Day 1: After the ride to your hotel gets you set for your first night in Hanoi

Day 2: start your day with a visit to the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, resting place of the revered revolutionary leader. Check out plenty more of the city's sights, from the iconic One Pillar Pagoda to the 6th-century Tran Quoc Temple, of the oldest in Vietnam.

Day 3 takes you out of the city for a look at traditional crafts in the villages of Vac, Chuong, and Ha Tay Province, among the communal houses and idyllic rice paddies. Check out the distinctive gate that stands in the river at Chi Le before you head back to your hotel in Hanoi.

Day 4 and 5: Your next day's excursion takes you to Ha Long Bay, where you can spend the day exploring this UNESCO World Heritage Site and take an overnight cruise on the water. Go sightseeing on Ti Top Island before another boat carries you to Cat Ba for a day of leisure.

Day 6 brings you back to Hanoi for a day of free time before an overnight train carries you north to Lao Cai.

Day 7: When you arrive, a local guide takes you for a hearty breakfast and a journey to meet the friendly Hmong and Zay people. Spend the night with a family in Ta Van village

Day 8: visit the communities of Giang Ta Chai and Ban Ho to see more of the region's diverse lifestyles. The last night of your tour is on the train back to Hanoi, where an early-morning arrival brings the adventure to a close.

Itinerary is as follows:

Day 1: Hanoi (B/L/-)

Day 2: Hanoi (B/L/-)

Day 3: Hanoi – Vac – Chuong – Ha Tay – Hanoi (B/L/-)

Day 4: Hanoi – Ha Long – Golden Lotus Cruise (B/L/-)

Day 5: Ha Long Bay – Cat Ba Island (B/L/-)

Day 6: Cat Ba Island – Ha Long – Hanoi (B/L/-)

Day 7: Hanoi – Lao Cai Sleeper Train (B/L/-)

Day 8: Lao Cai – Sa Pa – Ta Van (B/L/-)

Day 9: Ta Van – Giang Ta Chai – Lao Cai – Hanoi Sleeper Train (B/L/-)

Day 10: Hanoi Departure (B/-/-)