North Vietnam: Explore breathtaking landscapes in 8 days

You’ll start the second day of your adventure with a motorbike tour of Hanoi – specifically on vintage Minsk ones. Before departing, you will be thoroughly informed about the rules of traffic and of course be responsible by our experienced drivers.

The opening of the day will be introducing you to “the REAL HANOI” by showing the daily life of locals. Your friendly companions take you through backstreets, tiny alleys, local homes, schools, random markets, and the black market so you can see how people live, work, and play there. This is your chance to immerse yourself and blend into the soul of our elegant capital – a unique, ambiguous and abstract beauty that is rarely mentioned.

You will not only see the good things but also the ugliness and weirdness of Hanoi as it is. Consequently, you will fall in love with a perfectly imperfect Hanoi any one way over another, like the way you fall in love with your lover regardless of her lovely flaws.

Of course, our courteous drivers will then take you pass by and stop at must-see places such as Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum-the Mecca of Vietnamese, the 1000-year-old Buddhist and Taoist temples of Tran Quoc, the historical training track, the enchanting French Quarter, the hustling and relevant Old Quarter, the romantic lakes of Hoan Kiem, West Lake, the Hanoi Opera House, and the famous Long Bien Bridge. Make sure you prepare a good mood and a camera with plenty of capacity to capture these beautiful memories.

After that, temporarily away from the hustle and bustle of the busy city, you are going to be taken to the poetic and peaceful villages and floating communities along the Red River to enrich your experiences of the contrast in the harmony of life between the city and the countryside of Hanoi.

Last but not least, we will take you to different authentic local restaurants, eateries and food stalls to fill your hungry stomach after a long day trip. Because food is the key to connecting people, it would be a mistake to miss the chance to savor the tastiest of the tasty dishes of Hanoi, including family heirlooms and secret recipe dishes, local delicacies, and specialties.

The evening will be the time for you to rest and prepare for the journey tomorrow morning.

Overnight in Hanoi.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch.

Ha Noi Flower street vendors

Get up early and enjoy a delicious breakfast and hot coffee at the hotel’s restaurant. Meet your guide and driver at 7:00 am, ready to depart for Ninh Binh, which has the best Karst scenery in Southeast Asia. After 2 hours, you will arrive at Hoa Lu – Vietnam’s ancient capital. You will start your journey by visiting King Dinh’s and King Le’s temples.

The tour follows by visiting the Mua Cave. To conquer the top of Mua cave, you need a bit of effort, and the reward is a 360-degree panorama of the karst landscape. It is also considered the Ha Long Bay on land, with mountains reaching the clouds, rich green fields, and a sparkling river gently flowing through the karst ranges.

For lunch today, Viland Travel wants to introduce you to dishes from goat meat, a specialty of Ninh Binh land. Although Ninh Binh is not a province with the largest herd of goats in Vietnam, goats are raised and grazed on the typical Karts terrain, so their meat is firm and fragrant.

In the afternoon, you visit the famous Tam Coc, the main attraction in the area, where the river flows through three caves, with deep gorges between them. You can take a scenic boat ride along the peaceful Ngo Dong River, passing by rice paddies and limestone karst formations.

Ashore, you continue your exciting journey with a relaxing bike ride. The small and flat road is suitable for both seniors and children. A 30-minute bike ride is an opportunity for you to take a closer look at the rice fields, the scene of farmers working with their buffalo in the fields, and the peaceful scenery of the Northern countryside.

A long day with many interesting outdoor activities has passed. It is the time to say goodbye to Ninh Binh and return to Hanoi.

Overnight in Hanoi.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch.

Ha Giang ethnic minority village

05:30: A private car and tour guide pick you up at your hotel and start to depart for Ha Giang, the land of Snowshan tea, honey wine, and Thang Co, the land of peach and pear blossoms, tradition, and bustle in the city fairground.

On the way, you can take advantage of the spectacular scenery of the Northeastern mountains and forests. And along the way, the car will stop to rest so you can have breakfast, ready for the upcoming long journey.

11:30: Check in at Milestone 0 km in Ha Giang, in the heart of Ha Giang city, in a park on the banks of the Lo River. This is the starting point of National Highway 2, connecting the two provinces of Ha Giang and the capital Hanoi. You can take photos here to commemorate your arrival in this beautiful Ha Giang province.

