Through the Hidden Gems of Northern Vietnam

Day 1: Hanoi – Arrival

Xin chào and welcome to Vietnam. After your long journey across continents, you finally land at Noi Bai International Airport. Here, your friendly guide and driver greet you with a warm smile and help you settle in for your first moments in Hanoi.
As you make your way from the airport into the city, notice how the energy subtly builds. Motorbikes weave through traffic, narrow alleys give glimpses of daily life, and the scent from nearby food stalls fills the air. Once you arrive at your hotel, you can enjoy some rest or take a quiet stroll in the nearby streets to feel the rhythm of the city for the first time.

Overnight in Hanoi

Day 2: Hanoi City Tour – The Past in the Present

Morning:
Your journey into Hanoi’s historical soul begins with a visit to the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum. Standing before the silent monument, you will learn about the legacy of Vietnam’s beloved leader. The next stop is the Temple of Literature, Vietnam’s first university. Walk through peaceful courtyards and stone stelae that carry the names of scholars from centuries past. This sacred space reflects a deep reverence for learning and tradition.

Afternoon:
After a local lunch, you head to the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology, where artifacts, traditional homes, and photographs shed light on the lives of Vietnam’s 54 ethnic groups. Returning to the city center, you stop at Hoan Kiem Lake, a quiet pocket of water and legend in the middle of Hanoi. As the sun lowers, enjoy a 45-minute cyclo ride around the Old Quarter. It’s the perfect way to observe local life as vendors, tailors, and street barbers go about their daily rhythm.

Overnight in Hanoi

Day 3: Hanoi – Ha Giang

Morning:
Your adventure begins earlier as your guide and driver meet you for the 6-hour journey to Ha Giang. As you leave the urban buzz behind, the scenery slowly transforms into lush greenery, sleepy towns, and limestone mountains. Around midday, stop for lunch at a roadside eatery, simple but flavorful, just like the northern region.

Afternoon:
Arriving in Ha Giang, you set out on a motorbike ride to Na Thac. This quiet village is wrapped in jungle and terraced fields, where nature and farming live in perfect harmony. Climbing up to Khuoi My village, you’ll be rewarded with stunning panoramic views of green layers cascading down the valley. Here, you meet local Dzao families who welcome you with curiosity and kindness. Their stories reveal a way of life closely tied to the earth and the seasons. As the sun begins to fade, return to Ha Giang city for a well-earned rest.

Overnight in Ha Giang

Day 4: Ha Giang – Lung Cu – Dong Van

Morning:
Today brings you deeper into Vietnam’s northern highlands. The road winds through breathtaking passes until you reach Quan Ba Twin Mountains, two perfectly rounded hills shaped by nature and legend. Take a moment to admire the contrast between the striking geology and the soft lines of nearby rice terraces. Further along, you visit Lung Cam Cultural Village. Here, century-old houses with thick earthen walls and mossy roofs stand as quiet witnesses to generations of mountain life.

Afternoon:
After lunch, you visit Meo King’s Palace, once the seat of a Hmong leader of the early 20th century. The wooden balconies and stone carvings reflect tales of power that once ruled this mountainous area. You then continue to Lung Cu Flag Tower, standing proud at Vietnam’s symbolic northernmost point. As the wind flutters the massive red flag above, look out over hills that stretch toward the horizon – a reminder of both borders and boundless beauty. By late afternoon, you arrive in Dong Van and check into your hotel.

Overnight in Dong Van

Day 5: Dong Van – Nho Que River – Meo Vac – Quan Ba

Morning:
Begin your day with a journey over Ma Pi Leng Pass, a legendary road carved into cliffs and coiling through one of Vietnam’s most majestic landscapes. Stop often to breathe in the mountain air and take photographs of the chasms and plateaus around you.

Afternoon:
After a local lunch, enjoy a boat ride on the jade-colored Nho Que River. Glide between towering limestone walls into Tu San Alley, a place so narrow and steep it feels like the earth itself is folding around you. The silence here is profound, broken only by the lapping of water against the boat. Arriving in Quan Ba by evening, settle in and take time to relax in this peaceful mountain town.

Overnight in Quan Ba

Day 6: Quan Ba – Hanoi

Morning:
After breakfast, begin your journey back to Hanoi. The road is long – about 350 km – but the views remain breathtaking: mountains roll into mist, small villages buzz with quiet life, and rivers trace the edges of the highway.

Afternoon:
A simple lunch is served at a local restaurant along the way. You arrive back in Hanoi around sunset. The city welcomes you again, not as a stranger, but as someone who now understands the beat behind its chaos.

Overnight in Hanoi

Day 7: Hanoi – Halong Bay

Morning:

Leave the lively streets of Hanoi behind and set off toward Halong Bay — a place where myth and nature meet. Legend tells of a dragon descending from the heavens, carving out these emerald waters with its tail. Today, you’ll follow that story to the sea. By midday, you arrive at Tuan Chau Harbor, where the breeze carries a hint of salt. The crew of your cruise welcomes you aboard with a drink and gentle hospitality. After a safety briefing, you settle into your cabin, ready to explore the waters of one of the world’s most iconic bays.

Afternoon:
A delicious lunch is served as the cruise sails through a surreal landscape of limestone karsts and scattered islets. Later, we step ashore to explore Surprise Cave — vast and beautifully lit, its chambers reveal the natural formations carved by millennia. Continue to Titov Island, you can relax on the sandy beach or climb the steep steps to a viewpoint. As the sun dips below the horizon, return to the boat to relax on the sundeck. Enjoy happy hour, followed by a cooking demonstration that brings you closer to Vietnamese flavors. Dinner is served onboard. Finally, you can try squid fishing, watch a film, or simply enjoy the night air under a sky full of stars.

Overnight in Halong Bay

Day 8: Halong Bay — Hanoi

Morning:
The bay wakes early. A Tai Chi session on the sundeck offers a graceful way to greet the day, as morning light filters through the mist over the water. Soon after your light breakfast, you transfer to a bamboo boat rowed by a local and glide into Luon Cave. It’s a serene spot where cliffs close in to form a natural circle, mirrored perfectly on the water’s surface. Return to the cruise to relax and check out. Enjoy your brunch as you gently sail back to the harbor. Take one last look at the limestone towers standing quietly in the bay’s embrace. Later, you disembark and begin the journey back to Hanoi.

Afternoon:
The rest of the day is yours to enjoy at your own pace — whether it’s a last stroll through the Old Quarter or a quiet coffee overlooking the lake.

Overnight in Hanoi

Day 9: Hanoi — Departure

Depending on your flight schedule, your driver will pick you up from your hotel and transfer you to the airport. As the city slowly recedes behind you, take with you the vivid colors of Northern Vietnam — from the limestone cliffs of Halong to the highland terraces of Ha Giang, and the chaotic but charming streets of Hanoi. You leave not just with photos, but with memories stitched into every step of your journey. 

Until our paths cross again on your next adventure, safe travels!