Welcome to Enchanting Journeys

From the nomadic steppes of Kazakhstan to the frenetic streets of Hanoi, Asia is a continent so full of intrigue, adventure, solace and spirituality that it has fixated & confounded travellers for centuries.

Prepare to be charmed…. Wrapped in rainforests, edged by golden sands, crowned by volcanoes, studded with ruins of lost civilisations: this is Southeast Asia as you have always imagined it. Spirituality swirls around like the smoke from incense sticks swirls around its myriad Temples.

As a land of staggering natural beauty & cultural complexities, of dynamic megacities & hill-tribe villages, emerald waters & islands, rural adventures, old town exploration, sublime landscapes, a resilient culture & zesty cuisine, Vietnam is a fragrant & frenetic assault on the senses.

Arrive in Hanoi - the most cosmopolitan city in Vietnam where the medieval & modern co-exist, a city with a blend of Parisian grace & Asian pace, an architectural museum piece evolving in harmony with its history, rather than bulldozing through like many of the region’s capitals.

After you exit in the Arrival Hall at Terminal? -  Hanoi Noi Bai International Airport, subsequent to Immigration & Customs, you will be welcomed by The Journeys representative who will ensure your comfort & transfer you to the hotel, help you settle in and provide you with some useful tips for exploring the area as well as discuss the program for the next few days.

If, for any reason you are unable to make contact with our representative within 30 minutes of waiting, please call the local Emergency telephone # listed on your Contact List. Please follow the advice given by our 24 / 7 Duty Officer.  Please do not exit the Airport & make your own way to the hotel.

Reach the hotel & Check-in.

*Check-in time is 02.00 pm. For earlier arrivals in the morning, we will request the hotel for a complimentary early Check-in but cannot be guaranteed unless reserved & paid for ‘immediate occupancy’.

Balance of the morning / afternoon is at leisure to relax or independent exploration or optional activities (we shall be happy to offer suggestions & make arrangements). 

Ah…Vietnam - a land of staggering natural beauty & cultural complexities, of dynamic megacities & hill-tribe villages.

Welcome to a world where the colours are more vivid, where the landscapes are bolder, the coastline more dramatic, where the history is more compelling, where the tastes are more divine, where life is lived in the fast lane. This world is Vietnam, the latest Asian dragon to awake from its slumber.

Self-confident & fast-developing, its progress is all-evident in the country's booming metropolises. Vietnam's allure is easy to appreciate (and something of a history lesson) as ancient, labyrinthine trading quarters of still-thriving craft industries are juxtaposed with grand colonial mansions from the French era, all overseen from the sky bars of 21^st century glass & steel high-rises.

Vietnamese culture is complex, diverse & represents something of a history lesson. The nation's labyrinthine, teeming trading quarters are rich in indigenous crafts & reflect centuries-old mercantile influences. Ancient Temples display distinctly Chinese influences in the north & Hindu origins in the south. Meanwhile the broad, tree-lined boulevards & grand state buildings that grace the capital date from the French colonial period. And it is impossible to forget Vietnam's pivotal position close to the epicentre of East Asian power & prosperity, for its cities' skylines are defined by clusters of glass & steel corporate HQs & sleek luxury hotels.

The grand old dame of Asia, Hanoi lay in a deep slumber after Vietnam’s partition in 1954 until the effects of economic reforms kicked in four decades later. The city survived American bombs & Russian planners to emerge relatively unscathed in the early 1990s as an example of a French-conceived colonial city. Huge mansions line grand boulevards, lakes & parks dot the city, providing a romantic backdrop to the nonstop soundtrack. There are still moments of Paris, as the smell of baguettes & cafe au lait permeates street corners. Known by many names down the centuries, Thanh Long (City of the Soaring Dragon) is the most evocative, & let there be no doubt that this dragon is on the up once more.

Imagine a city where the exotic chic of old Asia blends with the dynamic face of new Asia. Hanoi is where imagination becomes reality. Vietnam's capital races to make up for time lost to the ravages of war & a government that as recently as the 1990s kept the outside world at bay. Imagine the most cosmopolitan a city in Vietnam where the exotic chic of old Asia blends with the dynamic face of new Asia.

Where the medieval & modern co-exist, a city with a blend of Parisian grace & Asian pace, an architectural museum piece evolving in harmony with its history, rather than bulldozing through like many of the region’s capitals. Hanoi is where imagination becomes reality.

