Package North Vietnam
Day 1–3: Hanoi – Dive into Vietnam’s cultural heart
Day 1: Arrival and first impressions
Arrive at Noi Bai Airport and head to the Old Quarter. After checking in, explore Hoan Kiem Lake and Ngoc Son Temple, then grab a famous coconut coffee or egg coffee nearby. For dinner, try a classic pho at Pho Bat Dan or Pho Thin, followed by a water puppet show for a light cultural introduction.
Day 2: Historical highlights
Visit the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, Presidential Palace, and One Pillar Pagoda. Then explore the peaceful courtyards of the Temple of Literature. For lunch, try bun cha at Huong Lien—famously visited by Obama. In the afternoon, the Museum of Ethnology offers a rich look into Vietnam’s 54 ethnic groups. End the day with a quiet moment at Cafe Giang, the birthplace of egg coffee.
Day 3: French quarter & Old markets
Begin at the somber Hoa Lo Prison, then explore colonial architecture around the French Quarter. Wander through Dong Xuan Market, or hunt for silk goods in the Old Quarter. Grab cha ca (grilled turmeric fish) or crab spring rolls for a memorable farewell dinner in Hanoi.
Day 4–5: Ha Long bay – Cruise 4 -5 Star
Day 4: Set Sail on an overnight cruise
Transfer from Hanoi to Ha Long Bay (about 3.5 hours by shuttle or private car). Board a traditional or luxury cruise and begin sailing past Ha Long’s famous limestone karsts, hidden lagoons, and floating villages. After a seafood lunch, enjoy activities like kayaking, swimming, or visiting a pearl farm. In the evening, relax with sunset cocktails, followed by a Vietnamese dinner onboard. Optional: night squid fishing or stargazing from the deck.
Day 5: Sunrise and caves
Start with tai chi at sunrise on the sundeck. After a light breakfast, explore Sung Sot (Surprise) Cave or hike to a viewpoint on Titov Island. Brunch is served as you cruise back to shore by late morning. Continue by car or train to your next stop: Ninh Binh, about 4.5–5 hours by road if direct, or return to Hanoi and transfer from there.
Day 6–7: Ninh Binh – Inland Halong Bay with a rustic soul
Day 6: Rivers, pagodas & peace
Travel to Ninh Binh (approx. 2 hours from Hanoi). Begin with a Tam Coc boat ride, where you’ll drift through towering limestone cliffs, lush rice fields, and cave tunnels. Visit the serene Bich Dong Pagoda, set against a cliffside with beautiful mountain views.
Day 7: Scenic views & countryside charm Day
Start your morning with a bicycle ride through the peaceful countryside, past buffalo, lotus ponds, and sleepy villages. Then tackle the 500-step hike to Hang Mua Peak, where a dragon statue watches over panoramic views of Tam Coc’s karst valley.
If time allows, visit Hoa Lu, the ancient capital of Vietnam, with temples dedicated to King Dinh and King Le. In the evening, take a train or flight onward to Hue, the next stop on your 14-day Vietnam journey finish back to Ha Noi Old Quarter free time for dinner .
8: Hanoi – Ban Gioc waterfall Cao Bang
Picking up at your hotel in Hanoi at 8:30 am, beginning your journey to the stunning mountains of Lang Son border with China where you will slowly see the scenery around you change from bustling metropolis to rolling countryside. Our road trip today will take up 7 hours drive to Ban Gioc waterfall. On the way we will do stop for coffee breaks and some spots during a day. Peace in mind that our first night will stay in the old village nearby the waterfall. Here is home of Tay tribe on the bank with China. Enjoy evening friendly with locals by dinner.
Otherwise food cooking is favorite of family styles in what surrounding garden has. Seeing major is variety of choice such as chicken, beefs, pork, fish, seasonal vegetables
Day 9: Ban Gioc waterfall – Nguom Ngao Cave
A new day is coming to explore the biggest cave name Nguon Ngao, on the mountain hike about an hour. This is the natural created stalagmites and stalactites in the world existed for years.
Noon is good time to take a visit to Ban Gioc waterfall due to nice sun falling and more water than other hours. So you will get and take a good shot of photography and its surroundings.
See a rural viewpoint and visit local living styles of Tay ethnic group in touching with its customs and their traditions.
Stay at second night at the village of Ban Gioc fall.
Day 10: Ban Gioc waterfall – Cao Bang
Our first stop on the go is a handicraft making incense and blacksmith. It’s not only farming rice, corn but also locals will have its own business family works. By chance you will see how their living styles is much simple and easy progress
Here and there is a man looking after some buffaloes, some puppies go along with, an woman wear a bamboo hat grow some plants in her garden. you may be invited into her family house for some drinks, some nice talks about lives.
Stay overnight at Cao Bang city that is so much vibrant city of character.
Day 11: Cao Bang – Dong Van old town
Take a road trip through Plateau of Cao Bang to Ha giang territory that extended the loop off beaten path Dong Van old town.
Windy road heading to Meo Vac town where home of H’mong people have lived for years. if it will be on right time of Sunday market, boosting busy time of a weekend to trade in the meantime. Wandering around the market, you will love this moment of North Vietnam adventure itinerary.
Some hiking in rocky mountain and take a viewpoint of scenery Ma Pi Leng pass, Nho Que river
Tonight will stay at Old town of Dong Van.
The Old Quarter of Dong Van is the historical center of the city. This part of the town is surprisingly cozy, for a town so far away from everything and not being as developed. Around the square you will find a lot of old houses dating back from the French colonial times that are now being used as small restaurants and shops to cater mainly the travelers. The houses have many influences from Chinese architecture; two-story houses with yin and yang structured roofs decorated with red lantern.
Day 12: Dong Van – Meo Vac – Ma PiLeng pass
The Old Quarter of Dong Van is the historical center of the city. This part of the town is surprisingly cozy, for a town so far away from everything and not being as developed. Around the square you will find a lot of old houses dating back from the French colonial times that are now being used as small restaurants and shops to cater mainly the travelers. The houses have many influences from Chinese architecture; two-story houses with yin and yang structured roofs decorated with red lantern.
The Dong Van market is extremely colorful as all the female minorities dress up in their most colorful costumes. The ethnic people of the area, such as the Hmong, Tay, Nung and Hoa, come here to sell their goods. That could be anything, from clothes to farm equipment and from simple house hold goods to phones and chargers.
There are often a few games that can be played and people getting a hair cut right on the street on the market. There are also animals on the market such as cows, buffaloes, ducks and chickens, but also small pigs and dogs that people use to sort of show off.
Day 13: Rocky mountain to Yen Minh – Ha Giang
Following up itinerary North Vietnam adventure, we continue journey of Ha giang city for overnight stop. So upon time of the year, we are going to see rice paddy fields, take a walk into hillsides village on our tour. it seems show up a small village of nowhere to explore.
Stay overnight at the city.
Day 14: Ha giang city – Hanoi
Our trip will be back Hanoi. End of the trip