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Upon arrival at Noi Bai Airport, after clearing all customs procedures, please proceed to the exit gate and meet our guide, who will be waiting in the lobby, holding the signboard with your name on it. If you cannot locate your guide, please go to the Airport information counter in the middle of the Domestic and International arrival lobby (inside the terminal) and call the emergency numbers provided in the confirmation voucher for assistance. Your driver will come to meet you up and transfer you to your hotel in the Old Quarter.
Overnight in Hanoi
After breakfast at the hotel, you will meet with the local coordinator, who will give you a briefing on the tour program and introduce the volunteering activities, in which you will participate.
Then meet your guide, who will take you through the charming sites of Hanoi. This city is famous for its ochre-colored colonial buildings, tree-lined boulevards, and scenic lakes. Stop at the old coffee shop in the Old Quarter to sip delicious Vietnamese coffee and listen to the guide’s stories about the daily life of Hanoians. Head to the historic Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, an imposing monument of marble and granite built to house the preserved body of beloved revolutionary leader Ho Chi Minh, affectionately known to the Vietnamese as “Uncle Ho”. Explore the square and the mausoleum building from the outside and see the One Pillar Pagoda. It is a Buddhist temple built in 1049 of wood in the shape of a lotus blossom and set on a single stone pillar, considered by many to be one of Vietnam’s most iconic pagodas. Visit Ho Chi Minh’s House nearby, a simple wooden house in a tranquil setting where Ho Chi Minh lived and worked. Some of his belongings are on display, and visitors can walk up the steps to see his bedroom.
Continue sightseeing by visiting the Temple of Literature, Vietnam’s first national university, built in the late 11th century. This picturesque temple is an example of well-preserved traditional Vietnamese architecture and is featured on the back of the 100,000 Vietnamese dong banknote. Then we will take you back to your hotel. The rest of the time is free for leisure.
Overnight in Hanoi
Notes:
Suggested departure time: 13:30
Tour duration: 3.5 hours
After breakfast at the hotel, complete the check-out formalities and depart for Hoang Su Phi. A frontier town 300km (217 mi) northwest of Hanoi and close to the border with China, Hoang Su Phi is known for its terraced rice fields, which are one of the most beautiful in the world. The drive will take about 6.5 hours along the beautiful mountain valleys. Upon arrival, enjoy lunch in the local homestay and have some rest after the trip.
In the afternoon, (if time permitted) we will explore the local village and get to know the local ethnic groups with their lifestyle, culture, and traditions.
Overnight in Hoang Su Phi
Notes:
Tour duration: 10 hours (with transfer)
Total trekking distance: 2km (1mi)
Have breakfast at the hotel and head to the village. Today you will spend time with the locals taking part in their daily routine: visit the fields and join the farming activities, you can join in cleaning up the area from the rubbish and other environmental protection activities. You also might visit the local school and join our team in the renovation and improvement of the school facilities. During the day you will see the real life of Vietnamese people and have a great opportunity for a cultural exchange.
Overnight in Hoang Su Phi
After breakfast at the hotel, leave Hoang Su Phi for Bac Ha. On the way, you will see the impressive outlooks of beautiful mountains & valleys. Upon arrival in Bac Ha, we will have a walk to visit the remote villages and have a wonderful overview of different layers of stepped rice fields, local farming activities, and local daily life.
Overnight in Bac Ha
After breakfast at your homestay, visit the Bac Ha fairground market (on Sunday only). It is a great place to pick up locally dyed fabrics, handmade textiles, and jewelry. You will also see how people sell and buy buffalos, hens, and hemp plants, and could try local snacks. This market is an important weekly event for the locals, where they meet each other and engage together. You will witness the extraordinary bustling atmosphere of the ethnic markets.
After the market, we will visit the Tay ethnic village of Trung Do, where you can meet and interact with the local people over a packed lunch. Then enjoy a boat trip along the Chay River as it snakes between forested mountains.
In the afternoon, we will head to Sapa. Upon arrival, check-in at the hotel and have free time to rest or walk around the town.
Overnight in Sapa
Notes:
Suggested departure time: 08:30
Tour duration: 10 hours
The tour is only available on Sundays
The boat cruise is not suggested during the rainy season from June to September due to the run-off from the surrounding mountains, which causes the water to be muddy and not clear.
