The below suggested North Vietnam Itinerary is carefully selected and based on our editors’ travel experience as well as on their popularities among past travellers and the trails that many others have passed. If you have limited time to read every piece of information and want to use it effectively, it is really useful. North Vietnam is a large part of the country and transport in some places is a little slow or hard to arrange. We have created, based on some questions from our readers regarding how to arrange a good itinerary for North Vietnam, 6 itineraries with details of routes, length of stays, activities and things to see.  Select the one that best fits your time frame and travel interests. If you have any questions or need assistance with tailoring your own trip, please contact us. In every destination page, there is also suggested itinerary within the city or province, so do not forget to check that out as well.

North Vietnam Map

The most commonly asked question is how many day I should spend in North Vietnam?

Some say 2 days, 3 days or just 1 day. I say you should stay at least one week in North Vietnam if you want to see the most of this beautiful region.

Plan your next trip to Northern Vietnam with our suggestions below!

1. Authentic North Vietnam Itinerary 5 Days

It is the best introduction to the Northern Vietnam cultures, living styles, traditions and typical landscape of rural villages, limestone rock formation. This trip focuses mainly on rural living experience in some beautiful villages of both Vietnamese and Thai ethnic group. It also showcases the best limestone karst formation of the UNESCO heritage sites Halong Bay and Tam Coc, Ninh Binh. It is an easy exotic tour to try when you do not have too much time in the north region. Let’s see what activities and things to see day by day below:

Day1: Hanoi Arrival: depending on your arrival time, you can do some sightseeing or just discovering the old quarter Hanoi narrow lanes and its street food; Hoan Kiem Lake, Temples, water puppet show. Or if time allows, you can do a longer sightseeing itinerary as described in other Hanoi Tours page.

Day 2: Hanoi – Mai Chau: Try to get up early to join with local people around the Hoan Kiem Lake to do morning Taichi, Aerobics dancing, laughing club….after breakfast, enjoy a scenic drive to Mai Chau – Northwest of Vietnam. Arrive in Mai  Chau village, walking tour in the Thai villages, visit families and learn the way they make Thai fabrics…..do cycling through rice paddies, river, villages, meet and talk with local farmers while they are working on fields. Stay with local family tonight, enjoy their traditional food, night time dancing and drinking Thai wine and have fun with them.

Day 3: Mai Chau – Ninh Binh: visit Hoa Lu – Tam Coc, Ninh Binh called Halong Bay on land. Hoa Lu used to be capital of Vietnam in 10^th centuary. Do a sampan boat ride through Karst Caves in Tam Coc river, visit old temple, doing biking in villages; stay overnight in  the middle of the village.

Day 4: Ninh Binh – Halong: Visit the best UNESCO heritage site in North Vietnam, Halong Bay is the most popular tourist attraction in Vietnam. Cruise a traditional junk boat, enjoy fresh seafood meals, kayaking, climbing and caving….a lot more to see in this amazing bay of thousands limestone islands.

Day 5: Halong- Hanoi: The cruise trip continues until lunch time and you will drive back to Hanoi for your next destination.

2. North Vietnam Itinerary 6 days:

Soft adventure and night train experience trip to explore the colourful hill tribes in the northern Vietnam, river, mountain and limestone landscapes.

Day 1: Hanoi Arrival – City Tour: upon arrival in Hanoi, do sightseeing to the most attractive sites in Hanoi, cultural performance, street food experience..

Day 2: Hanoi – Ninh Binh – Nigh train to Lao Cai: Full day trip to Trang An – the Ecological UNESCO heritage site, Hoa Lu the former Capital of Vietnam…take night train to Sapa

Day 3: Lao Cai – Bac Ha – Sapa: the whole morning explore the most exciting local market in mountainous area Bac Ha Sunday market…afternoon drive to Sapa and relax

Day 4: Sapa – Night train to Hanoi: a full day walking tour to ethnic minority villages in Sapa ….night train back to Hanoi

Day 5: Hanoi – Halong: get back to Hanoi and drive directly to Halong Bay. Whole day relaxing at the majestic Halong Bay of dragons….

Day 6: Halong – Hanoi Departure: Morning relaxing and cruising until lunch then drive back to Hanoi for your departure.

3. The most visited places in North Vietnam Itinerary 7 days

A easy adventure and relaxing trip to the must-see places in North Vietnam.

The most visited places of Hanoi; Halong Bay and Sapa in Vietnam are always on the top of bucket for all travellers. Explore the bustling Hanoi streets; walking and trekking to the most interesting hill tribal villages in Sapa and anchor among the fascinating islands of Halong Bay. Try local food and learn local living style and their stories…..

Day 1: Hanoi arrival: upon arrival in Hanoi check in hotel and relax or take a short walk around old quarter Hanoi to see local living..

Day 2: Hanoi city: spend your whole day visiting  key sites including Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, temple of literature, Hoan Kiem lake, Women museum, take a rickshaw ride and enjoy water puppet show to end your day.

Day 3: Hanoi – Sapa: Check our your hotel and drive to Sapa along the new free highway with our luxury car or van. Arrival in Sapa check in hotel and do some walking to nearby village Cat Cat to see waterfall and visit Hmong families.

