Vietnam · Trekking

10-Day Northern Vietnam Discovery with Sapa, Ha Giang and Ha Long Bay

10 Days Round trip from Hanoi Easy pace

The journey

Trip highlights
  • 01 Explore Hanoi's cultural and historical landmarks, including pagodas, temples, and Hỏa Lò Prison
  • 02 Trek through Sapa's valleys to Cat Cat Village and enjoy views around Fansipan Peak
  • 03 Experience the remote beauty of Ha Giang, including Ma Pi Leng Pass and ethnic minority villages
  • 04 Cruise through Ha Long Bay's limestone karsts and visit Sung Sot Cave and Luon Cave
  • 05 Discover Hoa Lư Ancient Capital, climb Mua Cave, and boat through scenic Tràng An

Explore Northern Vietnam on a 10-day journey through Hanoi, Sapa, Ha Giang, Ha Long Bay, and Ninh Bình. Discover Hanoi's cultural and historical landmarks, trek through the valleys and ethnic villages of Sapa, and experience the remote mountain scenery of Ha Giang, including Ma Pi Leng Pass and Vuong Palace. Cruise among Ha Long Bay's limestone karsts, visit Sung Sot Cave, and enjoy kayaking at Luon Cave. In Ninh Bình, visit Hoa Lư Ancient Capital, climb Mua Cave for panoramic views, and take a peaceful boat trip through Tràng An.

This magic work of nature shows you the formation of karst mountains.

From the itinerary

At a glance

What this trip includes

Duration 10 Days
Tour type Shared
Activity level Easy
Accommodation Included · Standard
Transport Included
Wheelchair access No
Cities Halong, Hanoi, Sa Pa, Ha Giang, Ninh Bình, Lào Cai, Hoa Lư
Languages English

Day by day

The itinerary

1
Day 01

Arrive Hanoi – Hanoi City tour [L]

  • 7h30- 8h00 Our driver pick you up from Airport station tranfer to city center join group tour .
  • we will start our city day trip. Head to the Uncle Ho’s final resting-place standing in Ba Dinh Square where the Vietnamese cultural and political events are usually taken place. 
  • Visit Ho Chi Minh stilt house, where Ho Chi Minh used to live intermittently during Vietnam War, and One Pillar Pagoda – a Buddhism temple featuring a particular architecture inside and a peaceful lotus lake outside. 
  • Visit Tran Quoc Pagoda, visit Bodhi tree which was offered by Indian Prime Minister Razendia Prasat as a gift when he visited Vietnam in 1959. 
  • 12h30: Have Lunch in restaurant in old quarter 
  • Continue to Hoa Lo prison  the ancient temple named Ngoc Son Temple, and Hoan Kiem Lake (Sword Lake).. Go to see the first Vietnam University - Literature Temple (Quoc Tu Giam) founded in 1070 based on teachings of Confucian, 
  • 16h15:  Enjoy Water Puppet show - a kind of well-known traditional Vietnamese art which is preserved through generations with more than 800 years old. Note (excluded water pupet show )
  • Free time Dinner for yoursefl 
  • Stay overnight in Ha Noi.
  • Please note:- The Program will be adjusted to suit the Arrival flights. The Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum closed on Monday and Friday and all museums closed on Monday. Alternatives will be recommended accordingly.
2
Day 02

Sapa town - Cat Cat Village - Waterfall – Sin chai village (B/L/D)

  • 6.30 – 7.00: Tour guide of Vietnam Travel Advisor  Pick up from your hotel/accommodation, get on a big bus, and depart for Sapa Town.
  • 9.30: Follow the highway to Lao Cai city with the first comfort break
  • 11.00: Second comfort break at Lao Cai city before approaching Sapa
  • 13.00: Arrive in Sapa Town with colorful traditional costumes of H’Mong, Dzao, Tay ethnic People.
  • Welcome drink and itinerary briefing
  • Enjoy the lunch with local Vietnamese dishes, check-in procedures
  • 14.30: The bus picks you up to the gate of Cat Cat village which is home to Black Hmong ethnic people and is located near the bottom of a deep valley at the foot of Fansipan Peak. 
  • Our local guide will show you the daily life activities of the locals, trek down to the valley bottom to the waterfall where the French built a Hydraulic Power Station, stop for photo with bridge and waterfall then you will walk uphill for bus to pick up to get back to Sapa in the afternoon.
  • Trekking distance is about 2.5 km and it lasts for 2 hours
  • 17.00: Come back to Sapa Town. Have dinner & overnight in hotel with night activities.
3
Day 03

