Explore the North of Viet Nam

What to Expect

The Northern Vietnam Tour brings you to explore Hanoi capital city via monuments, temples and French colonial buildings within long historical and cultural values, as well as via local experiences in the chaotic 36 streets of the Old Quarter. Cruising to stunning islets, caves and cliffs of Ha Long Bay is a fascinating experience that you should not miss out on your journey exploring Northern Vietnam. Sapa mountain town in the Northwest area is well-known not only for the Fansipan peak “the roof of Indochina”, but also hill tribe villages, which will bring you interesting experiences of wonderful landscapes and the local life of ethnic minority groups.Cuc Phuong National Park offers you opportunities to see natural treasures, and explore the diversity of flora and fauna. In addition, Hoa Lu Van Long known as ‘Ha Long Bay on land’ is an unforgettable destination in combination with Trang An Nature Reserve.

Highlights

Itinerary

• Day 1: Hanoi Arrival

  Xin chao! Welcome to Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam. Our driver will wait for you at arrival hall and then transfer you to the hotel for your check-in.
  Free time at your leisure.
  Overnight at your hotel in Old Quarter area.

  Hanoian Central Hotel & Spa

  Private car

• Day 2: Hanoi - Ninh Binh

  Have a breakfast at your hotel.
  7.30 - 8.00: Tour guide will pick you up at hotel lobby and head to Ninh Binh province.
  After 2.5 hours, you arrive at Hoa Lu -the ancient capital of Vietnam in 10th century. You will have a deeper side about Vietnamese history as well as culture through visiting Hoa Lu ancient capital and King Ding temple. Then, you will go to Mua Cave, a famous check-in place of many people, especially young people. To reach the peak of the mountain, you will have to climb about 500 stairs. This can be challenging and make you tired but don’t worry, those feelings will disappear when you stand at the top and observe the stunning panorama view.
  12.30: Have set menu lunch at the local restaurant with Vietnamese dishes.
  In the afternoon, you will have special experience with a sampan boat trip on Tam Coc. Your boat will follow Ngo Dong’s river and lead to three emerald water caves: Hang Ca, Hang Hai and Hang Ba. You can be overwhelmed by the landscape of beautiful caves were filled up many shimmering stalactites which formed in thousands of years by nature.
  You will cycle on paths of countryside before taking part in small sunset party with fruits and tea.
  Check-in your bungalow.
  19.00: Enjoy the first dinner in Ninh Binh.
  Free time at night. You can spend time to swim in the pool of homestay, walk around the village.

  Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

  Air-conditioned bus, boat, bike

• Day 3: Ninh Binh - Hanoi

  After breakfast in the bungalow, you will get a drive to Cuc Phuong National Park around 8.45. This is the first national park and the largest nature reserve. You will have an opportunity to see a remarkable place in this park, the Endangered Primate Rescue Center - one of the highlights of a visit to Cuc Phuong, where you can observe some of the rarest primate species in the world. Spend your time to see adorable animals and learn more about their habits. If you are an animal lover, this can be your favorite place.
  Have lunch with set menu in the restaurant in forest. Enjoy Vietnamese dishes while feeling fresh air as well as observing peaceful and “green” view. In the afternoon, you will move to the Cave of Prehistoric man - the site of one of the earliest discoveries of human habitation in Vietnam. This is a must-see destination in Vietnam which has a precious value in culture and history. Let’s walk slowly in the national park and be relaxed before leaving Cuc Phuong and come back to Hanoi.
  Return to Hanoi around 18.30.
  Check-in at your hotel. Overnight at the hotel in Old Quarter area.

