Overnight in Hanoi.

Day 9: Tam Coc/Van Long 1 day (B, L, G)

In the morning you’ll be picked up to travel to Van Long. On arrival you’ll ride an ox cart to visit the Old House and the Old Pagoda and then board a boat to visit the Van Long Natural Reserve. After lunch at a local restaurant, you’ll visit Tam Coc - being rowed through paddies and into three caves in a peaceful valley. In the afternoon you’ll return to Ha Noi.

Day 10: Hanoi to Ha Long (B, L, D, G)

A morning drive to Ha Long Bay, (one of the most spectacular UNESCO World Heritage Areas - the world’s largest marine ‘karst’ landscape). Travel by traditional-style boat to some of the less well-known grottoes and caves. Includes swimming, fishing, hill (not mountain) climbing for Bay overviews, exploring sea level caves in a small sampan, etc. All meals will be provided on board and your accommodation will be on the boat in a twin room with en suite toilet and shower.

Day 11: Ha Long/Hanoi/Lao Cai (B, G)

Morning cruising Ha Long Bay, followed by lunch and then return to Hanoi for an overnight train to Lao Cai. You'll spend the night on the train.

Day 12: Lao Cai/Sapa ethnic market (B, L, G)

You’ll be met at the Lao Cai station and taken by a Jeep or a Land Cruiser to visit an ethnic market. After a picnic lunch, you’ll return to Lao Cai and continue your journey into the mountains to Sapa, a small town perched on the mountainside opposite Mt. Fan Si Pan, Vietnam’s highest peak.

The trips to ethnic markets are a fascinating experience but must be on Tuesday (Coc Ly Market), Saturday (Can Cau) or Sunday (Bac Ha or Muong Hum Markets). Picnic lunch will be prepared in the morning from Sapa. You’ll arrive in Sapa in the late afternoon, with time to relax before dinner.

Day 13: Sapa villages/Lao Cai/Hanoi (B, L, G)

Morning stroll to the town busy market and then easy trek to ethnic villages of H’mong in a scenic valley. After stream-side picnic lunch, you’ll be picked up to visit other ethnic villages of the H’mong, Day and Red Dao people. Return to Sapa and then back to Lao Cai station for an overnight train to Hanoi.

Day 14: Hanoi departure (B, G)

Arriving in Hanoi early in the morning, you'll be picked up to your hotel. Later on, escorted departure from Noi Bai airport.

Price in US$ per person:

Our price includes:

• Breakfast and accommodation sharing a twin or double room.

• Pick-ups and transfers by private air-conditioned vehicle as specified in the itinerary above

• Return train tickets: Hanoi – Lao Cai – Hanoi, air-conditioned soft four-berth cabin, good local standard four-berth cabin.

• One way international flight tickets: Bangkok - Hanoi, including airport taxes

• Boats cruise as programme. For Ha Long Bay, you’ll join other passengers on a high quality wooden boat with comfortable accommodation, good facilities and an experienced crew. The boat will be fully licensed and comply with current safety regulations.

• Travel by private, air-conditioned vehicle with an experienced, safe driver.

• The services of experienced English-speaking guides as indicated in the itinerary

• Where necessary, entry fees for all visits as mentioned in the programme.

• Lunches and dinners, as specified, in the good local restaurants, picnics where suitable restaurants are not available, and full board on the boat in Ha Long Bay.

• VAT and other taxes

Our price does not include:

• International flight tickets and airport tax.

• Visas

• Dinners, except as specified above.

• Drinks, gratuities and personal expenses.

• Insurance.

Hotel list for Five Stars standard:

• Bangkok: Amari Watergate Hotel (***** overlooking views of the city centre) similar

• Koh Samet: Ao Prao resort

• Hanoi: Melia Hotel (***** modern high-rise building in one of Hanoi’s leafy boulevards in the city centre, uninspiring bland architecture, but high-quality facilities, restaurants, and service, ten-minute stroll from the city centre, Deluxe room)

• Sapa: Victoria Hotel (***** the best hotel in Sapa with separate building, Superior Room)

Hotel list for Four Stars standard:

• Bangkok: Hotel Century Park (**** city centre) or similar

• Koh Samet: Ao Prao resort

• Hanoi: Sunway Hotel (**** comfortable boutique hotel 15 minute’s walk from the city centre) or similar

• Sapa: Chau Long Hotel (*** overlooking Muong Hoa valley & Mount Fansipan) or similar

Hotel list for Three Stars standard:

• Bangkok: Bangkok Palace hotel (*** centrally located at the heart of Pratunam, Bangkok’s commercial shopping and entertainment district) or similar

• Samet: Ao Prao resort

• Hanoi: Thang Long Opera hotel (*** city centre, walking distance to Hoan Kiem Lake) or similar

• Sapa: Holiday Sapa (***, city centre, overlook the beautiful valley, Superior Room) or similar.

If, at the time of booking, any hotels or rooms in the list above are fully booked, we will endeavour to find accommodation of a similar standard elsewhere. If the only available accommodation is of a higher or lower standard, we will revise the price accordingly and consult you immediately.