Summary
Discover Northern Vietnam and all its charm with a combined activities adventure trip. This can be as easy or as challenging as you wish it to be, taking you through spectacular vistas and allowing you to obtain a close insight into Vietnamese culture along the way. Trek through remote mountain hill tribe villages, cycle through rice paddies, and kayak and rock climb in Halong Bay.
Highlights
- Trekking in picturesque Sapa, visiting minority hill tribes and spenidng the night with a local family in a traditional village
- Cycling around Ninh Binh, the inland Halong Bay, through paddy fields and visiting Pagodas
- Kayaking and rock climbing in Halong Bay
- Spending an evening on a tiny island in Halong bay staying in simple bamboo huts and fishing for supper!
Good for...
- Couples, families, friends and expats
- Anyone looking for a bit of adventure (nothing too strenuous) whilst incorporting the highlights beautiful and diverse of northern Vietnam
What previous clients have to say about us (see more testimonials)
"Our trip was wonderful. We loved the country and we felt really good among you. The services offered by Buffalo Tours were all excellent. If anybody asks us for a travel agency in Vietnam, be sure we´ll speak about yours, and we´ll give them your e-mail. Thanks again for all your services and best regards from Madrid."
Camino Brasa, Spain
“Lynn and I really enjoyed our trip to Vietnam. You made our trip so much fun and memorable. We enjoyed the whole country and it was great to visit Danang, Hoi An and Hanoi. What a wonderful country and we did not realize the great diversity that exists from one area to the other. We just got our photos back from being developed so Lynn has started to put them into an album. We had a good time in Laos and Cambodia also.”
Lynn and Steve Smart, Toronto Canada
Why travel with Buffalo Tours?
Hanoi- Sapa - Ninh Binh - Halong Bay - Cat Ba Island
Please note that this is a sample itinerary and can be amended to suit.
Day 1: Hanoi - Sapa
Arrive Hanoi and enjoy an optional city tour. Depart this evening onboard an overnight sleeper train to Sapa, a former French hill station in the remote mountainous region near the border of China.
Day 2: Sapa - Ta Van (Trek 15 km)
Arrive in Lao Cai early morning and drive to Sapa. Start hiking (approx. 5 hour trek) along a small path into the valley and pass through a Black H’mong village. Black H’mong is one of the biggest minority groups in the Sapa area. They are proud of their culture and keep their traditions and way of living, still using their own language and wearing traditional indigio blue clothing. After this continue to Ta Van village to visit the Zay people. Stay overnight with a local family in Ta Van and share dinner. (B,L,D)
Day 3: Ta Van - Su Pan - Sapa - Lao Cai (Trek 8 km)
Continue hiking (approx. 4 hour trek) and visit the Red Dao people at Giang Ta Chai, passing a waterfall along the way. The Red Dao women wear colorful red embroidery, coins on their clothing and red scarves on their heads. Some of the women have shaved off their eyebrows because of a Red Dao Legend. Continue hiking through emerald rice paddies, arriving back in Sapa for lunch and shopping at the local market, before catching your overnight train back to Hanoi. (B,L)
Day 4: Hanoi - Ninh Binh
Drive to Ninh Binh, an area of spectacular beauty 100km south of Hanoi, offering a world of natural and cultural heritage to explore. (B,L)
Day 5: Ninh Binh
Explore this beautiful region by bicycle.(B,L)
Day 6: Ninh Binh - Halong Bay
Drive to Halong Bay and board your traditional junk for an overnight cruise. Cruise through thousands of islands and relax on deck under the stars after a fabulous seafood dinner. For the night owls enjoy a spot of squid fishing! (B,L,D)
Day 7: Halong Bay - Cat Ba Island
This morning visit a cave, then begin an afternoon rock climbing adventure. Halong Bay offers some of the best rock climbing in South East Asia, where you can scale limestone walls on the island, perfect for beginners. For the more experienced, try deep water drops on pinnacles rising from the Bay. Spend the evening in simple bamboo huts on the island. (B,L,D)
Day 8: Depart Hanoi
Enjoy a morning of relaxation, swimming, kayaking or hiking. Transfer to Hanoi in the afternoon. (B,L)
This is a sample itinerary, so the cost really depends on your hotel choice, number of people in your group and dates of travel. An indication of the cost for this itinerary is approximately US$900 per person based on two people traveling in standard accommodation. Please contact us to customize this itinerary and price to meet your needs and budget.
Tour includes:
• English speaking tour guide(s)
• All transfers and transportation
• Accommodation based on twin sharing with breakfast included
• Food as mentioned in the itinerary
• All guided sightseeing fees and entrance fees as per itinerary
Tour excludes:
• Meals and drinks not mentioned in the itinerary
• Visa and visa fees
• Travel insurance
• Personal expenses
• Tips & gratuity
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Destination Information
Want to know more about what to do and see in each destination? Click here
Vietnam
Want to know up to date information about the country, visas etc?
Vietnam
Recommended Hotels
There are plenty of hotels in the region but we have the advantage of living here, constantly inspecting them, finding new ones, and dumping old ones and knowing the true levels of service. To see our recommended hotels in each area please click here
FAQ’s
Any further information can be found in our FAQ’s section or feel free to email us