Hanoi - Sapa - Halong Bay

I have been to Hanoi twice, Halong Bay once but not yet to Sapa. Hubby's cousin sisters and second sister are going, so he said why not we join them.  Though I am not keen, I just follow his wishes. As I felt the road trip to Sapa is quite long 5-6 hours. The last trip we went with my two boys and my late mom was 11 years ago to Halong Bay, in August 2013.

Glass Bridge area

They have booked via GTT for 7 days 6 nights via Malaysia Airlines depart on 6 April 2025.  We have paid RM3967 per pax as we do not need travel insurance through travel agent which cost RM132 per person.

The highlights

Cat Cat Village

Rong May Glass Bridge

Halong Bay 5 star cruise

30 min cyclo riding in old town

French bread & Egg Coffee

Hanoi Sen Buffet Restaurant

Hotels will be 4 star with 2 nights in KK Sapa Hotel, 1 night Venue Cruise and 3 nights in FTE Ba Dinh Hotel.

Day 1 (meal on board, lunch, dinner)

Depart 6 April 2025 by flight MH752 0940/1210 hrs to Hanoi. Arrive, we were sent to Bun Cha Huong Lien.  It is now known as Bun Cha Obama, noodle with pork shop visited by Obama. It was delicious! We then visited  Ba Dinh Square (monuments, President's palace where President Ho Chi Minh read the proclamation of independence etc),  We then visited the Tran Quoc Pagoda before we left for dinner and finally check into hotel.

Day 2 (B, L, D)

Heading to Sapa 5 hours by coach. We had lunch at Lao Cai area. Visit Lao Cai International Border between Vietnam and China. Then proceed journey to Sapa. Once reached Sapa, we need to transfer to a smaller van as tour bus is not suitable for the small routes in Sapa. After we checked into hotel, we assemble again after 15 mintues and went for visit in Sapa. 

Stroll along the village home of Black H'mong ethnic. Had a drink admiring the view. Visit Sapa Church. Dinner was hot pot at town area..

View from room balcony KK Sapa Hotel

Day 3 (B, Buffet L, D)

Morning view from room was misty. After breakfast, we proceed to Fansipan Mountain (3143m) by cable car, This place is worth visit. We walked up to the Big Statue Buddha base, board a tram to go up to the peak.  For return, you can choose to take the tram or walk down (about 30 minutes). After buffet dinner, we proceed to visit Rong May Glass Bridge and then continue with Cat Cat Village and end the day with western food i.e soup, salad, pizza, pasta and chicken . It was indeed a tiring day.

Fansipan Peak

Day 4 (B, L, D)

Next morning after breakfast, we transfer back to Hanoi. After lunch, visited Temple of Literature,  cycle tour around 36 Old Quater area, had dinner then check in hotel.

Day 5 (B, L, D)

Transfer to Halong Bay, Unesco World Heritage Site via Jetty in Halong City. Overnight on Venus Cruise.  Meals on board was good only setback no drinks not even plain water. provided which you need pay separately. Enjoyed activities such as kayaking, bamboo boat ride to Dark and Bright Cave, night squid fishing.

 

Lobster served on board for dinner

Dinner

Floor Plan Level 2 of cruise ship

Day 6 (B, L, Buffet D)

After brunch onboard disembark and drive back to Hanoi

Enjoy high tea with french bread aka banh mi and egg coffee at Hidden Gem Cafe. Walk around 36 Old Quater Area.Enjoy the water pupper show. Buffet dinner at Sen Buffet Hanoi.  Indeed lots of fresh seafood served besides plenty of other food. We loved the crab, oyster, clam and squid.

Day 7 (B, Meal of Board)

After breakfast, we left the hotel at 9.30 am, 30 minutes transfer to airport for return flight. MH 753 1300/1740 hrs.

Overall a good trip. Local guide Mr Hung could speak English well.  He used to bring locals to Europe tours and talking about safety, he mentioned Vietnam is safe comparing to Italy, Spain and Paris.

Sapa the city of fog, a place you should visit.

Magnificent View of Halong Bay

It was quite last minute planning as elder son, Sher in SPM year.  So we have actually put all travels/holidays on hold.

My hubby saw the advertisement in newspaper and quickly told me to call up the travel agent regarding Hanoi.  So we were actually the final 5 pax for our group departure during  Raya public holidays.  We departed on 8 August 2013 via Vietnam Airlines.

Ours was 5 days 4 nights Hanoi/Halong Bay/Tam Coc/Van Phuc + overnight on chartered cruise.

Hanoi or Thang Long "ascending dragon" is the Vietnamese capital.  A charming city with old quarter monuments and colonial architecture surrounded by lakes.

Our flight reached airport late night and off we went to the yummylicious Vietnam signature noodle soup before we were checked into our Hotel Crowne Plaza West Hanoi.

The next day we went to Tam Coc - known for Halong Bay on land. We climbed onto the tiny boat for a peaceful river cruise, rowing through a series of interlink caves which was quite a thrill.  We had lunch at a restaurant nearby. And then continued with Bich Dong - standing on the highest temple, you could view the fields and mountain of Tam Coc, State Theater Opera House and Trans Quoc Pagoda.

Rowing boat with legs!

Day 3 we visited Ba Dinh Square - famous square where Ho Chi Minh read the proclamation of independence of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum & Residence, Temple of Literature - Vietnam first university was here and One Pillar Pagoda - a historic Buddhist temple.

We then proceeded to Hon Gai Harbour for our 2 days 1 night cruise at Halong Bay. We had our buffet lunch on  board the Pelican cruise. After lunch, we were given our room key.  Great view from our cabin. I could not take my eyes off the view sitting by the window.

At 3 pm, we took a smaller boat to Halong Bay's most famous and one of the largest stalactite cave (Sung Sot Cave) enjoying the unique natural rocks inside the cave. By 6 pm we anchoraged at Tip Top island for a swim.  Dinner was served on cruise.

Before dinner, a small activity was organized where the staff on board taught us how to make Vietnamese Spring roll. We had the spring rolls there and then.  After dinner, you can either choose to watch movie but tell you the television set is so small, enjoy the wind and scenery or go for squid fishing.

 

 

Spectacular views from our room

 

Our room on board Pelican cruise

The next morning we woke up early for tai chi exercise prior to our buffet breakfast. After meal, we explored Luan Cave using rowing boat. We took lots of photo before disembarked back to Hanoi.

Cruising through back to pier

Nighs squid fishing

 

All meals served on the cruise were good.  I have no complaint. In fact all the meals served for this tour were all good.

We went to Hoan Kiem Lake, shopping at 36 Ancient Street and watched water puppet show before our buffet dinner at a large restaurant and we were really hungry by then time we reached the restaurant and buffet is the perfect choice!

Luan Cave

It was indeed a relaxing trip and the most memorable was the magnificent view of Halong Bay.