Scenic North Vietnam: 12 Days from Majestic Mountains to Tropical Beaches

The tour guide from BestPrice Travel will welcome you at Noi Bai International Airport and then drive you to your hotel in Hanoi. The check-in time is 14:00, any early check-in is available with an additional charge. 

After a long flight, you are free to take some rest or join us for some optional food tours below to explore the typical cuisine in Hanoi:

NOTE: Do not hesitate to contact us if you want to book any additional city tours.

Morning/ Afternoon

You will enjoy the day by exploring the capital city with our guide. Depending on your schedule, this half-day trip either starts in the morning or the afternoon.

Your first stop is the Temple of Literature, which is the Imperial Academy of the Ly dynasty. This place is also the first university in Vietnam.

Then, head to explore the One Pillar Pagoda, which is also built in the same period as the Temple of Literature. This architecture will amaze every visitor with its special design, a small temple that is settled on a single stone pillar.

Following that, take a visit to the Mausoleum of President Ho Chi Minh, where the Vietnamese keep their greatest leader’s body, and go to see his house on stilts. These sites are viewed from outside and closed on Monday and Friday from June to August.

Next, visitors will travel to West Lake, and visit the sixth-century Tran Quoc Buddhist Pagoda - one of the oldest pagodas in Hanoi, which is 1,500 years old. 

Have lunch/ dinner at an authentic Vietnamese restaurant then take a break for the rest of the day.

NOTE:

• The tour can depart in the morning or afternoon depending on availability
• The polite dress code when you go to the Ho Chi Mausoleum is a must, which are the clothes that cover your knees and shoulders. It is not acceptable to wear shorts, miniskirts, sleeveless shirts, or tank tops
• Ho Chi Mausoleum will be seen from outside, closed on Mon & Fri, and from Jun to Aug

The remainder of the day is yours to relax and enjoy at your own pace. For those seeking a little extra adventure, we’ve curated a selection of optional tours to enrich your experience

Option 1: I Am a Farmer - Half Day Experience

Be ready at Buffalo Cave to meet the group and begin your journey into the authentic life of a Vietnamese farmer.

You’ll begin by feeding, bathing, and even riding a water buffalo, an iconic animal of the Vietnamese countryside. Next, join local people in the river to catch fish using traditional methods, before heading to the fields where you will try your hand at planting rice the way farmers have done for centuries.

Afterward, cool off with some refreshing waterfall bathing and take a short visit around the Buffalo Cave itself, learning more about its history and natural charm. The experience then shifts to the kitchen, where you’ll join a cooking class led by the Buffalo Cave’s cook. Together, you’ll prepare a selection of rustic Vietnamese dishes and then sit down to enjoy the meal you’ve created.

Option 2: Hanoi By Night Foodie Scooter Tours

Our friendly tour guide and drivers will greet you at your hotel, where a quick safety briefing prepares you for the ride.

Our first stop brings us to a Banh Cuon restaurant, a humble, family-run eatery that has perfected the art of steam-rolled cakes. As we ride through the vibrant Old Quarter, pause at a legendary restaurant that has been serving traditional dishes for over 45 years. From crispy Banh Goi to smoky Bun Cha, every dish carries the flavors of Hanoi’s culinary heritage.

The Vespa then zips towards the Red River Bank, where the city unfolds in a breathtaking panorama. Next, we weave through winding streets to reach Ngu Xa Village, a hidden culinary gem known for its traditional dishes. This stop is a feast for the senses as you sample varieties of Pho and other local specialties.

Our journey continues to West Lake, one of Hanoi’s most scenic spots. Not far from the lake lies the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, the most iconic landmark in the capital. Then, we treat ourselves to Hanoi’s most iconic drink - Egg Coffee.

For guests seeking a lighter, more atmospheric end to the night, we can head to a live acoustic music bar. Here, soulful Vietnamese voices and gentle music fill the air while you sip on cocktails, immersing yourself in Hanoi’s creative and modern spirit.

As the night winds down, we ride back through Hanoi’s lively streets, the city lights twinkling around us. The tour concludes with a comfortable transfer back to your hotel.

Morning

Let’s enjoy breakfast at the hotel to gain energy for the full-day tour. Then, you will transfer about 260 km to Ba Be National Park. The long road might take around 7 hours to get to the destination, so you will have lunch on the way to Ba Be Lake.

Afternoon

Arrive in Ba Be around late afternoon. You will get on a 30-minute boat cruise to the boatmen’s home village.

After heading to the homestay in Pac Ngoi village, you can walk around the village to see the local life, and have dinner there.

Distance & Est. time: biking 5 km

Morning

You can enjoy breakfast time at your homestay in the early time and the tour guide will pick you up for the trekking journey from Pac Ngoi village. You will have the chance to see the stilt houses, blending in with the beautiful nature of the Ba Be area.

After that, let’s take the bike tour to Tay Ethnic village to explore an amazing cave in the mountain then travel about 5 km by bike to Silk Waterfall. If the weather is suitable, you can take part in some water activities like swimming or relaxing next to the waterfall, then have a picnic lunch at the poetic waterfall.

Afternoon

Walk around Ba Be lakeshore and take some pictures of the sunset. You can head to the local market to buy unique souvenirs and then back to our homestay.

Morning

After having breakfast, around 07:30, you will leave Ba Be and head to Meo Vac by land transfer. The road might take about 6 hours and you will stop for lunch and a short break on the way.

Afternoon

Upon arrival at Meo Vac town, where Lo Lo and Pu Peo ethnic minority people live, you will have dinner and stay overnight at your homestay.

Morning

Have breakfast at the homestay. Around 07:30, let’s start the trip from Meo Vac to Dong Van, the limestone plateau inhabited by the Blue Hmong ethnic group. This is a 30 km winding zigzag road that connects Dong Van and Meo Vac, you can enjoy the beautiful mountain scenery on the way.

Arriving at Dong Van town, you can visit Dong Van market, which is organized every Sunday. Take a trip to Pho Bang to see the royal Vuong Chi Sinh family's villa, which combines Chinese and European architectural features.

Afternoon

Keep going to Quan Ba, Yen Minh. You will have a chance to witness the "Heaven Gate", located at the top of the region's highest mountain. From here, you can have a breathtaking panoramic view of Ha Giang, with the relaxing green of mountains and terraced fields.

At the end of the tour, you might arrive in Ha Giang in the late afternoon. Have dinner and stay overnight in the local village.

NOTE: Meo Vac, Dong Van, Yen Minh, and Ha Giang are remote areas. Therefore, local restaurants in this area have a different standard than restaurants in the big cities. You have to take the typical local meals as residents here.

Morning

After having breakfast at the hotel. Around 07:30, you will head to Bac Ha town and it might take about 6 hours. Due to a long time to transfer, you have lunch on the way to Bac Ha.

Afternoon

Stop at the Thai Giang Pho village of Flower Hmong people for a short visit if we have enough time, and you will have an opportunity to explore the ethnic minority's daily life.

Check-in at the hotel. Have dinner on your own, and stay overnight at your hotel.

Morning

Let’s enjoy the last breakfast in Bac Ha before the new journey begins.

Leave Bac Ha at around 06:30 and get on the way reaching the ethnic weekly market. You can enjoy the peaceful life of different minority people, try some unique cuisine that is only sold in this mountainous market, and buy unique Northern Vietnamese souvenirs to bring home.

After the tour around the local market, get down onto a boat along the Chay River to visit a village of the Tay Minority.

Afternoon

This afternoon, we will visit Bao Nhai, a small town that is home to many beautiful natural sights of the mountainous area in the North. You might enjoy the poetic landscape of this town, then take a car back to Sapa to have dinner on your own.

NOTE: Depending on your traveling dates, the market visit will be arranged rather than the Coc Ly market. Here's the working schedule of the other local markets:

• Coc Ly market: every Tuesday morning
• Sin Cheng & Cao Son market: every Wednesday 
• Lung Khau Nhin & Muong Khuong market: every Thursday
• Can Cau market: every Saturday morning
• Bac Ha market: every Sunday morning

Distance & Est. time: Trekking 13 km

Morning

After having breakfast at the hotel, you will be picked up by the local tour guide and start your trekking journey.

Begin your trekking journey to Y Linh Ho village, located on the banks of the Muong Hoa. Then continue to trek to the Lao Chai village of the Black Hmong people, one of the biggest minority groups in the Sapa area.

Then, head to Ta Van village, located 1,200 meters above sea level and inhabited by the Zay people. The peaceful atmosphere here will help you escape from the busy life in the city.

After the easy 13-km downhill trekking way, you would travel back to Sapa town by car.

Evening

Have free time to explore Sapa and stay overnight in the hotel.

Morning

After having breakfast at the hotel and checking out, we prepare for a new trekking trip to one of the most beautiful villages in the North’s mountainous area.

Continuing our trekking trip with a 3 km down to the Southwest of Sapa to Cat Cat village, home to the Black H’mong, one of the most well-known ethnic villages of Sapa. You will unwind in the village, admire the stunning waterfall, and have a picnic lunch by the side of the river.

Afternoon

In the afternoon, visitors trek 3 more km to Sin Chai village, located at the foot of Fansipan Mountain, “the Roof of Indochina,” and admire the stunning landscapes of the mountain.

Then you should come back and get transferred around 3 km to Sapa town on the jeep and back to Hanoi by sharing a limousine.

Morning

Have breakfast at the hotel. Around 08:00 - 08:30, the driver will pick you up and transfer you to Halong Bay for an overnight cruise. 

The cruise boarding time is around 12:00. The staff team will warmly welcome you with a drink when getting on the boat. Delicious seafood lunch will be served on board, while the boat cruises around the bay. 

Afternoon

Take part in a lot of exciting activities following the itinerary of the cruise, such as cycling in Viet Hai village, visiting floating fishing villages, and exploring the Dark & Light Cave. After that, get back to the main boat and relax.

Have dinner on the cruise and join other fun things, such as squid fishing (depending on each cruise). Stay overnight on the cruise.

NOTE: The detailed itinerary will depend on each Halong Bay cruise

Morning

This morning you can wake up early to join in Tai Chi class in the early morning. Or on some other cruises, you will have a chance to learn yoga or the traditional Vovinam martial arts instead of Tai Chi class. (Contact our travel consultant for more information.)

Let’s have a quick breakfast before getting on a trip to visit a famous attraction in Halong Bay, depending on the cruise’s itinerary. After that, back on the cruise to check out the cabin when the cruise returns to the main dock.

You will enjoy the last brunch before the cruise heads to the harbor. Upon arrival, our driver will transfer you to Hanoi, or Noi Bai airport for the flight.

NOTE: Please feel free to contact our consultants if you require a drop-off service at the airport or additional nights in Hanoi.