Vietnam trekking and kayaking
13 days/ 12nights

Day 01 - Friday: Arrive Hanoi 
Arrive Hanoi, pick up and transfer to the hotel. Dinner at finest restaurant in Hanoi, briefing with local guide and group members. Over night at hotel in Hanoi.

Day 02 - Saturday: Ha Noi city tour – Lao Cai  (B,L,D)
Full-day tour of Vietnam’s capital, including Ho Chi Minh’s mausoleum and traditional stilt house, the Ho Chi Minh Museum, and the revered One-Pillar Pagoda. Pay visits to typical Vietnamese places of worship, Quan Thanh Temple and Tran Quoc Pagoda, along the shore of West Lake. Just before lunch, tour Vietnam’s first university, the thousand-year-old Temple of Literature. The whole afternoon is spent at the Ethnology Museum, where you can learn about the minority groups we will be visiting up north. After dinner, transfer to Hanoi railway station for night train up to Lao Cai. Overnight on the train.

Day 03 - Sunday: Lao Cai – Sapa – Village  (B,L,D)
Arrive Sapa early in the morning, pick up and transfer up to Sapa. After a shower and breakfast at the hotel in Sapa, we leave Sa Pa at 9 a.m., where Russian jeeps will drive us into the valley south of Sa Pa. The trekking begins from the Zay village - Ta Van – where we ascend the mountain and cross a pass in the altitude of 1700 m. From here we have a magnificent view to the minority villages and terraced rice fields beneath us. The walk is about 16 km along the track that the Vietnamese used for fleeing, when the Chinese invaded Sa Pa in 1979. We sleep in tents near the remote Black H'mong village – Seomiti.

Day 04 - Monday: Sapa Valley  (B,L,D)
After breakfast we start the adventure of the day. The trekking is beautiful and easy seasoned by the crossing of two rivers by both a primitive aerial ropeway and an old suspension bridge. We plan to spend the night in Ta Trung Ho, which is inhabited by the Red Dao minority. Dinner and over night in the village.

Day 05 - Tuesday: Sapa Valley  (B,L,D)
We are now at the fringe of the rain forest by the Hoang Lien Son mountain range. With 3143 m the highest mountain in Vietnam - Fansipan - is located in this mountain range. Crossing a mountain pass in the altitude of 1180 m. we descend to Nam Sai. Nam Sai is inhabited by the Xa Pho Hill tribe, which is one of  the smallest minorities in Vietnam. We expect to stay overnight in a local house in Nam Sai.

Day 06 - Wednesday: Sapa Valley  (B,L,D)
We trek further through the valley and pass Thanh Phu village, where we stay for lunch. After a minor ascend we arrive to the Red Dao village - Sin Chai. We enjoy our dinner in a private Red Dao house and spend the next 2 nights  in bamboo huts in the village.

Day 07 - Thursday: Sapa Valley  (B,L,D)
Today you have the possibility to take a rest day in Sin Chai b, where you can explore the daily life in the village.  Today trek leaves us to the Red Dao village of Suoi Thau. We start the day with a 1 hour descend to the river which we cross and follow until reaching Suoi Thau, where we have lunch in a local house. After lunch we have a 2 hour walk back to our "home" in Sin Chai B.

Day 08 - Friday: Village - Sapa   (B,L)
We leave our huts in Sin Chai behind and walk by the track around the mountain to Thanh Phu. We cross the river and trek by the river bank to Ban Ho village - inhabited by the Tay minority. It is possible to enjoy a refreshing swim in river while our cooks are preparing our lunch. We leave Ban Ho after lunch and ascend to Su Pan, where Russian jeeps are awaiting us. The jeeps will drive us back to Sa Pa. We arrive in Sa Pa in the late afternoon.

Day 09 - Saturday: Sapa – Lao Cai – Bac Ha  (B,L,D)
In the morning after breakfast, drive  down to Lao Cai and then drive up to boat dock for a boat  trip to Coc Ly River.  Continue to Bac Ha and arrive in the afternoon. Check in hotel. Dinner and over night at Sao Mai hotel.

Day 10 - Sunday: Bac Ha – Lao Cai – Hanoi  (B,L,D)
Wake up early in the morning and join Bac Ha market, which takes place only on Sunday. After the market, return to the hotel for lunch. An easy walk to visit the String H’mong village near by. Return to Sao Mai Hotel and transfer down to  Lao Cai. Dinner in Lao Cai  and  night train back to Hanoi. Over night on the train.

Day 11 - Monday: Arrive Hanoi – Halong- Kayaking(B,L,D)  
Arrive Hanoi early in the morning. Pick up and transfer to restaurant for breakfast. Leave Hanoi for Halong Bay and arrive around noon. Board a traditional wooden junk and begin your exploration of magical Halong Bay, one of Southeast Asia’s premier tourist destinations. An excellent, fresh seafood lunch will be served on the boat while cruise to the most beautiful areas in Halong for afternoon paddling. Overnight onboard the comfortable and charming junk.

Day 12 - Tuesday: Kayaking - Halong- Hanoi(B,L) 
Wake up early in the morning to enjoy the aquamarine water of the bay at its best. After breakfast and early swim, we continue for 2 hours paddling visit to the isolated beach, floating village. Meet the junk again for lunch while cruising back to Halong harbor. Transfer back to Hanoi by vehicle. Farewell dinner at the restaurant in town and overnight at the hotel in Hanoi.

Day 13 - Wednesday: Departure (B)
Free until transfer to the airport for fight out. The trip concludes

Legend: B= Breakfast; L=Lunch; D=Diner
 

Trip excludes:
ü Pre/post trip arrangement
ü Meals not indicated ( allow US$ 5-6 /meal/person)
ü Travel insurance
ü Other personal expenses