Home > Tours >
SCENIC NORTHERN VIETNAM
SCENIC NORTHERN VIETNAM
Our thoughtfully curated 10-day Scenic Northern Vietnam Tour program is an ideal choice for your adventure in Vietnam. Meticulously designed by our experienced travel experts, this itinerary promises a truly remarkable journey. However, we understand that everyone has unique preferences, so we offer the option to customize the program to meet your specific requirements. Our dedicated team of experts will collaborate with you personally, ensuring a tailor-made solution that exceeds your expectations. If this tour captures your interest, please don't hesitate to send us a request. We also invite you to share any additional details or specific needs you may have, so we can further refine the program to create the perfect experience for you.
Overview
Day 1: Arrival in Hanoi - Overnight in Hanoi
Day 2: Highlights of Hanoi - Overnight in Hanoi
Day 3: Ninh Binh Excursion- Overnight in Hanoi
Day 4: Hanoi - Sapa- Overnight in Sapa
Day 5: Sapa Trek - Mu Cang Chai - Overnight in Mu Cang Chai
Day 6: Mu Cang Chai Rice Terrace Trek - Overnight in Mu Cang Chai
Day 7: Mu Cang Chai - Hanoi - Overnight in Hanoi
Day 8: Hanoi - Halong Bay - Overnight in Halong Bay
Day 9: Halong Bay - Hanoi - Overnight in Hanoi
Day 10: Departure from Hanoi
Click on the map to view larger image!
DAY 1: ARRIVAL IN HANOI
Welcome to Vietnam! Upon your arrival at Noi Bai Airport, a private driver will pick you up and take you to your hotel in the center of Hanoi. After checking in, you can relax and get familiar with the city. Take a stroll around the neighborhood or enjoy the hotel's facilities. In the evening, explore Hanoi's culinary scene, walk around Hoan Kiem Lake, or simply unwind at the hotel. Get a good night's rest to prepare for your cycling adventures the next day.
What's Included
Accommodation
Tour
Transfer
Guide
Meals
DAY 2: HIGHLIGHTS OF HANOI
After breakfast, your guide will meet you at your hotel at 8:00 am to start your day of exploring the highlights of Hanoi. You will begin by visiting the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and Uncle Ho's house on stilts to learn about the life and legacy of Vietnam's beloved leader. Next, you will visit the One Pillar Pagoda, a unique temple built on a single stone pillar, and the Temple of Literature, Vietnam's first university.
After the lunch break, you will head to the Museum of Ethnology to gain insight into the diverse cultures and traditions of Vietnam's many ethnic groups. Next, you will take a cyclo ride through the bustling streets of the Old Quarter to soak up the atmosphere and experience local life.
Your last stop of the day will be at Hoan Kiem Lake with Ngoc Son Temple, where you can learn about the legend of the lake and its significance to the people of Hanoi. To wrap up the day, you will attend a traditional water puppet show, a unique and entertaining art form that has been a part of Vietnam's cultural heritage for centuries.
What's Included
Accommodation
Tour
Transfer
Guide
Breakfast/ Lunch/
DAY 3: NINH BINH EXCURSION
8:00 AM: Get ready for an exciting day as we depart from your hotel in Hanoi and head to the charming province of Ninh Binh.
After 2 hour drive, we arrive in Ninh Binh and prepare for an enchanting experience at Tam Coc. Hop aboard a traditional sampan boat and let the local rowers guide you through the mesmerizing landscape. As you navigate the gentle waterways, you will pass through three tunnel-like caves, immersing yourself in the natural beauty that surrounds you.
Noontime: Indulge in a delicious lunch at a local restaurant, savoring the flavors of authentic Vietnamese cuisine and replenishing your energy for the rest of the day's adventures.
In the afternoon, Get ready for a delightful bicycling adventure along scenic back roads. Pedal your way through the countryside, immersing yourself in the tranquility and beauty of the surroundings. Along the way, we'll make a stop at the captivating Thai Vi Temple, where you can learn about its historical and cultural significance.
Continue your cycling journey to Bich Dong Pagoda, a hidden gem nestled amidst picturesque landscapes. Explore the ancient pagoda and marvel at its intricate architecture, while enjoying the serene ambiance of the surroundings.
About 4:30, bid farewell to Ninh Binh and begin your drive back to Hanoi for the night.
What's Included
Accommodation
Tour
Transfer
Guide
Breakfast/ Lunch/
DAY 4: HANOI - SAPA
After your breakfast at the hotel, embark on a comfortable drive to the breathtaking hills of Sapa. As you journey through the northern countryside, you'll be treated to picturesque views of lush mountains that rise and fall like waves. The final approach to Sapa offers a spectacular sight of rice terraces cascading down the mountain slopes, providing the main source of livelihood for ethnic villages across the region.
