05 DAYS NORTHWESTERN HILL TRIBE MARKETS WITH VICTORIA EXPRESS

05 DAYS NORTHWESTERN HILL TRIBE MARKETS WITH VICTORIA EXPRESS
Private tour (HANSPNHTV05): Departure from Hanoi on MONDAY with local English-speaking guide (other language speaking guides at surcharge)

DAY 1: HANOI – NIGHT TRAIN TO LAO CAI ON VICTORIA EXPRESS (-/-/-)

MONDAY Meet at your hotel in Hanoi at around 20:00 hrs and transfer to Hanoi train station. Overnight train trip to Lao Cai in superior 4-berth compartments sharing with other passengers. Train departs at approximately 21:50 hrs.

Notes:
Train schedule is subject to change.
Private compartments on request at surcharge.
Train journeys are part of a great local experience. Cabins are shared with other local passengers (unless private cabin is requested and all berths paid for - with supplement). Restrooms at either end of the carriages complete the local experience.
Our tour guide will not accompany you during the train trip.

Meals included: none

DAY 2: LAO CAI – COC LY MARKET – SAPA   (B/L/D)

TUESDAY
Early morning (approximately 06:30 hrs) arrival at Lao Cai, the border town to Yunnan, China. Meet your local tour guide and have breakfast at a local restaurant.

Take a 2-hour drive to Coc Ly Market, situated between stunning mountains by the Chay River. Every Tuesday morning, ethnic minority people, such as Flower H’mong, Phu La and Dao Tuyen, come from surrounding villages to gather, sell or barter their produce. Explore the market. Then take a boat trip to Na Nen, a village of the Flower H’mong ethnic minority people and trek to Trung Do, a village of the Tay ethnic minority people. Have picnic lunch in a local house. From there you will take a boat trip down the river and enjoy the magnificent sight of the rugged gorges. Disembark at Bao Nhai village. Pick up and drive to Sapa.
Accommodation at Topas Ecolodge

Meals included: Breakfast at local restaurant
Picnic lunch
Dinner at hotel

DAY 3: SAPA – FULL DAY TREKKING (B/L/D)

WEDNESDAY After breakfast, check-out and transfer to Ta Van for a full trekking day up to Sapa town. You will start from Ta Van village of the Giay ethnic minority people. Trekking up the Muong Hoa Valley, you will see the largest terraced rice fields in the Sapa area which offer stunning views in May when the local farmers prepare the land and in October during the rice harvest. The trek takes you from Lao Chai village of the Black H'mong to Y Linh Ho, another village of the Black H'mong. Follow a dirt trail and enjoy the spectacular scenery while trekking along a narrow stream until you reach Cat Cat, a Black H’mong ethnic minority village just 3 km from Sapa town. A leisurely walk through the old village offers you an overview of the traditional customs and practices of the ethnic Black H’mong people. You will then be transferred to your hotel in Sapa town.
Dinner and accommodation at Victoria Sapa Resort, Superior room

Meals included: Breakfast at hotel
Picnic lunch
Dinner at hotel

DAY 4: SAPA – BINH LU MARKET – HANOI ON VICTORIA EXPRESS (B/L/D)

THURSDAY After breakfast, check-out and drive up Tram Ton Pass. Enjoy a short walk to Silver Waterfall and then head to Heaven’s Gate, where you will be amazed by breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains including Mt. Fansipan, the highest peak of Indochina. At 3,143 metres above sea level, it is often referred to as the roof of Indochina. The drive will be mostly downhill (approximately 1.5 hours) towards Binh Lu Market. Visit Chu Va village of the Red H'mong minority on the way before reaching Binh Lu township. Have picnic lunch at a local restaurant. Trek through the rice fields to Pa Pe village, home of Lu and Thai ethnic minority people. Return to the hotel in Sapa to pick up your luggage and transfer to Lao Cai with an en route visit to Ta Phin, a Red Dzao ethnic minority village.
Arrive at Lao Cai railway station and board the Victoria Express for Hanoi.
Have dinner and overnight on Victoria Express in a superior 4-berth compartment sharing with other passengers.

Notes:
Train schedule is subject to change.
Private compartments on request at surcharge.
Train journeys are part of a great local experience. Cabins are shared with other local passengers (unless private cabin is requested and all berths paid for - with supplement). Restrooms at either end of the carriages complete the local experience.
Our tour guide will not accompany you during the train trip.

Meals included: Breakfast at hotel
Picnic lunch
Dinner on train in the dining car of Victoria Express

DAY 5: HANOI (-/-/-)
FRIDAY
Early morning arrival in Hanoi (approximately 05:45 hrs.) Transfer to your hotel (accommodation in Hanoi is not included) or to Hanoi / Noi Bai International Airport at surcharge.

