Itinerary
- Day 1
Hanoi
After you arrive in Hanoi and settle into your hotel, your guide will meet you around 4 PM for a walking tour. You'll explore the colonial architecture scattered throughout the city and walk around Hoan Kiem Lake, which sits at the cultural center of Hanoi. The area around the lake is peaceful in the late afternoon, and it's a good way to get oriented on your first day.
Included Activities
- Walking tour of Hanoi exploring colonial-era architecture
- Visit to Hoan Kiem Lake area
Landmarks Hoan Kiem Lake - Day 2
Hanoi to Lao Cai
This morning you'll visit Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, the One-Pillar Pagoda, and the Museum of Ethnology to understand more about Vietnam's history and diverse communities. Later, you'll check out the Temple of Literature before spending time wandering through the Old Quarter's narrow streets and local shops. By evening, you'll head to the train station and board an overnight train heading north to Sapa.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum
- Visit to traditional stilt house of Ho Chi Minh
- Visit to One-Pillar Pagoda
- Visit to Museum of Ethnology
- Visit to Temple of Literature
- Stroll through Old Quarter and Hoan Kiem Lake area
- Overnight train to Sapa (4-person shared cabin)
Optional Activities
- Private cabin upgrade on overnight train (available for additional cost)
Landmarks Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum One-Pillar Pagoda Museum of Ethnology Temple of Literature 
- Day 3
Lao Cai to Ta Giang Phinh to Sapa
You'll arrive at Lao Cai station and head straight to Muong Hum Market, where H'mong, Ha Nhi, and Red Dao communities gather, particularly active on Sundays. After exploring the market, you'll hike through Ta Giang Phinh valley past rice terraces and small villages. Once you get back to Sapa, the rest of your day is free to relax or walk around town.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch at local restaurant in Ta Giang Phinh)
Included Activities
- Visit to Muong Hum Market
- Guided hike through Ta Giang Phinh valley (3.8 km, approximately 1.5 hours)
- Lunch at local restaurant
Landmarks Muong Hum Market Ta Giang Phinh Valley - Day 4
Sapa to Y Linh Ho to Lao Chai to Ta Van
After breakfast, you'll start hiking into the Hoang Lien Mountains with rice terraces surrounding you on all sides. You'll pass through Y Linh Ho village where you can meet local ethnic people, and then keep going along quieter rural paths with views down into the valleys. By evening, you'll reach Ta Van and stay at a local homestay, giving you a chance to experience village life directly.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided hike through Hoang Lien Mountains (10 km, 2.5 hours hiking time, approximately 5 hours with visits)
- Visit to Y Linh Ho village
- Pass through Lao Chai village
- Overnight stay at local homestay in Ta Van
Landmarks Hoang Lien Mountains Y Linh Ho Village Muong Hoa Valley Lao Chai Village - Day 5
Ta Van to Su Pan to Tay Village to Hanoi
Starting from Su Pan, you'll take a gentler walk through Black H'mong and Red Dao communities, then head toward a Tay village known for its distinctive stilt houses. After returning to Sapa for lunch and a rest, you'll catch a public bus back down to Hanoi through the countryside, arriving by evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Guided walk to Su Pan and Tay community (3 km, 1 hour)
- Public bus transfer Sapa to Hanoi
- Lunch in Sapa
- Shared vehicle transfer from bus station to hotel
Landmarks Su Pan Village Tay Community - Day 6
Hanoi to Van Long Nature Reserve to Hoa Lu to Ninh Binh
You'll travel to Ninh Binh province and spend time at Van Long Nature Reserve, where you'll go out on a boat and then bike through quiet waterways surrounded by karst cliffs. You'll stop at local villages along the way and have traditional lunch at a family home. In the afternoon, you'll visit Hoa Lu's historic temples, which date back to the 10th century when this was Vietnam's capital.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Traditional lunch prepared in a family home)
Included Activities
- Visit to Van Long Nature Reserve by boat
- Cycling through Van Long (10 km, 1 hour)
- Visits to local villages
- Traditional lunch at family home
- Exploration of Hoa Lu historic site
Landmarks Van Long Nature Reserve Hoa Lu 
- Day 7
Ninh Binh to Halong Bay to Lan Ha Bay
From Ninh Binh, you'll head east toward the coast and reach Halong by midday. You'll board a traditional boat and spend the night cruising through Lan Ha Bay, a quieter section compared to the main Halong Bay. As the sun sets over the forested limestone islands, you'll have fresh seafood for dinner featuring local specialties.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (Seafood dinner featuring local specialities at sunset)
Included Activities
- Overnight cruise through Lan Ha Bay on traditional boat
- Seafood dinner onboard
Landmarks Lan Ha Bay Halong Bay - Day 8
Lan Ha Bay to Halong Bay to Hanoi
You'll wake early to see the sun come up over Lan Ha Bay, then continue sailing past the towering limestone formations before the boat returns to shore in late morning. From there, you'll travel to Hanoi International Airport to catch your onward flight home.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Sunrise cruise through Lan Ha Bay
Landmarks Lan Ha Bay