Upon arrival, check into your charming accommodation, which boasts bungalows with stunning views of the countryside.
In the afternoon, embark on a cultural expedition by hiking through the scenic Muong Hoa Valley. Accompanied by your guide, traverse the countryside on trails that wind between the golden rice terraces to reach hill tribe villages. Get a deeper insight into the culture and traditions of the Hmong people by visiting one of their families, an experience that will leave you with a newfound appreciation for rural Vietnam.
What's Included
Accommodation
Tour
Transfer
Guide
Breakfast/ Lunch/
DAY 5: SAPA - MU CANG CHAI
Start your day with breakfast at your accommodation in Sapa before transferring to the Fansipan Mountain cable car station for a scenic ride to the top, where you'll enjoy lunch amidst breathtaking views. Following this, drive through the picturesque O Quy Ho Pass towards Mu Cang Chai, with possible photo stops along the way to capture the stunning landscapes. Arrive in Mu Cang Chai in the late afternoon, check into your accommodation, and relax for the night, ready for more adventures tomorrow.
What's Included
Accommodation
Tour
Transfer
Guide
Breakfast/ Lunch/
DAY 6: MU CANG CHAI TREK
Today, embark on an unforgettable adventure as we dedicate most of the day to a mesmerizing trek through the picturesque landscapes of Che Cu Nha to La Pan Tan, renowned as the most stunning part of the region for admiring the breathtaking rice terraced paddies. This scenic trek takes you along small paths and back roads, allowing you to immerse yourself in the natural beauty of the area. With each step, you'll be captivated by the intricate patterns of the terraced fields, sculpted into the hillsides like works of art. Along the way, enjoy a simple yet satisfying picnic lunch amidst the tranquil surroundings, providing a moment of respite to recharge before continuing your journey. As the afternoon unfolds, we'll conclude our trek and get picked up to return the accommodation for the second night. With over 10 kilometers of trekking obout 6 hours, this day promises to be filled with unforgettable moments and stunning vistas at every turn.
What's Included
Accommodation
Tour
Transfer
Guide
Breakfast/ Lunch/
DAY 7: MU CANG CHAI - HANOI
After breakfast, begin your return journey to Hanoi, stopping at Khau Pha Pass to admire rice terraced paddies and H'mong houses. Then, explore Tu Le's rice fields and Thai stilt houses on a short easy trek. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant before continuing the drive back to Hanoi, arriving early evening. Check into your hotel for the night and relax after a loop trip of exploration.
What's Included
Accommodation
Tour
Transfer
Guide
Breakfast/ Lunch/
DAY 8: HANOI - HALONG BAY
In the morning, you will be picked up from your hotel in Hanoi and driven to Halong Bay. Upon arrival at the pier in Halong City, you will board the cruise ship. As you cruise through the mesmerizing limestone karsts and crystal-clear waters, a delicious lunch will be served on board. Take in the stunning scenery as you glide along the bay. You will have the opportunity to visit a fascinating cave, where a guided tour will unveil its impressive formations. In the afternoon, you can choose to swim, kayak, or simply relax on the sun deck. As the sun sets, enjoy a delectable dinner on the boat, surrounded by the breathtaking views of Halong Bay. You will spend the night on the cruise ship, immersed in the serene ambiance of the bay.
What's Included
Accommodation
Tour
Transfer
Guide
Breakfast/ Lunch/ Dinner
DAY 9: HALONG BAY - HANOI
Wake up early to witness the captivating sunrise over the bay. Participate in a Tai Chi session on the sundeck to rejuvenate your body and mind. After a hearty breakfast, the cruise will continue to explore different areas of Halong Bay, allowing you to discover more hidden treasures and awe-inspiring landscapes. A delicious brunch will be served on board as the boat gradually returns to the pier. Upon disembarking, you will be transferred back to Hanoi. In the afternoon, you will arrive in Hanoi and be dropped off at your hotel, marking the end of this unforgettable Halong Bay experience.
Please note that the exact itinerary may vary depending on the chosen cruise company and weather conditions.
What's Included
Accommodation
Tour
Transfer
Guide
Breakfast/ Brunch
DAY 10: DEPARTURE FROM HANOI
Today marks the end of our incredible journey together. Depending on your departure flight time, you may have a busy morning preparing for your departure or have some leisure time to relax and perhaps do some last-minute shopping.
If your schedule allows, take this opportunity to walk and explore the vibrant streets and markets one last time, picking up souvenirs and mementos to cherish from your time in Vietnam. Indulge in the flavors of the local cuisine, soak up the atmosphere, and create lasting memories.
When the time comes, our team will ensure a smooth transfer to the airport, ensuring you reach your departure gate in a timely manner.
Until next time!
What's Included
Accommodation
Tour
Transfer
Guide
Breakfast/
How did people say about us!
