Hi Mrs Dao Tu,
Sorry for the late reply.
In fact we felt very happy and lucky that you changed the hotel to Sapa Dragon as the compound is very clean since the roads condition in Sapa is very muddy now. And the hotel service is extremely good and gave us 3 rooms as complimentary use after we came back from trekking before leaving to train station. I hope that you can further deal with this hotel for all the subsequent tours in Sapa
Overall, we are very happy and satisfied with your arrangement on accommodation, transportation and cruise. You actually provided us very excellent quality tour from all aspects. Both tour guides - Mr Lap and Mr Hiap provided their good services, knowledge and cares to us. All of us are very excited when we first see Garden Bay cruise. We did recommend your company to other friends whenever they ask about our Hanoi trip.
Once again, I would like to say thank you very much for arranging such a good wonderful and memorable trip to us.
Definitely I will engage your service again for my next Indochina tours.
Merry XMas and Happy New Year.
rgds
Ean Cheng
PROGRAM DETAIL
Day 01 . Tue 05 December 2017 : Hanoi arrival (MH1134 @12:00) (-) | Guide and driver
Arrival in Noi Bai airport , you will be picked up then transferred to the hotel in city center. The check-in is available at 2 pm. The day is free for your own exploration and shopping. Overnight at hotel.
Day 02 . Wed 06 December 2017 : Hanoi city tour (B) | Guide and driver
You will be picked up at the hotel at 8:00am. Starting the day trip will be a visit of the Ho Chi Minh Complex, which compromises Ho Chi Minh’s mausoleum (closed on Mondays & Fridays), his former stilt-house residence, the Presidential Palace and Ho Chi Minh Museum. We will then visit the Temple of Literature constructed in 1070 to worship Confucius, which served as the first Royal National University in Vietnam. The site also honors 82 Vietnamese doctorates who passed a number of rigid exams in the feudal ages. Their names, birthdays and birthplaces are engraved in 82 headstones perched on stone tortoises. It is widely believed that touching the heads of these tortoises will bring luck. Its peaceful green compound with its neatly maintained lawns, gardens and lotus ponds make it a tranquil hideaway from the city’s bustle and heat.
In the afternoon, we will visit the Museum of Ethnology (closed on Mondays, the alternative being the History Museum), which offers informative and well-documented displays of the country’s 54 ethnic groups, including elaborate and colorful hill tribe costumes. The display continues in the museum’s garden with fascinating examples of traditional houses of numerous minority groups, from the Kinhs to the ethnic groups of the Central Highlands. Then back to the Old Quarter for a walking tour. We then head to Ngoc Son Temple set on a tiny island in the middle of Hoan Kiem Lake. Ngoc Son Temple dates back to the 13th century, and the lake itself is the picturesque heart of Hanoi, frequented by tourists and locals alike. Overnight in Hanoi
Day 03 . Thu 07 December 2017 : Hanoi- Tam Coc (B) | Guide and driver
In the morning, our car and guide will pick you up to travel to Hoa Lu – the former capital of Vietnam, about a two-hour drive from Hanoi. On arrival, you will visit two temples, one of them dedicated to Emperor Dinh and the other in memory of Emperor Le, followed by a brief visit to the remains of the Old Palace. In the afternoon, you will visit Tam Coc (three caves), a peaceful valley among limestone ‘karst’ hills, There, you will be rowed along a gentle river between paddy fields and through the caves. After the boat trip in Tam Coc, the rest of day we will drive along winding roads passing lotus ponds, temples and cottages, typical of Vietnamese countryside to visit Bich Dong Pagoda situated on a hillside. Overnight in hotel in Tam Coc.
Day 04 . Fri 08 December 2017 : Ninh Binh - Halong (B, L, D) | Guide and driver
After breakfast depart to Halong Bay via Thai Binh and Nam Dinh, passing a peaceful countryside typical of Red River Delta with endless rice fields and winding rivers. There will be various photo stops and coffee breaks en route before arriving at Halong’s pier.
