Northern Vietnam Catholic Tour

Afer breakfast at the hotel, you will take a full day tour of Hanoi including Ho Chi Minh Complex, West Lake, Tran Quoc Pagoda, Temple of Literature and Ethnology Museum. Lunch in a local restaurant. In the afternoon, continue your tour to Hoa Lo Prison, History Museum and Ngoc Son Temple on Hoan Kiem lake, then take an hour cyclo ride through the fascinating medieval streets of the Old Quarter. Enjoy Water Puppet Show of Vietnamese traditional art before having your dinner. Overnight in Hanoi.

This morning, you will visit a series of churches such as Hanoi Archdiocese, Hanoi Cathedral, Hanoi Seminary, Thai Ha Church and may pray in one of these churches. Have lunch in a local restaurant.

Then take a 4 hour drive to Sapa, almost 300km north west of Hanoi. Arrive Sapa late in the afternoon . Dinner and overnight in Sapa. Rest of the day is free on your own to explore the Sapa at night.

Start a 3 hour hiking journey around Cat Cat village of the Black H’mong . Return to Sapa town for lunch. Then you will continue to Draron’s Jaw including Finland 1-2 Garden, Pear garden, Apple orchard Cats, Flower Garden Centre, Broken Stone, Sky Gate, Dragon Head, Crocodile Island, Park Forest meteorite, Cloud Airport, and TV tower.  Rest of the day is free to visit Sapa Stone church built in 1895. This church is considered as a hallmark ancient architectural integrity of the French. Dinner and overnight in Sapa.

After breakfast, you will drive to visit Lao Chai and Tavan, another home to H'mong, and Dzay people. You will have chance to see the Carved Rock Stone Site enroute. After lunch, return to Hanoi for your dinner and overnight stay.

Morning depart to Halong Bay, which is considered the 8th wonder of the world. Sip on a refreshing welcome drink upon check in before  beginning cruise through the bay. Lunch served while cruising among hundreds of islets (Dinh Huong islet, Ga Choi – Fighting Cock islet, Dog islet, Finger islet, etc.) to discover unspoilt pockets of Halong Bay and visit Sung Sot cave, one of the most imposing grottos of the Bay. Swim at Soi Sim beach or Titov beach or a short trek to the top of Titov mountain for a magnificent panorama scenery. Enjoy dinner with fresh seafood on board. Relax or chatting with partner, friends, family. Overnight on boat.

For early risers complimentary tea, coffee, fruit and cake are served. Visit Luon cave on small bamboo boat paddle by out crew staff and enjoy the quiet atmosphere enclosed by high islets and mountains. Be back to our Huong Hai Junk. Sail past rock formations such as Man’s Head islet, Tortoise islet, Butterfly cave, Lion islet, Bai Tho mountain, enjoy the tranquil scenery as the boat meanders its way through the bay on the way back to Ha Long city, etc.  Check out on boat at around 10.00 am. Enjoy lunch as boat weaves through strange-shaped limestone rock formations. Arrive back at Ha Long city around noon time for disembarkation, return to Hanoi for overnight.

Transfer to Nam Dinh, visit Phu Nhai Church – Kien Lao Shrine, it’s not only the architecture of Catholicism, sights of tourists near and far, but also the object of the research civil engineer, architectural and cultural studies. Proceed to Ninh Binh for your dinner and overnight stay.

Morning, drive to Phat Diem Stone Cathedral, which was built from 1875 to 1899 by Priest Tran Luc and Catholics in here made by all of stone and wood. Now, there is Priest’s Grave in front of the Church. The feature of this building is modeled on the architecture of the traditional temples in Vietnam inspite of Catholic Church. Then take a boat trip along the stream between rice paddy to visit Trang An complex where the limestone ranges, valleys and rivers fuses intertwined to create a magical space, mysterious surprise ever for you. Return to Ha Noi for your dinner and overnight stay.

Free at leisure till transferring to airport for your flight home. End of services.