Vietnam forum

Hi everyone,

we will visit Vietnam in February 2010. We will arrive Hanoi on the 11th of Feb. Our first overnight stay we´ve already booked.
As we heard that the Tet is around the time we want to do our tours, we started to ask ourselves if it is possible to do tours on your own or if the travel agency in Hanoi offer still their tours.
Our "plan" as yet is to go to Sapa for 2 days and to Halong Bay for 2 days. So that we are back in Hanoi around the 16th of Feb.
We wrote emails to different agency to check what they offer. Most of them are closed during Tet but some are still open...
Vega-travel is one of them!
Vega travel made us an offer for Sapa:

Day 01: 12 Feb (Fri)
Hanoi - Lao Cai - by night train
20h00 take a night train to Lao Cai

Included: Transfer and train ticket (train type: tourist class, 4 soft
berths in a compartment with a.c)

Day 02: 13 Feb (Saturday)
Lao Cai - Can Cau market full day - Sapa
Overnight in Sapa
See how Vietnamese people prepare to celebrate Tet

Included: A private car from Lao Cai to Can Cau market then to Sapa, tour
guide and meals (B + L) and Hotel 3* (holiday Sapa hotel:
www.holidaysapa.com

Day 03: 14th Feb. 10 (Sun)
Sapa Trekking to village to get to know how the local minority celebrate
traditional Tet
18h00 transfer to Lao Cai for the night train to Hanoi

Included: Tour guide, entrance fee and meals (B + L) and transfer + train
ticket (same type)

Price:
Sapa Private tour and price is 215 USD per person

Isnt that too much????
It is ok for us to pay more and get more but this price seems huge for us.
Is it possible to visit Sapa on your own during Tet?
Or is it better to have a tour included food,hotel etc.?
Make it sense to go to Sapa at this time?
Does anyone have experience with Sapa tours with vega-travel?
Every help and ideas are welcome :)
Thanks!