Northwest Vietnam Explorer: 11 Days of Culture & Stunning Landscapes

Morning

Upon your arrival at Noi Bai International Airport, our tour guide and driver will pick you up and transfer you to your hotel in Hanoi. Check-in and relax in your room after a long flight.

NOTE: The normal check-in time will be around 14:00. In case you check in early, an additional charge will be applied.

Afternoon/Evening

Meet your guide outside the hotel. Listening to safety rules and tour introduction then start the food tour in the beautiful Hanoi on a vintage Vespa (any special diet requirements should be informed and specified before the trip).

First, we will enjoy Banh Cuon, a rice flour roll stuffed with minced pork and wood ear mushrooms, at a local restaurant. Then, weave through the old streets to a 45-year-old restaurant serving tasty local dishes of Bun Cha, Banh Goi.

After that, pass along crowded streets to arrive at Ngu Xa Village for several varieties of Pho and other delicacies at a local BBQ seafood eatery.

Continue to West Lake to take gorgeous photos at nighttime and see guards march out to ceremonial music to lower the flag at Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum.

Stop at a local Egg Coffee shop dated since 1946 to wrap up an adventurous foodie night. Back to your hotel to rest.

Morning

After having breakfast, around 06:30 to 07:00, you will embark on a 6-hour drive to Sapa, a beautiful and poetic town of the North.

Afternoon

Arrive in Sapa town around 13:00 - 14:00. After the check-in process, you can enjoy your free time for the rest of the day. You can relax at the hotel or explore the stunning Sapa town by yourself. 

Distance & Est. time: Trekking 13 km

Morning

Enjoy breakfast at your hotel. Meet your tour guide and drive to Muong Hoa Valley, around 7 km away from the town center. Drop off once you reach the main road of the valley and begin the trekking tour.

Travel through small trails of rock and gravel, which lead to an opening view of the beautiful terrace fields. Head to Y Linh Ho and meet the Black H'Mong people along the way. 

From there, move along the river to Lao Chai Village. Spend time making friends with the locals and hear their life stories in the mountainous area. Have a welcoming lunch with the locals in a restaurant by the river and relax after an active morning.

Afternoon

Continue trekking to Ta Van Village, where the Giay people live. Meet some families in the neighborhood and hear their stories while sipping locally grown tea.

NOTE: Trekking distance is around 13 km down hills.

Get to your homestay in Ta Van and stay for a night.

Morning

Have breakfast prepared by your host. Begin the day by visiting the Silver Waterfall, a wild and natural spot for taking pictures.

Drive to the "Heaven Gate" of Sapa on Hoang Lien Son Mountain, where you can grasp a panoramic view of Lai Chau Valley and Fansipan Mount from many angles. Have a look at local life while passing by the villages of the Lu people in Binh Lu and the Lao people in Than Thuoc.

Afternoon

After lunch, reach Mu Cang Chai in Yen Bai, famous for its gorgeous terrace fields. Spend time discovering the surrounding areas and meeting the friendly locals.

Following that, you can enjoy your free time for the remainder of the day. Overnight in your homestay.

Morning

After breakfast, meet your tour guide and trek to the Han Xung village of the H'Mong people. Along the way, you have a great chance to observe the majestic landscape on the way.

Stop at La Man Tan to spend your time in the rural area, visiting families and schools there to learn more about ethnic lifestyles. Then, head to Nghia Lo in the southwest of Yen Bai province, via Khau Pha Pass and have lunch along the way.

Afternoon

Arrive in Nghia Lo and stay overnight in this tranquil town. You can spend your free time hanging around while staying here.

Morning

Have breakfast beforehand. Go on a driving trip to Moc Chau Province, which is famous for dairy farms and green tea plantations in the North. Pass by Phu Yen, Bac Yen district of Son La Province. Here, you will learn about the production process of local products here.

Continue the trip to Mai Chau and have lunch on your way.

Afternoon

Arriving in Mai Chau then get to the village of White Thai ethnic people for an overnight stay. Enjoy your leisure time in the village and visit the beautiful fields.

Morning

Have breakfast at your homestay. Take a look at the gorgeous sunrise in the tranquil village.

Enjoy your time in the village with a trekking trip. Besides the chance to immerse in the natural atmosphere of the peaceful mountainous, tourists also integrate into the cultural and daily life of Thai people.

After lunch, transfer a 4-hour drive back to Hanoi with your private driver. 

Afternoon

Arrive at Hanoi and check in at your hotel. After that is your time to rest after a long drive, the rest of the day is spent at your leisure.

Morning/ Afternoon (depending on the availability)

Your tour guide will pick you up from your hotel, and be ready for the half-day city tour to explore famous attractions in Hanoi.

Begin your trip with a visit to visit the Temple of Literature, Vietnam's very first university dedicated to Confucius. Then, move to witness the unique One Pillar Pagoda - one of the most important pagodas in Hanoi that has a special design like a blooming lotus.

Next, pay a visit to the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, the resting place of President Ho Chi Minh, and listen to some interesting stories about the great leader of the Vietnamese revolution. End the tour in Tran Quoc Pagoda, established 1500 years ago, has the best site in the airy West Lake - and is one of the most prominent Buddhist structures in Vietnam.

We'll stop for a delicious authentic traditional Vietnamese lunch before you return to the hotel.

NOTE:

• Depending on availability, the excursion departs in the morning or afternoon.
• The Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum is witnessed from outside, and closed on Mon and Fri and from Jun - Aug

Enjoy the rest of the day at leisure, or enhance your journey with one of our specially selected optional tours:

Option 1: Bat Trang by Jeep Half-Day Tour

Your adventure begins with a hotel pickup in the Hanoi Old Quarter. Step into a vintage Jeep and set off on an exhilarating ride through Hanoi’s lesser-seen countryside. The Jeep rumbles away from the city’s busy streets, leading you across a bridge to the quiet, verdant banks of the Red River, where lush farmlands and tranquil villages unfold before your eyes.

Arriving at Bat Trang Ceramic Village, you step into the heart of Vietnam’s most celebrated pottery community, a place where tradition and artistry have thrived for more than a millennium. The highlight of your visit is a hands-on pottery workshop with a village craftsman. Feel the cool clay between your fingers as you mold and shape your very own ceramic creation - a personal keepsake to take home.

Enjoy a healthy Vietnamese meal made with fresh, organic ingredients.

Option 2: Manh Farm Tour and Cooking Class in Hanoi Half Day

This 4-hour countryside escape takes you 35 minutes west of Hanoi, where village traditions and farming life remain beautifully preserved. Please note that the afternoon program does not include a market visit.

The first spot is the local market, a vibrant trading hub dating back to the Le King Dynasty in 1428 (morning tour only). On bustling Market Day (two or three times per week), villagers gather beneath towering old trees to trade livestock, produce, and handmade goods, creating a colorful and energetic atmosphere. Even not on Market Days, the marketplace still offers an authentic slice of daily life, with stalls brimming with vegetables, fruits, fish, and meat.

Right next to the market, you will discover the lush vegetable farms, a patchwork of fertile fields and fruit orchards. As you wander, you may encounter farmers tending their crops, who will happily share insights into cultivation methods and rural traditions.

The journey continues at local home, where warm hospitality awaits. Here, you will join a hands-on cooking class, learning to prepare authentic Vietnamese dishes with freshly harvested ingredients. Once the meal is ready, sit down to enjoy your homemade feast, complemented by fresh vegetables, tropical fruits, traditional cakes, and refreshing local drinks or tea.

Morning

Around 08:00 - 08:30, our driver will pick you up and head to the World Heritage Halong Bay through the highway, which takes about 2.5 hours. Upon arrival at the port, check in and get on a tender to the main ship, and begin your adventure to Halong Bay.

Having lunch on board as the cruise travels through the bay. Witness the various islets come from many shapes and sizes, which is the signature scenery of the bay.

Afternoon

Participate in amusing activities hosted by the cruise such as swimming, kayaking, cave visiting, etc.

Return on board around 17:00 - 17:30 and join the Happy Hour (buy 1 get 1 free) and the Vietnamese cooking class in the sunset.

Evening

Savor your deluxe dinner and join the nightlife onboard with squid fishing, karaoke, board games, etc. Stay overnight on the cruise.

NOTE:

• Our tour guide will not escort you but the cruise staff, who are skillful and fluent in English instead.
• The exact schedule depends on each cruise's program

Morning

Before your breakfast, you can get up early to join a Tai-chi class or simply admire the stunning view of Halong Bay at sunrise

Join more activities to explore the bay further, including swimming, kayaking, etc. (depending on the cruise’s itinerary).

After your water activities, return to the main cruise to check out then have brunch. Arrive at the port and disembark around 11:30 - 12:30. Say goodbye to the crew and get on the shuttle bus to Hanoi.

Afternoon

15:00 - 15:30: Return to your hotel for a rest. Let’s go shopping and enjoy your time on the last night in Vietnam.

Morning

Have breakfast and enjoy the leisure time left in Hanoi. Make sure to check your luggage then check out.

NOTE: Check-out time is at noon. Please contact your travel assistant if you want a late checkout.

Our driver will take you to Noi Bai Airport for your flight as scheduled. End your Northern Vietnam tour here and see you again in the future!