Hanoi – Ninh Binh – Sapa 5 days
Destinations: Hanoi 
Sapa, Cat Cat, Sin Chai Lao Chai, Ta Van Lao Cai train station Hanoi
Hanoi, Ninh Binh and Sapa are always in the list of must-visit-place for any trip to Vietnam. By joining “Sapa tours from Hanoi”, you are discovering Hanoi – the capital of Vietnam, Ninh Binh – the land surrounded by a stunning landscape of lush green paddy fields and striking limestone outcrops in main sights, Sapa – a lovely hill station town in Northern Vietnam near the Chinese border and it is culturally rich with different hilltribe minorities, lush mountain ranges, rice fields. Your trip travel from Hanoi to Sapa will be unforgettable.”
Highlights of Hanoi to Sapa tour trip:
- Contemplating the most unique historical and cultural vestiges in Hanoi, Vietnam
- Observing and experiencing life of locals ethics in mountain village
- Enjoying quite atmosphere and breathtaking beauty of terrace fields, stream, imposing mountain chains and tiny houses interposing anywhere.
- Learn more about the history of Vietnam and the culture of the local people
- Experience the uniqueness of local life
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Full Itinerary
Brief and Route map
Brief
Day 1: Hanoi arrival – Half day City Tour
Day 2: Hanoi – Ninh Binh – Night train to Sapa
Day 3: Lao Cai – Mong Sen – Ta Phin
Day 4: Cat Cat – Heaven Gate – Hanoi
Day 5: Hanoi departure
ItineraryRoute map
DAY 1: HANOI ARRIVAL – HALF DAY CITY TOUR
Hanoi welcome: After long time on airplane, you will reach Vietnam – the S-shaped land, where 54 different ethnic minorities inhabited. The first destination is Hanoi - the capital of Vietnam, is known for its centuries-old architecture and a rich culture with Southeast Asian, Chinese and French influences.
In the morning
You will be warmly welcomed by our guide and driver at the airport and transferred to your hotel in the city center of Hanoi.
Lunch time: 12.30 – 01.30 p.m in the restaurant of Top Chef Vietnam
In the afternoon
After saving your energy with lunch, let’s get ready for upcoming sightseeing this afternoon
- You will firstly leave for the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology, which focuses on the 54 officially recognized ethnic groups in Vietnam.
- It is estimated to be 2 hours at the museum then you will be transferred back to the old quarter and visit the Temple of Jade Mountain sitting on a small island in the northern part of Hoan Kiem Lake and dedicated to the King Tran Hung Dao
- After that, at 5:00 p.m, you will spend around 45 minutes in the theater enjoying the Water Puppet show – a traditional show of Vietnamese people.
- Getting out of the theater, you will sit in front of Cyclo to move around the old quarter and experience the local life in 30 minutes. The cyclo tour will take you back to your hotel and the day tour finishes at around 6:00 p.m.
Meals included: __/Lunch/__
Parameter: Driving: 30 km/45 minutes
Today useful note(s): wearing formal clothes (cover your knees and shoulders) to visit some spiritual/cultural sites
Free time idea(s):
- Enjoy the must-try cuisine: Bun Cha, Cha Ca La Vong, Pho, Egg coffee, beer on Ta Hien street
- Night market is available at the nights of Friday, Saturday and Sunday
Overnight in Hanoi
DAY 2 : HANOI – NINH BINH – NIGHT TRAIN TO SAPA
In the morning
- At 08:00 a.m after enjoying delicious breakfast at your hotel, you will leave Hanoi for Ninh Binh - our destination today.
- You first visit Hoa Lu, the capital of Dai Co Viet (an old name of Vietnam). Being the capital of the first fundamental Government of Vietnam, Hoa Lu witnessed many important historical events: the union of Vietnam after “12 Lords Rebellion”, the war with the Song dynasty, the defense against the ancient Cambodian, and the formation of Hanoi nowadays.
Lunch time: at 12:30 – 01:30 p.m in a local restaurant
In the afternoon
- After having a delicious meal, you will take a sampan on river through the rice paddies to the grottoes of the sacred Trang An Caves.
