When asked to comment on the attractions of North Vietnam, most of the travellers said that they love the northern part of the country because of its breath-taking sceneries, majestic bays, unbeatable rice terraces, marvellous waterfalls & more importantly its colourful hill tribes in the far North. One of the best landscapes of the North Vietnam is natural wonders all around the region especially the limestone rock formations such as Halong Bay, Hoa Lu Tam Coc in Ninh Binh, Mai Chau, Ha Giang, Sapa to name a few. There are also a number of man-made wonders created by local communities in the northwest Vietnam. A part from its natural beauty, the pure diverse cultures of the local communities makes this region really appealing to our visitors all over the globe. So what are the best things to see in North Vietnam? There are too many options for your choice. It is hard to narrow down the many options to fit your itinerary and interest, follow the list below can help point you to best destinations in the Northern Vietnam.

1. Hanoi

The Capital city of Vietnam, Hanoi is named a city for peace, city of thousands years old. It is dotted with tree-lined boulevard, hundreds of old temples, colonial buildings. It is a blend of traditional and modern style, oriental and western culture. Visitor will find Hanoi interesting and vibrant like no other city in the world. Hanoi impresses its guests with the bustle of busy narrow lanes, tube houses…street stalls selling amazing local food, coffee shops with special egg coffee and its hospitable people. You need to spend at least a week to experience all fantastic things in this city and its surroundings. If you have short time for it, a visit to the old quarter, Hoan Kiem lake, Ngoc Son temple, Ho Chi Minh mausoleum, and the temple of Literature is a must to do thing.

2. Halong Bay – Bai Tu Long Bay

Halong Bay means the Bay of the Descending Dragon. A legend has it that early in Vietnam’s development when it was trying to fight off invaders. The gods sent a family of dragons to protect Vietnamese people. This is because Dragon (and Fairy) is the ancestor of the Vietnamese people. The dragons spat out jade and other jewels which turned into the islands. The islands attacked the invaders sinking their ships. The dragons decided to live in the bay and descended into the waters where Halong bay today.

Halong Bay is the jewel not only in Northern Vietnam but also the whole country. There are many amazing scenic places in the country, and Halong Bay takes the top spot. Covering 600 square miles it contains at least 1,969 islands, ranging from tiny islets to large well inhabited ones. Five hundred million years in the making, the islands take the form of limestone karsts that jut imperiously out of the Gulf of Tonkin, 170km from Hanoi. Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1994, it achieved further recognition in 2000 when the World Heritage Committee recognised the bay for its outstanding geological and geomorphological value. In 2012 The New 7 Wonders Foundation named it as one of The Seven Natural Wonders of the World.

Day cruises or overnight boat trips are a spectacular way to experience the beauty of Halong Bay and to see as many of the islands as possible. In addition to Cat Ba, Quan Lan is a popular stop that is beginning to develop some tourism infrastructure to accommodate a longer stay. You can go swimming, look for caves to explore or find some of the more remote, uninhabited islands while cruising through Halong Bay.

Halong Bay is, without question, one of the most popular destinations in Northern Vietnam. However, it is not the only beautiful bay worth exploring in the region. Bai Tu Long Bay is adjacent to Halong, and it also boasts a sinking limestone plateau, gorgeous blue waters and an abundance of small islands. In fact, many people prefer Bai Tu Long Bay because it is far less crowded than its more popular neighbor to the south. The best way to tour Bai Tu Long Bay is by boat, and there are any number of cruises that can take you to the highlights throughout the bay.

