Never forget that little Sapa, the true nature of Vietnam. Our 13-days Travel Itinerary in Vietnam (Part 4)
Sunday, 7 September 2014
12 nights travel itinerary,
13 days,
Cat Cat - Sin Chai – Lao Cai,
Fansipan View Hotel,
Malaysia Airlines,
Red Dao women,
Sapa,
trekking,
Vietnam,
Y Linh Ho – Lao Cai – Ta Van
Edit
Hello all! Over the past two years, friends and colleagues have asked questions related to my travels to Vietnam back in 2012, as in what to see and what to do in Vietnam, which I wanted to share here.
And yes, we both (myself and Kah Boon) travelled to Vietnam and it's a country full of cultural expression. Our trip to Vietnam was quite an adventure. Entering this country was relatively hassle-free! Our journey started in Ho Chi Minh City in the southern part to the northern part of Vietnam, and lasted for nearly two weeks. There are so many things to shop, to eat, to snap and of course also to experience the epic massive traffic in Vietnam.
Our trip lasted for 13 days, 12 nights in Vietnam and here’s what we did for our entire journey (from 10 September 2012 – 22 September 2012), focusing on the best places to see in Vietnam based on our tight budget: <Ho Chi Minh (Saigon) – Hanoi – Sapa – Halong Bay - Hanoi>
Day 1: 10 September 2012
And yes, we both (myself and Kah Boon) travelled to Vietnam and it's a country full of cultural expression. Our trip to Vietnam was quite an adventure. Entering this country was relatively hassle-free! Our journey started in Ho Chi Minh City in the southern part to the northern part of Vietnam, and lasted for nearly two weeks. There are so many things to shop, to eat, to snap and of course also to experience the epic massive traffic in Vietnam.
Our trip lasted for 13 days, 12 nights in Vietnam and here’s what we did for our entire journey (from 10 September 2012 – 22 September 2012), focusing on the best places to see in Vietnam based on our tight budget: <Ho Chi Minh (Saigon) – Hanoi – Sapa – Halong Bay - Hanoi>
Day 1: 10 September 2012
KUALA LUMPUR / HO CHI MINH (SAIGON) – Free & Easy
Depart from Penang – Kuala Lumpur (KLIA) – Ho Chi Minh Son Nhut (Terminal 2)
Day 2: 11 September 2012
HO CHI MINH (SAIGON) – Free & Easy
Day 3: 12 September 2012
HO CHI MINH (SAIGON) – Free & Easy
Day 4: 13 September 2012
HO CHI MINH (SAIGON) – Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee (Ho Chi Minh City
Hall) - Ben Thanh Market – Saigon Square - War Remnants Museums – Saigon Opera
House
Day 5: 14 September 2012
HO CHI MINH (SAIGON) – Chu Chi Tunnel - Reunification Palace - Notre Dame
Cathedral – Old Saigon Post Office - Free & Easy
Day 6: 15 September 2012
HO CHI MINH (SAIGON)/ HANOI - Took 0810 hr flight via Jetstar Pacific from Ho Chi
Minh City Tan Son Nhat Airport to Noi Bai Airport (Domestic Terminal) – Free & Easy –
Took night train to Sapa approx. 9-10 hrs (4-person cabin with bed)
Day 7: 16 September 2012
SAPA - Y Linh Ho – Lao Cai – Ta Van
Arrived Lao Cai at 6.00 a.m. and proceeded to Sapa by bus - Trekking (approx. 6km of
walking down to the South East of Sapa along the side of Muong Hoa valley to Y Linh Ho
Village of the Black H’mong – Trekking (approx. 2km to Lao Chai Village), through terraced
rice fields to Ta Van village of the Dzay minority people – Sapa Market / Town
Day 8: 17 September 2012
SAPA - Cat Cat - Sin Chai – Lao Cai-Hekou (Vietnam-China Border)
A walk down to the South-West of Sapa (approx. 4 km) to visit Cat Cat village of the Black
H’mong – Followed by a visit to waterfall and hydroelectric power station constructed by the
French - Sin Chai (approx. 6 km) to a village located at the foot of Fansipan Mountain, “the
Roof of Vietnam and Indo China” - Lao Cai – Hekou (Vietnam-China Border) – Took
8.00p.m. train back to Hanoi
Day 9: 18 September 2012
HANOI / HALONG BAY (via Superior Dragon Cruise)
Hotel pick-up at 5.00a.m. – Halong Bay (3hrs journey to Halong Harbor) – Board
