7-Day Northern Vietnam Tour: Hanoi, Sapa & Ha Long Bay
Overview
Destination: North Vietnam
Duration: 7 - 10 days
Travel Style: Adventure & Nature
Theme: Couple
Tour Highlights
Value of the package
This 7-day northern Vietnam tour fits the three places most first-time visitors want to see into one private week: the capital Hanoi, the mountains and H’Mong villages of Sapa, and the limestone islands of Ha Long Bay. Your guide and driver take care of every transfer from arrival to departure, so each day starts with the sightseeing rather than the logistics.
- Hanoi from two sides. An evening street food tour on arrival, then a full day at the Temple of Literature, Hoa Lo Prison and St Joseph’s Cathedral, followed by the canal town of Mega Grand World in Ocean City.
- Two nights in the mountains. Staying in Sapa rather than making a day trip leaves time for Cat Cat Village, the Stone Church and Sapa town on the first afternoon.
- The Roof of Indochina without the climb. The Muong Hoa Mountain Train and the cable car carry you up Fansipan, 3,143 m, with a buffet lunch at Fansipan Restaurant and a stop at Moana Sapa afterwards.
- Vietnam’s high passes. Heaven Gate on O Quy Ho and the Rong May glass bridge, more than 2,000 m above sea level, before the drive back to Hanoi.
- Ha Long Bay in one well-planned day. A premium day cruise with lunch on board, Sung Sot Cave, Luon Cave by kayak or bamboo boat, and the viewpoint on Titop Island, returning to your Hanoi hotel the same evening.
- Guided where it matters. Your English-speaking guide accompanies you on sightseeing days, with a private car and driver for all transfers.
Included in the package
- Airport pick-up and drop-off at Noi Bai International Airport with your guide
- 6 nights’ accommodation – Tirant Hotel in Hanoi (4 nights) and Silk Path Grand Resort & Spa Sapa (2 nights), or similar
- 6 breakfasts, 5 lunches and 1 dinner, as listed day by day
- Private car and driver for all transfers and sightseeing
- Entrance fees and the activities in the itinerary, including the Hanoi street food tour, Mega Grand World, the Muong Hoa Mountain Train and Fansipan cable car, the Rong May glass bridge, and the Ha Long Bay day cruise with kayak or bamboo boat at Luon Cave
- Drinking water on tour days, travel insurance, VAT and service charges
Not included: international flights, Vietnam visa fee, meals not listed, personal expenses, and tips for your guide and driver.
Download the detailed day-by-day itinerary (PDF) and ask us for a price using the box on this page, on WhatsApp +84 345 827 501 or at booking@hynatravel.com. Your price depends on your travel dates, group size and hotel choice.
Itinerary
DAY 1: HANOI ARRIVAL & STREET FOOD TOUR
+
Overnight: Tirant Hotel, Hanoi | Meals: Dinner · Lunch on your own | Guide: Guide pickup
On arrival
Welcome to Vietnam. Your HYNA guide and driver are waiting in the arrival hall at Noi Bai International Airport to take you to your hotel in the Old Quarter. Check in and rest for a while before your first evening in Hanoi.
Evening
Your guide meets you at your hotel around 6:00 PM, just as the Old Quarter fills with the smoke of charcoal grills and the clatter of street kitchens. Walk from one small local spot to the next and taste the city’s favourites: a bowl of pho, a crisp banh mi, grilled pork with rice noodles and fresh herbs, and a sweet dessert soup. Finish with a cup of egg coffee, a Hanoi speciality since the 1940s, rich and creamy like a liquid dessert. Your guide may adjust the order and dishes on the night, and you are back at your hotel by about 8:30 PM.
DAY 2: MEGA GRAND WORLD & HANOI CITY FULL-DAY TOUR
+
Overnight: Tirant Hotel, Hanoi | Meals: Breakfast, Lunch · Dinner on your own | Guide: Full day guide
Morning
Your guide and driver meet you at your hotel around 8:00 AM. Begin at the Temple of Literature, founded in 1070 as Vietnam’s first university, where shaded courtyards, lotus ponds and stone stelae of doctoral laureates recall centuries of scholarship.
