6-day tour of Northern Vietnam

Arrive in Hanoi, Walk through streets in Hanoi Old Quarter, Enjoy the famous Vietnamese dishes

Welcome to Hanoi, the heart of Vietnam, where traditional and modern beauties blend seamlessly.

At Noi Bai Airport, our guide and driver will greet you and transfer you to your hotel for check-in.

At 5:00 PM, our guide will pick you up from your hotel and walk with you to the Hanoi Old Quarter to begin your journey of discovering the local food and life of Hanoi.

The best way to experience a culture is through its cuisine. This tour will take you through the ancient Hanoi Old Quarter, allowing you to taste its authentic local street food. From Nom (Vietnamese salad with beef), Pho (beef noodle soup), Bun Cha (Vietnamese grilled pork with vermicelli), to ending with Ca Phe Trung - a blend of coffee and egg whites whipped with sugar. For those who don't "dare" to try egg coffee, Seasonal Mixed Fruits is an alternative option.

Eat like a local! Discover the favorite dishes of Hanoi foodies in neighborhood locales.

Return to the hotel at 6:30 PM.

Drive from Hanoi to Sapa; Visit Ta Phin Red Dzao village; Walk around village and enjoy great view of the valley; Back to Sapa

After breakfast, our tour guide and driver will pick you up at your hotel and transfer you to Sapa via the newly built "Noi Bai-Lao Cai" highway, offering a 5-hour scenic drive through the beautiful landscapes of Vietnam's northwest highlands.

Upon arrival in Sapa, enjoy lunch at a local restaurant.

After lunch, we will drive to Ta Phin commune, located 14 km southeast of Sapa town. Nestled in a large valley surrounded by high mountains covered with pine trees and forests, Ta Phin is home to the Red Dzao and Black H’mong ethnic groups. Despite living close to each other for decades, these two ethnic groups are quite different: the H’mong are cheerful and open-minded, while the Red Dzao are economical and reserved. Taking a short drive to the center of the valley, you will enjoy an easy walk along village paths around the valley, visiting H’mong hamlets scattered from the bottom of the valley to the higher mountain slopes. From the higher elevations, you’ll have a great view of the valley stretching below. Continue your walk to the Red Dzao village, where you will meet groups of women making handicrafts, including embroidered clothes and handbags.

Afterward, we will transfer back to Sapa.

Stop at magnificent Silver Waterfall, Heaven Gate and Tram Ton Pass; Walk around to enjoy breathtaking scenery; Visit O Quy Ho; Back to hotel

Meet your guide and driver for a leisurely trip. The drive uphill offers spectacular views of Mount Fansipan. Just a kilometer out of town, you'll see rose flower farms, followed by chayote growing on bamboo frames covering vast areas. We'll stop at the magnificent Silver Waterfall before continuing a few more kilometers to Heaven Gate and Tram Ton Pass. At 2,047 meters above sea level, Heaven Gate and Tram Ton Pass are the highest mountain passes in Vietnam. From here, enjoy a half-hour walk to take in the beautiful scenery on both sides of the Hoang Lien Son mountain range. The wind blows strongly, constantly moving the clouds. This is the best spot to enjoy the breathtaking views of both sides of the Fansipan Mountain Range. Interestingly, the weather often differs on each side: it can be foggy and cloudy on the Sa Pa side, while sunny and bright on the other.

Leaving Heaven Gate, we'll head downhill for 7 km, stopping to visit some lush farms in O Quy Ho. Here, various vegetables, flowers, fruit trees, and even medicinal plants have been grown for years, making this part of Sapa ever-green.

Transfer back to Sapa and trip ends with drop off at hotel. 

Visit Coc Ly Market; Travel by boat downstream; meet the locals before reaching Trung Do Village & Bao Nhai Bridge; Arrive Hanoi

After breakfast, you will travel by car to Coc Ly market. You will arrive at Coc Ly when the market is at its busiest. Coc Ly market is located by the Chay River, which flows from China. Every Tuesday morning, minorities from surrounding villages such as the Flower Hmong, Black Zao, and Tay gather to sell and buy their products.

After exploring the market, you will travel downstream by boat. During the ride, you can enjoy the magnificent sights of beautiful caves and life along the riverbank. Lunch will be served on a beach or later in a village. The trip also includes a visit to Trung Do village of the Tay minority, where you can stop by a traditional Tay house for a cup of tea. You will continue downstream until you reach Bao Nhai Bridge.

Here you get on the car for the journey back to Hanoi.

NOTE: 

The alternative local markets will be replaced depending upon your departure

In case the level of water is not able to take boat trip, you can change to take a buffalo cart in Trung Do village instead.

Transfer to Ha Long Bay; Experience kayak or swim in the Bay; Join in cooking class on board, Stay overnight on cruise

8:00 AM: Our driver will pick you up at the hotel for a 3.5-hour drive to Halong Bay, a World Natural Heritage site recognized twice by UNESCO. Upon arrival, you will embark on the cruise and enjoy a welcome drink while receiving a tour briefing. A sumptuous lunch will be served on board as the ship sails further into the bay, giving you time to admire its dramatic limestone islands.

You can relax at your leisure on the sundeck or in your cabin. In the afternoon, you will have the opportunity to swim in the warm, calm waters or go kayaking. Kayaking is easy for all levels and ages, and our expert guide will provide basic paddling instructions before leading you to explore the extraordinary beauty of Halong Bay. After an hour of exploring the bay, you will return to the cruise for some relaxation before attending a cooking class in the late afternoon.

Experience Tai Chi class on board, Explore Sung Sot Cave, Back to the jetty and check out cruise; Back to Hanoi airport

We will continue our Halong Bay journey early in the morning. A Tai Chi class on the sun deck is a must-try activity while on the cruise.

On the upper deck, you can relax, take in the sights, and capture photos of the magnificent rocky islands rising from the emerald waters of the bay.

After breakfast, we will explore Sung Sot Cave, one of the finest and largest grottoes in Halong Bay. Then, we will keep cruising, passing by a fishing village known for its unique way of life.

At 10:30 AM, our boat will start cruising back to the jetty. Enjoy your last moments in the bay before having a traditional Vietnamese lunch.

You leave the boat around 12:00 at noon, we go ashore and transfer back to Hanoi for your departure flight. End of services.