Superior Dragon Cruise around 12.00p.m. and enjoy the breathtaking view around the bay – Visit to: Sung Sot Cave - Titop Mountain / Area and Luon Cave Area - Kayak / Swim in the bay’s emerald waters - Vietnamese dinner plus night entertainment on the boat – Overnight on Superior Dragon Cruise (Halong Bay)
Day 10: 19 September 2012
HALONG BAY / HANOI
Leisure time on Superior Dragon Cruise (Halong Bay) – Sail along the bay – Stop by Gia
Luan Pier on Cat Ba Island - Halong Harbor – Hanoi (3hrs journey to Hanoi Old Quarter) –
Hanoi Guest House – Free & Easy
Day 11: 20 September 2012
HANOI
Old Quarter - Hoan Kiem Lake (Lake of the Restored Sword) - Hang Gai Street (Street of
Hemp) - Temple of Literature - Perfumed Pagoda
Day 12: 21 September 2012
HANOI
Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum - One Pillar Pagoda - Tam Coc - Thang Long Water Puppet Show
Day 13: 22 September 2012
HANOI / KUALA LUMPUR
Depart from Hanoi , Noi Bai Airport (International Terminal) via MH 753 – Kuala Lumpur–
Penang
Sapa was our second stop after Ho Chi Minh City / Saigon. We booked our Sapa tour (inclusive of two-way soft sleeper 10 hour overnight train ride from Hanoi to Sapa, a night’s stay at over 2 days and activities/tour guide fees) via Hanoi Guest House at 135USD/person. We slept on the train, in very restricted cabin for four, but complete with beds, blankets, and pillows.
“To travel is to discover that everyone is wrong about other countries”
- Aldous Huxley
Day 2: 11 September 2012
HO CHI MINH (SAIGON) – Free & Easy
Day 3: 12 September 2012
HO CHI MINH (SAIGON) – Free & Easy
Day 4: 13 September 2012
HO CHI MINH (SAIGON) – Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee (Ho Chi Minh City
Hall) - Ben Thanh Market – Saigon Square - War Remnants Museums – Saigon Opera
House
Day 5: 14 September 2012
HO CHI MINH (SAIGON) – Chu Chi Tunnel - Reunification Palace - Notre Dame
Cathedral – Old Saigon Post Office - Free & Easy
Day 6: 15 September 2012
HO CHI MINH (SAIGON)/ HANOI - Took 0810 hr flight via Jetstar Pacific from Ho Chi
Minh City Tan Son Nhat Airport to Noi Bai Airport (Domestic Terminal) – Free & Easy –
Took night train to Sapa approx. 9-10 hrs (4-person cabin with bed)
Day 7: 16 September 2012
SAPA - Y Linh Ho – Lao Cai – Ta Van
Arrived Lao Cai at 6.00 a.m. and proceeded to Sapa by bus - Trekking (approx. 6km of
walking down to the South East of Sapa along the side of Muong Hoa valley to Y Linh Ho
Village of the Black H’mong – Trekking (approx. 2km to Lao Chai Village), through terraced
rice fields to Ta Van village of the Dzay minority people – Sapa Market / Town
Day 8: 17 September 2012
SAPA - Cat Cat - Sin Chai – Lao Cai-Hekou (Vietnam-China Border)
A walk down to the South-West of Sapa (approx. 4 km) to visit Cat Cat village of the Black
H’mong – Followed by a visit to waterfall and hydroelectric power station constructed by the
French - Sin Chai (approx. 6 km) to a village located at the foot of Fansipan Mountain, “the
Roof of Vietnam and Indo China” - Lao Cai – Hekou (Vietnam-China Border) – Took
8.00p.m. train back to Hanoi
Day 9: 18 September 2012
HANOI / HALONG BAY (via Superior Dragon Cruise)
Hotel pick-up at 5.00a.m. – Halong Bay (3hrs journey to Halong Harbor) – Board
Superior Dragon Cruise around 12.00p.m. and enjoy the breathtaking view around the bay – Visit to: Sung Sot Cave - Titop Mountain / Area and Luon Cave Area - Kayak / Swim in the bay’s emerald waters - Vietnamese dinner plus night entertainment on the boat – Overnight on Superior Dragon Cruise (Halong Bay)
Day 10: 19 September 2012
HALONG BAY / HANOI
Leisure time on Superior Dragon Cruise (Halong Bay) – Sail along the bay – Stop by Gia
Luan Pier on Cat Ba Island - Halong Harbor – Hanoi (3hrs journey to Hanoi Old Quarter) –
Hanoi Guest House – Free & Easy
Day 11: 20 September 2012
HANOI
Old Quarter - Hoan Kiem Lake (Lake of the Restored Sword) - Hang Gai Street (Street of
Hemp) - Temple of Literature - Perfumed Pagoda
Day 12: 21 September 2012
HANOI
Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum - One Pillar Pagoda - Tam Coc - Thang Long Water Puppet Show
Day 13: 22 September 2012
HANOI / KUALA LUMPUR
Depart from Hanoi , Noi Bai Airport (International Terminal) via MH 753 – Kuala Lumpur–
Penang
The Red Dao women in Sapa |
In the Centre of Sapa town |
Mountains covered by mist in Sapa town |
In the Centre of Sapa town |
Main street in Sapa, Vietnam |
Landscape of Sapa town |
What a view to wake up to each day! |
The breathtaking view in Sapa |
The view is best viewed on foot |
Villages are spread all over the mountains |
One of the mountaineous view in Sapa |
Tien Sa Waterfall, Cat Cat Village |
Amazing bridge in Sapa mountains in north Vietnam near to the border of China |
a few kilometres away from the border.
We did two days of trekking from Sapa (our hotel) - Y Linh Ho – Lao Cai – Ta Van - Cat Cat - Sin Chai and visited some local villages along the way. Some parts of the walk were physically challenging (walking along narrow paths, across river and through woodland), requiring uphill climbs over rocks, so perhaps wouldn’t suit everyone. The cooler temperatures made it very pleasant to spend the days walking outdoors.
During the walk from the hotel, the Red Dao women joined us. They tried to engage us in conversation but of course with hidden motives. And come it did, and we were presented with scarves, bags and purses and a lot of “buy from me” popped up at the end of the day. Well, they’re just trying to make a living.
scenery we saw was truly breathtaking! The fresh, cool air of the mountains in Sapa provided much relief!
Air Itinerary Details:
(i)Malaysia Airlines: Penang - Kuala Lumpur (KLIA) – Ho Chi Minh Son Nhut (Terminal 2)/ Hanoi Noibai - Kuala Lumpur (KLIA) - Penang
(ii) Jetstar Pacific: Ho Chi Minh City Tan Son Nhat Airport (Domestic Terminal) - Ha Noi - Noi Bai Airport (Domestic Terminal)
Accommodation:
Border town of Vietnam-China |
On the way uphill to Cat Cat village |
The Black Hmong lady |
The minority tribes in Sapa |
Harvest season in mid-September is the most important event of the year |
The simple life in Sapa |
This is called LIFE... |
A source of protein for Cat Cat village residents |
Water buffaloes resting in Sapa town |
Air Itinerary Details:
(i)Malaysia Airlines: Penang - Kuala Lumpur (KLIA) – Ho Chi Minh Son Nhut (Terminal 2)/ Hanoi Noibai - Kuala Lumpur (KLIA) - Penang
(ii) Jetstar Pacific: Ho Chi Minh City Tan Son Nhat Airport (Domestic Terminal) - Ha Noi - Noi Bai Airport (Domestic Terminal)
Accommodation:
(i) Lan Lan Hotel (Ho Chi Minh City)
73 -75 Thu Khoa Huan st, Ward Ben Thanh, District 1
Telephone: +84.838236789
Fax: +84.838273838
http://www.lanlanhotel.com.vn/
(ii)Hanoi Guest House (Hanoi)<**highly recommended>
85 Ma May Street - Hoan Kiem - Hanoi - Vietnam
Tel/Fax : + 844 3 9352571 - 3 9352572
Email : booking@hanoiguesthouse.com(Ms Huyen)
Website : http://www.hanoiguesthouse.com
(**We booked our accommodations via e-mails before we departed on our journey and
booked our trips to Sapa and Halong Bay from the Guesthouse in Hanoi)
(iii) Fansipan View Hotel (Sapa)
Victoria hotel alley, Xuan Vien Street, Sapa town, Lao Cai, Vietnam
Tel: (+84-203) 873 579 . Fax: (+84-203) 873 466
Hotline: (+84) 913 524 535
Website: www.fansipanview.com
(i)Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) – Hanoi via Jetstar Pacific
How to get there: Took domestic flight from Ho Chi Minh City Tan Son Nhat Airport -
Domestic Terminal via Jetstar Pacific to Hanoi - Noi Bai Airport - Domestic Terminal
Duration: 2 hour 10 minutes
Departure Ho Chi Minh - Hanoi: 15 September 2012 - 6:00 a.m. - 8:10 a.m. via BL790
(Jetstar Pacific)
Fares total: 74.87USD/for 1 way/person inclusive of tax/fee/charge
Click here for e-booking: http://www.jetstar.com/vn/en/home
(ii)Hanoi – Halong Bay via Superior Dragon Cruise
How to get there: Hotel pick-up at 5.00a.m. (approx. 3hrs journey), board Superior Dragon
Cruise at 12.00p.m.
