Detail Itinerary
Day 1: HA NOI - ARRIVAL (D)
On arrival at Ha Noi where we will be taken to our hotel for the night.
Day 2: HA NOI - MAI CHAU (B/L/D)
We will arise early to visit Hoan Kiem Lake to photograph early risers
meditating, doing tai chi, exercising and playing badminton. After
breakfast, we will go on a ½ day city tour, visiting the Temple of
Literature , One Pillar Pagoda and Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum. In the
afternoon, we travel to Mai Chau where we will encounter our first
experience with ethnic minority people. Late afternoon will be spent
exploring and photographing the village and surrounding rice paddies. We
stay overnight in a White Thai village having dinner and sleeping in
traditional stilt house. In the evening we will be entertained with
dances and songs as well as drink an alcoholic beverage called Ruou Can
with long straws.
Day 3: MAI CHAU - NGHIA LO (B/L/D)
In the morning you are free to explore the town to buy local produce
and embroideries or explore the surrounding countryside to photograph
the locals going about their farm duties. After breakfast we commence
our journey to Nghai Lo where we will begin to witness the spectacular
mountain scenery of North-West Vietnam . This is where the density of
ethnic minority people walking along the road or attending their fields
begins to increase. On arrival in Nghia Lo, we check into our hotel
before visiting a historical site marking the resistance of the Yen Bai
people against French aggression and an ancient Thai village to discover
how they go about their daily lives.
Day 4: NGHIA LO - SA PA (B/L/D)
We will arise early to photograph the town of Nghia Lo as it awakes.
After breakfast we commence our journey to Sa Pa. On the way we will
stop to visit a Lu minority village as well as climb Tram Ton pass, the
highest mountain pass in Vietnam . On arrival in Sa Pa we will check
into the hotel. The afternoon is free to visit Sa Pa township, Ham Rong
Mountain or the Botanical gardens. That evening we will travel back to
Tram Ton pass to photograph the sunset over Heavens Gate.
Day 5: SA PA (B/L/D)
Today we will trek down the mountain to Ta Van village. Along the way
we will photograph the magnificent terraced rice fields and local
minority people going about their day-to-day activities. After an
enjoyable picnic lunch, we will continue our trek, walking through a
number of minority villages and getting up close to the terraced rice
fields. We will photograph the sunset over the terraced rice fields at
our leisure. Tonight our accommodation will be a home stay in Ta Van
village.
Day 6: SA PA - LUNG KHAU NHIN MARKET - BAC HA (B/L/D)
This morning we will arise early to photograph the sunrise over the
terraced rice fields and minority people commencing their daily
activities. After breakfast, we commence our 3 hour journey to Lung Khau
Nhin Market which is one of the most untouched markets in North Vietnam
. Here we will observe and photograph Nung, Flower H'Mong, Black Dao
and Dzay minority people buying and selling their local produce. After
spending the morning casually strolling around and photographing the
markets, we will visit a Black Dao village called Sin Lung Chai. We then
make our way to Bac Ha, where we will check into our hotel.
Day 7: BAC HA - HA GIANG (B/L/D)
We will arise early to visit and photograph Ban Pho, a Flower H'Mong
village. We then commence our long journey to Ha Giang, through stunning
countryside with valleys and mountains opening up on all sides and then
along the remote Chay River Valley . During the trip, we may
see Flower H'Mong, Nung, Co Lao, Red Dao, Dao Ao Dai, La Chi Pa Then and
White H'Mong minority people going about their daily lives. Stops will
be provided along the way for photography. Overnight in Ha Giang.
Day 8: HA GIANG - QUAN BA - DONG VAN (B/L/D)
Today we will experience a spectacular day of driving through amazing
mountainous landscapes nestled up against the border with China . About
50km's out of Ha Giang, the road zigzags its way up the amazing Quan Ba
Pass eventually providing a spectacular view over Quan Ba town and the
surrounding countryside. Opportunities to take photographs will be
provided along the way. We end out days journey at Dong Van, an isolated
town atop a small hill. Dong Van is very beautiful with mountains,
forests, hidden grottoes and multi-coloured orchid forests. In the
evening, we will explore Pho Bang Street with its ancient multi-story
clay brick houses.