Hoa Lo Prison tells a darker story: built by the French and later nicknamed the Hanoi Hilton by American prisoners of war, its exhibits cover two eras of Vietnam’s recent history.
Then stand before the neo-Gothic towers of St Joseph’s Cathedral and wander a few of the old streets nearby, where vendors balance their goods in baskets on shoulder poles.
Midday
Lunch around midday is at a local restaurant.
Afternoon
Drive about an hour east of the centre to Mega Grand World in Ocean City, a very different side of modern Hanoi. Stroll along The Venice, an 830-metre canal lined with pastel European-style buildings, gondolas gliding past and waterside cafés to rest in. You are back at your hotel by about 5:30 PM.
DAY 3: SAPA: H'MONG VILLAGE, STONE CHURCH & SAPA TOWN
+
Overnight: Silk Path Grand Resort & Spa Sapa, Sapa | Meals: Breakfast, Lunch · Dinner on your own | Guide: Full day guide
Morning
Check out after breakfast and set off north with your guide by private car around 7:00 AM. The expressway gives way to mountain roads as you climb towards Sapa, about 5.5–6 hours with a rest stop on the way, and the air turns cooler with every bend.
Midday
Lunch around 12:30 PM is at a local restaurant in Sapa town.
Afternoon
Walk down into Cat Cat, a Black H’Mong village at the foot of Fansipan. The path winds past wooden houses, terraced fields and workshops where women weave and dye cloth in deep indigo, down to a waterfall rushing through the valley.
Back in town, stand before the Stone Church, the French-era landmark at the heart of Sapa, then wander the square and the streets of cafés and craft shops around it.
Evening
Check in to your hotel around 5:00 PM. The evening is free to rest or enjoy the cool mountain air.
DAY 4: FANSIPAN PEAK & MOANA VIEWPOINT
+
Overnight: Silk Path Grand Resort & Spa Sapa, Sapa | Meals: Breakfast, Lunch · Dinner on your own | Guide: Full day guide
Morning
Your guide meets you at your hotel around 8:00 AM. Board the Muong Hoa Mountain Train for a short ride over valleys and terraced fields to the cable car station, then rise by cable car towards Fansipan, the Roof of Indochina at 3,143 m. From the top station, climb the stone steps past pagodas and the Great Buddha statue to the summit. On a clear day the whole Hoang Lien Son range spreads out beneath you, and on a misty one the clouds drift right past your feet.
Midday
Lunch around midday is a buffet at Fansipan Restaurant.
Afternoon
Moana Sapa is a playful stop after the summit, known for its Bali-style gate, giant hand sculpture and a swing that seems to hang over the mountains. Take your time for photos and wide views across the valley. You are back at your hotel by about 4:30 PM, with the evening free to relax or wander Sapa town.
DAY 5: O QUY HO PASS, HEAVEN GATE & GLASS BRIDGE – RETURN TO HANOI
+
Overnight: Tirant Hotel, Hanoi | Meals: Breakfast, Lunch · Dinner on your own | Guide: Full day guide
Morning
Check out after breakfast and meet your guide around 8:00 AM for a 30–40 minute drive west out of Sapa, up into the mountains. At Heaven Gate on O Quy Ho, one of the highest mountain passes in Vietnam, the Hoang Lien Son range fills the horizon and the road coils down into the valley below. Continue to the Rong May complex at the top of the pass and step out onto the glass bridge above the cliffs, more than 2,000 m above sea level, with nothing but forest far beneath your feet.
Midday
Lunch around midday is at a local restaurant back in Sapa.
Afternoon
After lunch, settle in for the drive back to Hanoi along the expressway, about 5.5–6 hours with a rest stop, as the mountains slowly give way to the plains. You reach your hotel in Hanoi by about 8:00 PM, and the evening is free.