Founded over 1000 years ago, the capital city is rich in history, with the streets of its rambling Old Quarter dating back to the 14^th century. The tangled web of streets in the Old Quarter, has been a cauldron of commerce for almost 1000 years & is still the best place to check the pulse of this resurgent city.

Wandering these tree-lined lanes past crumbling colonial facades will transport you back in time. However, today's Hanoi is about much more than the past. The ancient city is being invigorated with modern cafes, world-class restaurants & cool art galleries.

Its streets surge with scooters vying for right of way amid the din of constantly blaring horns & all around layers of history reveal periods of French & Chinese occupation - offering a glimpse into the resilience of ambitious, proud Hanoians.

Negotiate a passage past the ubiquitous knock-off merchants & you will find the original streets of the Old Quarter. Hawkers in conical hats ply their wares, locals sip coffee & bia hoi (beer) watching life (& plenty of tourists) pass them by. Defiant real-deal farmers hawk their wares, while city folk breakfast on noodles

Witness synchronised t’ai chi at dawn on the shores of Hoan Kiem Lake while goateed grandfathers tug at their wisps over the next chess move. See the bold & beautiful dine at designer restaurants & cut the latest moves on the dance floor. Hanoi has it all: the ancient history, a colonial legacy & a modern outlook. There is no better place to untangle the paradox that is modern Vietnam

There is more to Vietnam than the traditional image of rice paddies & conical hats. Here, you will find a country bursting with energy & forward motion. Feel the hum & activity on the streets. You will see it in the way Vietnamese welcome you to their homes, invite you to taste their food & proudly show you their rich culture. Meet the people, delve into the past & witness the awakening of a Hanoi on the move

When the sun goes down, you have your pick of watering holes, from sophisticated rooftop bars to buzzing bia hơi. Dine on the wild & wonderful at every corner, sample market wares, uncover an evolving arts scene, then sleep soundly in luxury for very little cost.

Overnight.    

Although it is the modern‐day capital of Vietnam, Hanoi still retains the mystery & charm of past centuries.  Narrow lanes & traditional shophouses invite exploration by Cyclo, while its many beautiful public spaces ‐ lakes, parks, tree lined boulevards & monuments ‐ give the city an air of elegance & harmony with nature unique among Asian capitals

Morning, meet the Tour-guide in the Lobby at 09.00 am & proceed for a full day 8 hour sightseeing tour.

You will Check-out from the hotel (the luggage will be left at the Bell Desk & you can use the hotel facilities when you come back in the evening after the sightseeing).

First stop will be the Temple of Literature, a peaceful series of walled courtyards & graceful gateways set amidst landscaped grounds near the centre of Hanoi. One of the best example of well-preserved traditional Vietnamese architecture, it is depicted on the 100,000d currency note

Founded in 1070 by Emperor Le Thanh Tong, the attractive complex, dedicated to Qufu-born philosopher Confucius (Khong Tu), was also the site of Vietnamʹs first University.  The Altars are popular with students praying for good grades, while the halls, ponds & gardens of the 5 courtyards make picturesque backdrops for student graduation photos. Originally admission was exclusively for those born of noble families, but after 1442 it became more egalitarian & gifted students from all over the nation headed to Hanoi to study the principles of Confucianism, literature & poetry. In 1484, Emperor Ly Thanh Tong ordered that Stelae (large slabs) be erected to record the names, places of birth & achievements of exceptional scholars: 82 of 116 Stelae remain standing, mostly atop turtle statues.

Continue to the miniature One Pillar Pagoda originally built by the Emperor Ly Thai Tong who ruled from 1028 to 1054. The Emperor dreamed that he met Quan The Am Bo Tat, the Goddess of Mercy, who handed him a male child. According to the annals, the heirless Ly Thai Tong then married a young peasant girl & had a son & heir. As a way of expressing his gratitude for this event, he constructed a Pagoda here in 1049.

Built of wood on a single stone pillar, the Pagoda is designed to resemble a lotus blossom, the symbol of purity, rising out of a sea of sorrow. One of the last vindictive acts of the French before quitting Hanoi in 1954 was to destroy the original One Pillar Pagoda; the structure was rebuilt by the new government.

Proceed to the nearby vast Ho Chi Minh Memorial Complex, a lovely park setting which is home to Ho Chi Minhʹs final resting place, as well as Ho Chi Minh Museum, a 5 storey architectural project situated behind Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum.

Visit the Mausoleum, where you can pay respects to the embalmed body of Ho Chi Minh. In the tradition of Lenin, Stalin & Mao, Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum is a monumental marble edifice. Contrary to his desire for a simple cremation, the Mausoleum was constructed from materials gathered from all over Vietnam between 1973 & 1975. Set deep in the bowels of the building in a glass sarcophagus is the frail, pale body of Ho Chi Minh. The Mausoleum is usually closed from 4 September to 4 November while his embalmed body goes to Russia for maintenance.

The queue usually snakes for several hundred metres to the entrance & inside, filing past Ho’s body at a slow but steady pace. If you arrive at the right time, you will catch the changing of the guard outside the Mausoleum - the pomp & ceremony displayed here rivals the British equivalent at Buckingham Palace in London.

Continue through the Park to Ho Chi Minh’s Stilt House, the simple 2 room dwelling where Ho Chi Minh lived Minh lived, worked & held meetings with top leaders, intermittently from 1948 until he passed away in September 1969. This humble, traditional Stilt House located in the compound of the opulent beaux-arts Presidential Palace (former Residence of the Governor General of Tonkin), is set in a well-tended garden adjacent to a carp-filled pond & has been preserved just as Ho left it.

The House made from wood, in the style typical of the houses of mountain ethnic minorities, is now used for official receptions & isn’t open to the public. But visitors may wander the grounds if sticking to the designated paths. The clear views through the open doorways & windows permit insights more fascinating than many Museum displays.

Then. head to Hoan Kiem Lake, considered to be the heart of Hanoi, symbolising the city, to see Hanoi's most visited Temple Ngoc Son ('Temple of the Jade Mountain') sitting on a small Island in the northern part of the Lake, connected to the lakeshore by an elegant curved scarlet Bridge (called Cau The Huc meaning ‘morning sunshine’), constructed in classical Vietnamese style. The Temple is dedicated to the God of Literature, General Tran Hung Dao (who defeated the Mongols in the 13^th century), La To (patron Saint of Physicians) & the scholar Van Xuong.

Just at the beginning of the Bridge is a stone brush Tower located on a small hillock with 3 carved Chinese characters "Ta Thanh Thien" (writing on the blue sky). At its foot is Dai Nghien (Inkstab). The monument of King Le Thai To is situated on the Western Bank of the Lake.

In the centre of the Lake there is an islet where the tiny Tortoise Pagoda & Tortoise Tower stands. A large tortoise carcass of 2.1 metres long & weighing 250 kilos, that lived some 400-500 years back, is still kept at the Temple. Many central & municipal bodies as well as busy trade streets are located around Hoan Kiem Lake.

Enroute, to the Lake, you will be driving by other colonial landmarks (may be seen from the outside only) such as the magnificent Opera House & St. Joseph’s Cathedral.

Hanoi Opera House (also known as the Hanoi Municipal Theatre) is one of the most significant architectural & historical landmarks in Hanoi - the capital’s Theatre of Performing Arts & the stage for the city’s most interesting & important Performances throughout the year. 

From the time they first arrived in Hanoi in 1883, the French had intended to build in this city a venue for performing arts. The construction of the Hanoi Opera House was started by the French in 1901 & completed in 1911, modeled after the Opera Garnier Theater in Paris, though smaller in stature & using materials suitable for the local climatic conditions. Although not suitable for Western art activities, this was the first theater in Hanoi in Western style.

There is also Labour's Culture Palace built with the help of the Soviet Union, inaugurated in 1985 on the site of the former Exhibition House. The large hall with a circular stage seats 1,200 & the small hall has 250 seats. This is mainly reserved by around 24 Clubs for their year-round activities. Close by is Lenin Park (Thong Nhat Park) built over a former marsh, now converted to a large lake with a statue of Lenin on an islet.

The Cathedral of Hanoi (St. Joseph's Church or Cua Bac Church), built in 1886 in Gothic style, slightly influenced by that of Vietnamese Pagoda, is the most beautiful & largest Church in Hanoi. A reminder of French colonial presence in Vietnam, from street level, the Cathedral’s bold, neo-gothic motifs create a powerful impression above surrounding the houses & streets. Near the Cathedral is the office of Hanoi's Bishop & in front of it is the Madonna Monastery.

From the Lake, hop on a Cyclo (Cycle rickshaw) & begin exploring the Old Quarter, the name commonly given to the historical civic urban core of Hanoi, located outside the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long. Once the main form of transport here, Cyclos move at the perfect pace for you to take in interesting street scenes without having to worry about traffic & navigation. After this gentle introduction, pick a few streets to tackle on foot.

