North Vietnam highlights tour 8 days

Arrival at the Hanoi airport, you will be welcomed by the Tour guide of A21 tours and transfer to your hotel in Hanoi. Take some rest after a long flight then in the late afternoon you will enjoy the water puppet show. Having welcome dinner in a famous restaurant. Overnight in Hanoi.

Hanoi city

Note: depend on your arrival time, the itinerary will arrange accordingly.

After having breakfast in your hotel, our tour guide and car will pick you up then head to Ninh Binh (100km south of Hanoi) to visit magnificent natural scenery and learn more about Vietnam history at one of the oldest capitals of Vietnam.

Arrival Ninh Binh, we take a rowing boat trip in Tam Coc to visit “Halong-Bay-in-land” landscape with many caves on the Ngo Dong river, then having lunch at a local restaurant with traditional dishes. After that, we go on to ancient capital Hoa Lu to visit the temples dedicated to Dinh King and Le King to learn more about two dynasties which reigned Vietnam during the 10th centuries with a lot of exciting stories.

Tam Coc trip

In a beautiful weather day, we will take light trekking to climb up the mountain near King Dinh Temple to enjoy the panorama view of villages and rice fields of Hoa Lu.

We transfer back to Hanoi in the late afternoon. Dinner on your own then freely enjoy the nightlife of Hanoi.

Overnight in Hanoi.

We will spend all day to discover history, culture, and lifestyle of Hanoi city with its highlights attractions.

After breakfast, our tour guide will pick you up then starting Hanoi city tour with Tran Quoc pagoda – the oldest pagoda and the iconic ritual in Hanoi. Then go on to Ho Chi Minh complex which consists of  Ho Chi Minh, house-on-stilts, and the One-Pillar Pagoda, at there we will learn more about the modern history of Vietnam with stories about Indochina war, Vietnam war and other stories about Ho Chi Minh. Then we leave for Vietnam Museum of Ethnology to know more about the various cultures of 54 ethnic groups in Vietnam.

Ha Noi old quarter

Hanoi city tour

Having lunch then go on to the Temple of Literature, the very first high school of Vietnam Scholars and the last but not least: Hoa Lo prison – the one hundred years of history prison built by French. After that, we stroll around the Old Quarter of Hanoi by cyclo, having a short rest and a light dinner before transferring to the Railway Station to take the overnight Train to Sapa.

Arrival Lao Cai in the early morning, transfer to Sapa town by car, having breakfast and start the journey to discover this remote town. We walk around the marketplace of Sapa, visit Sapa church then climb up the Dragon Peak to enjoy a panorama of the small city and its mountain surrounding.

Cat Cat village – Sapa

Having lunch then go to visit Cat Cat Hmong village (4 km downhill on foot or by car is up to your interests) not only to learn more about their architecture, cultural and lifestyle but also enjoy the fresh highland air, picturesque scenery.

At your leisure in the evening. Overnight in Sapa.

Read more about Recommend restaurants and dishes in Sapa to choose the perfect dinner for you.

This day will be an active day with trekking route to Lao Chai and Ta Van – villages of minority ethnic. Today’s trekking offers stunning views of gardens, rice terraces, and streams along the way as well as Mt Fansipan and opportunities to mingle with local people to learn more about culture, architecture, and cuisine.

Breakfast at your hotel and then depart the town to Golden Stream valley by car (about 7 km). Arrival at suspension bridge then star to trek from here. Enjoying the breathtaking scenery as you continue through the Golden Stream valley, stopping at Lao Chai village for lunch with traditional dishes.

Taking some rest then walking through this village where Black Hmong people reside, and go on to Ta Van village, home of the Dzay tribe. You’ll visit with local minority ethnic families to learn about their daily lifestyle and culture. After that we depart to the main road, meet up with our driver and return to the town.

You spend the rest of day for freely exploring the local market and Sapa town. Having light dinner then take the car to the Train station for overnight train to Hanoi.

Arrival in Hanoi Station in the early morning, we will be picked up for our Breakfast, and a short relax before carrying on to Halong Bay (It take about 3h30m). Boarding in the cruise then having lunch while cruising enters further into the bay. You will learn why it is presently one of the leading candidates for 7 World Natural Wonders. Go swimming and kayaking and visit the caves on the Bay will be the unforgettable moment in this journey. Overnight on the cruise in the Bay.

After breakfast, leisurely in the sundeck while enjoying the view of the wonder. Having lunch before getting off the cruise then take the car to Hanoi (about 16h). Freely experience the diversity of cuisine and culture of Hanoi by yourself.

Having breakfast, freely at your leisure until our tour guide and car come to transfer to the airport for departure flight. End of the trip unforgettable the north Vietnam tour. Hope to see you on the next journey!