Itinerary
- Day 1
Arrival in Hanoi
Your driver from Luco Travel will pick you up at Noi Bai International Airport and take you to the Old Quarter in Hanoi. After you check into your hotel, the afternoon and evening are yours to settle in and get your bearings. Wander around the neighborhood, grab a bite, or just rest after your travels.
- Start point
- Noi Bai International Airport, Sóc Sơn, Huyện Sóc Sơn, Hanoi 140800, Vietnam (Noi Bai International Airport)
- Day 2
Hanoi Sightseeing & Water Puppet Show
Your guide picks you up to see Hanoi's key sites starting with Ho Chi Minh's memorial complex, the Presidential Palace, and Uncle Ho's house on stilts. You'll also check out the One Pillar Pagoda and the Temple of Literature, which opened as Vietnam's first university back in 1076. Later you'll head to West Lake and visit Tran Quoc Buddhist Pagoda from the sixth century. After lunch at a local spot, the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology shows you the country's different ethnic groups. By evening, take a cyclo around the Old Quarter and Hoan Kiem Lake, then catch the Hanoi Water Puppet Show.
- Meals
- Lunch (Special Vietnamese food at a local restaurant)
Included Activities
- Visit Ho Chi Minh Memorial Complex
- Visit Presidential Palace
- Visit Uncle Ho's House on Stilts
- Visit One Pillar Pagoda
- Visit Temple of Literature
- Visit West Lake
- Visit Tran Quoc Buddhist Pagoda
- Visit Vietnam Museum of Ethnology
- Cyclo Tour around Hanoi's Old Quarter and Hoan Kiem Lake
- Hanoi Water Puppet Show
Landmarks Ho Chi Minh Memorial Complex Presidential Palace Ho Chi Minh's House on Stilts One Pillar Pagoda Temple of Literature West Lake Tran Quoc Buddhist Pagoda Vietnam Museum of Ethnology Hoan Kiem Lake Ngoc Son Temple - Day 3
Hanoi to Ha Long Bay Cruise
You'll head out at 8:00 AM from the hotel after breakfast, driving toward Ha Long Bay (a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its limestone formations). With a short 20-minute break along the way, you'll reach Bai Chay around midday and board your cruise. After settling in with a welcome drink and having lunch on board, you'll explore Vung Vieng Fishing Village by bamboo boat or kayak to see how local fishermen work. Watch the sunset during an evening cruise to your overnight spot. The evening offers free time with options like cooking class, board games, squid fishing, or karaoke if you're interested.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast at the hotel), Lunch (Set menu lunch aboard cruise), Dinner (Dinner aboard cruise)
Included Activities
- Cruise through Bai Tu Long Bay
- Explore Vung Vieng Fishing Village by bamboo boat or kayak
- Sunset cruise
Optional Activities
- Cooking class to learn traditional Vietnamese cuisines
- Board games
- Squid fishing
- Karaoke
Landmarks Ha Long Bay Bai Tu Long Bay Vung Vieng Fishing Village 
- Day 4
Ha Long Bay to Hanoi to Sapa Train
Early wake up at 7:00 AM for Tai Chi on deck, then breakfast follows. You'll visit Thien Canh Son Cave in Bai Tu Long Bay, which stays less crowded than other caves. Back on the cruise, relax on the sundeck or watch someone carve fruit. After checking out, you'll head back to shore and have a final lunch while cruising. You'll arrive back in Hanoi around 5:30 PM, leave your bag at the hotel, and head to the train station at 8:30 PM. Your overnight train to Sapa departs at 10:00 PM.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast aboard cruise), Lunch (Lunch aboard cruise during return to shore)
Included Activities
- Tai Chi exercise
- Visit Thien Canh Son Cave
- Fruit carving demonstration
Landmarks Thien Canh Son Cave 
- Day 5
Lao Cai to Sapa Mountain Trek
You'll roll into Lao Cai at 6:00 AM where your guide and driver meet you for breakfast at a local restaurant. About 45 minutes later you'll reach Sapa and start trekking to Cat Cat village, where the Black H'mong tribe lives and where there's an old French hydroelectric station from the 1900s. You'll see terraced rice paddies and waterfalls while learning about the tribal way of life. Lunch comes at a local restaurant before you check into your homestay in Lao Chai Village. Starting at 3:00 PM, you'll trek around Lao Chai and Ta Van Village, meeting locals and getting to know their customs.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast at local restaurant in Lao Cai), Lunch (Lunch at local restaurant)
Included Activities
- Trek to Cat Cat village
- Visit Cat Cat Hydroelectric Power Station
- Trek around Lao Chai and Ta Van Village
Landmarks Cat Cat Village Cat Cat Hydroelectric Power Station Lao Chai Village Ta Van Village 
- Day 6
Sapa Village Trek & Fansipan Mountain Cable Car
After breakfast at your homestay, you'll spend the morning exploring terraced rice fields and streams while visiting Black H'mong families across three large villages totaling over 100 families. You'll see how they live and their hospitality firsthand. Checkout happens at noon, then lunch at a local restaurant. In the afternoon, you'll head to Fansipan Mountain (Vietnam's highest peak at 3,143 meters) and take the cable car up to the top to see the panoramic views. Later a limousine van drives you back to Hanoi, arriving around 9:00 PM. Check into your hotel and wind down.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast at homestay), Lunch (Lunch at restaurant)
Included Activities
- Visit H'mong families in local villages
- Explore terraced rice fields and streams
- Cable car to Fansipan Mountain peak
Landmarks Fansipan Mountain - Day 7
Hoa Lu & Tam Coc Bamboo Boat
After breakfast you'll depart for Hoa Lu and Tam Coc, passing through beautiful countryside. In Ninh Binh province you'll visit Hoa Lu, Vietnam's ancient royal capital, and explore the Dinh King Temple and Le King Temple from the tenth century to learn their history. Then you'll drive 10 km to Tam Coc for lunch. After eating, locals will row you in a traditional bamboo boat through three caves along the Hoang Long River over about two hours, where you'll see fishermen, villages, and limestone formations. If you want, there's an optional one-hour bike ride through villages and landscapes near the restaurant. Later a van takes you back to Hanoi. Dinner is on your own.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast at hotel), Lunch (Lunch at local restaurant)
Included Activities
- Visit Hoa Lu Ancient Royal Capital
- Visit Dinh King Temple
- Visit Le King Temple
- Bamboo boat tour through Tam Coc caves
Optional Activities
- Bicycle tour of villages and landscapes (approximately one hour)
Landmarks Hoa Lu Ancient Royal Capital Dinh King Temple Le King Temple Tam Coc Hoang Long River 
- Day 8
Departure from Hanoi
This morning you have free time at the hotel to shop or relax. Your guide will then take you to Trung Nguyen Legend Coffee G7, one of the world's best-known Vietnamese coffee shops, where you can try a cup and grab some to bring home. Back at the hotel you'll check out and have lunch of traditional Vietnamese noodle soup at a local restaurant. After eating, you have time to rest or browse Dong Xuan Market before your driver takes you to the airport.
- End point
- Noi Bai International Airport, Sóc Sơn, Huyện Sóc Sơn, Hanoi 140800, Vietnam (Noi Bai International Airport)
- Meals
- Lunch (Traditional Vietnamese Noodle Soup (Phở) at local restaurant)
Included Activities
- Visit Trung Nguyen Legend Coffee G7
- Vietnamese coffee tasting
Optional Activities
- Shopping at Dong Xuan Market
Landmarks Trung Nguyen Legend Coffee G7 Dong Xuan Market
