From the Halong Bay to Kunming (China)
Code: YUN-006 (11 days 10 nights)
Hanoi - Halong - Sapa - Yuanyang Rice Terraces - Jianshui - Kunming
Description
This tour covers some of the remotest areas of Southeast Asia. We basically follow in the footsteps of the French Colonialists who were occupying big parts or Indo-China with Laos, Kampuchea and Vietnam. In 1904 the French started a very ambitious project with the construction of a 855 km long 1 Meter gauge rail link between Hanoi and Kunming. In order to complete the project at the least time and cost, construction was divided into 12 separate sections which were progressed simultaneously. The French Yunnan-Vietnam Railway Construction Company recruited more than 60'000 Chinese laborers from all over China as well as over 3'000 French, American, British, Italian and Canadian Technicians and Engineers involved in the construction. The difficulties they encountered along the way where beyond the imagination of the decision makers in Paris. Along the 465 km long Chinese section alone over 107 bridges of various types and shapes had to be built and over 155 tunnels excavated. In one particular 44km long section the tracks overcome no less than 1'200 meters in height difference, which was an absolute masterpiece of engineering and technology in that time. The completion of the railway 10 years later came at a heavy price: over 12'000 workers lost their live during construction.
Highlights
- Meet the local people and taste delicious Vietnamese food every day
- Discover Hanoi's landmark monuments
- Take a cyclo ride though the classic streets of Hanoi's Old Quarter
- Explore limestone islands and emerald green waters of Halong Bay, a World Heritage site
- Gaze at Sapa's beautiful mountainous landscapes and meet wonderful ethnic minorities
- Trek through the hills surrounding Sapa Valley
- Cross the border to China
- Witness an unforgettable sunrise over the magnificent Rice Terraces of Yuanyang
- Visit Tuanshan Village with its famous Chinese architecture
Program
Day 1. WELCOME TO HANOI
Pick up and transfer to your hotel in Hanoi, Vietnam's capital city. Overnight in Hanoi.
Day 2. HANOI - HALONG
A morning sightseeing tour features both cultural and historical highlights, comprising Ho Chi Minh's mausoleum and his house on stilts; the One Pillar Pagoda, the Temple of Literature, the Ethnology Museum, the Quan Thanh Temple, the Tran Quoc Pagoda, the old quarters and a downtown pedicab ride (1 hour). In the afternoon, transfer to Halong (170km), a World Heritage site recognized by UNESCO in 1994. Overnight in Halong.
Day 3. HALONG - HANOI
Board a private junk for a fantastic cruise in Halong Bay (4 hours), visit magical grottoes and relax in the best scenic beauty of Vietnam. Lunch of fresh and tasty seafood is served on board. Return to Hanoi with stopover at the Bat Trang pottery village. Explore generation-to-generation pottery techniques and get to know the potters' daily life. You can also try glazing some small pottery pieces. The sightseeing day ends with the water puppet show. Overnight in Hanoi.
Day 4. FREE TIME IN HANOI - NIGHT TRAIN TO SAPA
A full day free for leisure activities in Hanoi. Enjoy dinner with a traditional music show then transfer to the Hanoi rail station for a night train to Lao Cai. Overnight on board.
Day 5. LAO CAI - SAPA - SOFT TREKKING
Early in the morning, arrive in Lao Cai, a small border town by the Red River. We meet at Lao Cai station and travel up to Sapa by bus. Sapa is a small mountainous town frequently shrouded in mist and famous for hill-tribe villages nearby. Trek around with local guide and hike along small paths to visit Lao Chai and San Chai minority villages. The rest of the day is leisure or shopping for delicate embroideries and batik at Sapa Fair. We then climb to Ham Rong Mount for a panoramic view of Sapa. Overnight in Sapa.
Day 6. TA PHIN - CAN CAU - LAO CAI
Visit the villages of the Red Yao and the Black H'mong ethnic minority people at Ta Phin. Socialize with the villagers, wander around the villages (2km) and get to know their simple lifestyle in harmony with nature. Overnight in Lao Cai.
Day 7. LAO CAI - (BORDER) - HEKOU - YUANYANG (280km / ca 5hrs) (B)
Border crossing. You are picked up by your Chinese guide at the Chinese side of the border. We drive partially along the Yuan Jiang (Red River) through magnificent Landscape via Mengzi and Gejiu to Xinjie. Set amongst amazing scenery high above the Red River (Hong He) Valley, the town of Xinjiezhen is the starting point for a visit to arguably the most beautiful rice terraces in Asia. The Yuanyang rice terraces have been carved out of the Ailao Mountains over hundreds of years by Hani farmers living in the area. The surrounding mountains are mainly inhabited by the Hani, Yi and Dai ethnic minorities
Day 8. YUANYANG RICE TERRACES (B)
In the early morning we head out to the terraces rice fields to witness an unforgettable sunrise. After breakfast we visit one of the colorful morning markets in the area, where many villagers from various ethnic minorities can be observed. After that we visit some of the most scenic spots and enjoy the stunning views over the rice terraces. Drive back to Xinjie for lunch. In the afternoon (weather permitting) we take an easy walk (approx 2 hours) to Longshuba, an idyllic Hani village located amongst breathtaking scenery in the middle of the terraced rice fields. Walk back to Xinjie for dinner and overnight accommodation.
Day 9. YUANYANG - JIANSHUI (105km ca 3,5 hrs) (B)
We leave Xinjie and drive via the old road through magnificent landscape towards Jianshui. The history of Jianshui dates back to the Jin Dynasty (256-420) and it later became a part of the Ningzhou and Nanzhao Kingdoms. During the Yuan Dynasty (1279-1368) Jianshui (Lin An) became an important military outpost which resulted in the development of the contemporary town. In the afternoon we visit the idyllic Confucius Temple which is located within walking distance of the hotel. The huge temple complex dates back to the year 1285 and is the second largest Confucius Temple in China. There is a small lake ("the sea of knowledge") within the compound which, during the early summer months, is full of beautiful, blooming Lotus flowers. We continue to the "Garden of the Zhu Family", a lovely, late Qing Dynasty ancestral home with 42 courtyards and a beautiful garden. Time at leisure to explore Jianshui on your own. Dinner at a local restaurant.
Day 10. JIANSHUI - TUANSHAN - XINGMENG - KUNMING (190km/ca 4.5 hrs) (B)
After Breakfast drive to the traditional Zhang-Village of Tuanshan with its unique and well preserved architecture. On the way we take a look at the Twin Dragon Bridge (Shuanglong Qiao) from the late 18th century. Originally the bridge only had 3 arches but in 1839 another 14 arches and a beautiful Qing Dynasty tower have been added. The Bridge has a total length of 148 meters. "Twin Dragon Bridge" (Shuanglong Qiao) originally spanned over the two Rivers, Lu Jiang He and Ta Chong He, which have both since changed their original water course. We have a late lunch at Tonghai and continue to Kunming. On the way we stop a Xingmeng, a village inhabited by a Mongol minority left behind by Khengis Khans army over 700 years ago. We arrive in Kunming in the early evening. Check in at hotel. Dinner at a local restaurant.
Day 11. KUNMING - departure (B)
Transfer to the airport or connecting program (Optional visit to the Railway Museum possible) |