For many locals, the Old Quarter is an intriguing neighbourhood considered the 'real' Hanoi. If you make friends with someone born in the Old Quarter, chances are they will share with you fond memories of growing up on these atmospheric streets. A handicraft loverʹs paradise & an endlessly interesting place to explore local life. 

It is home to a mix of Vietnamese architecture, green spaces, ancient shops & fresh-as-it-gets street food - all of it easily explored on foot.

The Old Quarter's street names date back 5 centuries to when the area was divided among 36 Artisans' Guilds, each gathered around a Temple or a Dinh (communal house) dedicated to the Guild's patron spirit, set up in this area north of the Lake.

This fascinating network of narrow alleys & shophouses is also known as “36 Streets” & each guild street was named for 36 trades or craft or traditionally sold there, mainly high-quality goods & merchandise ranging from Fabrics to Crafts to Medicines to Tombstones, to supply the royals in the Thang Long Citadel, just steps away. Today, only a few streets sell the same products they once did. Some streets, however, have kept the traditions of the past & these can be great fun to explore on foot, and with your camera in hand.

The Old Quarter may not have many Malls, but shopping here happens at the street level. Hang Dau, Ly Quoc Sư, Tạ Hien & Hang Da streets are lined with stores selling clothing, bags, shoes & sportswear targeted at tourists. For a more curated selection, try Vui Studio, the minimalist boutiques on Chan Cam Street, or the small natural beauty shops on Hoi Vu Street.

Hang Bạc (Silver Street), where Silversmiths once made money & jewellery for the Palace, still houses jewellery stores & money changers. Hang Ma is where Hanoians go to buy religious goods & festival decorations. Hang Gai, now known as Silk Street, was named for the pinkish dye this street famously sold & used in clothing. Shops here now trade in fabrics & custom-made suits & dresses. Lan Ong is a fragrant street filled with traditional medicines & herbs.

Shops pouring into sidewalks, motorcycles navigating narrow streets, the smell of noodles & flowers - the Old Quarter can be a hectic place. Constant motion is part of the charm. Old Quarter's most recent attraction is Train Street. Tiny cafes & stationery stores have moved into the buildings facing the tracks & countless Instagrammers come every day to have their pictures taken with this colourful backdrop.

Wherever you go, you will have a chance to glimpse the tube houses that are typical of the Old Quarter. These houses have narrow facades, but are built deep & high, with multiple courtyards to allow light inside. Also interesting are the Soviet-influenced apartment blocks, which you can find up & down Hang Dieu Street.

The Old Quarter is chock-full of speciality restaurants & popular stalls that have been around for years. One thing Hanoians love to do is spend hours at coffee shops, just people-watching & sharing news.

You will notice bicycle vendors selling fresh flowers & ripe fruit, old friends gathering for games of checkers & cooks doing a roaring trade in steaming pho & bun cha. The longer you wander, the more you’ll be rewarded with moments in hidden alleyways, secluded Pagodas & cosy Coffee Shops.

If you are hungry, get a seat at a cafe & enjoy the action from a safe distance & grab a bowl of bun cha at Bun Cha Huong Lien where President Obama dined, or go for a less crowded alternative at Hang Quạt.

Don’t leave without sampling the original egg coffee at Cafe Giang. Apart from egg coffee, another famous original dish from the Old Quarter is cha ca la vong - a magical blend of fish chunks marinated in turmeric & spices, grilled & served with soft rice noodles, dill & crunchy peanuts.

Vietnamese regularly gather to eat & drink on sidewalk corners, with long meals & countless rounds of beers going late into the night. This ‘bia hoi’ tradition is a fun way to experience local life & make new friends. The most famous beer corner in the Old Quarter is Bia Hoi Junction. The party spills out onto Tạ Hien Street, where backpackers & locals sit on tiny plastic stools & drink fresh draft beer in the evening air.

Enjoy lunch in the Old Quarter (not included – direct payment).

The Cyclo jaunt around Old Quarter concludes & the tour continues on to visit a Museum (so many Museums here but you can visit only one in the available time). 2 are especially interesting - History Museum & the Museum of Ethnology.  

Built between 1925 & 1932, the architecturally impressive Museum of History was formerly home to the Ecole Française d’Extreme-Orient. Its architect, Ernest Hebrard, was among the first in Vietnam to incorporate a blend of Chinese & French design elements.

