The Best Northern Vietnam Tour - Tour Route: Hanoi - Sapa - Ninh Binh - Halong Bay - Hanoi

Day 1: Hanoi Arrival

Welcome to Vietnam! Upon your arrival in Hanoi, your guide will meet you and escort you to your hotel. The rest of the day is for you to get rid of the jet lag and have a rest.

Overnight: Hanoi

Day 2: Hanoi Heritage Exploration

In the morning, explore Hanoi by touring some major historic sites, including Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, Ho Chi Minh House on Stilt, One Pillar Pagoda, Tran Quoc Pagoda, and Quan Thanh Temple. In the afternoon, visit the Museum of Ethnology and cycle through the Old Quarter of Hanoi (by Rickshaw, about 1hr). Next stop is Hoan Kiem Lake, Ngoc Son Temple and then enjoy a Water Puppet Show to learn more about Vietnamese traditional culture.

Note: Please note that the HCM Mausoleum is closed on Fridays and Mondays and most museums are closed on Mondays.

Overnight: Hanoi

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 3: Hanoi Highlights, Hanoi - Sapa

After breakfast, drive to Sapa from Hanoi with a 5 hours drive, stop for a break or take photos en route. After checking into the hotel and taking a short break, you will visit the Silver Waterfall - the most beautiful waterfall in Sapa then enjoy the great view and feeling at the "Heaven Gate" of Sapa - the highest point of Hoang Lien Son mountain range where you can see majestic Lai Chau Valley and imposing Fanxipan mount.

Overnight: Sapa

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 4: Sapa Trekking Tour

Today you will take a morning walking tour to a busy market where Red Dao, Black & Flower H'Mong, Tay and other ethnic minority people converge from the surrounding countryside to sell their silverware and handicrafts and to buy provisions. Afterward, you will do a 3-hour trekking tour to Lao Chai and Ta Van Village of the Black H'mong and the Day people, you will enjoy the fresh air, amazing scenery of the imposing mountain range, trek down world's most beautiful terraced rice fields, visit some local family on the way and learn unique culture and life of these ethnic groups. Drive back to Sapa for overnight.

Overnight: Sapa

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 5: Sapa - Hanoi

This morning, you will visit Ma Tra Village first and then trek through the rice terraces to Ta Phin Village of the Red Dao minority (about 3 hours trekking). After lunch in the village, drive back to Hanoi.

Overnight: Hanoi

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 6: Hanoi - Ninh Binh

Morning drive to visit Hoa Lu, the ancient capital city of the Dinh Dynasty and the Bai Dinh Pagoda, the largest pagoda complex in Vietnam. After lunch, take the amazing boat trip to visit Trang An Grottoes, which is a gathering of 31 valleys, 50 cross-water caves, and home to 600 kinds of flora and over 200 kinds of fauna, many of them in the Red Book of Vietnam.

Overnight: Ninh Binh

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 7: Ninh Binh - Halong Bay Cruise

Today you will drive to the World Heritage site of Halong Bay, where you can see nearly 2,000 limestone islands dot the sea and traditional sampans and junks sail the glinting water, grottos, thick forests, and hidden coves, it will be a real ocean adventure! A variety of optional activities like kayaking, swimming, diving will definitely add more fun to this trip.

Overnight: Onboard

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 8: Halong Bay - Hanoi

Today continue your unforgettable Halong Bay cruise until a big brunch is finished and then disembark the cruiser at around 10 am. Your guide and driver will meet you at the pier then drive back to hotel in Hanoi (around 4 hours drive). This evening, you will have an eye-opening street food tour (4-8 pm) at the Old Quarter.

Overnight: Hanoi

Meals: Brunch

Day 9 : Hanoi - Departure

After breakfast at the hotel, you will have some free time on your own before time to transfer to the airport for your homebound flight.

Meal: Breakfast

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Tour price: Rates vary frequently. Please Contact Us to get the best possible price based upon your travel period, group size and specific touring needs.

What is included

• Meet and greet service by our representatives at airports
• Private air-conditioned vehicle
• Accommodation with daily breakfast.
• Meals in tour B = Breakfast, L = Lunch , D= Dinner
• All sightseeing tours in privately guided tours
• Entrance fees to all sites as indicated on the itinerary.
• English-speaking tour guide during your trip
• Bottled water during your sightseeing (1 bottle / day)
• Halong bay boat 

What is not included

• Visa to Vietnam and Cambodia
• International flights & Any optional tours
• Personal spending during the trip
• Travel insurance
• Tip for guides, drivers...