Fly from Kuala Lumpur to Hanoi ‣ Hoan Kiem lake ‣ Thang Long H2O puppet show ‣ Evening at weekend nighttime marketplace inwards Old Quarter ‣ Overnight inwards Hanoi Aurora Hotel inwards Old Quarter
Check out from Hanoi Aurora Hotel ‣ 2D1N Halong Bay cruise ‣ Dau Go island ‣ Thien Cung cave ‣ Dinh Huong islet ‣ Overnight onboard cruise ship close Cat Ba island
Sightseeing around Sapa yesteryear motorcycle ‣ Lao Chai ‣ Ta Van ‣ Giang Ta Chai village ‣ Muong Hoa valley ‣ Cat Cat hamlet & waterfall ‣ Overnight inwards Sapa Cozy Hotel
Sightseeing around Hanoi yesteryear motorcycle ‣ Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum ‣ One Pillar Pagoda ‣ West Lake ‣ Temple of Literature ‣ Overnight inwards Hanoi Aurora Hotel inwards Old Quarter
8.15 am - Arrival at Noi Bai International Airport yesteryear flying (Air Asia) - RM 433 (return)
Immigration clearance
9.00 am - Walk around the exterior of the airdrome to aspect for shipping to Hanoi. Spotted airdrome shuttle vans parked close the taxi stands
Ride airdrome shuttle (Vietnam Airlines) to Old Quarter - $2
Arriving inwards Noi Bai international airport
Arrival inwards Old Quarter & Hotel Check-in
10.00 am - Arrive in addition to drop-off at Quang Trung street (located southwest of Hoan Kiem lake)
Walk to Old Quarter (under 20 minutes). Alternatively, if you lot don't experience similar walking, you lot tin give the axe also ride a xe om (motorcycle taxi) to Old Quarter for well-nigh $2-3
Changed some coin to vietnamese dong at a currency exchange
11.00 am - Arrival & check-in to Hanoi Aurora Hotel - $15 per night. Staying for two nights (total cost - $30)
Quick shower in addition to rest
One of the easiest in addition to cheapest ways to teach from the airdrome to Hanoi is yesteryear airdrome shuttle. Taking Vietnam Airlines' airdrome shuttle, you lot volition live on dropped off at their role close Old Quarter
Settling inwards to my room at Hanoi Aurora hotel. Conveniently located, the hotel is exactly minutes away from everything at that spot is to run into inwards Old Quarter
Sightseeing around Hoan Kiem Lake
12.00 pm - Walk around Old Quarter to aspect for teach by prices, peculiarly for twenty-four lx minutes menses trips. Bought Tam Coc twenty-four lx minutes menses trip from a tour agent - $17
2.00 pm - Walk to Hoan Kiem lake (under xv minutes)
Lunch - Vietnamese hotdog (10,000 dong)
Stopover at Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre to purchase a ticket for the 8pm present - 60,000 dong
Paid the entrance ticket for Ngoc Son temple - 20,000 dong
Strolled around the picturesque lake. Plenty of photograph opportunities include The Huc bridge, Ngoc Son temple in addition to Thap Rua (Turtle Tower)
6.00 pm - Photo halt at St. Joseph's cathedral
Dinner - Chicken pho (40,000 dong)
Old Quarter, Hanoi
Walking across The Huc distich to teach to Ngoc Son temple
Hoan Kiem lake, Ngoc Son Temple in addition to The Huc distich inwards 1 shot
Thap Rua, 1 of Hanoi's to a greater extent than recognizable landmarks
St. Joseph's Cathedral, the oldest church building inwards Hanoi
Thang Long Water Puppet Show
8.00 pm - Walk to Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre to ticker the H2O puppet present (about l minutes). Quite an interesting present but the dorsum row spot I got was rather cramped
9.00 pm - Head dorsum to hotel for quick shower
Night falls on a busy street inwards Old Quarter, Hanoi. Thang Long H2O puppet house is the edifice on the left
There are enough of H2O puppet shows inwards Vietnam, but Thang Long is supposedly 1 of the to a greater extent than famous ones. Ticket prices vary from 60,000 dong (back row seat) to 100,000 dong (front row seat). If you lot wishing a fleck to a greater extent than comfort, pay a fleck to a greater extent than for forepart row seats, you'll give thank you lot me later
Weekend Night Market inwards Old Quarter
10.00 pm - Walk around the weekend nighttime marketplace close the hotel where I stayed
The marketplace is pretty huge in addition to volition conduct keep several hours to run into it inwards its entirety. There are enough of bars in addition to alive street performances to go on you lot entertained throughout your fourth dimension here
12.00 am - Return to hotel
Walking from my hotel inwards Ma May street to the weekend nighttime market
