The Northern Vietnam Loop Discovery
Daily Small Group Tour (maximum 10 people)
Duration: 9 days 8 nights
Starting Points: Hanoi, Sapa, Ha Giang, Ha Long, Ninh Binh
This is a loop tour, allowing flexible pick-up from Hanoi, Sapa, Ha Giang, Ha Long, or Ninh Binh. If you wish to skip any destination, a customized price will be offered accordingly.
This journey takes you deep into the heart of Vietnamese culture and natural beauty. From the vibrant streets and historic landmarks of Hanoi, the capital city, to the misty mountains and terraced rice fields of Sapa; from the dramatic limestone peaks and winding mountain passes of Ha Giang, to the world-famous seascape of Ha Long Bay, and the peaceful countryside of Ninh Binh.
Along the way, you will enjoy a variety of activities such as walking, trekking, kayaking, swimming, biking, hiking, and boating.
Each destination offers a distinctive experience, creating an unforgettable journey through Northern Vietnam.
Day 1: Arrival in Hanoi
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Private pick-up at the airport and transfer to your hotel in Hanoi Old Quarter
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Hotel check-in
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Leisurely stroll around the Old Quarter to explore daily life and enjoy local food and drinks
Services included: Private airport transfer, 3-star hotel accommodation.
Day 2: Explore Hanoi – Overnight Train to Sapa
08:30 – Our bus and English-speaking guide pick you up at your hotel in the Old Quarter for a full-day exploration of Hanoi.
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Visit the Ho Chi Minh Complex, including the Mausoleum area (outside view), Presidential Palace, botanical garden, Ho Chi Minh’s stilt house, and One Pillar Pagoda
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Visit the Temple of Literature, Vietnam’s first university, founded in 1070
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Explore the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology, showcasing the culture and traditions of Vietnam’s 54 ethnic groups
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Lunch at an authentic Vietnamese restaurant
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Walk to Dong Xuan Market, Hanoi’s largest indoor market, and continue to Long Bien Bridge, a historic symbol of the city
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Visit Hoa Lo Prison Museum (also known as the “Hanoi Hilton”), built by the French and one of Hanoi’s most historically significant sites, offering deep insight into Vietnam’s colonial history
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Visit Hoan Kiem Lake, the cultural and spiritual heart of Hanoi
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Visit St. Joseph’s Cathedral, a neo-Gothic Roman Catholic cathedral built in 1886, and explore the nearby French Quarter
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Enjoy a traditional water puppet show, reflecting rural life, folk legends, and communal entertainment in Vietnam
20:15 – Transfer to Hanoi Railway Station to board the overnight train to Lao Cai.
You will stay in air-conditioned cabins with soft beds. The facilities are simple but comfortable, offering an authentic local experience. Cabins are shared with other travelers (4 beds per cabin).
Services included: Bus transportation, all entrance fees, English-speaking guide, shared 4-berth cabin on overnight train, meals (Breakfast & Lunch).
Please Note
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The Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum is open five mornings per week and ten months per year. It is closed every afternoon, all day on Mondays and Fridays, and from early October to early December for annual maintenance. During closure periods, the Mausoleum will be viewed from the outside while other parts of the complex remain open.
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Most museums are closed on Mondays. If this affects your visit, Tran Quoc Pagoda or suitable alternatives will be arranged.
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Please dress modestly when visiting temples and historical sites. Sleeveless tops and shorts are not permitted inside the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum.
Day 3: Sapa Trekking
Upon arrival at Lao Cai Railway Station around 05:30, you will be met by our driver and transferred to Sapa town.
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Refresh with a shower at a public facility and enjoy breakfast at the hotel
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08:30 – Meet your local trekking guide and begin a full-day trek
The trekking route follows Sapa – Y Linh Ho – Lao Chai – Ta Van – Giang Ta Chai. You will trek along narrow trails, crossing terraced rice fields, ethnic villages, suspension bridges, and bamboo forests. The route offers breathtaking views of the Muong Hoa Valley, rivers, terraced rice paddies, and the Hoang Lien Son Mountain Range.
