Highlights of Northern Vietnam | 11 Days

Detailed itinerary for Highlights of Northern Vietnam | 11 Days, Vietnam Vacation Package all inclusive, Vietnam Holiday Package, Vietnam Tour Package. Reasonable price, No hide cost, Best services, Pro, Unique organized tour. Book Today! To get Special Price, Save cost.

Day 1: Arrival in Hanoi

Upon arrival to Hanoi airport, after clearing custom, you will be warmly welcomed by tour expert transfer to hotel in Hanoi Old Quarter, approximately a 45-minute drive from the airport. Check into a good hotel. The evening is at leisure to recover from the long trip.

Accommodation: at the hotel in Hanoi City

Day 2: Hanoi - (315KM) Sa Pa Town -  Fansipan Mountain peak by cable car

In the morning: After having breakfast, at 7:00AM the guide and driver will pick you up to depart for Sapa Town. Arrival in Sapa Town @ 12:30PM (noon), check in your hotel, Having lunch.

In the afternoon: 14:30AM the guide and driver will take you to Fansipan cable car station (9 km to the southwest of Sapa town) to begin the journey to conquer Fansipan Mountain peak by cable car to the point of 3,000m ASL (up and down). Enjoy the view of Sin Chai valley, Fansipan peak as well as Hoang Lien National Park from the cable car cabin.

Following 639 stone steps walking from the cable car station on the hill you will arrive at the top of Fansipan Mountain at an altitude of 3,143m - the roof of Indochina (it takes around 40 minutes) at here it will be your victory celebration conquering the roof of Indochina. Standing at the best high peak of the mountain ranges you will have a panorama on stunning natural landscape of North Vietnam: mountains; waterfalls; the valleys; the villages...  around the Fansipan Mountain.

Meals: Breakfast,

Accommodation: at the hotel in Sapa Town (recommend for the Hotel 3star Room)

Day 3: Trekking Cat Cat Village and Lao Chai, Ta Van Villages, Overnight Homestay

In the morning Visiting Cat Cat Village: The guide and driver will take you down to the South-west of Sapa town to visit Cat Cat Village to learn about the life of the Black H’mong people. Then coming back Sapa town for having lunch.

 “Cat Cat is an old village of of the Black H’Mong ethnic people, nestled in a beautiful valley about 3KM from Sapa Town. Cat Cat village attracts tourists from all over the world for its distinctive customs. The original architecture of H’Mong people is interesting as well. Their house typically contains three rooms with three doors and po mu wood roof, while the walls’ material is sawn timber. There are other indispensable parts of the house such as altar, kitchen, place of sleeping; place to keeping food, etc.

Coming the Cat Cat Village there will be the opportunity to look through the houses of the ethnic minorities in the village and discover how people in this area live. You will often see a big family in one household; 10 members more or less and you will be amazed at how they share in it. As you go down the village you will walk past a lot of stalls with colorful and beautiful handicrafts "This is a shopping Mecca". And you will have opportunity to try the local delicacy, try the home-made apple wine with just 10,000 VND (50cents), you’d have a glass of fine traditionally made wine. Chances are-you can no longer find them anywhere else as soon as you have left the village. So while you are in the area, taste their food to remember the experience; Take the photos of the splendidly picturesque view of the hills and the terraced rice fields, and the stunning Cat Cat Waterfall...”

In the afternoon Visiting Lao Chai, Ta Van Villages: After lunch, the guide and driver & MiniBus 16seats they will take you 6KM along the main road to a beautiful spot where you will depart for 2,5 hour trekking through Muong Hoa valley of Lao Chai village of H'mong people, and Ta Van village of Dzay people, visiting to local homes, village schools... you will enjoy much your cultural discovery of local ethnic peoples as well as breathtaking scenery of the Muong Hoa Valley. This is an absolutely spectacular walk through stunning scenery inhabited by some of the friendliest people you can meet. The valley is covered with multi-layered rice terraced fields and scattered villages. Tonight you will enjoy a night at a home stay in the Village, you will be experienced an unique village life.

