Your Travel Experience with ARRIVAL
Day 1
ARRIVAL
Fly into Hanoi Noi Bai International Airport. Your guide meets you at the exterior arrivals area, either exit A1 or A2 depending on your flight, and transfers you by private air-conditioned vehicle to Bespoke Trendy Hotel Hanoi in the Old Quarter (approximately a 30 to 40 minutes journey from the airport). Check in, drop your bags and explore at your own pace until the street food tour begins at 6pm. The group moves through the Old Quarter on foot to find the best pho (usually by the plastic stools), bun cha grilled roadside, deep-fried spring rolls, egg coffee and sugar cane juice along the way. The evening closes at Tạ Hiện Street for cold Bia Hoi draft beer among locals and travellers at Hanoi's famous beer corner. The tour finishes at 9:30pm.
Day 1 - 3
Bespoke Trendy Hotel Hanoi (or similar)
On Nguyen Quang Bich, a small street in the Old Quarter lined with local coffee shops, cocktail bars and vintage clothing stores. This stay is contemporary in design, central in location and exactly the right base for arriving into Hanoi properly and returning from the mountain with a hot shower and a real bed. Four-star. Trendy Deluxe rooms. Breakfast included.
Day 1
Hanoi Old Quarter Street Food Tour
Old Quarter, Hanoi street food tour by foot through Hanoi's maze of backstreets, night markets and roadside eateries. Pho, bun cha, spring rolls, egg coffee and Bia Hoi draft beer at Tạ Hiện Street to close. Starts 6pm, finishes 9:30pm. Dinner included.
Day 2
Den of Thieves Hanoi City Tour
Hanoi Black market, B52 Lake, Long Bien Bridge and egg coffee by Hoan Kiem Lake. The version of Hanoi that most visitors miss. Starts 1:30pm, finishes 5:30pm. Comfortable shoes recommended.
Day 3 - 5
Phansi Glamping (or similar)
Designed in the shape of a yacht perched on a mountain top above Sapa, Phansi looks out over a flower garden valley toward the Hoang Lien Son range. Perfect for sunset-gazing from the deck. BBQ and bar nights for the group. The best social stop on the trip and the ideal place to connect with the crew before the expedition begins. Breakfast included.
Day 3
Silver Waterfall, Love Waterfall and Heaven's Gate
Hoang Lien National Park, Sapa Light afternoon tour through the national park. Paved paths, stairs and short forest trails, one to two hours of walking. Starts 1:30pm, finishes 5:30pm. Entrance fees included.
Day 4
Dragon Jaw Mountain, Hang Da Village and Bãi Đá Cổ Full Day Trek
Sapa Full day on the mountain, from 8:30am to 5pm. Climbs Hàm Rồng Mountain, passes through Black H'Mong villages and finishes at the Ancient Rock Field. Stone steps, forest paths and uneven terrain throughout. Hard trekking. Lunch included. Trekking shoes and layered clothing essential.
Day 5
Fansipan Expedition, beginning in Hoang Lien National Park
Over five hours of hiking with 600-plus metres of elevation gain through forest and exposed mountain terrain. Porter support, trekking poles, flashlights and sleeping bags provided. One litre of water per person per day on the mountain. Lunch and dinner included. A challenging part of the expedition.
Day 5 - 6
Mountain Lodge, Hoang Lien National Park (or similar)
Basic, raw and exactly right for one night at altitude before the summit push. Shared facilities, electricity for lighting only and sleeping bags provided. This is expedition accommodation with dinner included.
Day 6
Fansipan Summit and Cable Car Descent
Reach the Fansipan Summit at 3,147m. Pre-dawn summit push to the highest point in Indochina. Cable car descent weather and availability dependent.
Day 6 - 8
Bespoke Trendy Hotel Hanoi (or similar)
On Nguyen Quang Bich, a small street in the Old Quarter lined with local coffee shops, cocktail bars and vintage clothing stores. This stay is contemporary in design, central in location and exactly the right base for arriving into Hanoi properly and returning from the mountain with a hot shower and a real bed. Four-star. Trendy Deluxe rooms. Breakfast included.
Day 7
Free Day in Hanoi. Optional Halong Bay Cruise.
A free day in the Old Quarter of Hanoi. Optional Halong Bay full-day group cruise available to add on at checkout. Pickup 7:45 to 8:45am, return 8pm. Includes onboard Vietnamese lunch, Surprising Cave visit, kayaking and bamboo boat through Luon Cave.
Day 8
Departure
Included breakfast at the hotel. Your guide meets you at the hotel and transfers you to Noi Bai International Airport.