Have breakfast at the hotel and drive 30min south of Sapa to the breathtaking Muong Hoa Valley, home to the largest terraced rice fields in Sapa. If you visit Sapa between May and October, it will coincide with the local planting and harvest time. It is a great chance to see the local farmers in action. Start your hike at the Black Hmong village of Lao Chai, and walk to Ta Van Village to visit the Zay group, an ethnic minority known for their brightly colored clothing. Observe the daily life and the local traditions of the Zay people before continuing your trek admiring the magnificent views of the terraced fields and impressive Mount Fansipan. On the way, enjoy a picnic lunch on the way to the Red Dzao village of Giang Ta Chai. Notice the square piece of fabric on the back of the shirts worn by both men and women symbolizing that they are children of God. The Dzao women also wear red turbans adorned with silver coins and red tassels. After the village exploration, we will get back to Sapa by car.
Overnight in Sapa
Notes:
Suggested departure time: 08:00
Tour duration: 10 hours
Total trekking distance: 10km / 6mi
After breakfast at the hotel, Depart Sapa on a 30min drive to the 100m (323ft) high Love Waterfall so named after a legend telling of a fairy, that fell in love with a mountain boy, who was playing his flute in this picturesque spot. Along the way, make an optional stop at a local farm for leisurely exploration. Then we will drive uphill to Heaven’s Gate along the Tram Ton Mountain Pass for views from stunning Mount Fansipan. At 3,143m (10,312ft) above sea level, Fansipan is the highest peak in Indochina. Enjoy the view and take some photographs before you return to Sapa. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant before transferring back to Hanoi in the late afternoon.
Overnight in Hanoi
Notes:
Suggested departure time: 08:00
Tour duration: 09 hours
Total trekking distance: 2km (1mi)
This one-of-a-kind activity allows you to escape the noises and crowds of Hanoi and discover the authentic lifestyle of beautiful Muong Ethnic villages in Ba Vi. This tour is our special project that supports the local community and gives a true local immersion for our travelers.
Meet your guide at the hotel lobby and head out of the city to Ba Vi. Upon arrival, enjoy the fresh soft drink in Moc village and get ready for a cycling trip along the rice paddies and quaint villages, making a stop along the way at the neighborhood market. You will have a chance to interact with locals and see how they sell their products for a living. Then cycle back to your starting point, where you will be invited to the house of Mrs. Chin, who will teach you to cook the local meals. Try your hands on cooking Hanoi-style bun cha and spring rolls using fresh ingredients from a local market and Mrs. Chinh’s garden. Then enjoy the delicious meals you cooked for lunch.
With a full belly, say goodbye to the host family, and head to a 30-year-old tea plantation in Ri Village. A peaceful place to enjoy the greenery, this plantation plays an important role in providing tea products for the whole of Northern Vietnam. You will have a chance to help the owners harvest the tea leaves and see how the tea is dried and processed into the highest quality beverage. Spend some time at Mr. Duoc’s house, the owner of the large tea farm, before departing for a scenic trip back to Hanoi city center.
Overnight in Hanoi
Notes
Departure time: 08:00 am
Duration: 08 hours
After breakfast at the hotel, we will take you to Halong Bay, the drive will take around 4 hours, including a 20-minute stop on the way. The scenery of Halong Bay, where thousands of limestone islands jut out of the emerald sea, sculpted into bizarre shapes, is truly an iconic image for Vietnam. An overnight boat trip is the best way to enjoy this Vietnamese must-see.
Arrive at the jetty in Halong City towards noon and proceed with check-in formalities. After a welcome on board, lunch will be served while cruising towards the bay. In the afternoon, enjoy some visits and activities, such as swimming and kayaking around the limestone formations (depending on each boat’s itinerary), or spend some time relaxing on board. Towards the end of the day, the ship sets anchor for the night among the karst formations. Then you will join “Action for a Green Ha Long” to collect waste from two isolated beaches on the cusp of the bay. Dinner is served on board.
Overnight in Halong Bay
Rise early today to view the sunrise at the wonder of nature with breakfast served in the dining room. A Tai Chi class on the sun deck will awaken your mind and muscles.
Then head off to visit the limestone cave full of stalagmites and stalactites. After your exploration, return to the boat to check out and enjoy the brunch while the cruise is sailing back to the harbor. Later you will be transferred to your accommodation in Hanoi.
Overnight in Hanoi
Relish a healthy breakfast on the final day of your trip. Complete the hotel check-out formalities, after which you can visit the local markets and buy souvenirs for your loved ones. Later, proceed for departure and board your flight back home.
Trip Ends.
