2-Week Northern Vietnam Tour Packages

Insider tips: Recommended 2-week Northern Vietnam tour itineraries

Compiled by

MelissaNorthern Vietnam travel expert at TourRadar

• 14 Day Northern Vietnam Itinerary, incl. Hanoi and Sapa

  The 14-day route spans 8 destinations from Hanoi to Halong Bay, featuring MILA Cruises overnight stay. H'mong villages in Muong Hoa Valley welcome trekkers, while historic Dien Bien Phu battle sites tell war stories. Chau Long II Sapa Hotel hosts guests enjoying 13 breakfasts and 6 lunches.

  

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  • Days 1-2

    Hanoi & Mai Chau Valley

    Start in Hanoi before taking a 4-hour car ride to Mai Chau Valley. "Visit the local population and stay overnight in homestays—it's the best way to see beyond tourist attractions," one traveler recommends. Take afternoon walks through Muong villages and look for photo spots during golden hour. The valley gets quite humid, so pack light clothes that wick moisture well.

    
  • Days 3-4

    Son La & Dien Bien Phu

    Drive to Son La province and stop at Pa Co village to meet Black H'mong communities. You'll pass tea plantations in Moc Chau. The light hits the terraces best around 10 AM for photos. The next day includes a drive through the famous Pha Din Pass at 1,500m elevation on your way to Dien Bien Phu. Visit the War Museum in the early morning to avoid crowds and heat.

    
  • Days 5-7

    Tam Duong & Hill Tribe Villages

    Tam Duong is your base for meeting hill tribes. The Sunday market starts at 7 AM when ethnic minorities come to trade. It's a great spot for photography. You can trek through H'mong, Man Tien, and Lu communities. Bring shoes with good grip since paths get slippery in the rain.

    
  • Days 8-9

    Sapa Adventures

    Take the 6-hour morning train to Sapa. Trek to Cat Cat village and through Muong Hoa Valley. A recent visitor shared: "The trek through rice terraces was humbling. Bring a shawl—mornings are chilly even in summer." Plan market visits for clear mornings when you can see Fansipan Mountain.

    
  • Days 10-11

    Halong Bay Cruise

    The drive from Hanoi to Halong Bay takes about 3.5 hours. Spend two days cruising through limestone karsts and sleep on the boat. The bay is most peaceful before 7 AM for sunrise photos. Bring motion sickness pills if you need them.

    
  • Days 12-14

    Hanoi Exploration

    Explore Hanoi's Old Quarter and visit the Temple of Literature and Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum. The mausoleum is closed Mondays and Fridays. For the best pho, follow locals to street stalls around 6 AM. Watch a water puppet show to end your trip. Try to get front row seats for the best view.

    

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• 14 Day Northern Vietnam Itinerary, incl. Hanoi and Sapa

  Northern Vietnam unfolds over 14 days, from Hanoi through Ba Be National Park and Ban Gioc Waterfall. Remote H'mong villages dot Ha Giang's landscape, while Sapa's terraced fields lead to traditional Thai stilt houses across 2,000km of mountain terrain.

  

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  • Days 1-2

    Hanoi to Ba Be National Park

    Leave Hanoi early and ride along the Red River dike road past quiet villages. Spend your first night in Vu Linh village with the Dzao people near Thac Ba Lake. The next day takes you on mountain roads to Ba Be, Vietnam's biggest natural lake. Get on the road before 7:30 AM to avoid Hanoi's heavy traffic. Plan for 6-7 hours of riding each day.

    
  • Days 3-4

    Cao Bang Province and Ban Gioc Waterfall

    Take the winding Ma Phuc Pass to Ban Gioc, the country's most spectacular waterfall on the Chinese border. The 300m-wide waterfall looks best in morning light. Stay with a local Nung An family in Quang Uyen and try your hand at making traditional rice wine.

    
  • Days 5-7

    Ha Giang Loop

    This famous mountain route includes the steep Ma Pi Leng Pass between Dong Van and Meo Vac. Bring warm clothes as temperatures can drop below 10°C up high. The roads have many blind curves, so take it easy if you're not an experienced rider. Stop at the beautiful Hmong King's Palace from the early 1900s.

    
  • Days 8-10

    Bac Ha and Sapa

    Ride through the beautiful Hoang Su Phi area with its stepped rice fields. Try to visit Bac Ha during the Sunday market when Flower Hmong people wear their colorful traditional clothes. In Sapa, pick Ta Van village for an authentic look at Dzay minority life. Take the cable car up Mount Fansipan but go early before the 9 AM crowds.

    
  • Days 11-12

    Mu Cang Chai to Mai Chau

    The road through Mu Cang Chai shows off Vietnam's most beautiful rice terraces. Be careful of loose gravel on curves near Da River lake. Stop in Mai Chau's Thai villages to stay in traditional stilt houses.

    
  • Days 13-14

    Return to Hanoi

    Follow the old French road along the Black River back to Hanoi. Try to arrive before 4 PM to miss rush hour. You'll see limestone mountains like those in Ha Long Bay on your final stretch.

    

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• Journey through Vietnam: Discovering Hanoi, Sapa, Halong Bay, Hoi An 14-Day

  Northern Vietnam reveals its character over 14 days. Paths wind through Sapa's ethnic villages, while Paradise Sails glides through emerald Halong Bay. Hanoi's cultural wealth shines at Tran Quoc Pagoda and Temple of Literature.

  

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  • Hanoi Vietnam

    154 mi

  • Lao Cai Vietnam

    12 mi

  • Sapa Vietnam

  • Cat Cat Village Vietnam

  • Sapa Vietnam

    71 mi

  • Ta Van Vietnam

    71 mi

  • Sapa Vietnam

    12 mi
  • Show 8 more

  • Lao Cai Vietnam

    154 mi

  • Hanoi Vietnam

    53 mi

  • Hoa Lu Vietnam

    4 mi

  • Ninh Binh Vietnam

    53 mi

  • Hanoi Vietnam

    78 mi

  • Halong Bay Vietnam

    78 mi

  • Hanoi Vietnam

    376 mi

  • Da Nang Vietnam

    14 mi

  • Hoi An Vietnam

    1 mi

  • Tra Que Vietnam

    1 mi

  • Hoi An Vietnam

    16 mi

  • My Son Sanctuary Vietnam

    16 mi

  • Hoi An Vietnam

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