- You will enjoy the enormous limestone karsts jut out from the green rice fields giving rise to this place’s other name, “Halong Bay on land”.
- Your tour will come to the end in the late afternoon then you will be transferred to your hotel in Hanoi.
- In the evening, you take the night train to Sapa.
Meals: Breakfast/Lunch/__
Parameter: Driving: 1.5 hours
Boat: 2 hours
Train: 8 hours
Overnight on train (4-berth sharing cabin)
DAY 3: LAO CAI – MONG SEN – TA PHIN
In the morning
- At 06:00 a.m, the train will reach the station in Lao Cai and you will be warmly welcomed by our guide and driver. Then you will have breakfast in a local restaurant and short time for relaxing.
- At 08:00 a.m, you will reach your hotel in Sapa town. If the room is already available, you can check in and take a short rest or else you will go downhill to Mong Sen where you start a dirt trail through rice fields and villages. Along the way, it is a wonderful scenery with a full of green.
Lunch time: 12:00 - 01:00 p.m in a local restaurant or local house
- After lunch, you continue your trek downhill towards Taphin village inhabited by Red Dao and Black Hmong minorities. These are two largest ethnic groups living in Sapa area.
- Then you make a stop by some houses to meet local people and talk with them to understand their culture, customs and traditions. Late afternoon, we will trek back to to main road to get on our vehicle for the journey back to Sapa.
- At around 03.00 p.m, you will get out to the main road and our private car will take you back to your hotel
Meals included: Breakfast/Lunch/__
Parameter: Driving: 2 hours/ Walking: 4 hours/Lunch: 1 hour
Free time idea(s):
- Visit the Stone Church in the heart of the town
- Go to the night market for unique local products
Overnight in Sapa.
DAY 4: CAT CAT – HEAVEN GATE –HANOI / STUNNING PANORAMA VIEW
In the morning
- At 09:00 a.m, you will leave Sapa market town and go downhill to Cat Cat village. Enjoy beautiful landscape and scenery along the road.
- Upon reaching a waterfall and a hydroelectric station, you will take a short rest before continuing your trek on a dirt trail through rice paddy terraced fields. The area is still covered by rain forest under the protection of Hoang Lien National Park. You will arrive in Y Linh Ho village inhabited by Black Hmong people where you will have one more rest before climbing toward the main road.
- At 12:00 p.m, our vehicle will pick you up there and drive back to Sapa.
Lunch time: 12:30 – 01:30 p.m in a local restaurant
In the afternoon
- After lunch, you will depart for the Silver Waterfall. The Silver Waterfall is located about a half hour from Sapa town which offers stunning views over surrounding mountains and lush forests belonging to Hoang Lien National Park.
- Then you continue the trip uphill to the Heavens Gate, the highest stretch of road in Vietnam as well as the provincial border of Lao Cai and Lai Chau provinces. Enjoy fantastic view over the valley!
- At around 03:00 p.m, you will get back to your hotel and have your own free time before being transferred to the station for your night train back to Hanoi.
Meals included: Breakfast/Lunch/__
Parameter: Driving: 4 hours/ Walking: 4 hours
Today useful note(s):
- You may have dinner on your own in a local restaurant around the station before leaving.
- You will reach Hanoi in the early morning of the next day and be free on your own.
Overnight on train (4-berth sharing cabin)
DAY 5 : HANOI DEPARTURE
Depending on your flight time, our driver will pick you up at your hotel and transfer you to the airport for your departure flight.
Meals included: Breakfast/__/__
Parameter: Driving: 30 km/45 minutes
Today useful note(s):
- Check all your luggage and belongs before checking out and make sure you miss nothing
- Walk around the old quarter for shopping if you have much free time in the morning
What's Included & ExcludedPrice
Included:
- Twin/double sharing rooms in the best recommended hotel/cruise
- Experienced English speaking guide
- All entrance fee and sightseeing tickets
- Delicious included meals as being clarified
- Door-to-door transportation as being clarified above
- 2 bottles of water each day
- Service charges
- 4-berth sharing cabin on train Hanoi – Lao Cai – Hanoi (Private cabin is up on request)
Excluded:
- Meals, Beverages which are not specified in the program
- Any unclarified flight tickets
- Personal travel insurance
- Any personal expenses
- Any gratuities and tips to driver and tour guide
- Bank fee
Note:
- Prepare 2 passport size photos for Stamping visa at airport on arrival
- Itinerary can be run in reserve
- Check in time is normally at 14.00; check out time is normally at 12.00. Early check in or check out is upon on availability of the hotels.