Along the way, you will encounter local ethnic communities such as the Hmong, Day, and Dao people, learning about their daily life and traditional crafts, including making clothes from hemp plants.
In the evening, enjoy a home-cooked dinner with your host family and stay overnight at a local homestay.
Services included: All entrance fees, English-speaking local guide, homestay accommodation (shared room), meals (Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner).
Notes
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The rice season runs from June to early September, when the terraces are at their most beautiful. However, the landscapes are stunning year-round.
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Accommodation is in a traditional homestay, sleeping on the second floor in a large shared space with private mattress, pillow, mosquito net, and blanket.
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Bathrooms are of international standard and located a few steps outside the sleeping area.
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During the trek, please bring a small daypack only. Large luggage will be stored at the hotel in Sapa.
Day 4: Sapa Trekking – Ha Giang
Wake up to the fresh mountain air, enjoy breakfast, and say goodbye to your homestay.
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Continue trekking from Giang Ta Chai to Hau Thao, then onward to Su Pan Village, a peaceful hilltop area offering panoramic views of valleys, rivers, mountain ranges, and terraced rice fields
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Trek downhill to Ban Den Village, home to the Tay ethnic people
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Lunch at a local restaurant
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Return to your hotel in Sapa town for a quick refresh
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15:30 – Transfer by limousine bus to Ha Giang
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Arrival in Ha Giang city and hotel check-in
Services included: English-speaking guide, all entrance fees, limousine bus transfer, private room in a 2-star hotel, meals (Breakfast & Lunch).
Day 5: Ha Giang City – Quan Ba – Yen Minh – Lung Cu – Dong Van
07:00 – Breakfast at the hotel and check-out.
07:30 – Meet your guide and begin the Ha Giang Loop adventure by bus or motorbike.
Sightseeing stops along the way include:
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Heaven’s Gate of Quan Ba
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Can Ty Pass
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Tham Ma Pass
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Sung La Valley and Lung Cam Village
12:30 – Lunch at a local restaurant in Yen Minh, then continue along the legendary Happiness Road to visit:
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Hmong King’s Palace
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Lung Cu Flag Tower (the northernmost point of Vietnam)
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Lo Lo Chai Village
16:30 – Arrive in Dong Van Town, check in at your hotel or homestay.
19:00 – Dinner in Dong Van Old Quarter, followed by a relaxed evening walk through the ancient streets.
Services included: Bus or motorbike, English-speaking guide, all entrance fees, border area permit, private room in a 2-star hotel or homestay in Dong Van Town, meals (Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner)
Day 6: Dong Van – Ma Pi Leng Pass – Nho Que River – Meo Vac – Hanoi
07:00 – Breakfast at the local market and enjoy a cup of coffee. Continue the journey toward Meo Vac Town, visiting:
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Ma Pi Leng Pass, one of the most spectacular mountain passes in Vietnam
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Nho Que River, with a scenic boat trip through the canyon
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Meo Vac Town
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The famous M-shaped Curve
13:00 – Lunch in Yen Minh Town.
15:30 – Stop at Rocks Ha Giang Restaurant for relaxation. Enjoy a tea break with a welcome drink and fresh fruit.
16:00 – Depart for Hanoi by bus.
19:30 – Short rest stop in Tuyen Quang.
22:00 – Arrive in Hanoi, hotel check-in.
Services included: Bus or motorbike, English-speaking guide, entrance fees, boat trip on Nho Que River, private room in a 3-star hotel in Hanoi, meals (Breakfast & Lunch).
Day 7: Hanoi – Ha Long Bay – Overnight Cruise
Enjoy breakfast at the hotel and check out.
