Hanoi-Sapa-Halong Bay Adventure with Mom: 5 Days, 4 Nights for 12,000 Baht

Let's get started.....

This trip will be a 5-day, 4-night adventure for just me and my mom. While she's approaching 60, she's in great shape and ready to take on the challenge!

Itinerary

Day 1:

• Fly from Bangkok (BKK) to Hanoi.
• Take a train from Hanoi to Lao Cai.

Day 2:

• Take a bus from Lao Cai to Sapa.
• Trek to Cat Cat Village.

Day 3:

• Hike Mount Fansipan.
• Take a sleeping bus back to Hanoi.

Day 4:

• Take a day trip to Halong Bay.

Day 5:

• Fly from Hanoi back to Bangkok (BKK).

Next, I booked my flights and hotel in Sapa through Traveloka. This app is fantastic and incredibly convenient. It offers discounts on flights and hotels when booked approximately one month in advance.

Agency used: Viet express travel

This agency was used to book the following services:

• Airport transfers
• Train tickets to Sapa
• Half-day trekking in Cat Cat Village
• Sleeping bus
• 1-day trip to Halong Bay
• Hotel in Hanoi

This is a popular Thai brand that many people use. The staff are very friendly and helpful. I forgot my phone charger and they lent me one for the entire duration of my stay. The owner's name is Mrs. Houng, but I communicated with a staff member named Ms. Dung.

Email: [email protected] - Website: www.Vietexpresstravel.com.vn

Day 1: Upon arrival at Noi Bai Airport around 2:00 PM, the first order of business was to purchase a SIM card for convenient communication with Ms. Dung. I opted for a Veittel SIM card, priced at 11 USD (330 THB). The counter is located on the left-hand side after exiting baggage claim. The internet connection was strong and reliable, even on top of Mount Maeng. Truly impressive!

Upon arrival at the gate, someone will be waiting for us with a name sign. Let's go to Hanoi!

The journey from the airport to Ms. Dung's office in downtown Hanoi takes approximately 45 minutes. Upon arrival, we were greeted with refreshments and recommendations for local restaurants and attractions. We were also informed that we needed to return to shower and change clothes by 7:30 PM to avoid missing the train. Due to our late arrival, we only had time to take photos at St. Joseph's Cathedral.

**Note: The office has a bathroom, towels, and a bed available for free!

Enjoy dinner at Banh Cuon Ba Hanh, a delicious and affordable Vietnamese restaurant specializing in "banh cuon," a traditional Vietnamese dish. It is conveniently located near St. Joseph's Church (on the right side of the church).

It's time to head to the train station! We've opted for the Chapa Express, a privately-owned and relatively new train. It departs promptly at 9 pm and arrives in Lao Cai at 6 am the following morning.

Day 2: Arrival at Lao Cai Station

We finally arrived at Lao Cai Station! However, neither my mother nor I could sleep a wink. The train stopped at every station, making a loud, jarring noise and swaying constantly. I've experienced motion sickness on cars and boats, but never on a train!

After Lao Cai, we took a car to Sapa, which took about an hour. The road was winding and steep, with breathtaking views. The car dropped us off right in front of our hotel.

J chose to stay at Sapa Eden Hotel for 800 baht per night in a Deluxe room with breakfast. The room had a view of the train from Sapa to Fansipan, which was amazing. Another great thing was that check-in was available from 9 am.

Afterward, while waiting for our guide to pick us up for trekking to Cat Cat Village, we recharged our batteries at Cafe in the Cloud. The view was spectacular, but the food was quite expensive.

At approximately 9:30 AM, our guide picked us up to begin our 4 km trek to the Hmong village of Ban Kat Kat. The village showcases local handicrafts and offers picturesque photo opportunities. The highlight of the village is undoubtedly the waterfall.

After a tiring walk, the guide took us to lunch. The chicken pho was not delicious! We endured it and on the way back, they will take us in a van to the hotel.

Initially, I planned to invite my mother to Love Waterfall. However, she declined, stating that she was too tired and needed to rest. As a result, our plans were canceled. I ended up sleeping until 5 pm, likely due to hunger. By 5 pm, the fog had begun to descend, transforming the city into a true "City of Mist".

We ventured into Sapa town, approximately 500 meters from our accommodation, in search of sustenance. Our journey led us to Ladybird, a charming establishment that doubles as a hotel and restaurant. The prices were reasonable and commensurate with the quality of the food. The apple juice was particularly noteworthy, boasting an exquisite flavor that could only be attributed to the use of freshly pressed apples.