Housed in an elegant building from the 1930s, it includes exhibits spanning the entirety of Vietnamʹs history including prehistory, proto‐Vietnamese civilisations, the Dong Son culture, the Oc‐Eo culture & the Khmer Kingdoms. The Museum has rich collections of archaeological findings of great scientific & artistic value, including some relating to the era of the Hung kings about 4,000 years ago represent the evolution of the Vietnamese nation.

Exhibit highlights include Bronzes from the Dong Son culture (3^rd century BCE to 3^rd century CE), Hindu statuary from the Khmer & Champa Kingdoms, jewellery from imperial Vietnam & displays relating to the French occupation & the Communist Party. The former Museum of the Vietnamese Revolution is now part of the National Museum of Vietnamese History. The 40,000 exhibits enthusiastically present the histories of conflict & revolution within Vietnam, from the liberation movements against the French occupation to the establishment of the Communist Party & the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.

The other Museum you can go to is the superb Museum of Ethnology that showcases the depth of Vietnamese cultural diversity with an astounding collection of 15,000 artifacts gathered from throughout the country.

It brings to life the astonishing ethnic diversity in Vietnam, with tribal art & artifacts & everyday objects, from the 54 different ethnic groups that inhabit the country. Inside the Museum are detailed descriptions (Vietnamese, French & English) of the minority groups, with examples of their traditional clothing & way of life.

Displays portray a typical village market, cemeteries & other distinctive ethnic buildings & the making of conical hats & a Tay shamanic ceremony. You can also check out a traditional Black Thai longhouse reconstructed in the Museum. There is also a Center for Research & Conservation where scientists from all over the world study traditional Vietnamese cultures. The section Museum of Fine Arts contains artistic works of great value, ranging from bronze drums (1^st millennium B.C.) to sculptures, paintings, engravings & lacquer works by contemporary artists are displayed, not to mention folk art.

The sightseeing concludes & you return to the hotel.

But the day is not over yet. In the evening around 07.00 pm, meet the Tour-guide / Rep again & proceed to Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre to enjoy a 1 hour traditional Water Puppet Show, a fantastic art form originating in the northern Vietnam, best seen in Hanoi. In a unique Performance like no other, historical stories are told through Puppets on water. Multilingual programs allow the audience to read up on each vignette as it is performed. Especially interesting for children but adults are mesmerized, too.

The Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre is the best place to witness the eponymous art form integral to Vietnam, that dates back to the 11^th century. When the rice paddies got flooded by the Red River & the talented village Puppeteers would appear with wooden Puppets to entertain the village folks.

Established in 1969, the Thang Long Water Puppet Theater uses a stage filled with water as the setting for the Performance, offering an authentic experience with changing mood lights& a Vietnamese orchestra playing traditional songs about agricultural harvests & mythical legends, that are acted out by Puppets in a pool of water. Artists stand hidden behind a screen in waist-high water, which serves as the stage, as they manoeuvre exquisite handcrafted wooden Puppets, through an apparatus put under in the water surface, narrating historical legends.

The 1hour Performance usually shows 17 short vignettes replicating the daily lives of Vietnamese farmers & fishermen, legends of dragons & other historical tales.

The Performance concludes by 09.00 pm & you are transferred to Hanoi Station to board your overnight train for Lao Cai. place (your luggage would already be picked up & placed in the vehicle)

You will board the Tourist train Orient Express (which enjoys a good reputation as a luxury brand but this one is owned by Vietnam Railways & not super luxurious) which provides an inspirational comfortable experience onboard, to reach Sapa.

Orient Express features a modern design with 'Soft Sleeper' 2^nd class 4 Berth Deluxe & 1^st class 2 Berth VIP air-conditioned wood-panelled cabins with remarkable interior decor. Berths are equipped with individual reading lights, baggage storage (luggage can be kept in your compartment under the bottom bunks). Pillows & Blankets & Snacks are provided (we recommend that you bring your own food although ‘some’ Trains have a Restaurant car). Each carriage contains a number of cabins & Rest-rooms with a Wash-basin & western & squat toilets are located at the end of each carriage.

Passengers have the best opportunity to relax or simply let the beauty gliding over your spacious windows (although the picturesque scenery bit is relevant only to day trains, not yours).

Overnight on board.   B

Arrive at Lao Cai Station in the early morning.

Lao Cai in the northwest of Vietnam, is squeezed right next to the Vietnam - China border. Razed in the Chinese invasion of 1979, most of the buildings here are modern. The border crossing was shut down during the 1979 war & only re-opened in 1993. Now, it is a bustling spot fuelled by growing cross-border trade.

