The Northern region of Vietnam is so much more than just enjoying the bustling street of Hanoi, strolling through 36 old quarters. If you are interested in discovering all aspects of the region, our 8-day Essence of Northern Vietnam tour is tailored just for you. From mountains to seas, we have a trip from Sapa to Halong Bay. We travel back in time to see isolated hill tribe communities that are surrounded by verdant rolling hills and mountain streams and are watched over by striking limestone karsts. Halong Bay serves as the magnificent climax of the tour. On a cozy junk boat, we’ll spend the night visiting islands, enjoying delectable meals, swimming, tanning, and kayaking. The tour marks a perfect showcase of the visual and cultural delights of northern Vietnam!
Overview
Day 1: Hanoi Half day City tour 
Day 2: Hanoi – Mai Chau – Road transfer
Day 3: Mai Chau – Hanoi
Day 4: Hanoi – Ninh Binh – Hoa Lu & Tam Coc – Night Train to Lao Cai
Day 5: Lao Cai – Road transfer to Sapa – Y Linh Ho – Lao Chai – Ta Van
Day 6: Cat Cat – Sin Chai – Sapa – Hanoi – Road transfer
Day 7: Hanoi – Halong Bay – Overnight on cruise
Day 8: Halong Bay – Hanoi
Itinerary
- The tour departs either in the morning or in the afternoon depending on your availability
The morning tour start at 8:00 while the evening one start at 1:30 and choose to travel by car or motorbike
- The routes of the tour can change subject to your interest
- The tour starts with a visit to the Temple of Literature, the first university in Vietnam
- Head to One Pillar Pagoda, the Mausoleum of President Ho Chi Minh (Sites are viewed from outside; closed Mon and Fri and from Jun - Aug)
- Visit West Lake and Tran Quoc Buddhist Pagoda which regarded as the most ancient pagoda in Hanoi with a history line of more than 1,500 years
- Have a meal at an authentic Vietnamese Restaurant
- Free time at leisure for rest of the day
Meals: Lunch
Accommodation: Hotel in Hanoi
Morning
- Breakfast at the hotel
- Get on the van for the drive to Mai Chau
- Have a short break along the way
- Arrive in Mai Chau around midday
- Get a welcome drink
- Enjoy the traditional lunch in the village (vegetarian available)
Afternoon
- Join a bicycle tour with the local tour guide
- See the farmers working in the fields, local people waiving scarves
- Visit surrounding peaceful villages
- Have free time for shopping and walking around
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Bungalow in Mai Chau
Morning
- Enjoy your breakfast
- Visit more remote villages such as Na Meo and Na Mo villages
- Learn more about the traditional culture and customs of the local people
- Around midday, back to the homestay for lunch and checking out
- Free time for shopping and relaxing
Afternoon
- 15:00- 15:30: Leave Mai Chau on the bus to drive back to Hanoi
(Travel time is around 4 hours)
- Stay overnight in Hanoi
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Hotel in Hanoi
Hoa Lu Tam Coc day tour
- Join a full-day tour to Hoa Lu, Tam Coc in Ninh Binh
Morning
- Enjoy your breakfast at the hotel
- Get picked up for the transfer to Ninh Binh at about 7:15 - 7:45
- Have a short break along the way, which is the chance for you to enjoy the fresh air in the middle of the giant rice fields
- Arrive in Tam Coc
- Get on the small boat rowed by a local for about 2 hours
- Explore many limestone mountains, rice fields, and temples along the way
- See the golden rice carpet along the river banks if you travel during the harvest season
- Get back to the mainland for lunch in a local restaurant
- Following lunch and break, join some optional activities such as fishing, visiting local people, etc
Afternoon
- At 13:30, hop on a bicycle, go around the beautiful villages and enjoy the fresh air in the rural area
- Travel to Hoa Lu Ancient Capital, the ancient capital city of Vietnam one thousand years ago
- Learn more about Vietnamese history, which is interesting and worth knowing
- Get back to Hanoi, and wait for the pick up for the transfer to Hanoi train station
Night train to Lao Cai train station
- Around 20:00, met by the tour guide at the hotel
- Transfer to Hanoi train station
- Have an overnight train to Lao Cai train station
*The train departs around 21:15, and it is a shared sleeping compartment (2 lower & 2 upper berths per compartment)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Overnight on train
Morning
- At 5:30- 6:00, arrive at Lao Cai train station
- The bus driver will pick up you from the train station to Sapa (The transfer is around 1 hour)
- Early check-in is possible with extra fee
- Relax to get ready for a full-day tour
- At around 9:30, meet the local guide and trek to Y Linh Ho village, which is settled down by Muong Hoa River
- Travel to Lao Chai village which is home to Black H’mong
Afternoon
- After Lao Chai village, head to Ta Van village which is situated 1200 meters above sea level
- Return you to Sapae
Evening
- Free at leisure the rest of the day
- Overnight at Sapa Hotel
Meals: Breakfast, Picnic Lunch
Accommodation: Hotel in Sapa