13:00: You arrive in Ha Giang City, have lunch at a restaurant to enjoy mountain specialties, then go to Quan Ba. When you come here, you all have the opportunity to admire the Twin Mountain, the “artwork” of the Creator bestowed on this land. In addition, you also have the opportunity to hear about the legend of this mountain, which is infinitely fascinating and interesting.

Continue the journey you will come to Yen Minh pine forest, the most beautiful vast pine forest in Vietnam stretching on high mountain slopes to reach Yen Minh town. You are free to visit and take pictures.

17:30: Arrive in Yen Minh Town, go to the hotel to check in, and rest.

18:30: Have dinner at the restaurant. After dinner, you are free to explore Yen Minh Town at night.

Overnight in a basic hotel in Yen Minh.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

Ha Giang rice field

After breakfast, if your travel date is on Sunday, you can visit the weekly Dong Van Market (Sa Shin Market) to meet the local minority people and buy fascinating handmade goods; otherwise, you can see a daily market in Dong Van to learn about their culture of trading. You continue the journey, admire beautiful mountain capes, and pass through stunning passes to discover the Dong Van Rock Plateau, learn about its specialty, and get more enjoyment of its beauties; you visit the palace of the powerful Vuong Family to get a glimpse of Hmong Royal life in the past.

13:30: After lunch at a local restaurant, you will continue your journey to Lung Cu Flag Tower, the first place in the country, and you will visit here and take souvenir photos. From the Lung Cu flagpole, you can admire the beautiful landscape of terraced fields interspersed with houses of the Lo Lo ethnic group in Seo Lung village below.

Next, you will move to Ma Pi Leng Pass and the Nho Que River. The place is known as the first majestic landscape of Vietnam. Enjoy the boating journey on the Nho Que River, running along the mountainside. Sitting on a boat, upstream, watching the clear river wind around the mountainside—what a charming scene! The river is gentle, like a giant silk band winding around the special geological layer in Tu San Alley and Ma Pi Leng Pass. A lovely scene, poetic and full of love.

Then back to the hotel for check-in.

18:00: Have dinner at the restaurant. Freely explore Dong Van’s old town cuisine at night.

Spend the night in a hotel in Dong Van. 

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch.

Ha Giang Dong Van market

Have breakfast and participate in Dong Van Market’s bold ethnic culture with many unique ethnic items. After that, you return to the hotel to check out of the hotel and depart for Hanoi. Have lunch at a local restaurant. During a 6-hour drive, you have more chances to enjoy the magnificent mountains.

Overnight in Hanoi. 

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch.

Limestone outcrops blanketed in lush vegetation rise from the still, jade-colored water. Your boat glides smoothly across the glassy surface, the shapes and shadows of the islets changing as you navigate this watery paradise. It is Lan Ha Bay, smaller, quieter, and altogether more serene than the neighbor, Halong Bay.

Although belonging to a different province, Lan Ha is essentially an extension of Halong Bay and offers the same mesmerizing scenery. Lying southeast of Cat Ba Island, fewer boats make their way to Lan Ha, which means you can enjoy this idyllic setting without the busy crowds. As you weave through the islands, you’ll come across secluded bays, white sand beaches, and floating villages. There are caves to explore, and islands to cycle on, and the pristine waters are perfect for swimming, and kayaking.

Your boat will be your home away from home as you explore Lan Ha Bay, and there are few experiences as magical as watching the sunrise from the comfort of your cabin, then watching it sink behind the sparkling water as the day draws to an end.

Overnight onboard.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

Ha Long Bay kayaking

The morning sun stretches over the karsts and the shimmering, calm sea. The aroma of freshly brewed coffee is enough to bring you to an exciting alert. The cruise continues to sail along the fabulous scenery of the surrounding bay. You come to the fishing village of Viet Hai, one of Vietnam’s last remaining hidden gems, largely untouched by industrial development. It lies nestled on the eastern side of Cat Ba and is inaccessible by road from the rest of the island – hence its isolation.

The 300-person village was founded before the designation of Cat Ba National Park, and thus parts of the village still remain within the park, making for a uniquely beautiful setting. It is a place where you can really get to grips with local Vietnamese life, including tree-planting with the locals, learning how wine is fermented, fishing, and animal farming.

After disembarking from the cruise ship, you can access Viet Hai by bicycle or electric buggy. The visit takes between one and two hours. Your private driver is waiting for you at the dock to send you back to Noi Bai Airport. Be ready for your journey home.

Meals: Brunch.

Ha Long Bay landscape view in sunset