Vietnam – China by Overland
HA NOI – SAPA – SHILIN – KUNMING – LAO CAI
(09days/08nights)
DAY 1: ARRIVAL HANOI (D)
Welcome to Viet Nam. Meet your tour guide and driver at the airport. We leave the rest of the day to you to explore the capital city, Hanoi. It will be a nice experience sitting in a café drinking a cup of rich, dark local coffee and watching the people outside of the window doing their business or on the way to work. Otherwise you can take a cyclo or a walk around the trading area in the Old Quarter of Hanoi. As the oldest continuously developed area of Vietnam, Hanoi’s Old Quarter has a history that spans 2,000 years and represents the eternal soul of the city. Stay overnight in Hanoi.
DAY 2: HANOI CITY – LAO CAI (B/L/D)
Breakfast at hotel, we start to visit Ho Chi Minh President Mausoleum and Museum, One pillar pagoda, Tran Quoc pagoda. After lunch, we will visit to Temple of Literature, the first university of Vietnam, Army museum, Hanoi Flag Tower. Wonder around Hoan Kiem Lake then visit Ngocson Temple and enjoy one hour cyclo trip around the trading area in Hanoi Old Quarter. In the evening, we will wave “goodbye” to Hanoi, take the night train to the border town, Lao Cai. Stay overnight at soft sleeper.
DAY 3: SAPA (B,L,D)
It"ll probably be a bit of a shock when we rouse you at five in the morning, but breakfast and the crisp fresh air of the mountains will soon wake you up. The train arrives at the Lao Cai train station at approximately 06:00am. On your arrival, the drive to Sapa is about 33km, but it takes around 1 hour. Once at Sapa, we will check into the Hotel, and have time to freshen up, and have breakfast at the hotel. Then you will enjoy a free morning to explore around the small & charming town. At 10:00am we will meet you again and start a walking tour from hotel to the hill tribe villages of Cat Cat, home to H’mong hill tribe minority people. As we walk to the villages nestled in the valley below Sapa, we will meet some of the local people minority people on their way to and from Sapa. Here we have the opportunity to share cultural experiences with the families that live in the area. Stay overnight in Sapa.
DAY 4: SAPA (B,L,D)
After breakfast we are very pleased to drive you to the beautiful village Ta Phin, which is about 10 km away from Sapa Town, home to Red Dzao Minority people. Also we can arrange Xe-om (the most popular means of transportation in Vietnam, means “bike hug”) for you to get there. Once arrived there, you will see and hear the sounds of morning village life. You can join them in some of their activities, like feeding the animals, cleaning the houses, gardening or preparing lunch. Afterwards you can take a short wander around the village.
DAY 5: SAPA – HEKOU - SHILIN (B/L/D)
After breakfast, car transfer to Lao Cai and making procedures into China via Lao cai border. Guide and driver in China pick you up and transfer to Shilin. Arrival Shilin, check in hotel and over night.
DAY 6: SHILIN - KUNMING (B/L/D)
Morning, we visit World First natural wonder – Stone forest in Shilin - A typical karst landform which was enlisted as an UNESCO world cultural Heritage. Continue going to Kunming, on the way we visit the crystal factory. Arival Kunming, visit Golden temple (cast bronze temple, this temple was ranked the worst and spermatorrhoea in water). Diner and over night in Kunming.
DAY 7: KUNMING (B/L/D)
Breakfast, take the flowers market, Quan du old town, Yuantong temple where customers pray for healthy, success. Visiting Green lake, Bamboo temple. Afternoon, shopping in Kunming commercial and relax at leisure.
DAY 8: KUNMING – HEKOU – LAO CAI (B/L/D)
After breakfast, the prediction of Ha Khau, visit Hekou town and procedure exit to Lao Cai. Evening, check-in night train to Ha Noi.
DAY 9: DEPARTURE (B)
Early morning arrival Ha Noi, breakfast free at leisure till the departure transfer from the hotel to airport for your flight home.
B: Breakfast, L: Lunch; D: Diner