- Enjoy your last breakfast in Sapa and then check out
- Start a 3 km trek to Cat Cat village of Black H’mong
- Relax to enjoy the tour around the village
- Picnic lunch will be served by the side of the river
- Continue to trek 3 km to Sin Chai village, the village is located at the foot of Fansipan Mountain - “the Roof of Indochina”
- Come back to the main road to be transferred to Sapa town on a jeep for 3km
Afternoon
- 15:00- 15:30: The driver comes to pick you up at the hotel for transfer back to Hanoi
- Overnight at the hotel in Hanoi
Meals: Breakfast, Picnic Lunch
Accommodation: Hotel in Hanoi
Morning
- Get up and get your breakfast
- The driver picks up at 8:00 and transfers you to Halong Bay, which is one of seven natural wonders in the world
- Upon arrival, you will be welcomed by the crew staff
- Check in on the cruise
- Enjoy the delicious seafood served while the boat is cruising in the bay
- Free time on your own till afternoon
Afternoon
- Join some activities such as visiting the cave, doing kayaking, or just swimming in the sea
- Get on the boat to relax and enjoy dinner
Note: Our tour guide will not accompany aboard the cruise in Halong Bay. Resident English speaking guide on board available
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Cruise in Halong Bay
- Get up early and joining Tai-Chi lesson or just relax on the sundeck, and witness the amazing sunrise on the bay
- After breakfast, explore the most stunning caves in Halong Bay
- Lunch will be served on the way back to the main dock
- Transfer back to Hanoi
- Have free time for exploring Hanoi Old Quarter and try Vietnamese street food by yourself
Meals: Breakfast, Brunch
Accommodation: Hotel in Hanoi is not included
Prestations incluses
Includes
- 7 Breakfasts, 5 Lunches, 1 Brunch, 2 Picnic Lunch, 1 Dinner
- Car, Train, Cruise, Trekking
- Hotel (5 nights), Bungalow in Mai Chau (1 night), Overnight on train (1 night), Cruise in Halong Bay (1 night) Accommodation in TWN/ DBL sharing accommodation at hotel, except overnight on train and home-stay (if any)
- Car transfer as per itinerary (excluding airport pick up and drop off)
- All in-tour stationed local English speaking guide.
- Overnight train ticket Hanoi - Lao Cai (4 soft berth sharing cabin with air condition)
- Sharing luxury limousine Sapa - Hanoi
- Sharing shuttle bus Hanoi - Ha Long Bay - Hanoi
- Entrance fees for Vietnam attractions, as per itinerary
- Meals as indicated in the program
Excludes
- Hotel EARLY check in & LATE check out
- Peak season surcharge & compulsory dinner at the hotel (if any)
- International flights to or from Vietnam with taxes
- Visa or Passport Fees
- Travel Insurance
- Tips, laundry and gratuities
- Meals not marked on itinerary, and water during meals
FAQs
(1.1) FIT – An initial deposit of 20% is required at the time of booking.
(1.2) Leisure groups – An initial deposit of 20% is required at the time of booking.
(1.3) Incentive and MICE groups – An initial deposit of 20% is required at the time of booking.
(1.4) In some circumstances it may be necessary for us to request additional deposits due to the contracture requirements of our suppliers. SKY ASIA TRAVEL will advise you of the complete conditions attached to any deposits required at the time of confirmation.
(1.5) In the event of the non-payment of any requested deposit, we reserve the right to cancel the reservation.
(1.6) Note that if many extra services are booked after initial confirmation, Cashel Travel may require extra payments.
(1.7) Please note initial deposits (20%) are non-refundable
Following the receipt of the initial deposit, the client will be furnished with a confirmation of the tour details. The client shall immediately notify in writing if any errors are noted. SKY ASIA TRAVEL shall not be responsible for any errors not so notified.
+/ Full payment must be received 45 days prior to the tour/programme commencement date unless credit facilities agreed.
+/ In the event of the non-payment by due date we reserve the right to cancel the reservation, and in such event all deposits received shall be non-refundable.
+/ In the event of billing errors we reserve the right to re-invoice the correct amount.
+/ Amendments: In the event of cancellation of individual participants which results in changes in number of passengers within the group, SKY ASIA TRAVEL might apply a charge.
Travel insurance and medical precautions are essential. We do not give specific advice on these matters as we are expert in neither, and individual circumstances differ.
We advise you to tell us the name of the company and its contact details so that we can give notification on your behalf if you are unable to do so in the unlikely event of an accident occurring.
If you are intending to engage in any activity that could be considered ‘hazardous’ in any way, you should check your insurance carefully to make sure that you will be covered in the case of an accident.
You can send your request via the form below.
Package name: Essence of Northern Vietnam 8 days