| ACCOMMODATION IN USE | |||
| Destination | Superior | Deluxe | Luxury |
| Hanoi | La Dolce Vita Hotel | Silk Queen Grand | De L’Opera Hanoi Hotel |
| Sapa | Sapa Lodge Hotel | Amazing Sapa Hotel | Victoria Sapa hotel & resort |
| Train | Orient Express/ Sapaly Express/ Chapa Express | Orient Express/ Sapaly Express/ Chapa Express | Victoria Express |
Contact us via sales@travelsense.asia for the best price
Why 96% Clients Recommend TSA? Hear What They Say
rae550 (Murwillumbah, Australia) - From Tripadvisor said:
This was a hands on trip covering cooking, on the farms, walking, fishing, meeting the locals and dining with them and several visits to the theater plus. Julie (Hien) organized everything in great detail leaving nothing to chance. Her recommendation to hire an SUV for greater comfort and ease with all the luggage was most appreciated. For most of the trip we had a guide as well as the driver. During the Hanoi to Sapa tour trip Julie was always available if we needed assistance of any kind, and while we were organizing the trip Julie was very prompt with her emails.... Read more
Tel Aviv, Israel) - From TripAdvisor said:
We were a group of 3 couples (age 65-71). Started our contact with Julie from Travelsense a year in advance. Just came back a week ago from a 3 weeks tour of Vietnam and Cambodia. The service we have received from Julie was outstanding! She had been in touch with us every single day. She was flexible in changing itinerary according to our requests during the trip... Read more
euw00 (Stockholm, Sweden)- From TripAdvisor said:
Julie (Hien) helped us with a 2-week tour to Hanoi, Halong Bay, Hue, Hoi An, Ho Chi Minh City and Siem Reap(Angkor). She is very effective and answered all questions promptly and the whole trip went smoothly...... Read more
Useful information for travel in Vietnam
What’s the difference between 3, 4, and 5 -star hotels?
We usually arrange centrally-located and Western-standard hotels. Five-star hotels are usually palatial with huge lobbies and comfortable rooms, their standards not quite matching the best of Paris or New York, but very close. Four-star hotels have quality facilities, but not as luxurious as five-star hotels. Three-star hotels meet the needs of most Westerners, but breakfasts have less choice. We also recommend some courtyard hotels or Vietnamese-style hotels with local features and architecture. These hotels have a good ranking, or positive feedback from our customers, and TripAdvisor. Usually, hotels in big cities, small cities, and rural areas are a bit different, even if they have the same star level. We try to use the best available hotel in each place.
Passport & Visa Requirements
You may be required for visa to Vietnam. Please check the list of countries which need visa to Vietnam in this links: Who need visa to Vietnam? Vietnam Visa is issued by Vietnam Embassy in your country or “Visa on arrival”. Travel Sense Asia will offer free visa to Vietnam for you (except some difficult countries). You will need one clear page (per visa) in a full passport that is valid for at least 6 months beyond the date of your departure from Vietnam.
Currency Exchange
As currency exchange rates in Vietnam fluctuate, we suggest you refer to the following website for daily exchange rates: www.xe.com or www.vietcombank.com In 2015 the USD & VND has been around 22.500VND per USD. There are many ATM machines that accept both Visa and Master card, but these are limited to cities. We also recommend the use of cash and travelers checks in USD currency. Major credit cards are accepted in most shops, but they may charge a 2–4% transaction fee.
Tipping
It is customary to tip service providers in the travel industry in Asia, depending on the service. Tipping is expected — though not compulsory — and shows an expression of satisfaction with the people who have assisted you on your tour. Recommendations for tipping drivers (3 USD per person per day as a guideline) and local guides (8 USD per person per day as a guideline) would depend on the quality and length of the service. In additionally, you will sometimes use rolling boat, cyclo riding, porter which you should give a small tip to these local people.