Meals included: None
“WE WISH YOU AN ENJOYABLE JOURNEY”
SPECIAL NOTE
Bring along - Light cotton dress / trousers
- Warm jacket (rain and wind)
- Mosquito repellent
- Good walking / hiking shoes
- A walking stick
- Sun hat / sun lotion
- Hand lotion
- Lip balm
Roads - Driving can be a challenge as roads can be bumpy or under construction
- Driving time depends on weather and road conditions – only rough estimates can be given
Reward - Stunning scenery
- Most colourful people and dresses
TOUR PRICE

(*)  Child policy:
• Discounted rates are applicable for 1 child (from 2 – 11 years of age) accompanied by 2 full-paying passengers (in other words, for every 2 full-paying participants 1 child is entitled to the special child rate).
OUR TOUR PRICES ARE INCLUSIVE OF
Accommodation in shared twin room with air-condition (AC) and private bathroom
Meals as stated in the programme B= breakfast, L= lunch, D= dinner
Transfers to/from Hanoi railway station with local English or French-speaking guides in private air-conditioned vehicles
Transfers and tours in Sapa with local English-speaking guide in private air-conditioned vehicle
All entrance fees as mentioned in the programme
Local train ticket Hanoi – Lao Cai – Hanoi on Victoria Express a superior 4-berth compartment sharing with other passengers
Drinking water and cold towels available on the vehicles
NOT INCLUDED ARE
• Domestic airfare (quoted separately, if requested)
• International airfare to / from Vietnam (quoted separately, if requested)
• Optional tours
• Surcharges for other language guides
• Surcharges for Lunar New Year (TET) holiday
• Personal travel insurance
• Personal expenditure, such as drinks, souvenirs, laundry, camera fees, communications, postage, gratuities etc.
• Meals and services other than mentioned in the programme
• Drinks with meals
• Compulsory gala dinners during festive seasons and peak season surcharges which will be advised at the time of booking
• Visa application and visa stamp fees at Vietnamese embassies overseas and/ or upon arrival (Please note that a visa is compulsory for most nationalities.)
• Early check-in and late check-out at hotels, if not mentioned in the programme
CANCELLATIONSNS
• Refunds will not be given for unused or cancelled services after the tour arrangements have commenced.

• FIT (Individuals): Cancellation charges are calculated from the day the written notification is received by the company or agent as a percentage of the net total tour price as shown plus any surcharges (e.g. ticketed air sectors, other penalties imposed by suppliers such as hotels):
• Between 29- 21 days before departure:  According to the costs incurred will be charged
• Between 20 days and 15 days prior to departure: 25% of package price
• Between 14 days and 8 days prior to departure: 50% of package price
• Between 07 days and 2 days prior to departure: 75% of package price
• 1 day prior to departure or no show:   100% of package price

• GIT (Groups): Cancellation of tours due to minimum number of participants will be advised 6 weeks before departure of the tour; in which case Happy Go Travel will offer an alternative tour of a similar standard or a full refund. Cancellation policy for GIT bookings will be advised separately case by case.

• HOTEL ONLY
• Between 29- 21 days before departure:  no charge
• Between 20 days and 15 days prior to departure: 60% of accommodation price
• Between 14 days and 0 days prior to departure: 100% of accommodation price

• Certain Hotels impose stricter cancellation policies which will be advised separately.
PLEASE NOTE
• For air ticket reservations, we require the guests’ full names AS THEY APPEAR IN THEIR PASSPORTS. Airfares and reservations are always subject to change until paid in full and ticketed.
• Airfares are subject to increase without prior notice.
• Please be advised that prices will be adjusted periodically in case of fuel price increase by our suppliers.
• This is a quotation only and neither reservations for services nor hotel bookings have been made.
• Small deviations in the tour program are sometimes necessary, depending on weather, road conditions, flight schedules and room availability.

CONTACT INFORMATION OF HAPPY GO TRAVEL
HAPPY GO TRAVEL - HANOI HEAD OFFICE:
Address:  5th floor,  130F Thai Thinh str, Trung Liet, Dong Da,  Hanoi, Vietnam
Telephone during office hours:  +84 24 32 686 686; +84 24 32 898 898
Fax:  +84 24 32 171 783

EMERCENCY CONTACTS (ENGLISH AND GERMAN-SPEAKING)
Mobile: Mr. Thang (Managing Director) (+84) 934556056

IMPORTANT NOTICE
 Certain parts of the tours on offer are provided by independent third parties, such as airlines, hotels, transport operators and local tourist offices. Happy Go Travel is therefore not responsible for any loss, injury or damage caused thereby to the tourists, including those occurring outside of the normal touring programmes. Additional expenses incurred due to delay, accident, natural disaster, political actions and unrest shall be borne by the tourists.
 Programmes, prices, services and conditions are based on those valid at the time of proposal submission and are subject to change thereafter without advance notice until all services have been paid in full.
 We strongly advise to leave valuable items (money, passport, credit cards, jewellery, sensitive documents, laptop computer, etc.) in the hotel safe. During excursions and roundtrips, personal belongings, especially money and valuables should NEVER be left on vehicles, even during short breaks, and carried around at all times. Happy Go Travel is not responsible for any loss or theft.
 Vietnam being a developing country is in full process of upgrading its infrastructure. Therefore, driving overland can be cumbersome due to ongoing road constructions.

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