Our Traveler's Beloved Programs
Traveler Reviews
Jay M
Date of Experience: Mar 2023
We highly recommend Custom Asia Travel for your trip to Southeast Asia! They provided a great combination of visiting historical and religious sites, temples, and also cultural connections in Thailand, Laos and Cambodia that we could have never made on our own. Our local guides were informative, and shared personal experiences that made our journey meaningful. We asked for an active trip, and Custom Asia Travel tailored our request with biking, kayaking and hiking. We enjoyed local cuisine in Laos, and were amazed by the history and significance of the temples in Cambodia, experienced via a beautiful bike tour.
Date of Experience: Mar 2023
We did a day trip in a Jeep in Ninh Binh with Thu, which included Trang An, Hang Mua, Bich Dong and Tam Coc. Thu was an amazing tour guide and was extremely helpful throughout the whole day, organising everything from start to finish and giving us insightful information about the things we saw, as well as life in Vietnam and it’s history more generally! The lunch was also great and the day turned out to be one of the best days of our trip! Couldn’t recommend Thu enough 😊
Nadine
Date of Experience: Mar 2023
We had an amazing time! Me and my friends visited the Halong/Lan Ha Bay and the Dry Halong Bay. Everything was perfectly organized & all the pick-ups were punctual. The guide and driver were very nice. The cruise ship and the eco lodge, in which we stayed, were great. The staff was very friendly and everything was clean. We can definitely recommend booking a trip with Custom Asia Travel! The organisation and contact with the company was great before, during and after the trip.
Whitney B
Date of Experience: Dec 2022
I cannot say enough positives about Custom Asia Travel! We visited Vietnam in December/January 2023 and had an amazing trip with our 3 teens. The itinerary exceeded our expectations! We travelled to Hanoi, Ninh Binh, Ha Long Bay, Hoi An, and Nha Trang. We had no issues with any of our transportation around the country - our drivers and guides were always there on time (early, actually), friendly and helpful. The accommodations were excellent and our guides were fantastic (Tanh, Tanh, and Viet - they were awesome!). Every place we stayed put our rooms right next to each other, often adjoining, and the kids’ room always had two twin beds and a cot, while my husband and I had a king bed. This was perfect as our teenagers did not want to share beds, lol! The activities were super fun and appealed to all of us. So many highlights - the kids loved the rice farm tour (riding the water Buffalo elicited the biggest smile we’ve ever seen from our 16 year old!), seeing the caves in Ninh Binh, the cooking class in Hoi An, and Ha Long Bay. I really appreciated that some of our itinerary was focused on less crowded activities - a couple of the temples we saw were practically empty, allowing us to enjoy and experience these beautiful sites on our own. We did a couple of bike rides which were also highlights, such a great way to explore and see the area! Minh was available and responsive while planning the trip and while we were there. I agree with others reviews about whether she ever sleeps! She was able to coordinate our luggage getting dropped off as it did not arrive with us, and contacted one of the hotels about a ring that had been left, and arranged for us to pick it up. She was warm, friendly, knowledgeable, and so helpful. We truly had a relaxing and stress free trip because of the excellent customer service from Minh and our guides. With only having 12 days to visit we were so grateful to be able to enjoy the travel and know that Minh and her team were there if and when needed. I highly recommend using this company, you will not regret it! Now I am dreaming of how quickly we can make it back!! Thank you thank you to Minh and the team, our trip was unforgettable!
Date of Experience: Feb 2022
We are over 60 yers old and for eficiency we decided to organise our trips in Vietnam with a local agency. Custom Asia Travel is the wright agency. We decided to visit Hanoi, Tam Coc, Ha Long, Da Nang, Hoi An, My son Sanctuary and Ho Chi Minh City with help of this agency. The organisation and planing of the tours, the selection of the places to visit, hotels, restaurants,cars ( clean and comfortable), drivers and guides was perfect. The drivers and guides where friendly and polite. The guides ( Cường Xi,in Hanoi and Tam Coc, Tran Thanh Binh in Ho Chi Minh as also the guide in Da Nang area) where perfect. They gave us many interesting information about the visited places, organized perfect the details of the trips. The boat arrangement done by Custom Asia Travel in Ha Long Bay - Peony 1 was perfect. The prices for the offered services are fair. We kindly recommend this agency for tailor made trips.
Free Service. No Credit Card Requested at this stage
DON'T LIKE FILLING FORM? REACH US BY:
WhatsApp: +1(315) 670-4168 (Click the number to contact)
Email: inquiry@customasiatravel.com
OTHER GREAT 10-DAY ITINERARIES
10 Days
Arrival in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) - Cu Chi Tunnels - Mekong Delta - Hoi An - Hanoi Ninh Binh - Halong Bay - Departure from Hanoi
10 Days
Hanoi - Mai Chau - Pu Luong Nature Reserve - Ninh Binh - Halong Bay - Hanoi