9 Days Northern Vietnam Tour: Sapa to Halong Bay

Arrive at Noi Bai airport, you will be greeted at Noi Bai Airport and transferred to your hotel for an overnight stay.

Overnight stay at a hotel in Hanoi

Morning: After breakfast, our guide will pick you up for a full day tour of Hanoi, Vietnam’s charming capital. Our first stop is the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, located at the heart of Ba Dinh Square. This is a significant national monument where the embalmed body of Ho Chi Minh, the founding father of modern Vietnam, is preserved. Please note that the mausoleum is open only from Tuesday to Thursday and on weekends, between 08:00 and 11:00.

Next, we’ll visit the Presidential Palace and Ho Chi Minh’s House on Stilts. Completed on May 19th, 1958 as a birthday gift for Uncle Ho, this humble wooden house reflects his simple lifestyle and dedication to his people.

Close by is the One Pillar Pagoda, a unique structure that resembles a lotus blossoming from a square pond. Built in 1049 by King Ly Thai Tong following a dream about the Goddess of Mercy seated on a lotus, it was reconstructed in 1955 after being destroyed by the French in 1954.

We then proceed to the Temple of Literature, Vietnam’s first university, which dates back nearly 1,000 years. This historic temple offers a glimpse into the country’s ancient educational traditions and Confucian heritage.

Afternoon: We’ll explore the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology, showcasing the rich cultural diversity of Vietnam's 54 ethnic groups. The museum features both indoor and outdoor exhibits, including traditional houses representing various ethnic communities. Please be aware that the museum is closed every Monday.

Evening: In the evening, we’ll transfer you to the railway station to board a comfortable overnight train to Lao Cai/Sapa, departing at 22:00. The journey takes approximately 8 hours and 5 minutes, with an expected arrival in Lao Cai at 06:05 the following morning.

Note: There will be no escorting guide on the train from Hanoi to Sapa. To support the local communities, we work with local guides in Sapa, many of whom come from the nearby ethnic villages. They are enthusiastic to share their culture, traditions, and deep knowledge of the region with you.

At approximately 06:00 we arrive in Lao Cai. Your chauffeur waits with a 45 minutes’ drive by private car, from Lao Cai Station to Sapa. After a fresh up and breakfast, start your tour.

Your trip begins with a drive south toward Muong Hoa Valley, home to the largest terraced rice paddies in the Sapa region. From there, you’ll descend into the valley on foot. If you visit between May and October, you’ll have the opportunity to witness and even take part in the planting and harvesting activities, which are crucial to the local way of life. Your walk will take you from Lao Chai Village, inhabited by the Black Hmong people, to Ta Van Village, home to the Giay community.

The Black Hmong are one of the largest ethnic groups in the Sapa area. They take great pride in their rich cultural heritage and continue to practice their traditional way of life. They have their own language and are known for their distinctive indigo blue clothing.

The Giay are a smaller ethnic group, with a population of around 38,000, living primarily in the mountainous regions of Northwest Vietnam. While modern development has influenced their way of life, many women still wear traditional garments in shades of purple, blue, or green. The Giay live in houses made of wood and bamboo, with clay floors.

After exploring Ta Van Village, you’ll be driven back to Sapa.

Approximate Duration: 1 hour driving / 2 hours walking.

Overnight stay at a hotel in Sapa

Your local guide and driver will meet you at your hotel in Sapa for a short drive north along National Road 4C towards O Quy Ho, with several stops along the way to admire the stunning landscapes of Fansipan, Sin Chai Valley, and the vibrant flower and vegetable farms. Afterward, you’ll turn onto a narrow road for a half-hour drive through a wild region of dense rainforest and towering mountains, passing several waterfalls before arriving at Ban Khoang Village.

Ban Khoang is home to the Red Dao people, who have preserved their unique way of life and traditional values. The village thrives on a combination of wet rice cultivation on terraced fields and cardamom farming beneath the forest canopy. Spend over an hour exploring this remote village to gain insight into the local culture.

Leaving Ban Khoang, you will continue for about 10 km to Ta Giang Phinh Valley, where the Black Hmong people live in small villages scattered along a tranquil stream. Enjoy a leisurely lunch break by the stream before embarking on a walk along village paths, connecting one village to another. Here, you can observe daily activities such as plowing fields, planting, harvesting, or various household chores. During the off-season, men often gather to build or repair houses, while women stay at home crafting traditional clothing.

The walk concludes in the mid-afternoon, after which you will be picked up for the drive back to Sapa.

Approximate Duration:

2 hours driving / 4 hours walking / 1 hour lunch.

Overnight stay at a hotel in Sapa.

Breakfast is served at the hotel. After that, start your tour.

You’ll be picked up from your hotel in Sapa around 9:00 AM and set off from the town. The walk begins with a downhill trek to Cat Cat Village. Take in the beautiful scenery along the way. After reaching a waterfall and a hydroelectric station, we’ll take a short break before continuing along a dirt trail through terraced rice fields. This area is part of the Hoang Lien National Park, still covered by rainforest.

We’ll arrive at Y Linh Ho Village, home to the Black Hmong people, where we’ll rest once more before ascending to the main road. Our vehicle will meet us there for the drive back to Sapa.

Approximate Duration:

15 minutes driving / 3 hours walking.

Note:

The trail from Cat Cat to Y Linh Ho can be slippery during the rainy season.

At the end of the day, transfer to Lao Cai Station to take a night train back to Hanoi.

On arrival at Hanoi Station, pick up and transfer to a hotel to fresh up and breakfast.

After enjoying breakfast at the hotel, embark on a scenic 3-hour drive through the fertile farmlands of the Red River Delta to Ha Long City.

Recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1994, Ha Long Bay is one of Vietnam's most stunning natural wonders. Located nearly 200 kilometers from Hanoi, the bay boasts 1,600 limestone islands, each offering a breathtaking view.

Upon arrival in Ha Long, board a luxurious wooden sailing junk for a cruise through the bay's limestone formations and emerald waters. This is a perfect opportunity to marvel at the extraordinary scenery of this World Heritage Site. Onboard, savor a delicious fresh seafood lunch, then enjoy swimming and exploring some of the bay's limestone caves. As the sun sets, we’ll anchor near a secluded island for the night. Dinner will be served on board, followed by an overnight stay on the junk.

Waking up to the serene beauty of the bay, we have time for an early morning swim, taking in the joys and emotions of watching the sunrise over the sea, followed by breakfast on board. This morning, we continue exploring the bay, seeking out more secluded areas. The junk will remain nearby, serving as a support vessel for anyone who may need it. Around midday, we will return to the main harbor before transferring to our awaiting vehicle for a 3-hour drive to Ninh Binh.

On arrival, check - in hotel and time on your own.

Overnight stay at a hotel in Ninh Binh.

After breakfast in the morning, you’ll explore Ninh Binh, the former capital of ancient Vietnam before Hanoi took its prominent role in the 11th century. The region is renowned for its stunning landscapes, including the Tam Coc Caves and Hoa Lu, the ancient capital with its historic temples dedicated to King Dinh and King Le, who ruled in the 10th century.

Your Ninh Binh experience begins with a boat trip through Tam Coc, where majestic limestone karsts rise dramatically from the lush green rice fields, evoking comparisons to Guilin in China and earning the area the nickname “Ha Long Bay on land.”

Next, delve deeper into Ninh Binh's history at the site of the 10th-century royal palace, now famous for the intricate wooden carvings of the serene Dinh and Le temples. Continue to Mua Cave, a site known for its captivating legends. Climb 500 stone steps to the peak, where you can enjoy a breathtaking panoramic view of the countryside and the meandering Ngo Dong River.

Overnight stay at a hotel in Ninh Binh.

Breakfast is served at the hotel. After that, transfer to Noi Bai International Airport for your departure flight.

End of our service.