Breathe the sweet smell of incense in Hanoi
Enjoy views over Halong Bay
Taste spicy bao buns in Hanoi
Admire rare orchids in the Singapore Botanical Gardens
Gaze across Sapa town in northern Vietnam
Explore the beautiful landscapes in Ninh Binh
Wander through the Supertree Grove in Singapore
Sail through the turquoise waters of Halong Bay
Head off on this northern Vietnam trip with a Singapore stopover. This holiday will take you on a journey through the new and the old, the traditional and the modern. You will explore the historic side of the fast-paced city, Hanoi, mixing with the locals and witnessing their day to day life before heading to Sapa, a quiet mountain town located almost 400 km from Hanoi and home to the ethnic minority people, a great place to wander around the markets and learn about this fascinating culture. A relaxing cruise at Halong Bay is a must-do for any visitor to Vietnam, a UNESCO site, this wonderful region provides unrivalled views of clear blue waters with rising rock formations and is the ultimate destination to sit back, relax and enjoy Asia’s legendary hospitality. On your way home you will stopover in Singapore, one of Asia’s most important cities, to enjoy 4 days of sightseeing, shopping, eating and relaxing!
This itinerary can be tailored to suit your requirements please contact one of our consultants to start planning your dream trip.
Depart the UK from your chosen airport.
On arrival you will be greeted by your English speaking guide and escorted by private transfer to your hotel.
The rest of the day is at leisure.
After breakfast your guide will pick you up from the hotel and take you on a guided tour of the historic side of Hanoi. Highlights include meeting the locals and seeing them go about their daily business as you walk down the narrow alleyways, you will also get to visit the Temple of Literature and Ho Chi Minhs Mausoleum.
The afternoon is free at leisure.
After breakfast you will be collected and taken on the 2.5 hr journey to Ninh Binh. En route you will stop at the site of Vietnam’s first capital, Hoa Lu and visit some of temples situated there. Lunch in Tam Coc town is included after which you will board your private sampan (traditional wooden boat) and glide down the waters of Trang An enjoying the incredible views.
We have included a late check-out this morning so you can relax and make the most of the hotel facilities. You will be collected late afternoon for your transfer to Hanoi railway station where you will board your overnight train to Lao Cai.
On arrival into Lao Cai a guide will be there to greet you and begin your onward journey to the small mountain town of Sapa. A walking tour of the local market will entice you into buying handmade gifts made by the local ethnic minority people and a light trek will take you into the heart of the hill tribe villages where you can learn about this unique and fascinating culture.
The rest of the afternoon and evening are at leisure.
After breakfast you will head to the local market, this is a great opportunity to watch the local hill tribe villagers doing their shopping before heading to meet the locals at their homes, this is a truly unique experience!
After freshening up at the hotel you will head back to catch your return overnight train to Hanoi.
It’s an early start today as you arrive into Hanoi, we have included a few hours at a local hotel to give you time to relax and freshen up before heading to Halong Bay for your overnight cruise.
All meals are included and you will enjoy lunch on board as you cruise along through some of the most stunning scenery in Vietnam, a cocktail at sunset is the perfect end to the day.
After breakfast on board the boat you will sail back and be met by your driver for your transfer back to Hanoi. The rest of the day is at leisure so relax at the hotel or head out into Hanoi to try some of the delicious local cuisine.
Today is at leisure, so head out for a walk around Hoan Kiem Lake or book one of the many street food tours on offer in the capital.
After breakfast you will be collected and taken to Hanoi airport by private transfer to connect with your flight to Singapore.
On arrival into Singapore you will be met and escorted by private transfer to your hotel.
Today we have included a half city tour, highlights include visiting Merlion Park and Thian Hock Keng Temple, one of Singapore’s oldest Buddhist-Taoist temples. You will get to visit local craftsmen and observe their work before heading to the National Orchid Garden, located within the famous Botanical Gardens.
The afternoon is at leisure.
Today is a free day, why not head to Singapore and enjoy a breakfast with the orang-utans or head over to Orchard Road for a bit of retail therapy.
You will be collected after breakfast and taken to Singapore airport to connect with your flight home.
You will arrive back in the UK today to complete your holiday.
The climate in Vietnam varies dramatically depending on the region you are visiting and is incredibly diverse with weather ranging from snow and frost in the northern hills to tropical conditions in the south. There are two monsoons in Vietnam; the winter monsoon arrives between October and March and brings cold and wet winters to the north and dry and warm conditions in the south. From April to October the summer monsoon brings humid weather to the whole country apart from those regions sheltered by mountains. For the best balance we recommend visiting in either April, May or October. Singapore has a tropical climate and stays hot and humid throughout the year, temperatures average around 31c with little seasonal variation although its slightly hotter in April and May and cooler in December and January.
This itinerary is purely a suggestion, and can be tailor-made to your requirements, so please contact us with your dates and requests and we’ll put together a bespoke quotation for you.
10 nights in deluxe standard accommodation, including:
Plus:
