Orivia Travel · Private tours of Vietnam

Northern Vietnam Highlights: Hanoi, Sapa, Ha Long & Ninh Binh

Eight days through the best of the North: mountain villages and rice terraces around Sapa, a night cruising Ha Long Bay and the karst river valleys of Ninh Binh.

  • Duration: 8 days · 7 nights
  • Start: Hanoi · End: Hanoi
  • Route: Hanoi – Sapa – Hanoi – Ninh Binh – Ha Long Bay – Hanoi
  • Departure: Daily, private tour
  • Meals: 7 breakfasts · 5 lunches · 2 dinners
  • Accommodation: 3 nights Hanoi, 2 nights Sapa mountain-view hotel, 1 night Ninh Binh homestay-style resort, 1 night Ha Long cruise
  • Travel style: Nature & landscapes, Culture & heritage, Adventure & trekking, Ha Long Bay cruise
  • Price: from US$985 per person, based on two travellers sharing on a private tour
  • Tour code: EN-NOR-002

Tour overview

This is the trip we recommend most often to first-time visitors who want more than a quick look. It pairs the cool hills of Sapa, where Hmong and Dao villages sit among rice terraces, with the water landscapes of Ha Long Bay and Ninh Binh. Long transfers are kept to comfortable limousine vans or the expressway, and every walk in Sapa can be shortened or lengthened on the day. You end in Hanoi with time to shop and eat before you fly.

Highlights

  • Village walks through Hmong and Dao communities in the Muong Hoa valley
  • Cable car to the summit of Fansipan, the highest peak in Indochina
  • Bai Dinh pagoda and the ancient capital of Hoa Lu in Ninh Binh
  • Overnight cruise in Lan Ha or Ha Long Bay with kayaking
  • Free time in Hanoi for food, coffee and crafts

Day-by-day itinerary

Day 1: Arrive in Hanoi

Getting around: private car

Airport pick-up and transfer to your Old Quarter hotel. Your guide stops by to go through the trip, swap SIM cards and point out the best places to eat nearby. The rest of the day is yours.

Day 2: Hanoi – Sapa by limousine van

Meals: B, D

Getting around: coach, walking

Leave after breakfast on the new expressway, arriving in Sapa town in about five and a half hours with a lunch stop on the way. In the late afternoon take an easy walk to Cat Cat village, a Black Hmong hamlet with a waterfall and indigo dyeing workshops. Dinner at a local restaurant serving mountain specialities.

Day 3: Sapa: village trek in the Muong Hoa valley

Meals: B, L

Getting around: trekking, private car

With a local guide, walk down through rice terraces to Lao Chai and Ta Van villages, about 10 km on mostly gentle trails. Lunch is cooked at a family house in the valley. A car picks you up at the end of the walk so you do not have to climb back up.

Day 4: Fansipan summit – return to Hanoi

Meals: B, L

Getting around: cable car, coach

Ride the cable car and funicular to the top of Fansipan at 3,143 m, where on a clear day you can see across the whole Hoang Lien range. After lunch in town, the limousine van brings you back to Hanoi for the evening.

Day 5: Hanoi – Ninh Binh: Hoa Lu and Trang An

Meals: B, L

Getting around: private car, boat, cycling

Drive two hours south to Hoa Lu, the 10th century capital, then board a small rowing boat at Trang An for a two-hour loop through caves and temples in the river. In the late afternoon, cycle along quiet village lanes to your riverside resort.

Day 6: Ninh Binh – Ha Long Bay cruise

Meals: B, L, D

Getting around: private car, boat

Visit the vast Bai Dinh pagoda complex in the morning before driving to the cruise harbour. Board around noon, have lunch as you sail into the bay, and spend the afternoon kayaking or swimming. Sunset drinks on deck and dinner on board.

Day 7: Ha Long Bay – Hanoi

Meals: B, L

Getting around: boat, private car, walking

An early tai chi session, a cave visit and brunch as the boat sails back. Return to Hanoi by mid-afternoon with time for a last walk around Hoan Kiem Lake and the night market.

Day 8: Hanoi – departure

Meals: B

Getting around: private car, flight

Free morning for coffee and shopping until your transfer to Noi Bai airport.

What's included

  • Private English-speaking guide on every sightseeing day
  • Private air-conditioned car or van with driver for all transfers
  • Airport pick-up and drop-off on arrival and departure days
  • Hotels as listed, twin or double room with daily breakfast
  • Meals as listed in the itinerary (B: breakfast, L: lunch, D: dinner)
  • Entrance fees and boat tickets for every visit in the itinerary
  • Bottled water and cold towels in the car every day
  • 24/7 hotline with the Orivia operations team in Hanoi
  • Overnight Ha Long Bay cruise in a private-balcony cabin, all meals on board, kayaking and cave visit
  • Fansipan cable car and funicular tickets
  • Limousine van between Hanoi and Sapa

Not included

  • International flights and Vietnam visa fees
  • Travel insurance (strongly recommended)
  • Drinks with meals, personal expenses and laundry
  • Tips for guides and drivers (optional)
  • Single room supplement

Enquire about this tour or plan a tailor-made trip

More Northern Vietnam tours

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a visa to visit Vietnam?

Most travellers can apply online for an e-visa, valid for up to 90 days with single or multiple entry. Citizens of several countries, including the UK, Germany, France, Italy, Spain and the Nordic countries, can visit visa-free for a set number of days. Rules change from time to time, so check the official portal before you book flights. We are happy to look at your nationality and dates for you.

When is the best time to travel in Vietnam?

Vietnam is long, so the weather depends on the region. The North is cool and dry from October to April and hot from May to September. The centre around Hue and Hoi An is best from February to August, with heavy rain from October to December. The South is warm all year, with a dry season from December to April. A North to South trip works well in spring, from February to April.

Are the tours private or in a group?

Every tour on this site is private: you travel only with your own party, with your own guide and driver. That means you choose the start date, the pace and where to stop. Overnight cruises in Ha Long Bay are shared boats, but you have your own cabin.

What does the price per person include?

Prices are per person, based on two travellers sharing a twin or double room. They cover the guide, private transport, hotels with breakfast, the meals listed, entrance fees and boat tickets. Groups of three or more pay less per person; solo travellers pay a single supplement. Your quote will show the exact price for your party and travel dates.

Can you change an itinerary for us?

Yes, almost all of our travellers change something: an extra night on the beach, a cooking class, a slower day for children, or a different hotel. Tell us what you would like and we will send a revised plan and price, free of charge.

How do I book and pay?

Send an enquiry from any tour page or the tailor-made form. A travel designer replies within one working day with a plan and quote. Nothing is booked and nothing is paid until you confirm. To secure hotels and cruises we then ask for a deposit by bank transfer or card, with the balance due before arrival. The exact terms are written in your quote.