13 Days Vietnam East-West Grand Traverse Tour

Combine the history, scenery and culture of the Vietnamese north. You will spend eleven days exploring the North West through to the north east. You will get a very special view of Vietnam by traveling all the way from Dien Bien to Sapa, Ba Be Lake, Ban Gioc Waterfall and Ha Long Bay.

Tour Duration: 13 Days
Dates: No fixed departure dates. You may go whenever you wish.
Tour Type: Landscape, Culture and Nature, Hill Tribe Discovery
Activity Level: Adventure itinerary, moderate walking, Trekking and Cruising
Tour Customizable: Absolutely! (Tell us your specific requirements in the inquiry form)

Day 1 Arrive Hanoi (D)
Upon arrival we will be welcome at the airport and delivered to our hotel. We will be given a briefing about traveling in Vietnam before enjoying a special welcome dinner at an excellent Vietnamese restaurant.

Day 2 Hanoi - Moc Chau Plateau (B)
We travel by road to the evergreen northwest. We will lunch in Mai Chau valley and spend an hour or so trekking through H'mong villages. From there we will continue to Moc Chau Plateau where we stay the night in a guest house.

Day 3 Moc Chau - Dien Bien Phu, Former French battle field (B)
We continue to travel through a very beautiful mountain region to reach Dien Bien Phu basin, the battlefield at which the French finally surrendered to the Vietnamese nationalists.

Day 4 Dien Bien Phu - Phong Tho (B)
We will learn more about the struggle for independence against the French by visiting military sites Dien Bien Phu before leaving for Phong Tho.

Day 5 Phong Tho - Sa Pa Hill Station (B)
We will take the long and windy road to the highest pass in Vietnam. This is known as "doorway to the skies". This is incredibly picturesque and will take our breath away. We will arrive in Sapa and check in to our hotel.

Day 6 Sa Pa, full day trekking and home-stay (B, L, D)
We will leave Sapa Township by foot, trekking along buffalo tracks through terraced fields of breathtaking beauty. The hills are populated by many distinct ethnic groups. This evening we will be hosted by a Zay family.

Day 7 Sapa - Tuyen Quang- visit the Mac Citadel (B)
We will say farewell to our hosts and walk another half hour to the nearest sealed road where our vehicle will be waiting. We proceed to Tuyen Quang, reaching it about 3pm.That will give us ample time to wander the streets and surrounds of the town. Overnight in hotel.

Day 8 Tuyen Quang - Ba Be Lake (B)
We begin our migration towards the east, traveling first to Ba Be National Park near the centre. Where we will take a sampan to Pac Ngoi village of the Tay ethnic people where will stay overnight.

Day 9 Ba Be Lake - Cao Bang - Ban Gioc Waterfall (B)
Today we will travel to the Chinese border to visit the spectacular waterfall of Ban Gioc on the border between the two countries.

Day 10 Cao Bang - Lang Son (B)
Leaving Cao Bang, we travel eastwards crossing Dong Khe, a place very famous to Vietnamese because it is the site of a great Viet Minh victory over the French. We will visit some historical sites and 2 lime stone caves in Lang Son.

Day 11 Lang Son - Ha Long Bay (B, L, D)
Finally reaching the coast, we board a cruise boat to tour the magnificent limestone crags and crannies of Ha Long Bay. Arriving at the Bai Chay Wharf at around lunch time, we transfer to our deluxe junk, join our fantastic seafood lunch, and cruise around this tranquil bay, marvel at 3000 limestone peaks that emerge from the emerald water. We have opportunity to visit spectacular Amazing cave crammed with stalactites and stalagmites; and if the weather permits we will swim from our boat, and especially we can do kayaking to explore the hidden charm part of the bay before spending the night on the junk.

Day 12 Halong Bay - Hanoi (B, L)
Another wonderful starts when the sun rises from the Horizon. We enjoy our breakfast at 07:30AM and try more kayaks or sit on the bamboo boat to visit some other tunnel caves. Our junk keeps on cruising around the Bay and catch Bai Tu Long Bay with Turtle Islets, Man head islet, Teapot Islet and Bai Tho Mountain. Enjoy the last delicious lunch on the Bay, you say good bye with the World Natural Heritage and leaving for to Hanoi.

Day 13 Departure (B)
Today you are free at our leisure until the time you transfer to the airport for our flight to home.

Hanoi: Star View Hotel Hanoi
Moc Chau: Trade Union Hotel Moc Chau
Dien Bien Phu: Muong Thanh Hotel
Phong Tho: Lan Anh 2 Hotel
Sapa: Bamboo Hotel Sa Pa
Tuyen Quang: Local Guest House
Ba Be: Ba Be Hotel
Cao Bang: Huong Thom Hotel
Lang Son: Sao Mai Hotel
Halong: Bai Tho Junk Cruise

Hotels Note:
The hotel subject to change due to the availabilities. In that case we will choose the equivalent hotels
Be advised that at some local guest houses are normally not good as the hotels and far from Western standard but still comfortable enough with flash toilet, hot water and soft berth.

About Price:
Since this is a private tour, the price per person varies and depends on many aspects, such as your group size, the hotel ratings and your departure date. If you want to get a custom price quote for this tour, please fill out the online inquiry form and give you as much information as possible about your trip. Your online travel consultants will be at your service and help you make the most of your travel time and dollars!

What's included ?

Accommodation in twin sharing basic
Meal as indicated in itinerary (12 Breakfast, 3 Lunches, 2 Dinners)
Transfer and tour by private A/C car
English speaking guide/s (other languages upon requests)
Private boat trip in Babe Lake and Halong bay
Service charges, room tax and baggage handling
Entrance fees and permits during guided time

Meals
If you have any specific food requirements (vegetarian, vegan, food allergies) please inform us in advance so that we can provide notice to our restaurant, tour guide or our partners so that they san server you better.
Meals are included as specified in the itinerary. Meal codes are: B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner.

Breakfast - Each breakfast will be served in your hotel or guest houses or home stay. Breakfast selections will be Vietnamese only

Lunch - Lunches are normally arranged at the Vietnamese restaurants near the scenic spots. Your tour guides will order food according to your appetite. All are Vietnamese dishes, and some are modified to fit westerners' tastes. At some of the meals will be severed in the home stay, and those meals will be cooked by local or our well trained staffs.

Dinner - Same as lunch. If you prefer to not eat Vietnamese food, Viet Vision Travel suggests you have dinner on your own. Your local tour guide can recommend some good western restaurants in the area (Western food some time not available in the remote of mountain area).