Another component division of Ma May street. Really loved the atmosphere hither at night
Watching a band performing on the street. There's in addition to then much to eat, run into in addition to create here, it's exactly crazy, I could teach on forever if I were to listing all of them here
The weekend nighttime marketplace is huge in addition to volition likely conduct keep you lot hours to run into everything
Loving these pastries sold inwards the nighttime market. The sushi's non too bad either
Trying out a local dessert, it's che thai amongst thot not. Couldn't utter vietnamese that well, in addition to then I'm similar 'whatever this is, I'll conduct keep what she's having'
Getting create for Hoa Lu - Tam Coc twenty-four lx minutes menses trip
7.00 am - Wake upward in addition to breakfast (provided yesteryear hotel)
8.30 am - Pickup at hotel yesteryear minibus (arranged yesteryear the tour company) to Ninh Binh province
Hoa Lu
11.00 am - Photo halt at Hoa Lu, our get-go stopover inwards Ninh Binh. The chief depict of Hoa Lu is that it used to live on the ancient uppercase of Vietnam, earlier Hanoi. There's piddling to run into hither too admiring some quaint architecture amidst a backdrop of impressive limestone karsts
Hoa Lu, the ancient uppercase of Vietnam
Standing on the distich to Hoa Lu in addition to looking out at the countryside inwards the distance
Inside Hoa Lu
Dinh Tien Hoang temple inwards Hoa Lu
Tam Coc
12.30 pm - Stopover for luncheon at Tam Coc wharf
Lunch - Mixed rice amongst tofu (provided inwards tour package)
1.00 pm - Free fourth dimension (about 1 hour) to explore Tam Coc. Optionally, you lot tin give the axe rent a wheel for $5 in addition to pedal yourself around the outlying villages in addition to rice fields
Tam Coc wharf
Rowboats lining the wharf
Exploring Tam Coc on foot
Van Long Nature Reserve
2.00 pm - Depart Tam Coc
There are at to the lowest degree iii sites where you lot tin give the axe pay to teach on a rowboat in addition to explore the natural beauty of Ninh Binh - Tam Coc, Trang An in addition to Van Long
Tam Coc is the most famous in addition to touristy of the three, in addition to Trang An is catered to a greater extent than to tourists who paid a premium for their trips. The 1 I went to was Van Long (which I assume would live on the budget option). You teach what you lot paid for inwards Vietnam!
2.30 pm - Arrive inwards Van Long. Hopped onto a rowboat in addition to was rowed upward in addition to downwards the flow (each administration takes well-nigh an hour)
The scenery along the way is jaw-droppingly beautiful. From fourth dimension to time, you lot volition live on handed a paddle to assist row in addition to a torchlight to assist illuminate the way when entering caves
5.00 pm - Back to starting point. Tipped the lady who rowed us for two hours - $5
Van Long nature reserve close Tam Coc
Rowing around the Van Long nature reserve. At times, you lot may live on expected to assist out a piddling in addition to then don't live on alarmed, it's all component division of the experience, I think
Rowing into 1 of the many caves along the way. Mind your caput equally you lot enter, some of the caves conduct keep a depression ceiling
The occasional sight of local folk exactly going well-nigh their business
Back to Hanoi
5.30 pm - Depart Ninh Binh for Hanoi
7.30 pm - Arrived dorsum inwards Old Quarter. Dropped off close the H2O puppet theatre
Went dorsum to hotel to freshen upward after a long day
Dinner - Vietnamese fried rice (45,000 dong)
8.30 pm - Walk around Old Quarter to aspect for teach by Halong Bay packages in addition to transfers to Sapa
Bought a ticket for the nighttime motorbus to Sapa (one way) - $11
Settled on a 2D1N packet for Halong Bay, bought from a tour agent - $45
Note: If you're going the budget route, endeavor non to entertain requests to 'upgrade' your package, it's most probable a scam (unless you're extremely for certain the tour agent tin give the axe live on trusted). For example, you lot teach requests from a tour agent to pay a fleck to a greater extent than to live on upgraded to a newer in addition to 'supposedly better' junk, but you lot halt upward getting the same junk equally everyone else who paid less. The options you lot teach when you lot pay less than $100 for a Halong cruise is to a greater extent than or less the same