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Accommodation: at Homestay in the Ta Van Village (recommend for the Private Room)

Day 4: Sapa – Ha Giang (240KM)

7:00AM Our tour guide and driver will pick you up at your hotel and depart for Ha Giang City. You will be admired countryside of North Vietnam with natural landscape, lush rice paddies, sloping hill and villages covered by trees... on the way, stop to visit some of villages of ethnic minorities. Arrive in Ha Giang city in the late afternoon, check in the hotel, then take a short walk around the city...

Meals: Breakfast,

Accommodation: at the hotel in Ha Giang city

Day 5: Ha Giang – Dong Van (120KM)

The day starts early to go to Dong Van rock plateau located at 1.025m above sea level via Quan Ba, Yen Minh district. Before arriving at Yen Ninh, stop at Heavenly gate of Quan Ba where you can see Quang Ba’s Pair of Mountain in a beautiful valley.

Continue en route, stop to visit some villages of H'mong, Dzao and Nung minorities. Arrive in Dong Van in the afternoon. Check in the hotel. Then take a short walk around the Dong Van Old Quarter.

Meals: Breakfast,

Accommodation: at the hotel in Dong Van town

Day 6:  Dong Van - Ma Phi Leng pass - Cao Bang City (225KM)

The day starts early to go to Ma Phi Leng - Meo Vac located along the border between Vietnam and China, Visiting some of the most picturesque villages in the northern of Vietnam and the royal palace of King H’Mong minority - Vuong Chi Sinh which is a symbol of the past glory of the H’mong people which was built in 1914.

En route, stop to admire and photography landscape of Ma Pi Leng pass which is a gigantic maze of limestone peaks, "stone forests", and canyons, a unique landscape of Vietnam and the world at there you can enjoy a panoramic view of Nho Que river and Ma Pi Leng valley which will bring you a pleasant sensation of a naturally romantic masterpiece.

Continue through the mountains, cross the river arriving in Bao Lac town, where you will have lunch. Then depart for Cao Bang city. Arrive in Cao Bang in the late afternoon where you’ll stay 2 nights.

Meals: Breakfast,

Accommodation: at the hotel in Cao Bang city

Day 7:  Cao Bang - Ban Doc Waterfall - Nguom Ngao Grotto (85KM)

After breakfast, depart for the Ban Doc Waterfall (80km) and Nguom Ngao cave (3km from Ban Doc water fall) which is a beautiful grotto with 800-meter long. Ban Gioc Waterfalls located in the border between Vietnam and China which is the best beauty waterfall and largest in Vietnam. Currently the Ban Doc Waterfall which is the 4th largest waterfall after Iguazu Falls, Victoria Falls, and Niagara Falls. The Ban Doc waterfall drops from 30 metres high, It is separated into three falls by rocks and trees.

Meals: Breakfast,

Accommodation: at the hotel in Cao Bang city

Day 8: Cao Bang - (110KM) Dong Dang Town and Lang Son City

After breakfast, depart for Dong Dang Town (110KM) and Lang Son (15KM). You will go through lots of towns, villages and countryside and you get a great views and insight to the country and day to day life of Vietnamese people on both sides of the way. Arrival at Dong Dang Town, you will visit Dong Dang Market. Going down to Lang Son City, and stay overnight in Lang Son City.

Lang Son is a mountainous province located in the North-East of Vietnam, sharing a 253km long border with People’s Republic of China in the North, along with Cao Bang province, Guangxi  province of China to the North-East, Quang Ninh province to the South-East, Thai Nguyen province to the South-West west and Bac Kan province to the West. The city of Lang Son rises on the bank of Ky Cung river, along with Phai Loan Lake, create landscapes of great beauty.

The province has two international border gates including Dong Dang railway border crossing and Huu Nghi road border gate, four national border gates at Chi Ma, Binh Nghi, Tan Thanh and Coc Nam. So Lang Son has an important strategic position in the North-East of Vietnam.

Meals: Breakfast,

Accommodation: at the hotel in Lang Son city

Day 9: Lang Son - (159KM) Hanoi

After Breakfast, you will visit Lang Son city and you will visit largest markets in Lang Son Dong Kinh market, and Ky Lua Market. 

Dong Kinh market, located at Vinh Trai ward, is one of the biggest markets in Lang Son where everything from roasted ducks to electronic  items are sold. It is also the biggest shopping center in the northern border. Thousands of tourists go shopping at this market  every day, specially in January as there are a lot of festivities in this month.

