9 days Northern Vietnam Highlights

The order of itinerary will be changed up to your arrival time.

Morning: Private car picks up at Noi Bai Airport, transfer to your hotel in Hanoi Old Quarter.

Afternoon:

Option 1: Hanoi Half Day City Tour by car with Streetfood Walking from 14:00 to 20:30

13:45-14:00: The private car and tour guide picks up at your hotel, then ahead to the Temple of Literature – the first university of Vietnam, established in the 11th century and learn about the history of the first doctors.

15:00: Our next destination is the Ho Chi Minh complex. You walk around the garden to see 2 houses where he lived & worked from 1954 to 1969. Then visit One Pillar Pagoda where the Goddess of Mercy – It is the most unique pagoda in the world.

15:50 - 16:00: Arrive Tran Quoc Pagoda located on Golden Fish IsLand in West Lake. It is the oldest pagoda in Hanoi built in the 6th century.

16:40: Visit our infamous unique Train Street. If you’re lucky enough, you might catch a train passing by! If not, we’ll just simply have a refreshing beer or drinks for a break.

17:15: Back to Hanoi Old Quarter Area, move to St. Joseph Cathedral and have a look at one of the first structures constructed by French colonists during their expansion in Indochina and still intact in Hanoi after two fierce wars.

17:30-18:00: Start the food tour in Hanoi Old Quarter.  Learn about the traditions of Vietnam’s food culture while tasting local specialties like Vietnamese sandwiches, traditional desserts, and the iconic egg coffee in 2.5 hours. 

First, stop at a local restaurant to try a combination of spring rolls, Pho rolls, pillow cake, shrimp cake, sweet donuts, or deep-fried fermented pork, served with a dish of raw vegetables and fish sauce.

Next, continue the walk to try Vietnam's signature dish known as pho, a soup consisting of broth, noodles, herbs, and meat. Taste test a specialty pho mixed with a special sauce. The soup can definitely bring you a whole new outlook on taste.

Visit a restaurant to taste bánh mi (Vietnamese sandwich) with its signature pate filling. And you can’t miss out on the traditional dessert chè (any variety of sweet beverages or pudding), which can vary depending on the season.

Last but not least, join the Hanoi Unique Egg Coffee Class to learn 3 kinds of coffee and try Vietnamese egg coffee. This is a must-try when you come to Vietnam. Finish your tour having discovered the taste of about five different dishes of Vietnam.

Option 2: Hanoi Half Day City Sightseeing Tour by motorbike with Hanoi Old Quarter Food Tour from 14:00 to 18:30

14:00: Start your adventure from your hotel within the Old Quarter and zoom your way towards your first stop of the day - the Ho Chi Minh Complex. 

Named after the Vietnamese revolutionary leader and first president of the country, the complex is a significant destination for Vietnamese pilgrims, housing not only the final resting place of Uncle Ho himself, but also containing the Presidential Palace, a museum, and even the iconic One Pillar Pagoda. 

15:00 - 15:15: After you explore the grounds of the complex, make your way to the West Lake, the largest freshwater lake in the city, where you'll find busy boutiques, bistros, and more. Tran Quoc Pagoda located on Golden Fish IsLand in West Lake. It is the oldest pagoda in Hanoi built in the 6th century.

16:00: Stop at a local restaurant to try a combination of spring rolls, Pho rolls, pillow cake, shrimp cake, sweet donuts, or deep-fried fermented pork, served with a dish of raw vegetables and fish sauce. 

17:00: Visit our infamous unique Train Street. If you’re lucky enough, you might catch a train passing by! If not, we’ll just simply have a refreshing beer or drinks for a break. 

17:30-18:30: From there, head back to the Old Quarters where you'll stroll through the old streets of Hanoi and sample specialty food, like the world renowned Vietnamese coffee, some mixed fruits, dried beef salad, and more. Rest assured that by the end of this half day tour, both your mind and your stomach will be heartily satisfied! 

Overnight in Hanoi

Have breakfast at your hotel.

08:00 – 08:30 – Our guide will meet you at your hotel/stay and start 120km modern bus-journey through verdant landscape. Stop over for a rest on the way.

10:30 – Arrive Hoa Lu, once ancient capital of Vietnam dating back to the 11th century. Having been eroded over the millennia, the dilapidated ruins have nearly been absorbed by the spectacular scenery creating a mystical atmosphere that will besure to titillate your imagination, visit King Dinh and Le Temple. 

12:00 – Enjoy lunch in a local restaurant, a great place to savor the intense flavours of Vietnamese food then go to Tam Coc for a stunning boat trip.

13:00 – Board the sampan boats, owned by locals, gently sailing along Ngo Dong river, capturing the wonderful scenery of Karst hills, rice fields, and peaceful villages, and passing “Hang Ca”, “Hang Hai” and “Hang Ba”.

15:00-16:00 – Leisurely cycling on country road around village.

16:30 – Get on car back to your hotel in Ninh Binh

17:00 – 18:00: Take a rest in hotel in Ninh Binh and have dinner at the local restaurant in Spice Garden Restaurant at 18:30.

Overnight in Ninh Binh

Have breakfast at hotel, hotel check-out and put luggages on the private car.

7:30 - 8:00: Start the trip to Thung Nham Bird Valley. Get on a small sampan to discover Hang But (Buddhist Cave), about 500m in length, a magical view of the stalactites and stalagmites, and see a big Buddha-shaped stalactite sitting beside an underground river, as well as visit an orchard of tropical fruits in this area.

