Vietnam Travel

Nature and Beach Tour 10 Days

Destination: Hanoi - Cuc Phuong - Ba Be - Ha Long - Quan Lan

Highlights: Reveal the mystery of nature through the attracting tour embracing the nature and charming beaches. You'll take the chance to go through a subtropical forest, rich in flora and fauna with thousand-year-old trees and dripping vines. The road to Ba Be National Park opens a striking view of nountain scenery. Many birds settled in the dense forest are waiting for your discovery. It can't be boring to explore the Prehistory Cave, the Fairy Pond and fantastic Dau Dang Water Fall.

Detail Itinerary

Code: B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner, G = Guide

Day 1: Arrival at Hanoi (D, G)

Arriving at Noi Bai airport in Hanoi, you'll be met and driven to your hotel.

17.15: You'll be picked up to watch the Water Puppet show an art form unique to northern Vietnam, and a good, light-hearted introduction to its rural culture.

18.30: Your Welcome Dinner will be served at one of the good local restaurant.

You'll spend the night in Hanoi.

Day 2: Hanoi/Cuc Phuong/Hanoi (B, L, G)

8.00 - 10.00: Pick up at your hotel and then drive to Cuc Phuong National Park

10.00 - 12.30: You’ll be able to wander through a subtropical forest, rich in flora and fauna with thousand-year-old trees and dripping vines, visiting the Prehistory Cave and the Endangered Primate Rescue Centre en-route. The Endangered Primate Rescue Centre is a temporary home for many gibbons and langurs that have been injured, or have been orphaned by poachers. Among them are two of the rarest species in the world, Delacourt’s Langur, now confined to two or three spots in North Vietnam, and the elegant Cat Ba Golden Langur, now reduced to a colony of around 50 individuals in Cat Ba Island National Park. Strenuous efforts are being made to conserve both species. When those in the rescue centre have regained their strength, a carefully staged programme will release them into the wild.

12.30 - 13.45: You'll have lunch at the park centre.

13.45 - 16.45: You'll visit a Endangered Primate Rescue Centre en-route and return to Hanoi for your overnight accommodation.

Day 3: Hanoi/Ba Be (B, L, D, G)

8.00 - 12.00: Our car and driver will pick up at your hotel to drive 240km to Ba Be National Park.

12.00 - 13.00: You'll stop on the way to have lunch at local restaurant.

13.00 - 15.00: After lunch, the road will take you through striking mountain scenery. On arrival, you'll check in your hotel in the park centre. The rest day, you can enjoy a sunset and stroll in the crisp forest air before dinner. You�ll spend the night in Ba Be National Park.

Day 4: Ba Be (B, L, D, G)

After a breakfast at your hotel, you'll pick up one of the motorboat to cruise around the Ba Be Lake which was known as Pe Lam, Pe Lu, Pe Leng. Following the Tay ethnic language, these word means "three lake".

8.30 - 11.30: You'll visit Puong Cave and then the Fairy Pond, set in dense forest with many birds.

11.30 - 13.30: You'll cruise to visit Dau Dang Water Fall that is quite sightworthy and have picnic lunch on the way.

13.30 - 15.00: You'll take a motorboat again to visit Horse Saddle Mountain. Your day will be finished by taking a short walk to the village of Tay people near by.

You'll spend the night in Ba Be.

Day 5: Ba Be/Hanoi (B, L, G)

8.30 - 10.00: You'll be driven to visit weekly market of the minority people near Ba Be National park.

10.00 - 16.00: Drive back to Hanoi. You'll have lunch on the way.

You'll spend the night in Hanoi.

Day 6: Hanoi/Ha Long/Quan Lan (B, L, D, G)

8.30: You’ll leave for Ha Long Bay, one of the most spectacular UNESCO World Heritage Areas and the world’s largest marine limestone ‘karst’ landscape.

10.00: You'll take a short break at Hong Ngoc Embroidery workshop.

10.30 - 12.00: You'll continue driving to Ha Long Bay.

12.00 - 16.00: You’ll board your boat, a wooden junk built from the model of the old Vietnamese court vessels. It will take you first to the World Heritage area and cruise through the Bai Tu Long Bay to Quan Lan Island. You’ll be able to swim on the emerald water in Ha Long Bay. Your lunch will be provided on board, usually based on fresh seafood.

16.00 - 16.30: When you’ll dock at Quan Lan, a three wheels motorbike and driver will be waiting for you to take you and your luggage to your resort. The remainder of the day will be your own for swimming, sunbathing or just relaxing. Your dinner will be server at the hotel. You'll spend the night on Quan Lan Island.

Although it’s straightforward to travel to and from Quan Lan, there’s virtually no English spoken on this remote island apart from a few people at the ATI resort. We’ve included a guide, but if you’re not concerned about communication difficulties and prefer to do your own thing, we’ll provide you with accommodation and transfers, and leave you to your own devices. There are a few telephones on the island, including a line at the ATI resort, but the connection is often hit and miss.

Day 7 to Day 8: Quan Lan (B, L, D, G)

All day free to lie down on the white sandy beach as you wish. You'll probably consider to cycle to the centre of the island to visit the local market before heading to the snow-white sands of deserted Minh Chau beach, about 15km from your bungalow. You'll spend the night on Quan Lan Island.

Day 9: Quan Lan/Hanoi (B, L, G)

8.00 - 8.30: Breakfast at your hotel

8.30 - 12.45: You're on the three wheels motorbike returns up the harbour for a four-hour cruise back to Ha Long. You'll have lunch on boat.

12.45 - 16.00: Your car and driver are waiting for you at the harbour to take you back to Hanoi. On the way, you'll have a brief visit at one of the rural village and enjoy the traditional life of the agriculture country. You'll spend the night in Hanoi.

Day 10: Hanoi departure (B)

You'll be free to shop at some of the local market before being driven to the airport for your international departure flight.

Prices per person in US$:

Number of people	2	3-5	6-9	10-15	Single Supplement
Two Stars	648	558	453	404
Three Stars	695	606	499	449
Four Stars	777	688	582	534
Five Stars	823	733	628	579

Valid until December 31, 2007

Surcharge for peak season of hotels are not inclusive in the prices above.

Prices include:

Breakfast and accommodation in twin or double room.
Private boats cruise as programme.
Travel by private, air-conditioned vehicle with an experienced driver.
Experienced English-speaking tour guide as indicated in the itinerary.
Entry fees for all sightseeing as mentioned in the programme.
Lunches and dinners, as specified, in the local restaurants and on the boat in Ha Long Bay.
Government Taxes.