Northern Vietnam Tour 10 days: In-Depth Discovery
Overview
Discover the beauty and depth of North Vietnam with the Northern Vietnam Tour 10 days: In-Depth Discovery. Begin in Hanoi, the “Paris of the Orient,” and take in the stunning sights of the city. Experience the night train to Lao Cai, then take a short trek to the Hmong and Zay villages of Lao Chai and Ta van, where you'll enjoy breathtaking views of rice field terraces.
Next, sneak into Bac Ha market on Sunday, where you'll witness the unique cultural features of remote mountainous areas. Hand-rowing boat trip through the beautiful landscape of Trang An, known as "Halong Bay on land."
Return to Hanoi and embark on a full-day trip, exploring the city's many treasures. Then, travel to the UNESCO-listed Halong Bay, where you'll spend a serene night on board, surrounded by pure, fresh atmosphere. Return to Hanoi for a final night before departing.
This comprehensive tour provides a unique opportunity to experience the stunning landscapes, rich culture, and deep history of North Vietnam. From the bustling city streets to the tranquil countryside, every moment of this journey is sure to leave an indelible impression.
Highlights
- Take a beautiful picture of Hanoi city– the Paris of the Orient after taking one full day trip
- Enjoy a quiet night with pure, fresh atmosphere on board in Halong Bay
- Experience night train for round trip between Hanoi and Lao Cai
- Sneak into Bac Ha market on Sunday. The market deeply shows the typical cultural features of the minorities in remote mountainous areas.
- Short trekking to visit Lao Chai and Ta van the village of the Hmong and Zay people. Enjoy the beautiful scenery of rice field terrace
- Take a hand-rowing boat trip through the beautiful landscape of Trang An, known as Ha Long Bay on land
Itinerary
Our first stop is to visit the mausoleum of the nation’s founder Ho Chi Minh. Located in the center of Ba Dinh Square, this is the most important monument of Vietnam in which Ho Chi Minh’s body is preserved. This site only opens on Tuesday to Thursday and weekends from 08:00 – 11:00.
The next destination is the Presidential Palace and the Ho Chi Minh’s house on stilts. The Ho Chi Minh’s stilt house was completed on May 19th, 1958 as a birthday present for uncle Ho and becomes a symbol of his simple life.
Close to this complex is the One Pillar Pagoda. The pagoda looks like a lotus blossoming from the square pond. It was constructed in 1049 by King Ly Thai Tong based on his dream of Goddess of Mercy seating on a lotus flower and giving him a boy. In 1954, it was destroyed by the French and then restored in 1955.
We follow this with the Temple of Literature, which is well known as the first university of Vietnam. This temple provides an opportunity to learn more about education in Vietnam since 1000 years ago until recent history.
In the afternoon, visit the impressive Ethnologic Museum that is dedicated to Vietnam's 54 ethnic groups. This museum has both indoor and outdoor exhibition area with the most popular architectural styles of house’s ethnic people. The museum closes on every Monday.
You have free time until we transfer to the rail way station to board a soft sleep & AC train to Lao Cai/Sapa (21:00).
Lao Chai & Ta Van Villages are the places where ethnic black H’mong and Dzay people are living. Here you will enjoy the fresh air, see terraced fields and stream and visit some of Black H’mong families to learn more about their culture and customs.
Along the road, you have a chance to contemplate the beauty in peace of the Muong Hoa Valley, magnificent surroundings of mountains and rice terrace fields. Particularly, you can meet many ethnic minority groups (H’mong, Zay, and Red Dao) whose stalls are along the way to sell fruits or sweets. From the main road, we get off the car and trek along a local path until we reach the Black H’mong village of Lao Chai and experience the daily life of the villagers. Continue walking from Lao Chai to Ta Van village, where the Zay hill tribes live. Here you take a rest and enjoy a delicious lunch prepared by your local guide in a local house. After lunch, relax and continue trekking to the meeting point on the main road for transferring back to Sapa town. The rest of this day is at leisure. Discover the fanciful Sapa town on your own, its bustling market with colorful handmade brocatelle stuffs of the ethnic people, tea and coffee shops as well as the local culture in this mountainous town. Overnight in Sapa
Visitting Ham Rong Mountain, visitors will have chance to climb up to the Cloud Yard to admire the panorama of Sapa with vibrant colors of over 300 species of orchids and numerous caves & stones, which brings you a lot of memorable emotion.
This afternoon from the hotel there will be a walking tour to the hill tribe villages of Cat Cat to the H'mong hill tribe minority peoples.