DAY 6: HA LONG BAY DAY TRIP ON A PREMIUM DAY CRUISE
+
Overnight: Tirant Hotel, Hanoi | Meals: Breakfast, Lunch · Dinner on your own | Guide: Full day guide
Morning
Your guide and driver collect you at your hotel around 8:00 AM for the drive to Ha Long Bay, about 2.5 hours along the expressway. Board a premium day cruise and sail out into the UNESCO-listed bay, where thousands of limestone islands rise from green water.
Midday
Lunch around 12:30 PM is served on board as the boat slips between the islets.
Afternoon
Climb the steps to Sung Sot, the Surprising Cave, one of the largest in the bay, and walk through lit chambers filled with stalactites and stalagmites.
At Luon Cave, glide by kayak or bamboo boat under a low rock arch into an enclosed lagoon, ringed by cliffs and so still you can hear the paddles drip.
The last stop is Titop Island: climb to the viewpoint for a sweeping view over the bay, or relax on the small beach.
Evening
In the late afternoon the cruise returns to the harbour and you drive back to Hanoi, reaching your hotel by about 8:00 PM.
DAY 7: HANOI DEPARTURE
+
Overnight: — | Meals: Breakfast · Lunch and dinner on your own | Guide: Guide dropoff
Departure
Enjoy a last breakfast and some free time until your transfer. Your HYNA guide then accompanies you to Noi Bai International Airport, about 45 minutes from the Old Quarter, for your flight home. Thank you for travelling with HYNA. We hope Vietnam stays with you long after you leave.
Children Policy
Children under 5 years old Children from 5 to 9 years old Children 10 years old and above Charged at 100% of adult tour price Note: Children’s age is calculated based on the start date of the tour, not the booking date.
PRICE ON REQUEST
Your price depends on your travel dates, group size and hotel choice. Tell us your plans and we will send you a quote.
Meals: 6 breakfasts · 5 lunches · 1 dinner
Transport: Private car, mountain train, cable car, day cruise, kayak or bamboo boat
Or email us at booking@hynatravel.com
All Reviews
Why HYNA's Travel?
Local Expert Team
A Vietnam-based team that plans every route on the ground and knows each region first-hand.
Honest & Transparent
Clear itineraries, clear inclusions and no hidden surprises, from your first message to your last day.
24/7 support
24/7 support throughout your journey.
Customized Itineraries
Every itinerary can be tailored to your travel dates, pace and interests.
Price and policy
Flexible cancellation policy.
FAQ
1. Does the tour price include airfare?
No. International and domestic flights are not included in our tour prices. Where a route uses a domestic flight, the itinerary shows it so you can plan your bookings.
2. Can you arrange vegetarian or other special meals?
Yes. Tell us about your dietary needs when you send your enquiry and we will arrange the included meals accordingly.
3. Can I change the itinerary?
Yes. Every itinerary can be tailored to your travel dates, pace and interests. Tell us what you would like to add, remove or swap when you ask for a price.
4. What is your cancellation policy?
Our cancellation policy is flexible, and the terms depend on your travel dates and the services booked. Ask us for the full terms before you book.
5. When is the best time to take this tour?
The weather in Vietnam differs a lot between the north, the centre and the south. The best months for this route are shown under "Best time to go" in the Trip facts on this page. Tell us your travel dates and we can suggest the best way to plan the route for that season.
6. Is travel insurance included?
Travel insurance during the tour is included, as listed under "Included in the package". We also recommend your own international travel insurance that covers medical care and flight changes.
7. Is airport pick-up included?
Yes. Your guide and driver meet you at the airport on the first day and take you to the airport for your departure on the last day, as shown in the itinerary.
8. What documents do I need to travel to Vietnam?
You need a passport valid for at least six months from your arrival date and a Vietnam visa or visa exemption, depending on your nationality. The Vietnam visa fee is not included in the tour price.