Day 9: DONG VAN – MEO VAC – BAO LAC – CAO BANG (B/L/D)
We arise early to visit and photograph Dong Van market. After breakfast
we commence our journey down Ma Pi Leng pass, providing us with what is
regarded as the most stunning scenery in North Vietnam . We
eventually descend into a beautiful valley that encloses Meo Vac before
continuing our journey to Cao Bang, via Bao Lac. Overnight in Cao Bang.
Day 10: CAO BANG - TONG COT CATTLE MARKET - BAN GIOC WATERFALL - CAO BANG (B/L/D)
This morning we will be treated to a unique event that is rarely
visited by tourists. We will visit the Tong Cot cattle market where 200
to 300 head of cattle are sold every 5 days. Afterwards, we will make
our way to the beautiful Ban Gioc Waterfall on the Chinese border. The
picturesque, cascading waterfall is 53m high and has an impressive span
of 300m. The drive there and back also offers unique landscapes with
limestone karst formations soaring from the rice paddies of the
surrounding farms of local ethnic minorities. We will stop on our return
trip to photograph waterwheels, which are only found in this part of
Vietnam. Overnight in Cao Bang.
Day 11: CAO BANG - LANG SON - HA LONG CITY (B/L/D)
We will arise early to photograph Cao Bang as it awakes. After
breakfast we will commence our long journey to Ha Long City stopping for
lunch and a well earned break at Lang Son. After eating at a local
restaurant we will travel to the surrounding limestone hills to visit a
couple of impressive caves and the remnants of the ruined 16 th -century
Mac Dynasty Citadel. We will then continue our journey to Ha Long City
where we will check into our hotel before re-joining for dinner.
Day 12: HA LONG BAY - CAT BA ISLAND (B/L/D)
We will arise early to visit and photograph the local fish market.
After breakfast, we will board the boat and commence our full day cruise
of Ha Long Bay. We will visit Surprising Cave and photograph the bay,
floating villages and fish farms. In the afternoon, we will climb up to
the peak of Ti Top Island for a panoramic view of Ha Long bay. We will
then make our way to Cat Ba where we will check into our hotel. You are
then free to explore Cat Ba Island and photograph the sunset over the
harbour. For those more adventurous types, you can arrange a boat to
take you around the harbour at your own expense.
Day 13: CAT BA - NINH BINH - KENH GA (B/L/D)
We will arise early to photograph the sunrise. After breakfast, we
board a
Hydrofoil for transfer to Hai Phong City, where our buses will
be waiting for us. After lunch in Hai Phong City, we commence our
journey to Ninh Binh, stopping briefly at Thai Binh. We will then make
our way to Kenh Ga Floating Village where we will witness and photograph
the unique river life.
Day 14: TAM COC - HOA LU - VAN LONG - HA NOI (B/L/D)
This morning we will enjoy a 2 hour boat cruise through Tam Coc which
boasts some absolutely breathtaking scenery. Afterwards, we will travel
along rural roads amongst the rice fields and magnificent rock
formations of the Hoa Lu area. After lunch we will visit Van Long Nature
Reserve (2 hours) before commencing our journey back to Hanoi . We will
stop at a market garden during the return trip to photographs rural
life up close. On arrival in Ha Noi, we will check into our hotel before
enjoying dinner at a charming restaurant at Hoan Kiem Lake.
Day 15: HA NOI - DEPARTURE (B/../)
We will arise early to visit Dong Xuan markets, the largest markets in
Ha Noi. After breakfast we will go on a walking tour for 1 or 2 hrs in
the old quarter, photographing the shops, street life and people going
about their day-to-day activities. You will then have free time to visit
Ha Noi or catch up on your shopping. In the afternoon, we will transfer
to the airport for Your flight .
Contact Lotussia Travel for information and Book this tour.
0 comments:
Post a Comment