9.30 pm - Walk around the weekend nighttime market
7.00 am - Wake upward in addition to breakfast (provided yesteryear hotel)
Pack upward in addition to check-out from hotel
7.30 am - Pickup at hotel yesteryear minibus (arranged yesteryear the tour company) to Halong Bay
Arrival at Halong Bay
1.00 pm - Arrive at Bai Chay tourist wharf, gateway to Halong Bay
Some newspaper clearance earlier getting onto our junk
1.30 pm - Depart the wharf for Halong Bay on a junk
Lunch - Rice in addition to a multifariousness of seafood dishes (included inwards tour package)
Our carry to Halong dropped us off close Bai Chay tourist wharf
Entrance to Bai Chay tourist wharf
A junk departing the wharf for Halong Bay
Dau Go Island & Thien Cung Cave
2.15 pm - Arrival at Dau Go island, an island with towering limestone karsts, just off the coast. The chief betoken of involvement hither is Thien Cung cave, a rattling picturesque cave. There are also a few ticker points perched along the cliffs for those wanting to teach a amend catch of the island
3.30 pm - Depart Dau Go isle for Cat Ba island
Dau Go island
Beautiful stalactite in addition to stalagmite formations inwards Thien Cung cave
Cave opening at a unlike component division of Thien Cung cave
View from 1 of the ticker points perched along the cliffs of Dau Go island
Around Halong Bay
Photo ops enroute to Cat Ba island
A betoken of involvement to aspect out for along the way is the Dinh Huong islet (commonly referred to equally Incense Burner islet, which is featured on the 200,000 dong note)
Sailing across Halong Bay
Some of the sights you lot volition run into along the way
If you lot had coin to splurge, you lot could opt for the to a greater extent than expensive cruises
Interesting limestone formations
Dinh Huong islet, a pop sight inwards Halong Bay, is prominently featured on the 200,000 dong note
Cat Ba Island
5.00 pm - Arrival at Cat Ba island. After dropping off some passengers, our junk is moored exactly off the coast for the night
5.30 pm - Check-in to room on deck. Found it to live on quite comfortable but non rattling clean
Not much else to create too taking inwards the sights, kayaking or exactly only lazing on the sundeck. Keep on the ticker for floating shops who volition move from junk to junk to peddle nutrient in addition to drinks
Dinner - Rice in addition to a multifariousness of seafood dishes (included inwards tour package) & Halong beer (40,000 dong)
10.00 pm - Overnight on junk
Kayaking is exactly 1 of the few activities you lot could create spell on a Halong Bay cruise
Don't worry if you lot forgot to stock on snacks in addition to drinks earlier going on the cruise, the floating store has you lot covered
My cabin for the night. Wasn't rattling create clean but it was okay for the toll I paid
There wasn't much to run into or create on the junk at night, in addition to then I exactly hung out at the dining expanse earlier going to bed
Concluding the Halong Bay 2D1N trip & Back to Bai Chay
8.00 am - Wake upward in addition to breakfast
Breakfast - English linguistic communication breakfast & java (included inwards tour package)
Photo ops of surroundings. Our junk docked at Cat Ba isle pier for well-nigh an hour, giving me an chance to explore the expanse for a bit. Do Federal Reserve annotation you lot conduct keep to pay an entrance fee to come inwards Cat Ba isle from the pier (20,000 dong)
Pack upward in addition to room check-out
10.00 am - Depart Cat Ba isle for Bai Chay
Stopped for a spell at Cat Ba isle earlier heading dorsum to Bai Chay
Halong City to Hanoi
11.30 am - Arrival inwards Bai Chay tourist wharf. Pickup yesteryear minibus to Halong City for lunch
Lunch - Rice amongst mixed dishes (included inwards tour package)
Photo ops of environs inwards Halong City
1.00 pm - Depart Halong City on minibus for Hanoi
In Halong City for luncheon in addition to sightseeing
Hanoi to Sapa yesteryear bus
6.00 pm - Arrival inwards Old Quarter. Walk around for a fleck earlier taking the nighttime motorbus to Sapa
Dinner - Beef salad (40,000 dong)
7.00 pm - Walk to tour way to hold off for carry to My Dinh motorbus station. Taxi to My Dinh motorbus station (included inwards motorbus ticket price)
