North of Vietnam

Overview

North of Vietnam unfolds across eight days, tracing a route from Hanoi’s tree-lined boulevards to the terraced slopes of Sapa, the limestone rivers of Ninh Binh, and the open water of Halong Bay. Guests move between distinct landscapes joined by a shared sense of place: French colonial architecture standing beside centuries-old temples, mountain villages where the H’Mong community continues traditions passed through generations, and a UNESCO-listed bay where limestone karsts rise straight from the sea.

Accommodation is available at three levels, from well-appointed three-star hotels to five-star boutique properties and cruise vessels, so the comfort of the journey can be matched to each traveler’s preference. Every arrangement, from private transfers to a guide fluent in the region’s history, is built around a small group setting of two to ten travelers.

Trip at a Glance

Destinations:  Hanoi, Sapa, Ninh Binh, Halong Bay

Duration:  8 Days / 7 Nights

Group Size:  2–10 Adults, private group departure

Rooms:  1–5, twin or double share

Accommodation Tiers:  3-Star, 4-Star, 5-Star

Pace:  Moderate — includes two short treks (approx. 5 km and 500 steps)

Accommodation Options

Each city offers a choice of three, four, or five-star accommodation. Guests select one tier for the full journey; the itinerary and inclusions remain the same across all tiers.

City 3-Star 4-Star 5-Star
Hanoi Flower Garden Hanoi Hotel La Siesta Hotel Classic Hang Thung Peridot Grand Luxury Boutique Hotel
Sapa Sapa Charm Hotel Pistachio Hotel Silk Path Grand Sapa Resort & Spa
Ninh Binh Hoang Son Peace Hotel Ninh Binh Legend Hotel Pullman Ninh Binh
Halong Bay Emeraude Classic Cruise Indochine Cruise, Lan Ha Bay The Au Co Cruise

Featured Properties

Hanoi

Property Tier Highlight
Flower Garden Hanoi Hotel 3★ Old Quarter address, French-inspired interiors, rooftop bar.
La Siesta Hotel Classic Hang Thung 4★ Three minutes from Hoan Kiem Lake, indoor pool, rooftop restaurant.
Peridot Grand Luxury Boutique Hotel 5★ Designer suites, rooftop pool and bar, curated art collection.

Sapa

Property Tier Highlight
Sapa Charm Hotel 3★ Mountain views over the Hoang Lien Son range, close to trekking routes.
Pistachio Hotel 4★ Rooftop infinity pool, valley views, on-site spa.
Silk Path Grand Sapa Resort & Spa 5★ Hilltop setting, indoor pool, garden views.

Ninh Binh

Property Tier Highlight
Hoang Son Peace Hotel 3★ Central location, modern comfort, minutes from top attractions.
Ninh Binh Legend Hotel 4★ Rooftop bar, countryside views, walking distance to landmarks.
Pullman Ninh Binh 5★ 283 rooms and suites, panoramic mountain views, multiple dining venues.

Halong Bay

Property Tier Highlight
Emeraude Classic Cruise 3★ Vintage 1900s-style cabins, wood-panelled dining room.
Indochine Cruise, Lan Ha Bay 4★ Access to Lan Ha Bay’s quieter waters, elegantly appointed cabins.
The Au Co Cruise 5★ 32 cabins with private balconies, on-board kayaking and cycling excursions.

Retail Pricing — Land Tour

Per person, in USD, land tour only (excludes international and domestic flights). Price varies by accommodation tier, season, and group size — the more travelers in a group, the lower the per-person rate.

Package 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Single Supp.
3-Star Hotel — Low Season $1374 $1162 $1024 $943 $913 $881 $854 $828 $813 $300
3-Star Hotel — High Season $1399 $1186 $1047 $963 $933 $902 $875 $849 $833 $316
4-Star Hotel — Low Season $1550 $1338 $1200 $1118 $1092 $1056 $1030 $1004 $988 $463
4-Star Hotel — High Season $1577 $1364 $1225 $1141 $1117 $1079 $1054 $1027 $1011 $482
5-Star Hotel — Low Season $1669 $1457 $1320 $1238 $1216 $1175 $1151 $1123 $1109 $593
5-Star Hotel — High Season $1720 $1505 $1368 $1284 $1262 $1221 $1196 $1169 $1154 $636

Single Supplement applies only to solo travelers; standard pricing above begins at 2 guests.
Peak season surcharge (where applicable) is confirmed at time of booking and is not included above — see “What’s Not Included.”
Card payments may carry a processing fee of 3–5% of the transaction, depending on issuer and card type.