Just 3 km from Sapa town, Cat Cat village is a popular place for whom wish to explore the unique cultures of Northwest mountainous region of Viet Nam. Here, visitors can not take their eyes off the splendid beauty of Tien Sa, Gold, Silver streams and Cat Cat Waterfall.
As we walk to the villages nestled in the valley below Sapa, we will meet some of the local minority people on their way to and from Sapa. Here we have the opportunity to share cultural experiences with the families that live in the area. Overnight at hotel in Sa Pa
After breakfast, we drive past the beautiful scenery for a 100km to the tranquil town of Bac Ha, home of the Flower Hmong and amazing Sunday market.
Located 105 km from Sapa, this is the biggest weekly market opening every Sunday morning. Here you will have a chance to witness thousands of local minority people in their traditional ethnic dress, drink alcohol and trade goods.
Then back to Sapa to take a night train to Hanoi.
On arrival in Hanoi, pick up to a small hotel to fresh up and have breakfast.
Start your food tour.
08.30 - 09.00 Pick-up from the hotel and transfer to our meeting point by local transportation.
09.00 Start the journey by discovering the local food world in Hanoi like a real local man and taking some steps into the Hanoi Old Quarter area.
You will have a chance to enjoy green papaya salad, Bun Cha, Pho (Beef or chicken noodle), Banh Cuon (steamed stuffed pancake), Banh Mi, Hanoi draught beer.
During the tour, you will not only have an opportunity to enjoy delicious local foods but will also be guided about the ingredients and process of making this local tasty dish, as well as introduced to some destinations of culture, history, and temples such as the local market, Heritage house, and the old city gate of Hanoi Old Quarter.
11:30 Our Barista will introduce the info about the class. Such as history of Vietnamese Coffee, Egg Coffee, Phin Coffee…
Following the process for the famous cup of Egg Coffee
- Making coffee based by Phin (filter).
We also introduce the history of Phin (Filter).
The Way we brew coffee by Phin.
What kind of coffee would be perfect for Phin?
Brewing ratio…Then We will demonstrate one Phin step by step.
- Making Egg Cream.
We also introduce history of Egg Coffee Our unique Recipe.
Demonstrate how to make an Egg Cream step by step.
- Egg Coffee Art Ideas.
After pouring Egg Cream into the cup of Coffee. You will spend some time decorating yourself an amazing cup of egg coffee. Enjoy your coffee at the end!
12:30 Return to the meeting place and say goodbye.
Note: You should skip or have a light breakfast before joining the tour.
- TOUR INCLUDED
- English-speaking guide
- A bottle of mineral water
- The bests of Hanoi local food
- Pick-up in the old quarter (local transportation)
- Coffee, fresh beer
In the afternoon, visit Train Street coffee.
Afternoon free time on your own. Overnight in Hanoi.
Situated in the south of the Northern Delta region, Ninh Binh is well known as the first imperial capital of Vietnam under Dinh, Le & Ly Dynasties. Come here, you will admire a gorgeous countryside with water buffalos, majestic limestone and grottos.
And we then explore the beautiful countryside in Vietnam by an excursion to Hoa Lu - The former capital of Vietnam in the 10th century covers an area of 300 ha. Now, in Hoa Lu there are just 2 temples dedicated to King Dinh Tien Hoang and King Le Dai Hanh.
Afterwards, we take an amazing boat trip to visit the Trang An grottoes, a gathering of 31 valleys, 50 cross-water caves, and home to 600 kinds of flora and over 200 kinds of fauna surrounded by magnificent forested mountains. All these factors make Trang An become a fascinating destination.
Overnight in Ninh Binh
Declared as a World Heritage site by the UNESCO in 1994, Ha Long Bay is one of Vietnam’s most spectacular natural attractions. Nearly 200 km far from Hanoi, the bay is dotted with 1600 limestone islands, capturing visitors’ attention.