We then embark a refurbished wooden sailing junk for a cruise past the limestone cliffs emerging from the emerald waters of Halong Bay. Take in the stunning scenery of this World Heritage Site. On board you will be served a sumptuous fresh, local seafood lunch followed by a swim and exploration of some of the limestone caves in this area. At sunset we will anchor for the night nearby a remote island. Dinner on board. Overnight on junk.
Day 05 . Sat 09 December 2017 : Halong – Hanoi - night traint to Lao Cai (B) | Guide and driver
Rising to the tranquil beauty of the bay you have time for an early morning dip while the sun rises, followed by breakfast on board. We will continue to sail through the bay during the morning to explore more secluded areas. The junk will stay close at all times serving as a backup vessel for those that require it. Around midday we will return to the main harbor and return to Hanoi. Free at your own leisure till being transfered to the railway station to catch the night train to Lao Cai. Overnight on train.
Day 06 . Sun 10 December 2017 : Lao Cai - Bac Ha ethnic market - Sapa (B) | Guide and driver
Arrive in Lao Cai 6:00am, and drive to Bac Ha by car to visit Bac Ha market. This is the biggest local ethnic market of the region and takes place every Sunday. Tribal people from surrounding villages flock here to exchange their products. Most still use horses to carry their loads, which means an early departure to get to the market in time.
Every Sunday, the different and colorful ethnic minority come all here to sell their homemade products or buy something for the family. They are Hmong, Phu La, Back Dzao, Tay or Nung minorities. Some of these ethnic minorities can’t be met in any other areas. Free time for visiting one of the most colourfull market in the world. At the market, you have chance to enjoy BacHa people's simple but unique kinds of food with special wines made from rice, cassavas, corn and different sorts of fruits such as plumps, apples, peaches... talking to the minorities through the guide's interpretation.
After lunch time, you will leave the colorful market behind, to follow a zigzag road along the mountain to visit Ban Pho 1 and Ban Pho 2 villages, inhabited by Flower H'mong people. We will stop at a local house to see how corn wine is made - a special wine Bac Ha is renowned for. Taste some and you will truly feel its local flavor. Return to Sapa in the late afternoon. Overnight at hotel in Sapa
Day 07 . Mon 11 December 2017 : Sapa - Lao Chai - Ta Van homestay (B, D) | Guide and driver
Breakfast at hotel, before starting our trek through the beautiful Muong Hoa valley in Sapa. After following the road for 2km, we reach Y Linh Ho village home to Black H'mong ethnic people. We continue our walk to Lao Chai village and enjoy beautiful views of terraced rice fields along the way. After lunch time, we will visit a Catholic church and explore local traditions and customs. In the afternoon, we will reach the heart of the Sapa valley, the Ta Van village home to Dzay ethnic people. Dinner and overnight at a Dzay ethnic house.
Day 08 . Tue 12 December 2017 : Ta Van- Giang Ta Chai- Night train to Hanoi (B) | Guide and driver
Breakfast at the homestay, followed by a scenic hike through rice paddies, past waterfalls and bamboo forests to Giang Ta Chai village, home to the Red Dzao ethnic group. After visiting this village, we return to a house near the waterfall for lunch. After lunch time (by yourself), we hike to the main road where our vehicle is waiting to take us back to Sapa.
Depart from Sapa to Lao Cai. Along the way, we will visit Ma Tra village inhabited by the welcoming Black Hmong minority. Transfer to Lao Cai for night train to Hanoi. Overnight on train.
Day 09 . Wed 13 December 2017 : Ha noi arrival - free & easy (-) | Guide and driver
We will arrive at Hanoi train station at 5:30am where you will be picked up to your hotel. You can leave luggage there, go out for breakfast & wandering around by yourselves till check in time.
Please note: The standard check in time is 14:00. Your room may be available from 12:00 noon onwards
Day 10 . Thu 14 December 2017 : Hanoi departure (MH1134 @13:10) (B) | Driver
Freetime before the transfer to the airport at 10AM for your flight off.