6-Day Best of Northern Vietnam Tour from Hanoi | Small Group Tour

Our staff pick you up with a warm smile and drive to your hotel in the city center for check-in. As usual, the check-in time is 14:00. If you require early check-in with a surcharge, please book with your travel consultant Explore Hanoi by night on your own. Overnight in Hanoi.

Start your full-day private tour of Hanoi with early pickup from your hotel. Then hop in a cyclo to the undisputed heart of the city with your friendly and informative guide. Observe people practicing tai chi, playing badminton and doing other popular activities as you receive an overview of daily life of local people.

Weave through Hanoi's Old Quarter in the historical center of the capital, known for its 36 old streets and artisan guilds that date back to the 13th century. Visit St Joseph's Cathedral (Nha Tho Lon), whose structure has changed little since it was built in 1886.

Enjoy a relaxing conversation with the locals over a cup of delicious coffee-a great way to immerse in the culture of Hanoi. Continue sightseeing in the comfort of an air-conditioned, private vehicle with a visit to Ba Dinh Square, where your guide points out significant buildings such as the President's Palace and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Learn about President Ho Chi Minh's life and his career at the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and discover the role of Buddhism in Hanoi at the historical One Pillar Pagoda.

Before a traditional Vietnamese lunch at a local restaurant, gain an appreciation for Vietnamese architecture at the Temple of Literature and view Long Bien Bridge. In the afternoon, discover the many customs of more than 50 ethnic minorities in Vietnam at the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology. Then enjoy the beautiful environs of Hoan Kiem Lake (Sword Lake), stopping by Ngoc Son Temple (Temple of the Jade Mountain), situated on a small islet in the lake.

Finally, your guide accompanies you to see a water puppet show. This delightful stage performance delves into Vietnam's mythology and traditions for a little over an hour before you're taken back to your hotel.

You have time to take a bath and relax while waiting for the Lao Cai train. When you are done preparing your luggage, our driver picks you up at your hotel and transports you to the city's railway station. Board a train to Lao Cai station for an overnight excursion in a communal sleeping cabin (sharing with other passengers in 2 lower & 2 upper berths per compartment). The train would start around 22:00 and you can have an unforgettable experience of sleeping overnight on a local train.

When the train arrives at Lao Cai Station (4:30 - 5:00), the bus driver will take you to Sapa, a must-see destination in North Vietnam. Upon room occupancy, early check-in before 14:00 is available (with a surcharge). 

Then, you should relax before beginning your trekking adventure in Lao Cai with our local tour guide. The trekking path includes Y Linh Ho, a tiny town located beside the Muong Hoa River, and Lao Chai, a Black Hmong community famed for its remarkable indigo blue clothes and vestiges of history.

After lunch, spend time learning about the local culture and then return to Sapa and continue to visit Ta Van Village, a Zay people's settlement. You will see the houses of this ethnic minority built among the poetic terraced fields.

Back to the town and spend the night at the hotel.

Wake up early and have breakfast at your hotel. Around 09:00, we will visit Cat Cat Village by walking along the South-West. Relax at the base of the magnificent waterfall and the remnants of a hydroelectric power plant built by the French during Vietnam's colonial era.

After the morning tour, you can have a picnic along the river for lunch to spend time in nature. 

Continue your hike to Sin Chai village, which is at the base of Fansipan Mountain, often known as "the Roof of Indochina". Take in the breathtaking views of the mountain.

After the tour, you will return to the main road to be picked up from 14:30 to 15:00 and driven to Sapa town, then transferred back to Hanoi at around 21:30. Let's take a rest before the journey to Halong on the next day.

A Tai Chi lesson before breakfast in the early morning will give you a fresh start on your second day in Halong. (This activity may be different with some cruises so you should ask our sales consultant for detail.)

After that, the boat will take you to see the last attraction on the itinerary, you can visit one of the most beautiful caves: Trung Trang Cave, Sung Sot Cave, Dark & Bright Cave, etc.

Check out and head to the restaurant for brunch, which is provided on the way to the cruise return to the main port. Around 11:30, disembark and take a transfer back to Hanoi.