Food
Eating is an important part of your Vietnam experience. Generally, breakfasts are included in the itinerary and offered by hotels. Travel Sense Asia recommend local Vietnam restaurants that are popular with local people for lunch. You can order dishes with the help of your guide. We usually leave dinner for your own choice — Western food can be found in most large cities. If you are vegetarian or you are looking for e.g. halal food, please feel free to inform your travel advisor, who can arrange a restaurant to fit your needs.
Vehicle
We use comfortable sedans or vans with air-conditioning. The comfort and safety of our customers is of utmost importance, so we ensure that all of the vehicles that we use are well maintained and always very clean. Our drivers take pride in their vehicles. Our car and van are always available space for a comfortable trip. Luggage - All clients are limited to two items of luggage each; a suitcase with a maximum weight of 20kg and one piece of hand luggage with a maximum weight of 7kg. It is essential that your luggage is lockable. Please note that authorities will only allow bottles onto the aircraft if they have been checked in as main baggage. Bottles in hand luggage may be confiscated.
What are train conditions like in Vietnam?
A soft sleeper is recommended for overnight and long-distance travel. Each soft sleeper compartment is enclosed, and contains four bunks, two on each side. The bunks are wider and more comfortable than hard sleepers, with decent bedding. Soft sleeper compartments may vary between trains. For route Hanoi – Laocai – Hanoi, it also has VIP cabin with 2 soft sleeper beds, please make quest if you prefer a private cabin. You may have both over-head storage and under-bed storage, or just under-bed storage. Fastest train is about 70kph. The railways is small here and it’s not as comfortable as train in developed countries.
Electric
In Vietnam the standard voltage is 220 V. The standard frequency is 50 Hz. The power sockets that are used are of type A / C / G. Below you find pictures of these power sockets and corresponding plugs. And we provide more information about the voltage and frequency. Climate - You will find a complete packing list and a helpful climate chart in the ‘Suggested Packing List’, which is included in the pre-departure information link sent within your deposit documentation. Seasonal weather patterns can be quite unpredictable. Up to the minute information on worldwide weather can be found on www.weather.com.
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Local Guide
My name is Phong and 24 year-olds. Tour guide was my dream when I was in high school. It was to give impulse to apply Tourism University in Hue for learning more about Tour guide job. I am also love travel to many destinations and communicate with all friends over the world. I try to learn more and more new things to make me become an knowledgeable guide to share all the things I know for my guests and learn interesting things from them. I believe that tour guide is greatest job for me from now and in the future.
Nguyen Van Phong – Expert Guide
I am a hungry guide in learning and changing myself every day. Friendly, patient, smiling, flexible in touring. Working as tourguide for 10 years, I am ready to learn and ready to share. I am passionate in traveling and guiding my tourist. I am still much eager on duty to introduce about Vietnam and make the memorable trip for the travelers from all over the world.
La Hong Hue (Tommy) – Expert Guide
My passion is travel, bike, show history to my clients.
My mission is bring them true value of the trip, local experiences.
Do Ngoc Minh (Min) – Expert Guide
I have developed my passion for guiding since 5 years ago. For me, this is a gob job with new knowledges and opportunities that approach me at work. I feel comfortable being a guide and i have planned to learn more in near future.
Nguyen Quang Minh – Expert Guide
My name is Son Tran, and im a licensed tourguide from Hanoi, Vietnam. I like this fulltime job personally, and as a result, fully dedicate to it. Being a tour guide, I have opputunities to meet people from all corners of the globe and show them around my lovely motherland, visit famous landscapes, share the glorious history and mysterious tales, or get to know better their cultures. Isnt that awesome?
Son Tran (Shaun) – Expert Guide
Xin chào! I am Nguyen Hong Khanh ( Can) and my surname is Nguyen. I’m living in Da Nang and I am really proud and passionate about my country, my people and my culture. I speak English extremely well. Educated at Da Nang University specifically to study English. I have translated complex English/Vietnamese for concerns including National Scientific & Technology Centre of Canberra, ExxonMobil, the US Air National Guard and CBC (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation).
Nguyen Hong Khanh (Can) – Expert Guide
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