Day 01: Arrive Hanoi
Arrive in Hanoi at any time and transfer to your hotel.

Day 02: Hanoi Orientation – Night train to Sapa
Enjoy the company of a local expert on a guided city tour. Begin your Hanoi experience at the Old Citadel, Ba Dinh Square- sight of Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and ’Ho Chi Minh Quarter’ for a look at the life of the father of modern Vietnam. Visit his humble house on stilts and continue on to the intriguing Ho Chi Minh Museum, the Presidential Palace, and One Pillar Pagoda. After lunch visit Hanoi’s first university- the Temple of Literature-and the infamous ’Hanoi Hilton’ prison. In the evening, you will transfer to the train station for the overnight train to Sapa. The train is air-conditioned, and you will be accommodated in shared four-berth sleepers.

Day 03: Sapa
On arrival at Lao Cai you will be met for the 35km drive up to Sapa, passing spectacular mountain scenery. Experience dawn in Asia with a stroll through the main streets and bustling local market. After breakfast, visit Ta Phin village home to the colourful Red Dzao ethnic community. The rest of the day is at leisure, leaving you free to explore.

Day 04: Sapa and Nearby Villages
After breakfast drive south towards Muong Hoa Valley and walk through the stunning terraced rice paddy. Visit the village of Lao Chai and then on to Ta Van Village meeting the ethnic communities that live there. Observe many aspects of the daily happenings of these villages, from fascinating deep-rooted traditions to normal domestic life, before returning to Sapa.

Day 05:Sapa – Weekly Vietnamese Market
You will be visiting one of three markets depending on which day you are visiting. Coc Ly Market (Tue) or Can Cau Market (Sat) or Bac Ha Market (Sun)

Leave Sapa early this morning for the Market where colourful locals such as Flower H’mong, Tay, Nung, Phuka and Dao Tuyen gather to buy and sell their wares. In the early afternoon ransfer back to Lao Cai train station (Sapa) and catch the overnight train back to Hanoi.

Day 06: Depart Hanoi
On arrival you will be transferred either back to your Hanoi hotel or to the airport depending on your onward travel plans.

Checklist
Passport (with photocopies)

Travel insurance (with photocopies)

Airline tickets (with photocopies)

USD cash and travellers cheques

Credit or debit card (see personal spending money)

Any entry visas or vaccination certificates required

Camera and film.

Reading/writing material

Small towel and swim wear

Sun hat

Walking shoes

Sport sandals

Sunblock

Sunglasses

Light raincoat of light waterproof jacket.

Toiletries (biodegradable)

Watch or alarm clock

Water bottle

Pocket knife

First-aid kit (should contain motion sickness medication, lip salve, Aspirin, Band Aids, anti-histamine, Imodium or similar tablets for mild cases of diarrhea, re-hydration powder, extra prescription drugs you may be taking).