North Vietnam Travel Itinerary: Tailored Travel Plans

What to see in Northern Vietnam

Northern Vietnam is an interesting and diverse area where you can easily access high mountains, serene valleys, vibrant cities, tranquil countryside, and sandy beaches all in one trip.

• Hanoi: Explore the bustling streets of the capital city, where ancient temples, vibrant trading spots, and colonial architecture blend seamlessly with modern skyscrapers.

• Ninh Binh: Experience the natural beauty known as the "Halong Bay on land," with its stunning limestone karsts, lush rice paddies, and tranquil river valleys.

• Halong Bay: Sail across the UNESCO World Heritage Site's jade-colored waters, adorned with numerous limestone islets. Discover concealed caverns and grottoes, and relax on untouched sandy shores.

• Hai Phong: Enjoy the renowned food culture and explore the beautiful coastal areas with many exciting experiences and reasonable travel costs.

• Mai Chau: Immerse yourself in the idyllic countryside surrounded by verdant rice fields and traditional stilt houses. Trek through picturesque villages, interact with local artisans, and savor delicious traditional cuisine.

• Sapa: Trek among terraced rice fields, cascading waterfalls, and scattered ethnic minority villages. Climb to the summit of Fansipan, the highest peak in Indochina, or engage in a cultural immersion with homestay experiences in remote hill tribe communities.

Sapa Vietnam for your North Vietnam travel Itinerary

• Ha Giang: Discover the rugged beauty of Ha Giang with its dramatic mountain passes, deep valleys, and colorful hill tribes. Take a thrilling motorbike ride, visit traditional villages, and witness breathtaking views of the Dong Van Karst Plateau Geopark.

• Yen Bai: Explore the pristine landscapes of the highland including the majestic Mu Cang Chai terraced rice fields, recognized as a national heritage site. Interact with local farmers and enjoy panoramic views of the rolling hills and valleys.

• Cao Bang: Venture into the isolated province hosting the magnificent Ban Gioc Waterfall, recognized as one of the grandest cascades in Southeast Asia. Traverse the luxuriant jungles, intricate limestone caverns, and authentic ethnic cultures found within the vicinity.

• Bac Kan: Explore the mystical landscapes of Ba Be National Park, boat along the tranquil waters of Ba Be Lake - the largest freshwater lake in Vietnam.

Suggested Itinerary

North Vietnam travel itinerary recommendations

With a variety of destinations above, you can combine according to your preferences to have a satisfying itinerary. Below are some suggested travel plans.

North Vietnam 5 days

Option 1: Hanoi - Ninh Binh - Halong Bay

This is a typical leisure itinerary. You will start by exploring the bustling capital of Vietnam, then visit the serene ancient capital region, and finally relax and experience the World Wonder Halong Bay.

Option 2: Hanoi - Mai Chau - Sapa

This itinerary includes time to explore the vibrant capital of Hanoi, then head to the Northwest mountainous region of Vietnam to immerse yourself in the beautiful nature of mountains, valleys, rice fields, and the unique local ethnic culture.

North Vietnam 1 week

North Vietnam travel itinerary for 1 week

Option 1: Hanoi - Sapa or Mai Chau - Ninh Binh - Halong Bay

With a week's time, you can explore the capital region, high mountainous areas with pristine landscapes, the tranquil ancient capital Ninh Binh amidst waterways, and the famous Halong Bay.

Option 2: Hanoi - Sapa - Ha Giang - Bac Kan - Ba Be

This is a route for those who love adventure travel and exploring the untouched areas of North Vietnam. With this itinerary, you will travel from the Northwest with majestic mountains and spectacular passes to the Northeast with beautiful lakes and waterfalls.

Two weeks in North Vietnam

North Vietnam travel itinerary 2-week plan

Two weeks is a comfortable timeframe for you to explore the many interesting highlights of Northern Vietnam. You can replace one destination with another nearby (such as swapping Halong Bay for Hai Phong) or spend more time at one location and skip another (like skipping Mai Chau and spending 3 days in Sapa).

Planning and balancing along the North Vietnam travel itinerary will require careful attention. In addition to the schedule, you will also need to consider booking transportation, accommodations, and finding suitable dining options. Fortunately, nowadays, you can easily use the internet and social media to search for locations, read reviews, and check prices.