3. Sapa

Sapa – the premium hill station is known for its culturally diverse population as well as its proximity to incredible scenery. This site was built into a summer holiday place for French colonialist since early 20^th century. Sapa itself is home to the members of many hill tribes, including the Hmong, the Dao, the Muong and the Tay. The town also overlooks the magnificent Muong Hoa Valley and its terraced rice fields, which are staggering to behold.  Spending time visiting ethnic minorities’ villages, observing their daily’s activities or even living homestay, in order to understand more about their culture is now the top priority of visitors, especially international ones. A trip to Sapa would definitely more meaningful with participatory activities, such as learning to make handicrafts or helping the local with farm work! In case time does not allow, you can always hire a local guide for your trekking routes. Chances are these boys and girls will tell you lovely stories about their traditions, their lives or even ask you to join their family activities.

4. Hoa Lu – Tam Coc in Ninh Binh

Located 100km from Hanoi, Hoa Lu – Tam Coc is a painting of the North with rice paddies surrounded by limestone cliffs and rock formations. In reality, Tam Coc is one of the most breathtakingly beautiful destinations in the entire region. The best way to explore is by boat, and you can set off on a rowboat that takes you up alongside the lush green paddies and between striking limestone cliffs. You’ll even float through three caves that run through the mountains, which were carved over time by the river itself. From Tam  Coc, there are many options for your day trip to Trang An UNESCO natural and Cultural Heritage site, Van Long preserve which are both filmed in the Hollywood New King Kong – Skull Islands.

5. Mai Chau

Mai Chau – the pearl of Hoa Binh province lies within a valley, 160km to the west of Hanoi. Mai Chau is not as stunning as in Ha Giang, but it provides some idyllic rural view that will ease your senses. In day, you will take on some easy trekking or biking routes through mountain paths, rice fields, waterfalls, and streams, then visit some hill tribes and markets. After the night falls, you will have the chance to try a local with your host. Then, take part in the Thai traditional dance with your fellow travellers and the locals before taking some sleep in a rustic stilt house. Just 3 h drive from Hanoi, you can have a day trip for weekend activities or spend overnight trip to experience rural living style in the Thai ethnic village. Enjoy your tranquillity in the valley of Mai Chau.

6. Bac Ha Sunday Market

Bac Ha market is very well known in the area for its color painted to local hill tribe people. There are Flower Hmong, Phu La, Black Dzao, Tay and Nung…They all gather to the market to sell their homemade products such as corn wine, handicraft… as well as their livestock. Just a few miles from the Chinese border is the town of Bac Ha. Bac Ha is very small, and during the week the best way to explore is to check out the town square. There are a handful of local eateries serving delicious, inexpensive cuisine, and there are several vendors selling handmade crafts. What truly makes Bac Ha worth a visit, however, is the Sunday Market. Every Sunday morning, residents from throughout the region gather in Bac Ha, and it becomes a cacophony of color, sound and vibrancy. The members of the surrounding hill tribes come to shop and sell, making it a fantastic opportunity to see a range of ethnicities in a single, scenic setting.

From Sapa, join in a daily tour organized by many local operators,  you will have a wonderful day. The market is only on Sunday morning.

7. Dong Van Karst Geopark – Ha Giang

Dong Van Karst Plateau Global Geopark is located in the northeast province of Ha Giang.  It is the first Geopark in Viet Nam and the second one in Southeast Asia. Dong Van rocky plateau not only is sculpture product, a historical rocky page of the nature present to human people but also contain a lot of potential values such as, Geoheritages, bilogical diversity, tourism, fossils…Especially, the cultural of community 17 ethnic groups on Dong Van karst plateau Geopark, traditional beauty need preserving and promoting. Dong Van Karst Plateau is unique combination between Geoheritages and cutural heritages. Which has created great potential for tourism and attracted many visitors both locally and internationally.

Dong Van Geopark is home to 17 ethnic groups which creates the unique and rich cultural heritage of this area. The socio – economic life of the geopark should be improved to achieve the Millennium Development Goals that Vietnam committed. Thus, the management Board of Dong Van Karst Plateau Global Geopark has associated with its partners in seeking support from organizations to develop sustainable tourism, conservation of heritage values and Earth science research.

The list of best things to see in North Vietnam will be continued. we will keep you updated shortly.