Ky Lua Market is situated in the city center of Lang Son city. The market has come into operation for hundreds of years. It has become a bustling trade center of the local people as well as visitors. Goods between regions are exchanged here. People usually not only go to market for sale but also visit and talk about business. Ky Lua Market is also a meeting place of young ethnic people such as Tay, Nung, Dao.  They gather in the market, buy the goods, meet their friends and find their partners through love songs. At the market, along with diverse color of brocade, clothes, there are special delicious dishes of Lang Son province. Each year, Ky Lua fair is organized, lasting from 22 to 27 of the 1st lunar month. This is the traditional cultural activity. Ky Lua market today is open day and night.

In the afternoon: After lunch, you will get back to Hanoi City.

Meals: Breakfast,

Accommodation: at the hotel in Hanoi city

Day 10: Hanoi city full day tour

Hanoi is the capital of Vietnam and it is center of tradition, history and culture. The city is well-know with Hanoi Old Quarters - ancient-narrow streets where is lovely to walk around this area & an ideal place for travelers go shopping anything… You will have a chance to visit all highlights of Hanoi City such as: The Ho Chi Minh Complex; War Remnants Museum; the Temple of Literature; the Fine Arts Museum or Vietnam Ethnology Museum; Hoan Kiem Lake.

The Ho Chi Minh Complex, which includes Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum, President Ho Chi Minh’s house on stilts where he lived from 1958 to 1969, Ho Chi Minh museum, the Presidential Palace, Vietnam National Assembly' Building, and the One Pillar Pagoda which was built in square water lake middle that is Hanoi’s oldest and finest pagoda, dating back to 1049.

Continuing your trip visiting War Remnants Museum in Hanoi City that is formerly known as the museum of war crimes, this is a poignant display the futility of war and you will also visit the underground hideout cellar relics of Vietnam Army headquarters "Hanoi tunnel of Vietnam Defense Department" during the war in Vietnam from 1945 to 1975.

Visiting the Imperial Citadel of Thanglong Hanoi which is one of the World Culture Heritage. (in Vietnamese: Hoàng thành Thăng Long) is the cultural complex comprising the royal enclosure first built during the Ly Dynasty (1010) and subsequently expanded by the Tran Dynasty, Le Dynasty and finally the Nguyen Dynasty (1802 - 1945).

After having lunch at a nice restaurant, you will visit Museum of Ethnology that is widely acknowledged as the best museum in the country and has an extensive display dedicated to Vietnam’s 54 Ethnic minority peoples. As well as the comprehensive array of exhibits inside, there are also traditional tribal houses reconstructed within the ground. 

Continue the trip, you will visit the Temple of Literature which was originally built as a temple to Confucius, this is also known as Vietnam’s first University dating back to 1070. The temple highlights the importance that Vietnamese society place then and now on education.

Then you will continue to visit Hoa Lo prison, it were built in 1899. The French kept mainly political prisoners here along with those awaiting sentencing at the nearby Court of Justice,also where American pilots who had been shot down and captured were kept as prisoners of war. The pilots called it, sarcastically, the “Hanoi Hilton.” John McCain was held here at various times during his five and a half years as a POW. 

Then, we back to the center of Hanoi to visit Ngoc Son Temple and Hoan Kiem Lake: The Ngoc Son temple is set on a tiny island on the Hoan Kiem Lake, its history dating back to the 13th century. The temple is reached by crossing the The Huc Bridge which literally means the ‘Place Touched by Morning Sunbeams’. The Hoan Kiem Lake is the local point of the city and the source of many legends. 

Continuing you will have a chance to riding on a cyclo for A 45 min Cyclo Tour through the Old Quarter: Also known as the 36 streets, this bustling area of narrow streets is home to literally thousands of small businesses and shopkeepers. Originally each of the 36s names’ was related to the products being sold there. It’s a great place to explore on foot with numerous photo opportunities.

Continuing you will enjoy a water puppet show at Thang Long theatre. then the driver and tour guide will transfer you back to your hotel.

Meals: Breakfast,

Accommodation: at the hotel in Hanoi city

Day 11: Hanoi – transfer airport departure

Breakfast is at the hotel and free time till check out. The driver will take you to Hanoi airport for your flight to back home. End of the trip.