  Breakfast, Lunch

  Hanoian Central Hotel & Spa

  Air-Conditioned Bus

• Day 4: Hanoi - Ha Long Bay

  Have a breakfast at the hotel restaurant.
  7.45 - 8.30: Tour guide will pick you up at hotel lobby and head to Halong Bay. When you arrive to Ha Long, you will have a short break time before taking a tender to move to cruise.
  Check in your cabin and enjoy the welcome drink.
  13.30: Have lunch with Vietnamese dishes and observe beautiful landscapes while cruising to Bai Tu Long Bay.
  Bai Tu Long Bay belongs to Ha Long city which located near to Ha Long Bay. The bay owns the similar landscapes compared to Halong Bay with many limestone mountains on emerald water. The bay also has many notable destinations but is less crowded as Halong Bay. Do you find excited to explore Bai Tu Long Bay? You will go to Cap La island which belongs to Bai Tu Long Bay. You will spend your time to experience kayak activity. Sit on boat and follow to the water’s flow, you will see many karsts and islets covered trees. Move through karsts in fresh air and breathtaking views, it will be the great moments in day!
  After funny experience with kayak, it is Sunset time with tea and fresh fruits. Then, you will be received guidelines from the chef to cook some Vietnamese dished by yourself.
  Enjoy the dinner on board around 19.30.
  Have free time at night. You can choose to join some activities: play games, squid fishing and sing karaoke.
  Overnight on board.

  Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

  Aspira Cruise

  Air-conditioned Bus, Cruises, Kayak

• Day 5: Ha Long - Hanoi

  You will start your day with Tai Chi class on sundeck at 06.30. Let’s reset your body with gentle exercise in a stunning view of the bay. It also is great chance to hunt the sunrise on the cruise between the bay, you can see the progress when the sun rises from horizon to the east.
  Have a breakfast on board before discovering Thien Canh Son Cave. Go inside the cave, you will be amazed by many stalactites which were formed in thousands of years with full of different shapes and sizes. Stroll around the cave, you will find many interesting stalactites with similar shapes like animals, flowers, etc. Besides that, you will be listened about the history of Bai Tu Long as well as this this cave from tour guide to have a better understanding about this area’s value.
  You will come back to the cruise, check out your cabin and to join in fruit craving activity. This time will give you a detailed answer and satisfy your curiosity. Maybe you will find a new hobby! Take the guidance from guide and begin to make your own artwork.
  While the cruise returns to Hon Gai Harbour, you will enjoy the last lunch on board around 11.00.
  After disembarking at the Pier, you will get on the bus to come back Hanoi. Drop you off at your hotel around 17.00.
  Overnight at hotel in Old Quarter area.

  Breakfast, Lunch

  Hanoian Central Hotel & Spa

  Air-conditioned Bus, Cruises

• Day 6: Hanoi - Sapa

  Have early breakfast at your hotel.
  Our driver will come to your hotel and pick you up to depart for Sapa following Noi Bai - Lao Cai highway.
  Along the way, you will have chance to enjoy the beauty of northwestern mountains, terraced fields are sparkling in sunlight or dim in thick fog. Have a short break in 30 minutes and then continue the trip to Sapa.
  13.00-13.30: Arrive in Sapa, eat lunch and check in hotel. 14.30: Tour guide picks you from the hotel and takes you to walk to the Moana. A check-in area with man-made structures but arranged in harmony with nature to create a unique, strange and beautiful landscape.
  The check-in area is only 500m from the Stone Church, with the view embracing the Hoang Lien Son range and the majestic Fansipan peak. This place consists of seven categories, attracting young people by many unique miniatures. There are Bali heaven gate, Moana girl statue, infinity lake, golden hand, death swing, lonely tree and coffee area.Our guide will pick you up at your hotel and depart for Sapa town in Lao Cai Province around.
  Have dinner around 19.00 and free time at night. You can spend time to visit night market to try street food or buy some souvenirs.
  Overnight at the hotel in Sapa town.

  Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

  Limousine

• Day 7: Sapa - Fansipan - Cat Cat village

  07.00: Eat breakfast in the hotel. 08.00: Car and tour guide take you to Fansipan Cable Car Station to start the journey to conquer Fansipan with the world's most modern 3-wire cable car system with a cabin that can accommodate up to 30 visitors. Then continue conquering to the top of Fansipan at 3.143m higher from sea-level, the roof of Indochina.
  11.30: Back to Sapa, eat lunch and take rest.
  14.30: You will start hiking to Cat Cat Village which is occupied by the Black H’mong tribe. Here, you can see the hydroelectric power station which was built by the French in twentieth century. You will experience the tribal way of life of ethnic minotities while enjoying wonderful views of the terraced rice paddy fields and the waterfall in Cat Cat village. Visitors will also understand culture, unique customs, traditional crafts such as weaving, touching carved silver, forged agricultural tools... Come back to the hotel.
  18.30: Having dinner with your group. Afer dinner, you are free to explore the charm of Sapa by night, enjoy roasted corn, baked eggs beside charcoal fire or go shopping. Especially on Saturday night, we highly recommend a stop at the Love Market - one of the unique cultures of ethenic minorities in nortwest of Vietnam.
  If you feel tired and exhausted after 2 trekking days, you can go to massage stores to get massage or herbal baths to let your body free. However, you should ask the price and time for each service carefully before making decision.
  Overnight at the hotel in Sapa town.

  Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

  Air-conditioned Bus

• Sapa - Ha Noi

  You can wake up early to enjoy the early morning atmosphere in “the fanciful town of fog”.
  For the last day in Sapa, you will have free time to relax or trek to Y Linh Ho – Lao Chai – Ta Van. The trekking route is about 10 km. Here is some information for you if you want to go there yourself
  Trek to Y Linh Ho, a village is located at flank of mountain. The village is surrounded by Hoang Lien Son mountain range. Hit on your eyes is rice terraces and along Muong Hoa Stream to the Black Hmong village of Lao Chai. You can see the local people are working on their fields as well as children are playing with friends.
  Have lunch around 12.00 to get the energy back.
  In the afternoon, you can go to Ta Van village - home of Dzay ethnic people. You will see the picture of rice fields and small houses near there. Its atmosphere is quite peaceful with wild nature, it is an ideal place for you to run away from busy life.
  You will come to Ta Van Bridge to come back to Sapa.
  You will get on the car and back to Hanoi around 15.00.
  21.30: Drop you off at your departure point in Hanoi.
  Overnight at hotel in Old Quarter area.

  Breakfast, Lunch

  Hanoian Central Hotel & Spa

  Limousine

• Day 9: Hanoi City tour

  In the ninth day of the journey discovering the north of Vietnam, you will spend time to learn more about the rich culture of our charming capital with over 1000-year history.
  Have a breakfast at the hotel restaurant.
  Tour guide will wait for you at your hotel lobby around 8.00 AM for starting your exploring day. The first destination you will visit today is Tran Quoc Pagoda which the oldest pagoda in Hanoi from 6th century. The pagoda has a good position near West Lake.
  Next, you will arrive at Ho Chi Minh Complex which includes Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum where keeps the embalmed body of Ho Chi Minh president, the presidential palace, house on stilts. You will listen to stories about Ho Chi Minh, a great father as well as the first president of Vietnam.
  You will move to Museum of Ethnology in Vietnam which keeps many items representing for 54 Vietnamese ethnic groups. You can see a lot of interesting stuffs about the culture and customs about our country.
  12.30: Have lunch in local restaurant with Vietnamese dishes.
  After the meal, you will go to Temple of Literature, the first university on Vietnam. Learn more about Vietnam’s culture and education in the past. And transfer to Hoa Lo prison, one of the most “terrible hell” in Vietnam in 20th century to have a better understanding about Vietnam war.
  15:30: Come back to your hotel.
  Free time for you in the late afternoon and evening to discover the streets by your own. Try the street food or speciality food.
  Overnight at hotel in Old Quarter area.
  Note: Please dress politely for temple/pagoda visits. No shorts, sleeveless shirts or see-thru clothing.

  Breakfast, Lunch

  Hanoian Central Hotel & Spa

  Air-Conditioned Bus

• Day 10: Hanoi Departure

  Enjoy your last breakfast in Vietnam. then, you will have free time until our private car comes to pick you up at the airport for your flight.
  Finish your trip in the north of Vietnam, hope you get happy time and interesting experiences about our country with us and wish to see you in the near future!

  Breakfast

  Private car