Day 4: Sapa – Trekking to Lao Chai and Ta Van village: Full day sightseeing trekking to village of Hmong and Zay people living along Muong Hoa valley. Enjoy the most scenic landscape of rice terraces, mountains, rivers

Day 5: Sapa – Hanoi: do some more visit to ethnic minority villages before we head back to Hanoi. Enjoy Hanoi by night

Day 6 & 7: Hanoi Halong: After some first glance into how north Vietnam looks like, your day 6 &7 can be spent on visiting the country’s most proud world heritage- Halong Bay. The caves are magnificent and the best part is that you are cruising all through your trip. Besides walking up and down to discover the beauty of nature at these limestone caves, you will also have the opportunity to go swimming or kayaking. Many people report what a fantastic time they have at the local fishing village nearby. 2 days would be best to enjoy Halong Bay

4. North Vietnam Itinerary 8 Days to the most amazing Wonders

Hanoi – Capital city with bustling food and coffee, shop streets and lanes

Mu Cang Chai: the most amazing and less travelled place to see fantastic rice terraces & Hmong villages

Sapa: where the most colourful hill tribes living with long-time traditional living styles; interesting markets

Halong Bay: the best must-see place in Vietnam – the UNESCO heritage and World natural wonder.

Following are the suggestions of activities and things to see for 8 day in North Vietnam.

Day 1 Hanoi arrival and orientation tour

Day 2: Hanoi – Sapa: Drive along the express way to Sapa – Northwest Vietnam on the Chinese border

Day 3: Sapa – trekking to villages: trekking to villages of Hmong & Zay people

Day 4: Sapa – Mu Cang Chai: Drive Sapa to Mu Cang Chai via terrific landscapes of northwest Vietnam passing several passes with stunning villages alongside

Day 5 Mu Cang Chai – Hanoi: explore Mu Cang Chai rice terraces wonder with Raspberry Hill, twister terraces and villages of Hmong people.

Day 6 & 7 & 8: Hanoi – Halong Bay: enjoy a relaxing cruise trip to Halong Bay after some hard days of trekking in the mountain.

5. The far and authentic Northeast Vietnam Itinerary 9 Days:

– a little bit more challenging circuit, for those who want to see and experience something
– fascinating mountains and Dong Van Karst Global Geopark in Ha Giang province
– nature, authenticity, light and challenging trekking, ethnic villages, homestay
– what to visit and see, read our page on Ha Giang, Dong Van, Ban Gioc waterfall and Bac Kan province.

Day 1: Hanoi arrival: Orientation and city tour

Day 2: Hanoi – Ha Giang: drive Hanoi to Ha Giang – far Eastern province of Vietnam

Day 3: Ha Giang – Yen Minh – Lung Cu Flag Pole – Hmong King palace – Dong Van: Explore the North Pole of Vietnam, the Hmong King palace and Dong Van Karst Plateau – the only global Geopark in Vietnam.

Day 4: Dong Van – Meo Vac – Ma Fi Leng Pass –  Cao Bang: Explore Dong Van Karst Geopark and Meo Vac, Ma Fi Leng pass – the breathtaking scenery in this area before driving to Cao Bang – on the Chinese border

Day 5: Cao Bang – Ban Gioc waterfall – Nguom Ngao cave – Cao Bang: explore the most beautiful waterfall in Vietnam. The falls lies between Vietnamese and Chinese border.

Day 6: Cao Bang – Bac Kan – Ba Be Lake: Another discovery of the beauty in North East Vietnam – the Ba Be Lake in Ba Be national park. This is one of the biggest fresh water lake in the world. Experience the local living styles of traditions of the Tay ethnical group.

Day 7: Ba Ke lake – Hanoi: Farewell to the host and drive back to Hanoi

Day 8 &9: Hanoi – Halong: relaxing trip to Halong Bay – the world natural wonder and UNESCO heritage site.

6. Vietnam Northwest Loop Itinerary 10 days

This Northwest loop trip is suitable for those who want to experience adventure, history, cultures and unusual landscapes. This is really a least travelled place in Vietnam except for Sapa.

Day 1: Hanoi: walking tour around old quarter

Day 2: Hanoi – Mai chau: Stay overnight in Mai Chau – the best introduction to the rural lives and living styles of the northwest of Vietnam. Some culture activities will be arranged upon request.

Day 3: Mai Chau – Son La: Son La is a province on the Laos border with many different ethnic groups including White Thai and Black Thai…beautiful mountain and tea plantation….

Day 4: Son La – Dien Bien: The world famous battle field between French colonialist and the Viet Minh in the First Indochina war. Explore the battle field is a great thing to do here.

Day 5: Dien Bien – Lai Chau: Lots of interesting hill tribes to visit in Lai Chau

Day 6: Lai Chau – Sapa: Sapa – the premium French hill station and the tourist hub for the northwest Vietnam.

Day 7: Sapa – trekking to villages of Hmong and Zay people

Day 8: Sapa – Bac Ha – Hanoi: Bac Ha Sunday market is special market in region. Best opportunities for photo hunters taking picture of different ethnic groups

Day 9 & 10:  Hanoi – Halong: relaxing trip to UNESCO heritage site

The most visited places in northern Vietnam – Hanoi, Sapa, Ha Long Bay. A lot of tourists arrive in Hanoi, then continue to Sapa, back to Hanoi and then go to Ha Long Bay. And this is the end of their traveling in northern Vietnam. For one week this route can be finished. In all these places you will meet many tourists who want to experience northern Vietnam. Yes, it is true, these places are beautiful, but only in these three most visited places you will not experience the all beauty of the hidden North Vietnam.

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