For travelers, Lao Cai is the jumping-off point when journeying between Hanoi & Sa Pa by train & a stop-off when heading further north to Kunming in China. The clean surreal environmental landscape encompasses the stunning beauty of famous scenic spots as Sa Pa, Bac Ha, Bat Xat, Muong Khuong.

Lao Cai province is also known for its towering mountains including Fansipan & the dragon-jaw-shaped Ham Rong Peaks offering panoramic views & huge orchid gardens, rivers, waterfalls & ethnic hill tribes. Over 25 ethnic groups living here, have created a unique identity of Lao Cao with historical traditions & cultural heritage.

As you exit from your Carriage, you will be welcomed by a Journeys Rep / Driver & straightaway depart for Sa Pa (30 minutes drive), gateway to another world of mysterious minority cultures & luscious landscapes.

But before leaving, enjoy breakfast in a local restaurant.  

You will enjoy the breath-taking views of terraced rice paddies, tea farms & pineapple plantations as you drive uphill along the winding mountain ride up towards Sa Pa via Muong Khuong, a small trading town near the border.

Enroute stop briefly at Cao Son, the ethnic local market set among beautiful mountain & organized by H'Mong, Phu La, Dao & Black Han people living in the 4 largest villages of the district.

There is no noise, no scramble or rush but plain & rustic atmosphere at the colourful Market full of local handicrafts products & which still sustains its unique original features.

You will have a great opportunity to see the tribes-people from the local villages who not only gather for purchasing local products, but also for exchanging gossip & experiences on all aspects of life such as farming, caring for animals & even finding partners. You can interact with them & broaden your knowledge about the daily life in the villages.

In the vast space of mountains, people seem to be carefree. You can catch Nung. Flower Hmong (Red Hmong), Phu La, Black Dao, Tu Di & Giay minorities & local Chinese traders from different tribal villages, either in groups, couples or single flocking to the market & engaging in business as they buy, sell, bargain & barter their goods amongst one another.

Some carry products in their shoulder baskets, some let their horses carry the goods, some just drive their motorbike or ride their bike to the market. Some buy rice, some buy brocade fabric, some buy vegetables, some enjoy the highland specialties, etc.

Similar to many other markets such as Bac Ha, Coc Ly, Can Cau, the Cao Son Market is also divided into many smaller areas. Goods that represent mountainous features such as vegetables, herbs, shiitakes, fungus, honey, corn alcohol, upland rice, household appliances, jewelry etc. are gathered & tidily organized in one particular place.

Among the stalls, those that sell brocade fabric seem to be most outstanding because of their colorful products with exquisite patterns. These fabric stalls show the skillfulness, ranging from growing flax, making thread, weaving, dying to embroidering, of Mong, Phu La & Dao women.

Close by to the ‘trading’ area, there are many choices to try out the traditional local cuisine. You may be overwhelmed by the charming smell diffusing from some special dishes like sweet smell from “thang co” of Mong people – a dish made of cattle’s (such as pigs, cows, buffalos, horses) meat & viscera or the spicy & hot yeast from some kinds of ethnic alcohol such as Coc Dam & Coc Ngu corn alcohol. In that animated & allured atmosphere, it is much likely that you will take a seat & join local people enjoying their cuisine.

Enjoy spending time walking around the Market taking in the sights & sounds (not to mention tastes) & perhaps engage in some business with the local people.

Leaving the market, take a short walk to Flower Hmong village before a break for lunch (not included - direct payment).

Hop on the car again & leave for Sa Pa, driving along Chay River through the mountains, valleys & hamlets arriving at the Coc Ly Bridge where you will hop on to a Boat & enjoy a 1 hour cruise along the charming Chay River.

Disembark at Trung Do village, jump in the waiting car & continue on to Sa Pa.

Arrive in Sa Pa by afternoon & Check-in at the hotel. 

Balance of the day is at leisure for independent exploration (we would be happy to offer suggestions & make arrangements).

The Queen of the Mountains, the beautiful town of Sa Pa located in Vietnam’s remote Northwest Mountains, established as a hill station by the French in 1922, sits regally overlooking a beautiful valley, close to the Chinese border, with lofty mountains towering over the town on all sides.

Sa Pa is oriented to make the most of the spectacular views emerging on clear days & the mesmerizing scenery that surrounds the city. It is famous for both its incredibly picturesque scenery & rich cultural diversity.