Sapa– Explore Fansipan Peak - The Indochina's Roof beach – Ham Rong Mountain - Ha Giang (B/L)

  • Option 1: Join Ham Rong Mountain Tour
    • 8:30 am: Guide take you around Sapa centre before climbing the mountain Ham Rong - one of spectacular and wonderful peak of Sapa, where you can exercise your health and discover the natural beauty of  life. From the top of this peak, you can have a panorama over the surrounding area.

    • 12:00 pm: Come back to restaurant and have lunch, enjoy your time with comfort! After lunch, you have all time free in afternoon and night for leasure and shopping.

  • Option 2: Explore Fansipan  Peak - The Indochina's Roof  (Excluded cable car 45 USD/person )
    • 8.00: After breakfast at hotel, you will transfer to Fansipan Cable Station for an amazing trip to reach the Indochina Roof, 3143m above the sea level: Starting by cable car and step up to the Peak, visit pagoda, enjoy the fresh air and the beautiful landscapes from the high.
    • 11.00: Back to Sapa Town, checkout hotel and have lunch.
    • After lunch, free time to relax , shopping 
    • 15.30: It‘s time to say “Good bye Sapa!”.
    • Along the way, once again you have a chance to enjoy the magical beauty of northwest mountains
    • 21.30 - 22.00: Arrive in Ha Giang.
4
Day 04

Ha Giang – Meo Vac – Ma Pi Leng Pass – Dong Van (B/L/D)

  • 7:30am rings the beginning of your greatest adventure in one of the most remote areas of Northern Vietnam. Your guide will pick you up at your hotel in Ha Giang City to start the drive to Dong Van. On the way you will pass by Quan Ba and its legendary Fairy Bosom Hills, visit a French bunker dated from the colonization and stop in Mau Due for lunch.
  • You will then reach Meo Vac to start the first trek of the trip, a 10-kilometer hike through Ma Pi Leng pass, a must-see destination in Ha Giang. You will stroll around the valley, cling to the side of the undulating mountains, overlooking the Nho Que river, giving unrivalled views of the valleys and terraced hemp fields, which decorate the mountainsides. Walking this path will give you feelings you have never experienced before.
  • Though it is not advised, if you do not want to trek you will have the possibility to stay with the driver in the car and zigzag down the pass to the end of the trail. You can stop for photos on the way. Arriving in Dong Van, you will settle for the night in a hotel and have dinner in a local restaurant.

Highlights and activities: Dong Van, Quan Ba, Ma Pi Leng, 10 – 12 km trek

5
Day 05

Dong Van – Vuong Palace – Yen Minh – Ha Giang City (B/L/D)

  • If you are lucky to be travelling in Dong Van on a Sunday morning, do not miss out on the weekly market which gathers all the local ethnic minorities in the area and gives you the unique opportunity to walk through the crowd, witness the trade market of buffalos, cows or chickens, or be dazzled by the colourful booths of traditional ethnic clothes.
  • Back in the car, we will continue our loop to the final frontier and travel through Ma Le, the ‘one-eyed ghost’ area. This road remains a secret, it can take you to the northernmost point of Vietnam, Lung Cu, home of the Lo Lo ethnic minority, or to Vuong palace which is our next destination. It is a unique place, home of the H’mong King, whose architecture is influenced by three cultures: Chinese, French and Hmong. It was also used during the French colonization as a secret storage room for opium.
  • The tour then continues to Yen Minh, known for its countless terraced fields, posed on the mountainsides. Lunch will be served at your next stop in Quan Ba, before returning to .