Full and satisfied... Mom said she was tired and wanted a foot massage. She had been walking all day (only half a day, Mom!). So, we went to the spa at the BB hotel.

Day 3: Today, we will conquer Fansipan, the highest peak in Indochina. To ensure my mother's comfort, we purchased all available tickets, minimizing her walking distance. We began by purchasing tickets at the Sapa station, a yellow building in the city center.

The package costs 820,000 VND and includes round-trip train tickets from Sapa town to the Cable car station, round-trip cable car tickets, and a funicular ride to the top of Fansipan. If you don't want to take the funicular, you can walk the 600 steps, which are very steep.

The descent from the mountain peak cost 80,000 dong, which is very expensive. In total, the cost of reaching the peak of Fansipan without walking was 900,000 dong, approximately 1350 baht per person. Although it was incredibly expensive, it was worth it!

Take the tram from Sapa station to the Cablecar station.

The cable car ascends, gradually increasing in altitude. As it climbs, the air grows progressively cooler, and a sensation of pressure builds in the ears.

The first thing I saw when I got off the cable car was thick fog. I couldn't see anything. It was also raining. It was so cruel! But it was also very beautiful.

We finally made it to the FANSIPAN SUMMIT! We spent some time relaxing at the top to make the most of our ticket price.

We spent about 4 hours on Fansipan, then went down to eat hot pot at Viet Emotion. It's a sukiyaki that doesn't need dipping sauce, amazing!

Tonight, we will return to Hanoi by a sleeping bus that will depart at 10 pm. We have plenty of time for shopping. While waiting for the bus, we walked around the lake and my mother found two supermarkets nearby.

First shop: A local shop with lower prices, but the shop is quite dusty.

Shop Two: Offers higher-priced items, boasts a more organized and inviting layout, and maintains a cleaner environment.

And then it was time to get on the bus. This bus will take us back to Hanoi, arriving around 3:30 AM.

Day 4: The sleeper bus will stop approximately 800 meters from the agency's office. Upon arrival, immediately open Google Maps to return to the agency for sleep and a shower. Today, we have booked a 1-day trip to Halong Bay.

Mom woke up around 6:30 am and said she was hungry. I was like, "Oh no, where should I take her to eat?" So I took her for a walk and we came across this restaurant. It's kind of like congee, but the rice is ground into a flour. This bowl cost 25,000 dong and it was really filling because it's all flour.

At approximately 8:00 AM, we were picked up and driven to Halong Bay, a journey that took approximately four hours. The long drive was accompanied by the unfortunate weather, as rain began to fall as we neared the pier. However, upon boarding the boat, the rain ceased, and the skies cleared, marking a stroke of good fortune.

The activities we will be doing are: 1. Lunch on the boat, 2. Kayaking, 3. Exploring the cave. We will return to Hanoi around 8 pm.

Tonight, we stayed at the Angel Palace Hotel and had dinner at the hotel itself. We were too tired to walk outside, and it was raining. As hotel guests, we received a 20% discount on our meal. The Cha Ca dish is highly recommended; it was incredibly delicious.

Day 5: We head home. We have arranged for a car to pick us up at the hotel at 8 am to take us to Noi Bai Airport.

In summary, the total expenses, including food, amounted to approximately 12,000 baht per person! This is significantly cheaper than traveling within Thailand.

- Round-trip Vietjet airfare: 4,000 baht per person

• The cost of a night at the Sapa Eden Hotel is 800 baht.

• Agency booking fee: 270 USD – 8900 THB for 2 people.

• Fansipan ticket price is 1350 baht per person.

• Miscellaneous expenses, including food, shopping, and other activities, amounted to approximately 3,000 baht spent with my mother.

***Tips for Vietnam***

-Exchange both USD and VND. The exchange rate is approximately 1 USD=33 B, 1 B = 0.0015 VND. To convert to Thai baht, remove the last 3 "0"s. For example, 50,000 VND = 50*1.5 = 75 B.

-If you're tired of walking, use Grab. Download the app to avoid being scammed.

-Bottled water is expensive in Vietnam. Save any bottles you find in your hotel or from tour guides.

-When crossing the street, don't hesitate. Just walk and the cars will avoid you.

-Be careful with your wallet, phone, and especially iPhones. I've had mine snatched before.

The sentence is already in English and does not require translation.