The town in the Hoang Lien Son mountains, overlooks the cascading rice terraces that spill down the mountains like a patchwork quilt & ancient stone engravings of the Muong Hoa Valley. The mountains are often shrouded in thick mist that rolls back & forth along the peaks, offering tantalising glimpses of what lies in wait on a clear day but even when it is cloudy, local hill-tribe people fill the town with colour.

If you were expecting a quaint alpine town, recalibrate your expectations. Modern tourism development has mushroomed haphazardly. But you are not here to hang out in town. Once you have stepped out into the lush fields, you will understand the Sa Pa area's real charm.

The valleys & tiny villages around Sa Pa town are home to a host of hill-tribe people who wander in to town to buy, sell & trade. The billowing red headdresses of the Red Dzao are visible all over town, a surreal sight amid the accelerating development. There are a number of other ethnic minorities inhabiting this mountainous town, including H’mong, Tay, Giay, Muong, Thai, Hoa & Xa Pho. With the distinct customs, habits & unique clothing styles, every group has been contributing to drawing a colorful vivid cultural picture of the town.

Their villages may look medieval but most villagers now have a mobile phone & an email address to stay in touch. Most of the Montagnards have had little formal education & are illiterate, yet all the youngsters have a good command of English, French & a handful of other languages.

Sa Pa Church & Muong Hoa Valley are attractive places for authentic discoveries & for passionate photographers.

Overnight.  B L D  

The stunning landscapes are also northern Vietnam's premier trekking base, from where hikers launch themselves into a surrounding countryside & Mount Fansipan.

Enjoy a sumptuous breakfast at the hotel & Check-out, before meeting the Tour-guide & setting out on a full day Trek.

Trekking is an excellent way to explore the daily life & familiarize yourself with the cultures of the Tribes who live here.

Explore Sa Pa’s cultural diversity & haunting natural beauty. Take a guided hike through yawning valleys decorated with terraced rice fields & pass through remote hill tribe villages. We have 3 Trekking options to choose from: Soft trek (3 km), medium trek (6 km) & long trek (12 km).  

Enjoy lunch at one of the remote hill tribe village & learn about local traditions & daily life.

In time, meet the driver & drive back to Lao Cai Station to board the night train for Hanoi.

Overnight on board.   B L

Early morning arrival in Hanoi Station.

As you exit from the carriage, you will be welcomed by the Journeys Rep / Driver & immediately depart for Ha long Bay.

Enroute, stop at a restaurant for breakfast, before driving on through the picturesque rice paddies.

Arrive in the sprawling Ha long City (also known as Bai Chay) - the Bay's main gateway, but its high-rises are a disappointing doorstep to this site. Spend an hour or 2 in exploring the city.

Development has not been kind to Ha long City (known locally as Bai Chay). Despite enjoying a stunning position on the cusp of Ha long Bay, this is a gritty town with pockets of bland high-rise hotel development dotting the shoreline. Most travellers opt to skip Ha long City completely, preferring to spend a night out in Ha long Bay itself. In the city hotels, Chinese & Korean visitors are now more prevalent, as they prefer to enjoy terra firma attractions such as casinos & karaoke bars after day cruising in the Bay.

Majestic & mysterious, inspiring & imperious: words alone cannot do justice to the natural wonder that is Ha long Bay. Dotted with jagged limestone pinnacles, UNESCO World Heritage listed Ha long Bay is one of Vietnam’s biggest attractions that covers some 150,000 hectares (1500 sq. km). A vision of ethereal beauty & unsurprisingly, northern Vietnam's number one tourism hub.

Ha long Bay is the stuff of myths & naturally the Vietnamese have concocted one. “Hạ long” means “where the dragon descends into the sea”. Legend has it that the Islands of Ha long Bay were created by a great dragon that lived in the mountains. As it charged towards the coast, its flailing tail gouged out valleys & crevasses. When it finally plunged into the sea, the area filled with water & formed mountains that peek above the sea as rocky Islands. It retains much of the otherworldly magic conjured up by towering limestone pillars & 3,000 or more incredible jungle-clad Islands & tiny Islets punctuated by perfect beaches & deserted wind & wave eroded grottoes, topped by sparsely forested slopes ringing with birdsong, rising from deep emerald waters of the Gulf of Tonkin.

Ha long Bay is pure art, a priceless collection of unfinished sculptures hewn from the hand of nature. All of the stunning karst islands & surrounding cliffs are made of limestone, which has been steadily eroded over the centuries to create what is left today - the towering pillars topped with greenery & the sheer cliffs that enclose the Bay.

