Loading
Phone1800 960 693AustraliaMonday to Friday 8am - 9pm (AEDT)
Travel Agent Login

8-Day Charms of Northern Vietnam

  • view trip mapView Trip Map
  • downloadDownload
  • shareShare

Overview

In 8 days, you will have an opportunity to discover all of the northern Vietnam highlights. Start in Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam, for a quick tour around the city where you can learn so much about the thousand-year history and culture of this amazing city.

Continue the trip to the North West to visit Sapa town and the surrounding ethnic villages with a unique lifestyle and breathtaking mountainous landscape.

After that, relax with an overnight cruise in the World Heritage of Halong Bay. Although the trip is condensed it will be a long-lasting memory of Vietnam.
Sightseeing
Culture & Arts
Cruising
Hiking & Trekking
Food & Drink
Adventure
Outdoors & Nature
Wellness

Itinerary

Day 1

Your Northern Vietnam Highlights Trip Starts Here!

Hide details accordion
Your Northern Vietnam Highlights Trip Starts Here!

Upon your arrival at Hanoi airport, your private driver will greet you and escort you to your hotel, help with your check-in at the hotel in Hanoi Old Quarter. Enjoy your free afternoon or do an optional Walking Food Tour, Cooking Class or Discovering backstreets of Hanoi by motorbike.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Paradise Boutique Hotel3 star

    Note: We will endeavor to book the aforementioned hotels. If, however, we are unable to secure them due to circumstances out of our control, we will replace them with hotels of similar value and standard.
  • activities icon
    Activities

    Hanoi Old QuarterOptional Activity

  • transportations icon
    Transportations

    Private Driver from Noi Bai International Airport to Hanoi: AU$ 21 per person

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Hanoi

Day 2

Hanoi City Tour

Hide details accordion
Hanoi City Tour

After breakfast, you have a full day today to explore Vietnam’s charming capital. Visit Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum and his personal residence, the One Pillar Pagoda and the Tran Quoc Pagoda. End the morning with a visit to the Museum of Ethnology. In the afternoon, visit the Temple of Literature, Ngoc Son Temple nearby Hoan Kiem Lake. Enjoy a one-hour cyclo sight-seeing tour around Hanoi Old Quarter for great fun. Then, watch a traditional water puppet show. Back to your hotel, free at leisure.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Paradise Boutique Hotel3 star

    Note: We will endeavor to book the aforementioned hotels. If, however, we are unable to secure them due to circumstances out of our control, we will replace them with hotels of similar value and standard.
  • activities icon
    Activities

    Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum

    One Pillar Pagoda

    Tran Quoc Pagoda

    Vietnam Museum of Ethnology

    Temple of Literature

    Ngoc Son Temple

    Old Quarter Exploring By Cyclo

    Water Puppet Show

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast and lunch

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Hanoi

Day 3

Cat Cat Village and Sapa

Hide details accordion
Cat Cat Village and Sapa

After breakfast, we will drive to Sapa from Hanoi on the new national highway. It is a 5-hour drive with stops for a break or take photos en route. After checking in the hotel we will lunch in a local restaurant. In the afternoon, visit Cat Cat village where you can meet the H'mong ethnic people, enjoy the beautiful view from the village and see a traditional dance performance. Return Sapa and enjoy your leisure time.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Sapa Legend Hotel & Spa4 star

    Note: We will endeavor to book the aforementioned hotels. If, however, we are unable to secure them due to circumstances out of our control, we will replace them with hotels of similar value and standard.
  • activities icon
    Activities

    Cat Cat Village

  • transportations icon
    Transportations

    Private Driver from Hanoi to tt. Sa Pa

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast and lunch

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Hanoi

    Lào Cai

Day 4

Drive to Y Linh Ho, Lao Chai and Ta Van Villages

Hide details accordion
Drive to Y Linh Ho, Lao Chai and Ta Van Villages

Today, our beautiful trekking tour will start at your hotel for a short drive out of Sapa town to Y Linh Ho Village. On the way, we can stop at some viewpoints to enjoy the panorama view of the whole Muong Hoa Valley. Start the trekking route to Y Linh Ho village where you will see the stunning view of Muong Hoa valley. Discover the daily life of the Black Hmong minority and their traditional customs. Continue to Lao Chai Village of Black H'mong and to Ta Van Village of Giay ethnic community.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Sapa Legend Hotel & Spa4 star

    Note: We will endeavor to book the aforementioned hotels. If, however, we are unable to secure them due to circumstances out of our control, we will replace them with hotels of similar value and standard.
  • activities icon
    Activities

    Trekking in Muong Hoa Valley

    Free Time in Sapa

  • transportations icon
    Transportations

    Drive back to Sapa

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast and lunch

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Lào Cai

Day 5

Love Waterfall, Heaven Gate and back to Hanoi

Hide details accordion
Love Waterfall, Heaven Gate and back to Hanoi

After breakfast, drive up to the mountain pass to visit beautiful Thac Tien Waterfall and stop at O Quy Ho pass, also known as Heaven's Gate, to enjoy the stunning view. After, you will make the journey back to Sapa. Have lunch in a local restaurant before the drive back to Hanoi.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Paradise Boutique Hotel3 star

    Note: We will endeavor to book the aforementioned hotels. If, however, we are unable to secure them due to circumstances out of our control, we will replace them with hotels of similar value and standard.
  • activities icon
    Activities

