Itinerary
- Day 1
Arrival in Hanoi
You'll get picked up at the airport and head to your hotel in Hanoi's Old Quarter. After you check in, the rest of the day is yours to relax or walk around the neighborhood, try some local food, and get a feel for the area. If you want something more structured, there's an optional jeep tour available that hits the Opera House, Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum, Tran Quoc Pagoda, and Long Bien Bridge.
Included Activities
- Airport pickup and transfer to hotel in Hanoi Old Quarter
Optional Activities
- Hanoi Jeep City Tour - Visit Hanoi Opera House, Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum, Tran Quoc Pagoda, Westlake, and Long Bien Bridge
Landmarks/POIs Hanoi Opera House Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum Tran Quoc Pagoda West Lake Long Bien Bridge - Day 2
Hanoi to Halong Bay
Hotel pickup happens between 7:30-8:30 AM from the Old Quarter, then you'll drive about 3.5 hours to Halong Bay with a break for refreshments in Hai Duong province. By noon you'll board the cruise at Tuan Chau Harbor and settle into your cabin. Lunch features fresh seafood while you cruise past limestone karsts, and you'll visit a Pearl Farm, go kayaking through the floating village, and swim or hike at Titop Island. There's an optional cooking class for spring rolls, followed by a BBQ seafood dinner and optional activities like karaoke, chess, cards, or night squid fishing.
- Meals
- Lunch (Fresh seafood lunch on cruise with vegetarian options available), Dinner (BBQ seafood dinner on cruise)
Included Activities
- Transfer from Hanoi to Tuan Chau Harbor
- Cruise embarkation with welcome drink and safety briefing
- Seafood lunch on cruise
- Exploration of local Pearl Farm
- Kayaking through floating village
- Visit to Titop Island - swimming and summit views
- BBQ seafood dinner on cruise
- Overnight stay on Halong Bay cruise
Optional Activities
- Hands-on cooking class - learn to make traditional Vietnamese spring rolls
- Evening entertainment - karaoke, chess, cards, or night squid fishing
Landmarks/POIs Halong Bay Tuan Chau Harbor Titop Island - Day 3
Halong Bay to Hanoi
Head up early with hot tea or coffee on the sundeck to watch the sunrise over the bay. You can join an optional Tai Chi session, then explore Sung Sot Cave, which is Halong's biggest cavern with impressive rock formations. After a relaxed lunch on board, you'll sail back toward Hanoi with a stop in Hai Duong province, arriving around 4:00-4:30 PM.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Leisurely lunch on board during return journey)
Included Activities
- Early morning sundeck experience with hot tea or coffee
- Guided exploration of Sung Sot Cave with stalactite and stalagmite formations
- Leisure lunch on cruise during return journey
- Return transfer to Hanoi
Optional Activities
- Tai Chi session at sunrise
Landmarks/POIs Sung Sot Cave Halong Bay - Day 4
Hanoi to Sapa
The sleeper bus departs from Hanoi's Old Quarter between 6:15-6:45 AM heading to Sapa's cool highlands. You'll arrive around 1:00 PM, meet your local guide, and grab lunch at a local restaurant. After that, you trek to Cat Cat Village to see Cat Cat Waterfall, a French-built hydroelectric station, and traditional crafts of the Black H'Mong people. An optional cultural performance is available. Back in Sapa by 5:00 PM for hotel check-in, then dinner at 6:30 PM. Later you can explore Sapa Stone Church, the night market, local cafes, and street food on your own.
