7 DAYS NORTHERN HIGHLIGHTS

7 DAYS NORTHERN HIGHLIGHTS

Private tour (DS7): Daily from Hanoi with English, German or French speaking guide
Ethnic minorities and mountain regions of northwestern Vietnam

DAY 01   HANOI - MAI CHAU - SONLA             (-/L/D)

Drive to Mai Chau, approximately 150 km from Hanoi, home to several ethnic minorities, particularly the White Thai and Muong ethnic group. Their traditional stilt houses are large structures with palm leaf roofs and polished bamboo floors. The kitchen is located in the center of the house; the cooking as well as the weaving of the colorful tho cam, the material used to make their clothes, takes place there. Visit Thai ethnic minority village. Lunch en route. Continue to Son La with stopover at Xaling ethnic village of Flower H’Mong and Green H’Mong. Arrive in Son La and check–in.
Dinner and accommodation at simple hotel.

DAY 02   SON LA - DIEN BIEN PHU        (B/L/D)

Visit Son La Penitentiary before departing to Dien Bien with visit of Thuan Chau market. On the approach to Thuan Chau, large groups of ethnic people may be seen making their way to and from the market, laden with baskets of goods. Continue to Dien Bien, crossing the most spectacular pass in Vietnam, which is famously named by local people as Pha Din Pass meaning “the Heaven and the Earth”. Lunch at local restaurant. Along the way to Dien Bien Phu, visit some local ethnic families and villages.
Dinner and overnight in Dien Bien Phu.

DAY 03  DIEN BIEN PHU – LAI CHAU – PHONG THO      (B/L/D)

Visit Dien Bien Phu Museum and A1 hill, then continue to Dien Bien Phu Cemetery to observe a minute’s silence in memory of the heroes who devoted their lives for the victory of the historical Dien Bien Phu Campaign. Visit General De Castries’s Bunker, Old Muong Thanh Bridge and Nam Rom river. Lunch at local restaurant. Proceed to Lai Chau along the bumpy road (approx 180 km), passing a series of ethnic villages of Kho Mu (Xa), Huoi Chan, and Bung Giat. Continue to Phong Tho on scenic roads, crossing the junctions of Da and Na rivers by the way of the Chinese built Hang Tom suspension bridge. From here the road weaves its way northwards through the picturesque and steadily more spectacular Na River valley, past more ethnic villages of White Thai, Kho Mu and later Red and White H’mong minorities. Arrive in Phong Tho.
Dinner and accommodation at simple hotel.

DAY 04  PHONG THO - TAM DUONG - BINH LU - SAPA      (B/L/D)

Depart Phong Tho town to Sapa along the most spectacular scenery on the way leading to Sapa. The National Road 4D climbs steadily, affording spectacular views of the surrounding hills. Once over the summit, the road begins its descent towards the town of Binh Lu, immediately you will begin to see groups of Black Dao people, whose villages are located in the surrounding hills. Arrive in Sapa and check in at hotel. Lunch at local restaurant. The afternoon is free for own activities.
Dinner and accommodation at hotel.

DAY 05   SAPA - FULL DAY TOUR        (B/L/D)

In the morning, short trek to Ham Rong Mountain; enjoy the minority show performed by the young minority ladies and men. On clear days you get a beautiful overview of Sapa town and will visit the so-called “stone forest” here. Trek back to Sapa, then visit the market. Lunch at local restaurant. In the afternoon, take a short drive to Cat Cat village, home to Hmong people. Walk around the village and share the daily lives of the locals for a rare glimpse into their culture and customs. Dinner at local restaurant.
Accommodation at hotel.

DAY 06  SAPA - LAO CAI - NIGHT TRAIN TO HANOI      (B/L/D)

Morning at leisure for own activities. Lunch at local restaurant. A scenic 6km drive brings you to Ta Phin village, lying in a hillside meadow. The village is home to Red Dzao and Hmong people. Late afternoon, drive to Lao Cai with dinner at local restaurant.
You will board the overnight train to Hanoi at around 21:15h hrs. Overnight train trip to Hanoi in sharing comfortable sleeping compartments.

Note: Victoria Carriage (sharing comfortable sleeping compartments, superior 2 lower & 2 upper berths per compartment with air-condition) available on request for clients staying at First class hotel with surcharge.
(Victoria Carriage is NOT available during weekends)

DAY 07   ARRIVAL HANOI         (-/-/-)
Arrive Hanoi train station morning at around 04:30hrs. Leave the train and transfer to your hotel in Hanoi (accommodation in Hanoi not included) or transfer to Hanoi Noi Noi Bai airport for ownard flight (airport transfer at surcharge).
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 and tours with local English or French-speaking guides in private air-conditioned vehicles
• All entrance fees and boat fees as mentioned in the programme
• 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

CANCELLATIONS
• 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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