    O Quy Ho Pass

    Love Waterfall

  • transportations icon
    Transportations

    Private Driver from tt. Sa Pa to Hanoi

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast and lunch

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Lào Cai

    Lai Châu

    Hanoi

Day 6

Drive to Halong Bay

Hide details accordion
Drive to Halong Bay

You will start at 8 am for the 3.5-hour drive through the Red River Delta, which offers plenty of chances for taking photos of Vietnamese farmers tilling the vast green paddy fields. Arrive at Halong City, check in and board your boat. Enjoy the journey in the amazing bay and savour a gourmet lunch of fresh seafood. Afternoon activities like canoeing, rafting or just relaxing. Dinner is served on board.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Signature Cruise 5 star

    Note: We will endeavor to book the aforementioned hotels. If, however, we are unable to secure them due to circumstances out of our control, we will replace them with hotels of similar value and standard.
  • activities icon
    Activities

    Halong Bay Cruise

    Explore Vung Vieng by Kayak or Bamboo Rowing Boat

    Happy Hour on CruiseOptional Activity

    Relax on Board Signature Cruise

  • transportations icon
    Transportations

    Private Driver from Hanoi to Hạ Long Bay

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast, lunch and dinner

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Hanoi

    Quảng Ninh Province

Day 7

Halong Bay Cruise and back to Hanoi

Hide details accordion
Halong Bay Cruise and back to Hanoi

This is the last day of your northern Vietnam highlights tour. Awake early and participate in Tai Chi on the top deck or simply relax and enjoy the sunrise. Enjoy a light breakfast before setting out to explore nearby islands by rowboat. Return to the junk then take advantage of the sundeck and admire the amazing rock formations of Bai Tu Long Bay. Have brunch on board. Return to the pier and drive back to Hanoi. Enjoy the rest of the day at your leisure.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Paradise Boutique Hotel3 star

    Note: We will endeavor to book the aforementioned hotels. If, however, we are unable to secure them due to circumstances out of our control, we will replace them with hotels of similar value and standard.
  • activities icon
    Activities

    Morning Tai Chi

    Thien Canh Son Cave

    Refreshment, Cruising back and Check Out

  • transportations icon
    Transportations

    Private Driver from Hạ Long Bay to Hanoi

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast and lunch

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Quảng Ninh Province

    Hạ Long

    Hanoi

Day 8

Food Tour and Departure

Hide details accordion
Food Tour and Departure

Finish your Vietnam trip with a food tour. Start with a visit to one of the local markets. See foods that are used for a Vietnamese breakfast, lunch or dinner and try some popular dishes like Banh Ran (sticky rice pancake), Bun Cha (Vermicelli with Grilled Pork), Banh My Pate (stuffed French Baguette), try Bia Hoi (draught beer), finally, we will try Cha Ca ( Fried Fish), a Hanoi specialty. Depart for the airport.

  • activities icon
    Activities

    Hanoi Street Food TourOptional Activity: AU$ 61 per person

  • transportations icon
    Transportations

    Private Driver from Hanoi to Noi Bai International Airport

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Hanoi

Included in Price

  • 7 nights accommodation
  • 17 activities
  • 7 breakfasts, 6 lunches and 1 dinner
  • Airport transfer
  • Entrance fees
  • Ground transportation
  • Licensed English speaking guides

Not Included in Price

  • Alcohol beverages
  • Domestic flights
  • Entry visas / airport departure tax
  • Gratuities
  • International flights
  • Laundry
  • Personal expenses
  • Travel insurance
  • Trekking permits
pdf icon

Want to Read This Later?

Download this trip itinerary as a PDF and start planning your next trip offline!

Why Choose Designer Journeys

access

Access Exclusive Experiences

Open your eyes to a world of exclusive experiences that will make your next trip extraordinary. Designer Journeys’ local travel designers are connected to unique experiences that are out of reach for most people – so you’ll return with some amazing stories to tell.

local expertise

Extraordinary Local Expertise

Using highly experienced local travel designers means you have access to your very own local expert. You'll find experiences you never knew existed, avoid some of the common pitfalls and, most of all, feel like you have an insider guiding you every step of the way.

support

Supported Every Step of the Way

Our in-destination local travel designers are the first line of support when you are travelling. They are in your time zone and have the local expertise and knowledge to solve any issue that may arise – making you feel more confident about your trip.

custom travel designed

Travel Designed For You

Designer Journeys style of travel is all about how you want to travel – its private travel designed exactly to your needs. Our local travel designers customise every trip to suit you, whether completely bespoke or based on one or more of our 2,000+ gallery of itineraries.

Image - Designer Journeys
Image - Designer Journeys
DESIGN YOUR EXTRAORDINARY

Why Travel with Designer Journeys

Smile icon
Your Trip. Your Version of Extraordinary.

At Designer Journeys, we know that we all travel differently. That's why you decide where you travel, how you travel and your travel experiences when you design your trip with us.

Message icon
Connect and Design With an Expert.

Our trusted Local Designers use their destination insight, local knowledge and travel planning expertise to build your extraordinary trip. Our dedicated Travel Concierge team will be there every step of the way to ensure your perfect trip becomes reality.

Trust icon
Book with Confidence. We are Trusted.

Secure payment platforms, multiple accreditations, rigorous Local Designer selection process, and decades of travel expertise means you are in safe hands with Designer Journeys.

As seen on
Partners