- Meals
- Lunch (Delicious lunch at local restaurant in Sapa), Dinner (Delightful dinner at hotel or local restaurant featuring regional cuisine)
Included Activities
- Sleeper bus transfer from Hanoi to Sapa
- Meeting with local guide
- Lunch at local restaurant in Sapa
- Trek to Cat Cat Village
- Visit to Cat Cat Waterfall
- Exploration of French-built hydroelectric station
- Insight into Black H'Mong ethnic minority daily life and traditional crafts
Optional Activities
- Traditional cultural performance in Cat Cat Village
- Evening exploration of Sapa Stone Church
- Visit to Sapa Night Market
- Local cafés and street food
Landmarks/POIs Cat Cat Village Cat Cat Waterfall Sapa Stone Church Sapa Night Market - Day 5
Sapa
After breakfast at the hotel, you'll check out at 7:00 AM and start a 9-kilometer trek (roughly 3.5 hours) through Muong Hoa Valley. The route passes through Y Linh Ho Village, Lao Chai Village where the Black H'Mong live, along Muong Hoa Stream, and Ta Van Village home to the Dzay people. By noon you'll have a traditional lunch at a local home or restaurant in Ta Van. After returning to Sapa town by car at 1:00 PM, you have time to rest or shop before boarding the sleeper bus back to Hanoi at 3:00 PM, arriving by 9:30 PM.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast at hotel), Lunch (Traditional lunch at local home or restaurant in Ta Van Village)
Included Activities
- 9-kilometer scenic trek through Muong Hoa Valley
- Passage through Y Linh Ho Village
- Visit to Lao Chai Village (Black H'Mong ethnic group)
- Trek along Muong Hoa Stream
- Visit to Ta Van Village (Dzay people)
- Traditional lunch at local home or restaurant in Ta Van Village
- Return transfer to Sapa town by car
- Sleeper bus transfer from Sapa to Hanoi
Landmarks/POIs Muong Hoa Valley Y Linh Ho Village Lao Chai Village Muong Hoa Stream Ta Van Village - Day 6
Hanoi (Free Day)
This day is completely free in Hanoi. You can stay at your hotel if you like, or get out and explore the city however you want. Popular options include checking out Hoan Kiem Lake, wandering the Old Quarter, trying pho or bun cha or banh mi, renting a motorbike or bicycle to ride around West Lake, or just discovering whatever catches your interest.
Optional Activities
- Visit Hoan Kiem Lake
- Explore Hanoi Old Quarter
- Try traditional Vietnamese dishes (Pho, Bun Cha, Banh Mi)
- Motorbike or bicycle ride around West Lake
Landmarks/POIs Hoan Kiem Lake Hanoi Old Quarter West Lake - Day 7
Hanoi to Ninh Binh
Hotel pickup from the Old Quarter or Opera House area between 7:25-8:00 AM for the drive to Ninh Binh. After a 15-20 minute break, you'll reach Hoa Lu, Vietnam's ancient capital from 968-1010, and explore temples from the Dinh and Le dynasties with a bike ride through the countryside. Buffet lunch at noon includes goat meat, spring rolls, chicken, fish, fried rice, and vegetable salad. Next comes a calm 1.5-hour bamboo boat ride in Tam Coc along the Ngo Dong River, floating past limestone karsts, rice paddies, and caves. Then you'll climb nearly 500 stone steps at Mua Cave for panoramic views of Tam Coc and lotus fields before returning to Hanoi by 7:00 PM.
- Meals
- Lunch (Buffet lunch at Ninh Binh Excursion Restaurant featuring local specialties including goat meat, spring rolls, chicken, fish, fried rice, and vegetable salad with vegetarian options available)
Included Activities
- Transfer from Hanoi Old Quarter to Ninh Binh
- Guided tour of Hoa Lu temples (Dinh and Le dynasties)
- Bicycle ride through peaceful countryside
- Buffet lunch at Ninh Binh Excursion Restaurant
- 1.5-hour bamboo boat ride in Tam Coc on Ngo Dong River
- Climbing Mua Cave with nearly 500 stone steps to summit
- Panoramic views of Tam Coc and surrounding countryside
- Return transfer to Hanoi
Landmarks/POIs Hoa Lu Tam Coc Ngo Dong River Mua Cave - Day 8
Departure from Hanoi
You'll have breakfast at your hotel, then spend the remaining time exploring Ho Chi Minh City or shopping for souvenirs before heading to the airport for your international flight home or onward. That marks the end of your tour.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast at hotel)
Included Activities
- Breakfast at hotel
Optional Activities
- Explore Ho Chi Minh City
- Shopping for souvenirs