Duration: 3hrs journey by bus from Hanoi Old Quarter
Package / Fares: 73USD per pax for 2days/1night (all meals provided, on board
entertainment, tour guide fees paid)
Room type: Double bedroom with attached bathroom
For more details: http://halongdragoncruise.com/Main.aspx?MNU=1298&Style=1
And that’s the end of my 13days, 12nights trip in Vietnam. I would love to go back there
Telephone: +84.838236789
Fax: +84.838273838
http://www.lanlanhotel.com.vn/
(ii)Hanoi Guest House (Hanoi)<**highly recommended>
85 Ma May Street - Hoan Kiem - Hanoi - Vietnam
Tel/Fax : + 844 3 9352571 - 3 9352572
Email : booking@hanoiguesthouse.com(Ms Huyen)
Website : http://www.hanoiguesthouse.com
(**We booked our accommodations via e-mails before we departed on our journey and
booked our trips to Sapa and Halong Bay from the Guesthouse in Hanoi)
(iii) Fansipan View Hotel (Sapa)
Victoria hotel alley, Xuan Vien Street, Sapa town, Lao Cai, Vietnam
Tel: (+84-203) 873 579 . Fax: (+84-203) 873 466
Hotline: (+84) 913 524 535
Website: www.fansipanview.com
Train from Hanoi - Lao Cai : Quite comfortable cabins |
(i)Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) – Hanoi via Jetstar Pacific
How to get there: Took domestic flight from Ho Chi Minh City Tan Son Nhat Airport -
Domestic Terminal via Jetstar Pacific to Hanoi - Noi Bai Airport - Domestic Terminal
Duration: 2 hour 10 minutes
Departure Ho Chi Minh - Hanoi: 15 September 2012 - 6:00 a.m. - 8:10 a.m. via BL790
(Jetstar Pacific)
Fares total: 74.87USD/for 1 way/person inclusive of tax/fee/charge
Click here for e-booking: http://www.jetstar.com/vn/en/home
(ii)Hanoi – Halong Bay via Superior Dragon Cruise
How to get there: Hotel pick-up at 5.00a.m. (approx. 3hrs journey), board Superior Dragon
Cruise at 12.00p.m.
Duration: 3hrs journey by bus from Hanoi Old Quarter
Package / Fares: 73USD per pax for 2days/1night (all meals provided, on board
entertainment, tour guide fees paid)
Room type: Double bedroom with attached bathroom
For more details: http://halongdragoncruise.com/Main.aspx?MNU=1298&Style=1
And that’s the end of my 13days, 12nights trip in Vietnam. I would love to go back there
again someday but for more outskirt area such as Hue and Hoi An.
Read more about our travel experiences @ Vietnam:
“To travel is to discover that everyone is wrong about other countries”
- Aldous Huxley
Welcome to Small World! This blog is not a travel agency, but rather a personal site which allows me to share my past travel experiences in a straightforward and far-reaching way. I often made great use of other peoples travel blogs and sites every time I plan for my travel itinerary as they often contained most updated information and invaluable resources from their past travel experiences. I hope that you will find every piece of information & images contained within my blog handy and useful. Thank you very much for reading my post(s) and feel free to leave a comment/testimonial or click "Like/Share" if you love reading them all. xoxo
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