9.30 pm - Night motorbus to Sapa. Ride was quite bumpy in addition to uncomfortable, but managed to teach some slumber earlier the long twenty-four lx minutes menses ahead
2.00 am - Arrive inwards Lao Cai. There weren't whatsoever buses going upward to Sapa at this time, in addition to then I pretty much slept inwards the motorbus until morning
6.00 am - Short photograph ops of the surrounding expanse earlier taking a minibus to Sapa (arranged yesteryear the motorbus company)
Arrival inwards Lao Cai
Lao Cai to Sapa
7.00 am - Depart Lao Cai for Sapa after a fleck of delay
Enroute to Sapa, nosotros passed yesteryear Trung Chai hamlet in addition to got a glimpse of the rice terraces Sapa was in addition to then famous for. As wintertime came a fleck early on this year, visibility got poorer the higher nosotros went up
8.30 am - Arrival inwards Sapa town. The conditions was pretty frigid (around 6-10 degrees)
9.00 am - Check-in to Sapa Cozy hotel - $9 per night. Staying for two nights (total cost - $18). Room was pretty cozy equally the cite suggests, solely work is that you lot conduct keep to pay extra for heater!
Sapa town area
Cozying to my room inwards Sapa Cozy hotel. No heater unless you lot pay extra though, which would've been overnice since it tin give the axe teach pretty frigid at night
Around Sapa town
10.00 am - Walk to Sapa town centre (under 20 minutes)
Photo halt at Sapa stone church. Visibility remained piteous throughout the morning, though at that spot were some hints of sunlight
Spotted a local motorbus parked close the church, which you lot tin give the axe conduct keep downwards to Lao Cai. Costs 20,000 dong per way
Changed some coin into vietnamese dong at a currency telephone substitution (opposite U Sapa Hotel)
Photo halt at Sapa Market. There were enough of cafes in addition to restaurants along the chief street
Breakfast at Sapa Newstar French Bakery - Bacon omelette & chocolate moist cake (85,000 dong). Loved it in addition to then much I came dorsum hither for breakfast the adjacent few days!
12.00 pm - Return to hotel
Walking from my hotel to Sapa town centre
Passed yesteryear Sapa stone church building on the way
View of Sapa town centre
Walking around Sapa Market
Hmong people are a mutual sight inwards Sapa. Some utter surprisingly expert English, in addition to volition oftentimes inquire if you lot wishing to purchase something or conduct keep upward a individual tour amongst them
Having breakfast inwards Sapa Newstar French Bakery, which inwards my sentiment is 1 of the nicest cafes inwards Sapa
Bacon omelette amongst baguette for breakfast. Nice in addition to cheap
Motorcycling to Ta Phin in addition to Trung Chai village
1.00 pm - Walk around expanse close my hotel to aspect for inexpensive motorbike rentals
Rent a motorbike from a tour agent for one-half twenty-four lx minutes menses - $4 (bargained downwards from $5)
Refuel at the nearest gas station (located on the way down) - 50,000 dong
Photo halt at Sapa lake. To my relief, the conditions cleared upward a bit
2.00 pm - Photo halt at Ta Phin hamlet (30 minutes)
On the way down, I had to halt every in addition to then oftentimes to warm up, the conditions was that biting cold!
3.30 pm - Photo halt at Trung Chai village. There's a ticker betoken nearby where you lot tin give the axe teach expert views of the rice terraces in addition to mount ranges beyond
Trekked downwards the rice terraces to teach a unopen upward view
5.00 pm - Return to Sapa town
Another component division of Sapa town, closer to the hotel I stayed in
Sapa lake
Road into the foggy unknown
View of rice terraces on the way to Trung Chai
The valley close Trung Chai
Further downwards the valley
Exploring this tiny route along the mountainside close Trung Chai
Back inwards Sapa town
6.30 pm - Arrive dorsum inwards Sapa. Returned the motorbike dorsum to the tour agent's office
Return to hotel for quick shower in addition to rest
Dinner - Fried rice & Lao Cai beer (80,000 dong)
8.00 pm - Walk around Sapa lake, at that spot are a few cafes around the expanse where you lot tin give the axe sit down downwards for a loving cup of java in addition to relax
10.00 pm - Return to hotel
On the way dorsum to Sapa. Never underestimate the conditions around this time. Had to halt a few times because it was freezing cold!