9:00 – 11:00: Sit quietly on a boat and slowly paddle through Thung Chim (Thung Nham), discover the most features of this area with more than 4,000 birds of 40 species flying to inhabit every day. Your best chance to take nice photos and immerse yourself in the wild and nature.

11:30 - 12:00: Have lunch in the restaurant. Vegetarian foods are always available at the lunch

13:30 - 14:00: Continue to visit Thai Vi temple 

15:30: Get on the car to return to Hanoi.

18:00: Arrive your hotel in Hanoi, check-in hotel and take a rest.

Have dinner by yourself. 

Overnight in Hanoi

Have breakfast at your hotel

7:30: Our private car will pickup at your hotel

7:30 – 10:45: On the way of the winding pass as silk. You will see be Living space of the Local Muong, Thai is interwoven between the Valley and the mountains along the way.

10:50 -11:30: Stop at the top of Thung Khe Pass to admire the panorama of Mai Chau Valley especially you will feel interested when visiting the temporary local market where selling products of the Muong ethnic people at the top of the pass.

12:00: Have lunch (vegetarian available)

13:00-12:00: Cycling Tour in a beautiful valley full of fresh air and visit the typical Thai ethnic village and explore the way they are woven traditional fabrics and brocade products that take a very long time to finish.

18:30-19:00: Arrive Hanoi. Drop you off at your hotel

Overnight in Hanoi

Have breakfast at your hotel

08:15 – 08:45: Hotel or private address pick up with our shuttle bus. Short break half way.

11:45 – 12:00: Arriving Tuan Chau marina, transferred by tender of cruises.

12:45 – 13:00: Welcome aboard the cruise. Refresh with our welcome drink. Meet the captain, crew in the cruise briefing, safety instruction.

13:00 – 13:15: A special lunch in Vietnamese cuisine of fresh seafood and an assortment of appetizing favorites are served while sailing through Islets of Con Vit.

15:30: The Cruise sails through Lan Ha Bay. The area is surrounded by extraordinary limestone karsts landscapes. We progress to the Ong Cam Area of Lan Ha Bay- a separate part of Ha Long Bay. This is a quiet tourist paradise in Vietnam, enjoy kayaking and/or enjoy swimming in the crystal-clear waters of the Bay. 

17:30: Back to Cruise, drop anchor for staying overnight. Enjoy cooking demonstrations (teaching you how to make our speciality, Spring rolls) and the complimentary Sunset Party on the sundeck with local wine and fresh fruit.

19:00: Dinner is served in the restaurant. Enjoy delicious local food prepared and served for you by our wonderful onboard catering staff. After dinner, retire to your cabin or join the fishing excursion, watch a movie, have a drink at the bar, wifi access or play exciting games.

Overnight on cruise in Halong Bay

06:00: Enjoy the sunrise and admire the never-ending miraculous scenery of the Bay. Practice an invigorating Tai Chi session on the sundeck.

06:30: Light breakfast, coffee and tea served. 

07:15: Visit Dark & Bright Cave and islets by local rowing boats which is a wild and mysterious beauty in the middle of the World Heritage.

09:15: Back to our La Pandora Cruise, relax before checking out.

10:00: Lunch is served on board

12:00: Disembark at the Tuan Chau marina by tender.

15:00: Arrive Hanoi Old Quarter. Free and easy in Hanoi and you have dinner by yourself.

Overnight in Hanoi

Have breakfast at your hotel

7:00 - 7:15: A private car will pick you up at your hotel in Hanoi, then depart for Sapa, takes about 6 hours. You’ll get there by noon, check in your room in your hotel, have lunch and rest a little bit. 

Afternoon: An electric car takes you down to the South-west of Sapa (around 4 km) to visit Cat Cat village of the Black H’mong. Relax at the foot of the stunning waterfall and the vestige of a hydroelectric power station that was constructed by the French during colonial time in Vietnam. Enjoy picnic lunch by the side of the river.

Evening: After dinner, you are free to explore the charm of Sapa by night, enjoy roasted corn, baked eggs beside a charcoal fire or go shopping.

Overnight in Sapa

07:45: Have breakfast in hotel.

08:30: A short walk to Sunplaza to get the Muong Hoa Funicular of 3 km along side of Muong Hoa valley to the cable car station in O Quy Ho around 20 minutes. The flight by cable car will take you around 20 minutes to the next station at 3,000m ASL. Enjoy the view of Sin Chai valley, Fansipan peak as well as Hoang Lien national park from the cabin. 

Following 639 stone steps (we can arrange the short cable car for you and you don’t need to trek 639 steps) from the station to the top is around 40 minutes then we will arrive at the 3,143m summit, celebrate this victory, sitting high above the hills with views of this stunning mountainous landscape. On the way back we also travel by cable car and funicular again. 

11:00 - 12:00: Check out hotel and have lunch at the local restaurant.

14:00: The private car picks you up at the hotel, ahead back to Hanoi.

18:00 - 19:00: Arrive Hanoi Old Quarter, check-in hotel and take a rest.

Have dinner by yourself

Overnight in Hanoi

Freetime in Hanoi, hotel check-out time at 12:00.

Our car will take you to the Airport, please let us update your departure time.