Visitors can’t help but compare the magical, mystical landscape of limestone Islets to Guilin in China & Krabi in in southern Thailand, but in reality, Ha long Bay is more spectacular.

While the vast majority of the Islands in the Bay are uninhabited vertical rocks sticking out of the sea, Cat Ba Island - the largest in the Bay - actually has a few tiny fishing villages. There are also 17 Caves & Grottoes where various artifacts like stone tools & bones from circa 4500 BC have been discovered in the mountains within. The most famous Cave is Cai Beo Cave.

About half of the Cat Ba Island was declared a National Park dedicated by Ho Chi Minh personally in 1963 & protects the Island's several diverse ecosystems with waterfalls, mangrove forests, spectacular limestone hills & a large lake.

Lying to the south of Ha long Bay off the north-eastern coast of Vietnam, the 300-or-so karst Islands & limestone outcrops of Lan Ha are just as beautiful as those of its superstar neighbour, but feel more isolated & untouched. Lan Ha also has the additional attraction of numerous white-sand beaches, which aren't found at Ha long.

Geologically, Lan Ha is an extension of Ha long Bay but sits in a different province. Around 200 species of fish, 500 species of mollusc, 400 species of arthropod (prawns, crabs) & numerous hard & soft corals live in the waters here, while larger marine animals in the area include seals & 3 species of dolphin.

Beyond the breathtaking vistas on a boat cruise through the Bay, visitors to Ha long come to explore the caves - some of which are beautifully illuminated for the benefit of visitors & to hike in Cat Ba National Park.

The best way to experience this magnificent bay is on a Cruise in one of the many traditional junks.

Reach the Dock around noon & board a traditional private Junk where you will spend the next 24 hours, cruising in the Bay - a natural wonderland composed of jutting limestone islands & sparkling turquoise waters.

Embark on an overnight cruise & begin sailing among the emerald waters & craggy limestone cliffs of Ha long Bay, stopping at different Islands to explore ‘some’ of the many Caves. Sail past floating villages, fishermen casting their nets & pearl fisheries and observe the rhythms of daily life on the Bay.

Savor a gourmet lunch of fresh seafood onboard as you sail out into the mystical Bay, cruising around some of Ha long’s many Islands, including Dinh Huong & Ga Choi. Along the way, visit one of the Bay’s 3 largest Caves - Thien Cung, Dau Go or Sung Sot.

Today, all Boats must follow one of 5 government prescribed routes through the Bay, meaning overnight cruises leaving roughly from the same place at the same time play follow-the-leader as they hit the major highlights of the Bay almost in frustrating concert.

Stop at an island cove with a sheltered white-sand beach & take a dip in the warm waters of the South China Sea (weather permitting). Swimming is only allowed at a few designated beaches, with drones surveilling the skies to make sure Boat Captains stringently comply.

Most Junks also offer Kayaking (optional, extra cost, not included). Paddling around the karsts allows you to experience the limestone towers from a completely different angle: up close & without the constant thrum of an engine in the background.

Pass the night on your private Junk, lulled to sleep by the gentle rocking of calm waters.

Overnight on board.   B L D 

Awake early & participate in Tai Chi on the top deck or simply relax & enjoy the sunrise over the Bay’s towering islands.

Enjoy a morning cup of coffee or tea, before setting out to explore nearby islands by rowboat.

Return to the Junk for breakfast then take advantage of the sundeck & admire the amazing rock formations of Bai Tu Long Bay as we navigate back to land.

Enjoy lunch on board as you cruise through the islets, before heading back to the Pier.

Arrive at the Pier in Ha long Bay by afternoon. On disembarkation, you will be welcomed by a Journeys Driver / Rep, who will ensure your comfort & drive you straight to Terminal 1 - Hanoi Noi Bai International Airport for your onward journey (if you are staying longer, you would be transferred to the hotel).  

Alas, like all good things, the wonderful experience comes to an end. Time to say to say au revoir to this enchanting country & go home.

Vietnam, you would have noticed, is an exhilarating country to travel. Known for its beaches, rivers, Buddhist Pagodas & bustling cities with thousands of years of history, sprinkled with a handful of outside influences. A nation on the move & this contrast between old & new Vietnam is a big part of its appeal.

Too much to see & explore & discover here & we are sure you would want to come again. We would be waiting to facilitate that.

 “Travel is like knowledge. The more you see the more you know you have not seen” - Mark Hertsgaard

Have a nice flight home. Bon Voyage.  B L

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