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Colourful local costume, Sapa
| Hanoi | Maison d'Hanoi | 2 nights |
| Train | Victoria Express | 1 night |
| Sapa | Victoria Sapa Resort | 1 night |
| Train | Victoria Express | 1 night |
| Halong Bay | Paradise Junk | 2 nights |
| Hanoi | Maison d'Hanoi | Day room |
Click on the name of the hotel for details
10 days from £1120
excluding international flights
DAY 1 – Depart UK.
Recommended flight from London: Thai Airways International via Bangkok from London Heathrow (see below). If you are travelling from a country other than the UK we would be happy to give you guidance on your flight options.
DAY 2 – Arrival in Hanoi.
On arrival in Hanoi you will be met outside customs by a representative of World Discovery and taken by private car direct to your hotel. The rest of the day is at leisure.
DAY 3 – Hanoi sightseeing.
This morning your guide will collect you from your hotel for a tour of the city [more]. The afternoon is free for you to explore Vietnam's pleasant capital on your own.
Meals included: Full breakfast.
DAY 4 - Hanoi. Board the train for Sapa.
The day is free for you to explore Hanoi on your own. In the evening transfer to the Railway Station and board the 'Victoria Express' overnight sleeper train to Sapa.
Meals included: Full breakfast, dinner.
DAY 5 - Sapa.
Arrive early in the morningin the town of Lao Cai. You will be met and driven to your hotel in Sapa (your room is booked for immediate occupancy). Sapa was established by the French in the 1920s as a hill station; the scenery is magnificent, with high forested mountains all around, including Vietnam's highest peak Mount Fansipan (3,143m/10,311ft). Your programme in Sapa is flexible; gentle walks to challenging hikes can be arranged depending on fitness levels. With an expert local guide, navigate small paths through terraced valleys of rice and corn fields, passing by ethnic minority tribes ploughing their lands with water buffalo. The ethnic hill tribes are proud of their culture and still maintain their traditions and way of living, including their own language and intricately embroidered, exotic clothing.
Meals included: Full breakfast .
DAY 6 – Sapa. Board the train back to Hanoi.
Today you will visit the Red Dao people, stopping at a waterfall along the way. The Red Dao women (pictured) wear colourful red embroidery and coins sewn on their clothing, with giant red scarves wrapped around their heads. Spend the afternoon at leisure in Sapa before returning to Lao Cai to board the 'Victoria Express' overnight sleeper train for the journey back to Hanoi.
Meals included: Full breakfast, dinner.
DAY 7 – Halong Bay.
On arrival in Hanoi you will taken to your hotel to freshen up after the overnight train journey before departing for Halong Bay for your luxury junk cruise. The Paradise Junk departs at 12.15 and during the next three days you will enjoy a variety of excursions and activities as you cruise through the incredible scenery of this UNESCO World Heritage area. This afternoon a visit to the amazing Surprise Cave (Hang Sung Sot) is included.
Meals included: Full breakfast, lunch, dinner.
DAY 8 - Halong Bay.
Today there will be an excursion to Cat Ba National Park with the option of taking a bicycle trip on the forest trails. Lunch is taken at a local restaurant. There are also opportunities for swimming and kayaking.
Meals included: Full breakfast, lunch, dinner.
DAY 9 - Return to Hanoi. Depart for home.
Disembark at 11.00. You will collected and driven back to Hanoi, where a day room is booked until your transfer to the airport in the evening for your homeward international flights.
Meals included: Full breakfast.
DAY 10 – Arrive London.
Arrive London Heathrow in the morning.
International Flights
We recommend the services of Thai Airways International from LondonHeathrow via Bangkok. Flights are daily throughout the year. Currenttimings (subject to possible change) are as follows:
Heathrow/Bangkok. Depart at 11.50; arrive Bangkok at 06.10 (next day)
Bangkok/Hanoi. Depart at 07.50; arrive Hanoi at 09.35
Hanoi/Bangkok. Depart at 20.25; arrive Bangkok at 22.15
Bangkok/Heathrow. Depart at 01.10; arrive Heathrow at 07.15
Jewels of the North (Tour Reference: WDVT002)
2010 Departures
Price per person based on a minimum of two persons travelling together:
| Departures on Tuesdays* | Price |
| Jan, Feb, Nov, Dec | £1120 |
| Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct | £1155 |
* Departures are available on other days of the week but the train to or from Sapa may not have a Dining Carriage
Single Room Supplements on request.
The price includes:
- Hotel and cruise ship accommodation as listed above in twin-bedded or double rooms/cabins with private facilities.
- 7 full breakfasts, 2 lunches and 4 dinners as shown in the itinerary.
- Scheduled sleeper train (2 passengers with exclusive occupancy of 4 berth cabin) from Hanoi to Lao cai (and v.v.).
- Private transfers throughout.
- All sightseeing as shown (unless indicated as ‘optional’), including guiding and entrance fees.
Not included in the price:
- International flights (see our recommendation above). We are happy to discuss the flights with you and give you further guidance.
- Optional sightseeing. The World Discovery representatives in each city will be pleased to organise any sightseeing you may wish to include during your stay.
- International airport taxes.
- Tipping. We will be pleased to give guidance in this often sensitive matter
- Visa for Vietnam. This should be obtained before departure from the United Kingdom. We recommend that you obtain your visa through CIBT in London - www.uk.cibt.com.
A deposit of £250 per person is required at the time of booking. The balance of the price for your travel arrangements must be paid at least 8 weeks before your departure date.
More Information
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