Motorcycling to Lao Chai, Ta Van in addition to Giang Ta Chai village
8.00 am - Wake upward in addition to quick shower
Rent motorbike from the same store for a total twenty-four lx minutes menses - $5. Fortunately, the motorbike I got has been filled upward already, in addition to then no involve to refuel! :D
Breakfast at Sapa Newstar - Bacon omelette & hot java (55,000 dong)
9.00 am - Ride downwards the route along Muong Hoa valley
9.30 am - Photo halt at Lao Chai hamlet (30 minutes). Visibility remained piteous throughout. The thick mist gave the hamlet a 'silent hill' sort of vibe to it
10.30 am - Photo halt at Ta Van hamlet (30 minutes). Thankfully, the conditions started to clear upward a bit, giving me a brusque window to conduct keep enough of expert pictures
11.30 am - Photo halt at Giang Ta Chai hamlet (30 minutes). Weather remained expert throughout but is constantly shifting, allowing me solely a few brusque moments to conduct keep pictures of the valley beyond
Pressed farther on, but decided to telephone vociferation upward it a twenty-four lx minutes menses as the route was getting less in addition to less traversable (almost roughshod a few times due to muddy terrain in addition to my path was blocked yesteryear ongoing structure of a highway inwards the area)
12.30 pm - Return to Sapa town
Sapa town enveloped inwards the mists
Silent hill
Somewhere close Giang Ta Chai
Back to Sapa town
Cat Cat Village
1.30 pm - Back inwards Sapa town
Lunch - Rice amongst stir-fried chicken in addition to vegetables, hot vegetable soup in addition to java (90,000 dong)
2.00 pm - Ride to Cat Cat village. Paid the entrance fee - 40,000 dong
Very touristy but constitute it to live on a expert experience if you lot don't wishing to pass hours trekking exactly to run into a Hmong village
3.00 pm - Photo halt at Cat Cat waterfall
Watched some traditional performances earlier heading for the exit. The render trip is a long 1km uphill trek. Fortunately, at that spot are hirable xe oms to conduct keep you lot dorsum to the exit
5.00 pm - Return to Sapa town centre
Rice terraces inwards Cat Cat Village
Taking the path downwards to Cat Cat village
Cat Cat waterfall at the bottom of the path
Back to Sapa town
6.00 pm - Returned the motorbike dorsum to the tour agent
Bought a develop ticket dorsum to Hanoi - $29 (one way develop ticket summation transfer to Lao Cai). This was due to my not-so-pleasant experience I had amongst the nighttime motorbus in addition to that I wanted a unlike experience going back
7.00 pm - Return to hotel for a quick shower
Dinner at Am Thuc Sapa - Vietnamese barbeque (120,000 dong - rip-off!)