Highlights and activities: Dong Van, Quan Ba, Ma Pi Leng, 10 – 12 km trek

Accommodation: Mr.Doan Homestay

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

6
Day 06

Trekking Arround Ha Giang (B/L)

  • Today is all about trekking so after breakfast, you will set out towards Lung Vai Village which will take between 6 to 8 hours depending on your walking speed. 
  • Along the way you can enjoy the stunning views and friendly locals passing by, before stopping for a picnic lunch in the remote village of Khuoi My. 
  • You will then continue, passing the farmers working their fields, until you reach Ban Tha village, where our driver will be waiting to take you back to Ha Giang City.

Highlights and activities: trekking Ha Thanh

Accommodation: not includes 

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

7
Day 07

Halong bay - Hanoi overnight on cruise [B/L/D]

  • 07.45 – 08.30: You will be picked up from your hotel in Ha Noi Old Quarter. Then we will head to Ha Long Bay. You may enjoy the landscape of the Red River Delta along the way
  • 11.30: Upon arriving in our lobby in Tuan Chau Marina, you may take a short stretch while our staff arranges all registration with the local government.
  • 12.00 – 12.30: The cruise captain and staff will welcome you onboard CRUISE after a short tender transfer. While enjoying a refreshing welcome drink, a short cruise briefing and safety instructions will be given.
  • 12.30 – 13.00: CRUISE voyages to Ha Long Bay – one of the New Seven Nature Wonders of the World. Lunch is served on board while the cruise passes via amazing limestone karst formations that rise up out of the sea in an impressive manner. 
  • 14.00 – 14.30: You will leave the cruise to explore Sung Sot Cave (also known as Surprise/ Amazing Cave), one of the biggest and most beautiful caves in Ha Long Bay. 
  • 15.00: Returning to  CRUISE, the trip will continue to Ti Top Island. Here, you can watch the magnificent view over either the Gulf of Tonkin or swim in the emerald green and cool water.
  • 17.00: After a long day, this is the ideal time to enjoy energizing drinks and snacks by joining ‘Happy Hour’ or Cooking Class on the sundeck
  • 19.30: Sumptuous Dinner is served. Enjoy delicious local food prepared and served for you by our wonderful onboard catering staff. 
  • 20.30: After dinner, various activities including karaoke, and squid fishing are organized. Or you can just laze around with exhilarating drinks from our bar. The rest of the day is spent at your leisure.
8
Day 08

Halong Bay – Luon Cave – Kayaking - Hanoi [B/L]

  • 06.15 – 07.00: Breakfast is served. It can be a great idea to enjoy the meal with the magnificent view of the sunrise in Ha Long Bay.
  • 8.00 -9.30: The cruise gets closer to the center of the Natural Preservation Area. Join our guide on a short trip to Luon Cave. This magic work of nature shows you the formation of karst mountains. You can discover this time masterpiece by kayaking on your own. If you are lucky, you can catch great photos with mischievous monkeys jigging up and down around the cliffs.
  • 9.30:  Cruise welcomes you back on board and it is time for checking out.
  • 10.00: Whilst cruising back, delightful lunch will be served.
  • 11.35: We return to the quayside in the south of the bay, where our visitors disembark in Tuan Chau Marina. And leave for Ha Noi on our shuttle.
  • 15.30 – 16.00: You will get back to your hotel in Ha Noi Old Quarter
9
Day 09

Ninh Binh full day (Hoa Lu - Mua cave – Trang An )(B/L)