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08:00 – 08:30 – Pick-up from your hotel by shuttle bus and depart for Ha Long Bay. The 165 km journey follows the 5B Expressway and takes approximately 2.5 hours. Along the way, enjoy views of green rice fields, guava and banana plantations, and mangrove forests.
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Arrive at the harbor, board the cruise, and check in to your private cabin
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Enjoy a fresh seafood lunch while cruising through the most scenic areas of Ha Long Bay, passing iconic limestone formations such as Incense Burner, Fighting Cock, and thousands of islands and islets in various shapes and sizes
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Explore Sung Sot Cave (Surprising Cave), the largest and most impressive cave in Ha Long Bay, featuring spectacular stalactites and stalagmites
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Enjoy one hour of kayaking on calm, emerald-green waters – a truly magical experience in Ha Long Bay
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Dinner is served on board
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Evening activities include squid fishing, karaoke, or relaxing on the sundeck
Services included: Shuttle bus, English-speaking guide, entrance fees, cruise, kayaking, private cabin on a 3-star cruise, meals (Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner).
Day 8: Ha Long Bay – Ninh Binh
Wake up early to enjoy the fresh sea air and have breakfast on board.
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Visit Titop Island. Hike up 421 steps to the viewpoint for a spectacular 360-degree panoramic view of Ha Long Bay, then descend to the clean sandy beach for swimming and sunbathing
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Cruise back to Ha Long Pier via a different route, offering more scenic views of the bay
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Enjoy lunch on the cruise
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Disembark and transfer by bus to Ninh Binh
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Check in at your bungalow. In the afternoon, relax or enjoy a leisurely bike ride around the countryside
Services included: Boat cruise, bus transfer, English-speaking guide, bicycle, private room in a 3-star bungalow, meals (Breakfast & Lunch).
Day 9: Ninh Binh – Hanoi | End of Tour
Enjoy breakfast and check out from your accommodation.
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Visit Mua Cave, home to the most beautiful viewpoint in Ninh Binh, often referred to as the “miniature Great Wall of Vietnam.” Climb 458 steps to the Dragon Mountain summit for a panoramic view of Tam Coc, surrounded by limestone peaks and lush valleys
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Enjoy a cycling tour around Tam Coc, Lotus Valley, and Sunshine Valley, biking through rice paddies and rural villages to discover the peaceful Vietnamese countryside. Along the way, stop for photos and gain a closer look at local village life
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Visit Bich Dong Pagoda (Jade Cave), a spiritual complex of three pagodas built into the mountainside: Lower Pagoda, Middle Pagoda, and Upper Pagoda, offering insight into Vietnamese Buddhism
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Enjoy a delicious lunch at a local restaurant
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After lunch, take a rowing boat trip (2 people per boat) to explore Sunshine Valley, a hidden gem ideal for travelers seeking tranquility away from the crowds. The boat ride lasts approximately 1.5 hours, gliding along a peaceful river past towering limestone mountains and serene valleys, passing through two natural caves with cool, calm interiors
At the end of the tour, say goodbye to Ninh Binh. You may choose from the following options:
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Transfer back to Hanoi
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Transfer to Noi Bai International Airport
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Drop-off at Ninh Binh Railway Station for onward travel to Central or Southern Vietnam
Services included: Bus transfer, bicycle, English-speaking guide, rowing boat, all entrance fees, meals (Breakfast & Lunch)
We are confident that this journey will leave you with unforgettable memories.
Price :
Single Room Supplement :
What to Bring
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Sun protection (hat, sunglasses, sunscreen)
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Rain gear (light raincoat or poncho)
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Insect repellent
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Comfortable trekking clothes
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Trekking or walking shoes
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Original passport
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Swimsuit
Tour Excluded
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Personal travel insurance
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All kinds of drinks (alcoholic & non-alcoholic)
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Tips for guide, driver, and cruise crew
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Any services or items not specifically mentioned in the “Services Included” section
