Kunming Vietnam Overland Trip
Day 1 Arrive in Kunming
Upon your arrival at Kunming airport, our guide will greet you outside the baggage claim area and transfer you to the hotel. The remaining of the day is on your own to explore the city or have a rest at the hotel.
Meals: No meals, advice freely available
Accommodation: Jinjiang Hotel 
Day 2 Kunming – Jianshui
This day we will travel to Jianshui. Drive for around 2 hours to arrive at the Stone Forest, which is crowned as ‘the essence of karst landforms in the world’, as well as ‘one of the eight natural wonders on earth’. Besides the rare geologic landscape and various stone formations, the rich Yi ethnic culture is also a highlight in the scenic area. In the afternoon, we will drive for around 2 hours to reach Jianshui. Stay overnight at the local best hotel in Jianshui.
Meals: Western buffet breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Lin An Hotel
Day 3 Jianshui
This whole day will be devoted to Jianshui. In the morning, we will visit the Zhu Family Garden, a grand complex featuring in fancy combination of garden architecture and dwelling house. The exquisite courtyards, austere ancestral hall, antique furniture, delicate wood carvings and stone sculptures all bear silent witness to the rich life that its former owner once led. Afterwards, we will proceed to visit Zhang Family Garden and Jianshui Confucius Temple, the largest Confucius Temple in Yunnan. The temple was built over 700 years ago to commemorate Confucius, a great thinker, educationist and founder of Confucianism in history. Then we will take you to visit a 17-hole stone bridge, the Double Dragon Bridge. The bridge is named so because it is located over the confluence of two dragon-like winding rivers. There are also three exquisite and elegant lofts on the bridge that especially worth your attention.
The trip today will be completed with a visit to Jianshui Ancient Town, famed as the ‘Museum of Ancient Constructions’. Over the past 12 centuries, this town has preserved more than 50 ancient constructions and folk houses after many ups and downs. Rambling around the tranquil old town, you could easily discover its unique charm. Transfer back to the hotel at the end of the day.
Meals: Chinese breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Lin An Hotel
Day 4 Jianshui – Yuanyang
After breakfast, our guide will pick you up from the hotel and transfer for around 3 hours to Yuanyang. Check in at the local best hotel. After a short break, continue to Qingkou Hani Minority Village and the terraced fields. Qingkou Hani Minority Village has a strong flavor of primeval country life. Its forest, streams, village and terraced fields have formed a sound ecosystem and are the most cherished properties of the villagers. Its terraced field, cultivated one thousand years ago, is an important part of Yuanyang Rice Terraces, which is one of the world’s largest and most imposing terraces. Our guide will escort you back to the hotel after the trip is completed.
Meals: Chinese breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Yunti Hotel
Day 5 Yuanyang
The first destination of this day will be a local market, a brilliant scene in Yuanyang when the locals flock in from all quarters wearing their colorful costumes and dresses. The narrow streets will also be full of assorted vending booths selling local products. Later, you will come to Duoyishu, another famous scenic area of Yuanyang Rice Terraces, to visit its local village and terraced fields. Here, you will find many dotted mushroom-shaped houses, like a scene in the fairy-tale world as well as the cloud-decorated terraced fields, presenting a traditional Chinese ink wash drawing. The last destination is the terraced fields in Azheke, distributed in a deep valley and resembling a huge flower. At the end of the day, we will transfer you back to the hotel.
Meals: Chinese breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Yunti Hotel
Day 6 Yuanyang – Hekou – Sapa
This morning, we will depart from Yuanyang at 08:00 and drive for around 4 hours to reach Hekou. After lunch, we will go through the security check and continue our journey to Sapa, which takes half an hour. From here, you will be escorted by our Vietnamese guide. In the afternoon, a two-hour trekking trip is arranged through the terraced rice fields. Visit the local famous villages of Cat Cat and Sin Chai. Stay overnight at a local nice hotel.
Meals: Chinese breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Sapa Legend
Day 7 Sapa – Hanoi
In the morning, our guide will pick you up at your hotel and commence the day with an in-depth trek to Sapa town to discover the local minority people’s daily life. According to each traveler’s physical condition and interest, we have options of 3km, 6km and 12km for you to choose from. During the hiking, we will pass through some hill tribe villages of H’mong, Dzao and Dzay people and have local lunch at one of the villages. At the end of the day, we will transfer you to Laocai and board an overnight soft sleeper train to Hanoi.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: overnight soft sleeper train
Day 8 Hanoi – Halong Bay
Arrive in Hanoi in the morning. Our local tour guide will wait for you at the train station on time. Breakfast is arranged at mini hotel which is very close by the railway station. After breakfast, we will drive for around 3 hours to reach the highlight of the Hanoi trip: the Halong Bay. Lunch will be served on board upon arrival. As the cruise sets sail after lunch, your fantastic Halong Bay journey begins. The most outstanding features of Halong Bay and undoubtedly its greatest attractions are the numerous islets and Karsts rock formations. We will cruise around islands and pay a visit to one of the main caves. Stay overnight on board.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Cruises: Signature Cruise
Day 9 Halong Bay – Hanoi
This morning a Tai Chi class is available on the top deck if you have interests to join it. Excursions to nearby islets will be arranged with an interesting rowboat. Also you will have some free leisure time to relax on the sundeck to enjoy the stunning view of Bai Tu Long Bay. A brunch will be arranged on board on your return trip to Halong City. Please pack your luggage and follow the check-out procedures of the cruise company at around 11:00. Our guide will greet you on board and escort you to Hanoi by our private car. Dinner is left on your own exploration. In the evening, a traditional Water Puppet Show is arranged. We will take you back to your hotel after the show.
Meals: Brunch
Accommodation: Hanoi La Siesta Hotel & Spa
Day 10 Departure from Hanoi
After breakfast, our guide will collect you from your hotel for a drive to the Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum Complex (closed on Mondays and Fridays), which is the city’s most important historical attraction located in the center of Ba Dinh square. Please note that no short skirts or tank tops are allowed when entering the Mausoleum. Then we will proceed to visit Ho Chi Minh’s Stilt House, the One Pillar Pagoda and Temple of Literature. We would like to leave lunch on your own arrangement. In the afternoon, transfer you to Hanoi Noi Bai Airport and see off by your homeward flight. For your information, by completing the trip, a flight after 16:00 is recommended. We wish you a pleasant onward journey!
Meals: Breakfast