  • 7h30 -8:00 AM - Depart from Hanoi
  • Your tour guide will pick you up from your hotel in Hanoi and begin the journey towards Ninh Binh province. It takes approximately two hours to reach the first destination of the day, Hoa Lu Ancient Capital.
  • 10:00 -10h30 AM - Visit Hoa Lu Ancient Capital
  • Hoa Lu was the capital of Vietnam during the Dinh and Le dynasties in the 10th and 11th centuries. Here, you will visit the temples of the two kings, Dinh Tien Hoang and Le Dai Hanh. The temples are located in a scenic area surrounded by limestone mountains and green rice fields.
  • 11:30 AM - Explore Mua Cave
  • After visiting Hoa Lu, the tour continues to Mua Cave, located nearby. Mua Cave is a popular tourist spot due to its stunning panoramic view of the Tam Coc area. To reach the top of the mountain, you need to climb 500 steps, but the effort is worth it.
  • 1:00 PM - Lunch break
  • You will have lunch at a local restaurant in Ninh Binh, where you can try traditional Vietnamese cuisine.
  • 2:00 PM - Boat tour in Trang An
  • After lunch, it's time for a boat tour in Trang An, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Trang An is known for its scenic landscapes of karst mountains, caves, and rivers. During the boat tour, you will explore the caves and enjoy the peaceful surroundings.
  • 4:30 PM - Return to Hanoi
  • After the boat tour, you will be driven back to your hotel in Hanoi, where you will arrive around 6:30 PM, depending on traffic.
10
Day 10

Hanoi – Leisure– Departure (B)

  • After breakfast at the hotel, you will have free time to explore Hanoi at your leisure. One popular activity is shopping in the central area around the Old Quarter, where you can find a wide variety of traditional Vietnamese handicrafts, souvenirs, and street food.

  • The Old Quarter is a maze of narrow streets and alleyways, each dedicated to a particular craft or product. For example, Hang Bac Street is known for silverware, while Hang Gai Street is famous for silk products. You can also visit Dong Xuan Market, the largest covered market in Hanoi, where you can find everything from fresh produce to clothing and souvenirs.

  • In the afternoon, you will be transferred to the airport for your departure flight.

Ma Pi Leng Pass, Nho Que river valley, Ha Long Bay karst islands

Where this trip takes you

Ma Pi Leng Pass, Nho Que river valley, Ha Long Bay karst islands

The route

Where you'll travel

Tour route map
Round trip from Hanoi 7 cities · 10 Days

The fine print

Trip details

What's Included

  • Transport: airport transfer, air-conditioned tourist bus during the tour, and cruise trip in Ha Long Bay

  • English-speaking tour guide during the tour

  • One bottle of water per day

  • Entrance fees

  • Meals: 09 breakfasts, 09 lunches, 04 dinners

  • 9-night accommodation with daily breakfast as per the detailed itinerary

What's Not Included

  • International and domestic air tickets

  • Tips for guides and drivers (compulsory)

  • Group below 5 pax: US$ 5.00 per person/day

  • Group of 5 pax and above: US$ 3.00 per person/day

  • Drinks

  • Fansipan Mountain cable car

  • VAT 8%

  • Drink fee

  • Travel insurance

  • Single room supplement

  • Vietnam visa stamp (US$ 25.00 per person)

  • Travel insurance with Covid protection term up to $10,000

What to bring

  • Clothing: Comfortable clothes for trekking and sightseeing, lightweight and breathable fabrics, swimwear for Halong Bay, warm layers for cooler mountain regions
  • Footwear: Comfortable trekking shoes for Sapa and Ha Giang, sandals for the cruise and boat tours
  • Toiletries: Basic toiletries (toothbrush, toothpaste, shampoo, etc.), sunscreen, insect repellent
  • Personal items: Passport, e-visa, travel insurance, camera, phone, charger, and a power bank
  • Money: Vietnamese dong (VND) for small purchases, credit/debit cards
  • Accessories: Sunglasses, hat, reusable water bottle, small backpack for day trips
  • Health: Personal medications, hand sanitizer, and tissues
  • Extras: A light jacket or raincoat (for possible rain), and a hat for sun protection

Logistics

Meeting & route

Meeting point
Hanoi, Vietnam
Tour start
Hanoi, Vietnam
Tour ends at the same location as the start point.
End of the journey

Your 10 days finish where they began, in Hanoi.

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