Northern Vietnam 7 Days: Hanoi, Sapa, Ninh Binh and Halong Bay

About this experience

Only 7 days is enough time for you to discover and experience the beauty of culture, people, local food, enjoy the majestic landscape through the famous tourist attractions in North Vietnam as Ha Long Bay, Pu Luong, Hoa Lu, Tam Coc, Mua Cave… A great trip awaits you to explore.

Local Culture & Cuisine, Sightseeing, Trekking Tour

Minimum 2 people per booking

Day 1: Hanoi Arrival – short tour around Hanoi Old Quarter

A warm greeting awaits at Hanoi’s Noi Bai International Airport; your private guide and driver will meet you OUTSIDE the arrivals lounge and transfer you (approximately 45 minutes) to your hotel in downtown Hanoi.

Please look for your tour guide who holds up your names on a welcome signboard.

While every effort is made to have your room available upon arrival, check-in time is at 02:00 pm; your room may or may not be ready before this time. Your tour guide will provide additional details regarding your stay, and you will be able to ask any questions you may have.

Check-in at your hotel for some rest.

18:00 – 21:00 We start our walking tour at Hanoi’s largest covered market, Dong Xuan. Along the perimeter of the market, dozens of street hawkers sell a staggering variety of produce from live seafood to exotic fruits and spices. Your expert English-speaking local guide will give you an insight into the intricacies and traditions of Vietnamese food culture including details on ingredients and historical backgrounds of popular northern dishes. Walking through the maze of bustling streets that make up Hanoi’s Old Quarter, we tempt our tastebuds with the famed Hanoi dish Banh Cuon at a local eatery. Watch in awe as the skilled chefs demonstrate for you how this tasty dish is put together. Continuing into the atmospheric heart of the Old Quarter, we wander past street stalls and quiet residential lanes where you can observe local life that has changed little since Hanoi was founded over 1000 years ago. Our next stop is Banh My 25 shop “French Baguette”, a little food stall with a few typical tiny Vietnamese chairs on the sidewalk where we enjoy the delicious and fresh baguettes while observing the neighborhood. Continue to other food stalls in Hang Bo and Ho Hoan Kiem Street where we try some dishes such as Che “Vietnamese style pudding” and Nom “papaya salad with beef”. It’s then time for dessert as we venture down a small alley to join in the local tradition of feasting on fresh fruit served in a cup and smothered with crushed iced – this specialty is one not to be missed!

Day 2: Hanoi – Halong Bay (B, L, D)

The tour guide will take you up from your hotel in Hanoi Old Quarter in the morning. transfer to Halong Bay in the province of Quang Ninh. Along the journey, our guide will introduce you to the culture, history, and inhabitants of the places you will visit. Then there will be a 15-20 minute break in the midst of the journey.

12:30 When you arrive at Tuan Chau Port and board the boat, you are greeted by a knowledgeable and pleasant crew. In the dining chamber, lunch will be served as the ship sails past thousands of islands and islets. You will have private time on the upper deck to admire Halong Bay’s grandeur. After that, spend an hour kayaking in the area of the floating village and swim if the weather permits. Then, reverse the boat for a sundeck celebration at sunset.

Enjoy the gourmet banquet prepared by our expert chef. Evenings are spent unwinding, singing, and squid fishing.

On the boat for the night

Day 3: Halong Bay – Hanoi (B, L)

After the morning Tai Chi class, brunch will consist of eggs, toast, coffee, and tea… The “surprising cave” is one of the most stunning caves in Halong Bay, and tourists are now beginning to visit it. After that, the boat continues cruising through numerous islands and islets to uncover the bay’s concealed beauty. You will have the opportunity to learn how to create “nem Vietnam” deep-fried spring rolls if you enroll in a cooking class at 10:00 on the cruise. After completing lunch, sail back to the harbor. Bid farewell to the company and disembark. Board the vehicle to return to Hanoi.

Spends the night at the Hanoi Hotel

Day 4: Hanoi – Pu Luong (B, L, D)

The tour guide gets you up by shuttle bus from your hotel in Hanoi’s old town and takes you to Pu Luong. The trip will take 30 minutes. One of the 10 most beautiful hills in Vietnam, Thung Khe Pass has beautiful views. Locals say that a day in the Pass is like a day of different seasons because the weather changes so much.

Lunch will be served at a place in the area. After that, let’s check in and take it easy.

In the evening. Follow the small roads through the terraced rice fields and across the stream to get to the Black Thai Minorities. The cute little bungalows, the unique clothes that the locals wear, and the way they always smile and wave to guests. The best part of this short trip is seeing how people live here.

You eat dinner with your family at the camp and drink a local wine from the area.

Day 5: Pu Luong – Hanoi (B, L)

After breakfast, you’ll trek through the terrace rice fields and cross the stream to visit remote rural villages of Black Thai Minorities. Stop at the giant waterwheels, ducks farm to learn about the agriculture before getting on the Bamboo Raft for a relaxing cruise on Cham stream. Have lunch at a local restaurant before getting on the bus to come back to Hanoi city.

Day 6: Hanoi – Hoa Lu – Tam Coc – Mua Cave

8h00 – 8:30 am: Tour guide pick you up at hotel in Hanoi Old Town.

10h00: Arriving Tam Coc. Get the small boat. Ferryman will take guests to visit the scenic landscape of the majestic mountains, the fields in the triangle cups when the sampan go along the Ngo Dong river.

11h15: Biking on country road around village

12h00: Having a buffer lunch.

13h15: The drivers take you go to visit Hoa Lu ancient capital of Viet Nam. Visit the historic capital of Vietnam and the famous ancient temples of Le and the Dinh Dynasties. There are two 17th century temples, modelled after their 11th-century originals that are on most itineraries to Hoa Lu.

14h30: Keep going to the Mua cave. The place attracts visitors with its many interesting stories. Climb 500 stone steps staircase leading up the peak. From on the top of the cave, you can see all the way to Tam Coc, enjoy a stunning panoramic view of the countryside and Ngo Dong river.

16h00: Get on the bus to come back Hanoi.

19h00: Arrive Hanoi city, drop off at your hotel. Tour finish!

Day 7: Hanoi Departure (B)

Breakfast at Hotel then free time for shopping before seeing off at airport. Tour end!

Children

The price is per person, for adults and children. For child rates, please contact us before booking.