Comfort stop en route for photos and coffee before arriving to Ha Long City. We then transfer to a traditional wooden sailing junk for a cruise through the limestone cliffs and emerald waters of Ha Long Bay, giving us the chance to take in the stunning scenery of this World Heritage Site. While on board we will be served a sumptuous fresh, local seafood lunch followed by a swim and exploring some of the limestone caves in this area. When the sun comes down we drop anchor for the night nearby a remote island. Overnight on board
Price
High Season ( From 1st Oct, 2024 to 30th Sep, 2025 ) | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cost in USD per person based on private tour | ||||||
Class/No of per | 1 - 1 | 2 - 3 | 4 - 6 | 7 - 8 | 9 - 12 | Single Sup |
Superior |
USD
1,920
|
USD
1,424
|
USD
1,127
|
USD
995
|
USD
971
|
USD
197
|
First class |
USD
2,025
|
USD
1,529
|
USD
1,232
|
USD
1,100
|
USD
1,076
|
USD
334
|
Deluxe |
USD
2,227
|
USD
1,731
|
USD
1,434
|
USD
1,302
|
USD
1,278
|
USD
516
|
Low Season ( From 1st May, 2025 to 30th Sep, 2025 ) | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cost in USD per person based on private tour | ||||||
Class/No of per | 1 - 1 | 2 - 3 | 4 - 6 | 7 - 8 | 9 - 12 | Single Sup |
Promotion valid from 1st May, 2025 to 30th Sep, 2025 | ||||||
Superior |
USD
1,824
|
USD
1,353
|
USD
1,071
|
USD
946
|
USD
923
|
USD
188
|
Promotion valid from 1st May, 2025 to 30th Sep, 2025 | ||||||
First class |
USD
1,924
|
USD
1,453
|
USD
1,171
|
USD
1,045
|
USD
1,023
|
USD
318
|
Promotion valid from 1st May, 2025 to 30th Sep, 2025 | ||||||
Deluxe |
USD
2,116
|
USD
1,645
|
USD
1,363
|
USD
1,237
|
USD
1,215
|
USD
491
|
High Season ( From 1st Oct, 2025 to 30th Apr, 2026 ) | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cost in USD per person based on private tour | ||||||
Class/No of per | 1 - 1 | 2 - 3 | 4 - 6 | 7 - 8 | 9 - 12 | Single Sup |
Superior |
USD
1,966
|
USD
1,458
|
USD
1,154
|
USD
1,019
|
USD
994
|
USD
202
|
First class |
USD
2,073
|
USD
1,566
|
USD
1,262
|
USD
1,126
|
USD
1,102
|
USD
342
|
Deluxe |
USD
2,280
|
USD
1,773
|
USD
1,468
|
USD
1,333
|
USD
1,309
|
USD
528
|
Location | Name | Room Type | Website / Tripadvisor link |
---|---|---|---|
Ha Noi |
Hanoi Boutique
|
Deluxe | http://www.hanoiboutiquehotel.vn |
Ha Noi |
Hanoi Pearl Hotel
|
Deluxe | http://www.hanoipearlhotel.com/ |
Ha Noi |
Peridot Grand Hotel
|
Premier Deluxe | https://peridotgrandhotel.com |
Sapa |
Sapa Vista
|
Superior Mountain View | https://sapavistahotel.com/ |
Sapa |
Aliana Boutique
|
Deluxe balcony | https://alianaboutiquesapa.com/ |
Sapa |
SILK PATH GRAND SAPA RESORT
|
Garden | https://silkpathhotel.com/sapa/ |
Ninh Binh |
LA BELLE VIE TAM COC HOMESTAY
|
Deluxe | http://www.labellevietamcochomestay.com |
Ninh Binh |
Nan House Tam Coc
|
Superior | https://nanhousevietnam.com/ |
Ninh Binh |
Ninh Binh Hidden Charm Hotel & Resort
|
Superior | http://www.hiddencharmresort.com/intro.html |
Ha Long City |
RENEA CRUISE
|
Deluxe | https://mekongboat.com/ |
Ha Long City |
Mila Cruises
|
Junior | https://mekongboat.com/ |
Ha Long City |
Hermes Cruise
|
Junior Suites | https://mekongboat.com/ |
Trip notes
Tour includes:
- Accommodation in a double or twin share room with daily breakfast
- Overnight cruise on board a good-quality boat in Halong Bay (non-private boat)
- Private air-conditioned vehicle during all tours and transfers.
- TSC Train or similar (sharing soft sleeper & AC, carriage cabin of 4 berths) : Hanoi - Lao Cai
- Entrance fees for all visits as mentioned in the itinerary
- Experienced English speaking guide during all tours and transfers
- Lunch or dinner as specified in the itinerary
- Local private boat cruise in Ninh Binh
- Water & cool towels
- Government taxes & service charge
Tour excludes:
- International airfare and departure taxes
- Meals, if not specified in the itinerary
- Early check in/ late check out
- Domestic flights and domestic airport taxes
- Gala dinner on 24th and 31st December if any
- Surcharged for Public holidays
- Drinks and meal not mentioned
- Personal expenses such as laundry, telephone, drinks … etc.
- Personal travel insurance (we highly recommend that you purchase adequate insurance).
- Gratuities/ Tipping
- All other services not specified in the itinerary
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