8.00 pm - Walk around Sapa's chief street. Still rattling lively despite it beingness depression flavour inwards Sapa
10.00 pm - Return to hotel
You tin give the axe uncovering vietnamese barbeque almost everywhere inwards Sapa, 1 of them is Am Thuc Sapa. There's enough of pick hither but the prices leaves much to live on desired
Initially planned to ride upward the route going towards Thac Bac, to run into Silver Falls in addition to Heaven's Gate, but decided to telephone vociferation upward it off due to worsening weather
10.00 am - Breakfast at Sapa Newstar - Bacon omelette & hot tea (55,000 dong)
11.00 am - Decided to pass some fourth dimension at Hamrong Mountain, located a brusque distance away. Paid entrance fee - 70,000 dong
The landscaped gardens are pretty nice, but there's only non much to run into during depression season
The walk upward to the top of Hamrong Mountain. If you lot are having problem finding this place, here's a hint. The entrance is behind the Sapa stone church
There wasn't much going on inwards Hamrong around this time, due to depression season. Still a expert identify to teach to if you lot similar photography though
Around Sapa town 1 terminal time
1.00 pm - Pack upward in addition to check-out from hotel
Lunch amongst a travelling companion I met previously on the nighttime motorbus to Sapa - Spaghetti & Lao Cai beer (85,000 dong)
3.00 pm - Last infinitesimal shopping for souvenirs inwards Sapa market
5.00 pm - Ride minibus (arranged yesteryear tour agent) to Lao Cai
Busy Hmong ladies at operate inwards the market. Some offering to personalize your souvenirs if you lot purchase from them
Last infinitesimal souvenir shopping earlier heading off to Lao Cai
Lao Cai to Hanoi yesteryear train
6.30 pm - Dropped off at Lao Cai motorbus station. Ga Lao Cai (Lao Cai develop station) is exactly 10 minutes away on foot
7.20 pm - Board nighttime develop to Hanoi. The soft berths are pretty create clean in addition to comfortable spell the develop ride wasn't equally rocky equally I expected. Overall, my experience was a lot amend compared to taking the nighttime bus
5.30 am - Train arrival at Ga Hanoi (Hanoi develop station)
Even at this hour, at that spot are enough of xe oms waiting exterior the develop station, which you lot tin give the axe conduct keep to your location of choice
Walk to Old Quarter (under 1 hour)
7.00 am - Arrival at Old Quarter
Breakfast at a roadside stall - Congee (20,000 dong)
Arrival at Hanoi develop station
Motorcycling to Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum & One Pillar Pagoda
8.00 am - Check-in to Hanoi Aurora Hotel - $15 per nighttime (staying for 1 night). Room wasn't create yet, in addition to then I stored my luggage at the reception
Rent motorbike from reception - $4 (renting for 1 day)
Traffic inwards Hanoi tin give the axe live on pretty unpredictable, brand for certain you lot article of apparel a helmet in addition to do caution at all times
A betoken of involvement to aspect out for along the way is Long Bien bridge, 1 of Hanoi's famous landmarks
9.00 am - Photo halt at Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum (30 minutes). Ba Dinh Square (opposite the mausoleum) was closed off to visitors but I was yet able to see the mausoleum yesteryear going circular the back
10.00 am - Photo halt at One Pillar Pagoda (30 minutes). The pagoda is located exactly a brusque distance away from the mausoleum. Wasn't required to pay whatsoever entrance fees
Motorcycling around Hanoi. Keep your eyes on the route in addition to wits well-nigh you lot equally traffic inwards Hanoi tin give the axe live on pretty unpredictable
Ho Chi Minh mausoleum, the terminal resting identify of 1 of Vietnam's most prominent figures
One Pillar Pagoda is located exactly around the corner from where Ba Dinh foursquare is
West Lake & Tran Quoc Pagoda
11.00 am - Photo halt at West Lake (30 minutes). Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 vast, picturesque lake, exactly northeast of Old Quarter
12.00 pm - Photo halt at Tran Quoc Pagoda, located close West Lake. The pagoda is pretty modest in addition to tin give the axe live on seen inwards less than an hour. No entrance fees required
West Lake, Hanoi
Another catch of the West Lake, Hanoi
Tran Quoc Pagoda
Temple of Literature
1.30 pm - Photo halt at Temple of Literature, reputed to live on get-go academy inwards Vietnam. It's also featured on the dorsum of the 100,000 dong note. Paid the entrance fee - 20,000 dong
Lunch at a roadside stall - Vietnamese hotdog (15,000 dong)
During my visit, it was pretty crowded equally at that spot was a graduation ceremony going on
Entrance into Temple of Literature, the get-go academy inwards Vietnam
The good kept gardens within Temple of Literature
Khue Van Cac, 1 of gates at the Temple of Literature
Around Old Quarter 1 terminal time
3.00 pm - Return to hotel for some residue in addition to relaxation
Booked a taxi to airdrome equally I had an early on flying to select handgrip of the adjacent morning time - $11
7.00 pm - Walk around weekend nighttime marketplace inwards Old Quarter
8.00 pm - Last infinitesimal shopping for souvenirs
Dinner - Stir-fried beef amongst garlic & rice (50,000 dong) in addition to Hanoi beer (5,000 dong)