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7-Day Alternative Northern Vietnam Discovery

Customisable Itinerary
4.5 • 15 travellers have booked with Hoang A.

Trip Overview

Take a little trip off of the beaten tracks while still covering all of the essentials on this 7-day holiday to Vietnam.

Starting and finishing Hanoi, you'll visit essential spots like Sapa, Halong and Ninh Binh but in a more local way as you boat, walk, take a cable car and cycle your way through Northern Vietnam's spectacular scenery including a trip to the top of the mystical Fansipan mountain, 'the Roof of Indochina' and a trek through Cuc Phuong National Park - Vietnam's oldest.
Culture & Arts
Hiking & Trekking
Sightseeing
Cruising
Outdoors & Nature
Beach & Sea
Adventure

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Itinerary

Day 1

Hanoi Arrival

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Hanoi Arrival

Arrive in Hanoi around noontime, you will be met by a local guide and transferred to your hotel. The rest of the day is free at your own pace to explore the Old Quarter and prepare for your wonderful week-long holiday to Vietnam.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Golden Lotus Hotel3 star

  • transportations icon
    Transportations

    Private Driver from Noi Bai International Airport to Golden Lotus Boutique Hotel

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Hanoi

Day 2

Duong Lam Ancient House Village and Sapa

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Duong Lam Ancient House Village and Sapa


Today you will visit Duong Lam Ancient Village, it is about 45km away from Hanoi. You will take part in a short biking tour along the small ancient alleys to visit Mong Phu Temple. Then, continue riding around the village to see the daily life and farms of Vietnamese farmers. Stop to visit two ancient houses and meet local people live in the houses. After lunch, your last destination to visit before heading to directly Sapa is Mia Pagoda.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Panorama Hotel3 star

  • activities icon
    Activities

    Duong Lam Ancient Village

    Ancient Houses of Duong Lam

    Mia Pagoda

  • transportations icon
    Transportations

    Private Driver from Hanoi to Duong Lam

    Private Driver from Duong Lam to Sa Pa

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast, lunch and dinner

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Hanoi

    Sơn Tây

    Lào Cai

Day 3

Cat Cat and the Dragon's Jaw

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Cat Cat and the Dragon's Jaw

After breakfast, you will hike to the Black H’Mong village of Cat Cat to get involved with the daily’s activities of this small yet bustling village. After lunch in Sapa town, you will continue to visit the Dragon Jaw, which is a fine combination of the man-made and natural landscape in the centre of Sapa town. The rest of the night is free to explore the night market in town.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Panorama Hotel3 star

  • activities icon
    Activities

    Cat Cat Village

    Dragon’s Jaw

    Sapa MarketOptional Activity

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast, lunch and dinner

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Lào Cai

Day 4

Lao Chai, Ta Van and Fansipan

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Lao Chai, Ta Van and Fansipan

This morning, you will explore the Lao Chai village, home of the Dzay minority and the village of the Red Dzao in Ta Van. You will also have a chance to visit Sa Pa’s ancient carved rock field located in the Muong Hoa valley that Ta Van consumes. Then, continue back to the main road to meet our coach and transfer back to Sapa for lunch before taking a cable car to visit Fansipan, 'the Roof of Indochina'. After the day's activities, you'll return to Hanoi.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Golden Lotus Hotel3 star

  • activities icon
    Activities

    Lao Chai

    Ta Van Village

    Fansipan Cable Car

  • transportations icon
    Transportations

    Private Driver from Sa Pa to Hanoi

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast, lunch and dinner

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Lào Cai

    Hanoi

Day 5

Halong City and Bay

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Halong City and Bay

After breakfast this morning, you will drive to Halong Bay. On arrival, board your junk and enjoy a seafood lunch. The cruise will begin with a visit to the Surprise Caves. Here you will take an hour-long walking tour of the cave. Then, you will enjoy a swim at Titov Beach or choose conquer the peak and view the panorama of Halong Bay at the top. Your cruise will return you to the city to check into your hotel.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Halong Pearl Hotel3.5 star

  • activities icon
    Activities

    Surprise Cave

    Titov Island

  • transportations icon
    Transportations

    Private Driver from Hanoi to Halong Bay

    Boat from Hạ Long to Halong Bay

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast, lunch and dinner

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Hanoi

    Haiphong

    Quảng Ninh Province

Day 6

Nature in Ninh Binh

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Nature in Ninh Binh

After breakfast, you will be transferred to Cuc Phuong National Park, one of Vietnam's oldest national parks. It's approximately 22,000ha of subtropical forest and karst limestone scenery, and home to an extraordinary range of unique species. You will venture into the heart of the jungle on a 7km soft loop trek to a one-thousand-year-old sequoia tree and a prehistoric cave before checking in at a stilt house. After refreshments, if time permits, take a cycling tour to the surrounding villages.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Mac Lake Bungalow

  • activities icon
    Activities

    Trek in Cuc Phuong National Park

    Cave of Prehistoric Man

  • transportations icon
    Transportations

    Private Driver from Hạ Long to Cuc Phuong National Park

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast, lunch and dinner

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Quảng Ninh Province

    Ninh Bình Province

Day 7

Ninh Binh Exploration and Home

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Ninh Binh Exploration and Home

After breakfast head to Trang An complex and take a 2.5-hour boat trip to discover the amazing scenery of mountains and rivers, and visit Dot Cave – the longest one in this area. You will then take a boat back to the wharf. After lunch, visit Bai Dinh Pagoda, the biggest pagoda in Vietnam with 500 La Han statues and the biggest bronze Buddha statues in Vietnam which are 10 metres in height and 100 tons in weight. After lunch, drive to directly Hanoi airport for your flight home.

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    Activities

    Take a Boat Cruise on Trang An

    Bai Dinh Temple

  • transportations icon
    Transportations

    Private Driver from Ninh Bình to Noi Bai International Airport

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast and lunch

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Ninh Bình Province

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What’s included?

  • 6 nights accommodation
  • 14 activities
  • 6 breakfasts, 6 lunches and 5 dinners
  • Airport transfer
  • Entrance fees
  • Ground transportation
  • Licensed English speaking guides

What’s not included?

  • Alcohol beverages
  • Domestic flights
  • Entry visas / airport departure tax
  • Gratuities
  • International flights
  • Laundry
  • Personal expenses
  • Travel insurance
  • Trekking permits
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