Transportation Options

How to travel in North Vietnam

The most common ways to travel to destinations in Northern Vietnam are by long-distance bus, train, motorbike, and taxi.

Long bus

Long bus is the most popular choice because of its fast travel time, availability at all destinations, convenience, and reasonable prices. Depending on how far you're traveling, you have the option of selecting either seated or sleeper buses. 

Hanoi's primary bus stations include Giap Bat, My Dinh, Yen Nghia, and Nuoc Ngam. You can pre-book tickets through the station websites or by making a phone call. Additionally, you should double-check the ticket, time, and pickup location before the pickup time.

To book a ticket directly at the counter, you should proceed to the building area and meet the ticket sales staff at the counter. Ticket prices and departure times are displayed on electronic boards. After purchasing the ticket, the staff will guide you to the parking lot to board the bus. At that time, you just need to present the ticket to the bus driver or the assistant. 

Train

Taking the train is also a comparably swift and affordably priced choice. Train routes cover a wide area, but the coverage and frequency are not as good as buses. You can opt for either a seat or a sleeper berth. For information on train trips, train schedules, and ticket prices from Hanoi, you can visit the Vietnam Railways website at dsvn.vn.

How to travel around Northern Vietnam

Motorbike

Motorbike is a choice favored by many adventure travelers. Traveling by motorbike is an independent, flexible option with moderate costs but requires the rider's skills and more travel time.

Typically, the rental price for a motorbike is 4 - 6 USD/day and 96 - 120 USD/month. The price of gasoline is around 1 USD/liter. Specialized off-road bikes usually have higher rental prices. For flat routes like Hanoi - Ninh Binh - Hai Phong - Halong, you can easily rent a regular motorbike and travel comfortably.

Some motorbike renting contacts in downtown Hanoi for you:

• Motorgo: 0338 023 344 (1081 Hong Ha, Chuong Duong, Hoan Kiem)

• Nguyen Tu: 0942 467 674 (2D Ta Hien, Hang Buom, Hoan Kiem)

• Son Motor: 0928 290 000 (119/37, 167 Tay Son, Dong Da, Hanoi)

Domestic Flight

Domestic flight is another way of traveling in the North of Vietnam. However, there are not many flights per day. Currently, the Northern provinces with domestic airports are Hanoi, Dien Bien, Son La, Hai Phong, Quang Ninh, and Thanh Hoa. You can check flight information and ticket prices on the websites of domestic airlines such as Vietnam Airlines, Vietjet, Pan Pacific, or Vietravel.

Budget Breakdown

Cost for North Vietnam travel itinerary

To estimate the cost for your North Vietnam travel itinerary, you can check the cost breakdown table below:

Overall, the cost of a 1-week journey in Vietnam with 4-star services if traveling independently will range from 550 - 900 USD, while if you purchase a package tour, it will be around 700 USD.

Travel Tips

Finally, don't forget to keep some useful tips and advice below for your North Vietnam travel itinerary:

• The optimal time to travel to Northern Vietnam is September - April. During the summer months, the weather is very hot and it is not suitable for going out from 11 am - 3 pm.

• If you want to admire the beautiful rice fields in Vietnam, you can choose the time around September - October to travel.

• Around the end of January - the beginning of February is the traditional Tet holiday in Vietnam according to the Lunar calendar, with many traditional activities and festivals.

• The winter months in the North are from December - February. During this time, there is often a lot of fog and the water is cold for swimming.

• The mountainous areas of Vietnam have a large temperature difference between day and night, so don't forget to prepare scarves and jackets for the night.

• Recommended things to bring: sunscreen, insect repellent, various types of allergies, stomach ache medications, and comfortable shoes for walking.

• Always keep the contact information of your local guide, restaurants, transportation, and hotels to contact when needed.

• Emergency contacts in Vietnam: 113 (Police), 114 (Fire), 115 (Ambulance).

• Some remote areas of mountainous provinces such as Sapa, Ha Giang, and Cao Bang may have weak mobile phone signals.

• Always keep an eye on your belongings and important documents to avoid forgetting or losing them.

• You may consider booking tickets and services early to get good prices.

• If you book a tour, carefully check what is included and not included in the tour.

To gain more insights, navigate to our post about travel guide to Vietnam!

Above are detailed suggestions for the North Vietnam travel itinerary. In addition to referring to the information above, you can visit the package tours section on our website to find attractive travel deals and leave a message to receive quick and attentive support.