Optional Experiences

Add-on experiences, priced per person in USD and layered onto the base package.

Package 1 2 3 4 5-6 7-8 9-10
Meet & Greet — Fast Track (Hanoi) 72
Hanoi Street Eats Evening 116 68 55 46 40 36 33
Cat Cat Village 88 56 49 43 39 38 33

Included/Excluded

  • Accommodation, shared double room with breakfast, at the selected tier
  • Meals as noted in the day-by-day itinerary
  • Private, licensed English-speaking guide throughout
  • All tours, transfers, and entrance fees named in the itinerary
  • Private air-conditioned vehicle for road transfers
  • Service charge and applicable government tax
  • Peak season surcharge, confirmed at time of booking
  • International and domestic flights
  • Visa fees (visa-on-arrival assistance available on request)
  • All drinks, including water, soft drinks, and alcohol
  • Early or late hotel check-in/out (available on request, surcharge may apply)
  • Optional experiences (priced separately, see above)
  • Travel insurance, gratuities, and personal expenses

Tour Plan

Day 01 Hanoi — Arrival

Arrival into Hanoi, where a private guide meets each group for the transfer into the city. The remainder of the day is unstructured, allowing time to settle in before the journey begins.

Meals: None

Optional add-on: Fast Track Meet & Greet at the airport.

Day 02 Hanoi — A City in Layers

A full day exploring Hanoi's history, from the Ho Chi Minh Complex and the eleventh-century Thang Long Citadel to the Temple of Literature and Hoa Lo Prison, with lunch at a local restaurant along the way. Guests also meet a local host handpicked for their story and craft, an invitation to hear firsthand accounts of the city's past over a cup of egg coffee at a rooftop café above the Old Quarter.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Optional add-on: Hanoi Street Eats Evening, 6:00 PM to 9:30 PM.

Day 03 Hoan Kiem Lake & Overnight Train to Sapa

A morning at Hoan Kiem Lake and Ngoc Son Temple, followed by a cyclo ride through the Old Quarter's historic trading streets. In the evening, guests board an overnight train bound for Lao Cai, departing Hanoi at 22:00 and arriving at 05:55.

Meals: Breakfast

Overnight accommodation: sleeper train, 4-berth shared cabin.

Day 04 Sapa — The H'Mong Valley Trail

On arrival into Lao Cai, a private transfer continues to Sapa. The day's trek follows stone paths through the H'Mong Valley, past tea plantations and rice terraces framed by Fanxipan Mountain, with a visit to a family home for insight into Black H'Mong tradition. Lunch is taken in Sapa.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Approx. 5 km walking route; sturdy footwear recommended.

Day 05 Silver Waterfall, Love Waterfall & Heaven's Gate

A day through Hoang Lien National Park, taking in Silver Waterfall's hundred-meter cascade, the wedding-photo backdrop of Love Waterfall, and the panoramic views from Heaven's Gate, Vietnam's highest road point. An overnight train returns guests to Hanoi.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Optional add-on: Cat Cat Village, 1:30 PM to 5:00 PM.

Day 06 Hoa Lu & Trang An, Ninh Binh

Travel south to Ninh Binh, beginning at Hoa Lu, capital of the Dinh and Le dynasties in the eleventh century. After lunch, a boat glides through Trang An's limestone caves and rice paddies, a UNESCO World Heritage landscape often likened to Halong Bay on land, followed by the climb to Hang Mua for a view over the province.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Approx. 500 steps to the Hang Mua viewpoint.

Day 07 Halong Bay — Overnight Cruise

A private transfer through the Red River Delta leads to Halong Bay, where guests board their vessel for an overnight cruise through limestone karsts and emerald water. The afternoon includes a cave visit, kayaking, or time on deck, with dinner served as the sun sets over the bay.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Overnight accommodation: cabin aboard the cruise vessel.

Day 08 Halong to Hanoi — Departure

A quiet morning on the water, with coffee or a Tai Chi session on the sundeck before a farewell brunch as the boat returns to port. From there, a private transfer returns guests to Hanoi for their departure flight.

Meals: Breakfast, Brunch

Guests should plan late-evening flights allowing for a 2:00–4:00 PM hotel arrival, traffic dependent.

Reviews

There are no reviews yet.

Be the first to review “North of Vietnam”

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

From
0.00$
Booking Form

Guests

0

Adults

0.00$

Children

0.00$

Babies

0.00$

Optional Services

Available:
Total: