Upon arrival at Noi Bai Airport, meet your guide and driver for a private transfer to your hotel in Hanoi. Begin your Northern Vietnam experience with a welcome dinner at a local restaurant, offering an introduction to authentic Vietnamese cuisine as you settle into the capital city.

After breakfast, begin your Hanoi city tour with a visit to the Ho Chi Minh Complex, an important historical site dedicated to the former Vietnamese leader. Explore Ba Dinh Square, Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum, Ho Chi Minh’s Stilt House, and the distinctive One Pillar Pagoda. Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum is closed on Mondays and Fridays, but visitors may still view the Mausoleum from the outside and explore the surrounding complex area. The Mausoleum is also closed annually for maintenance from approximately 15 June to 15 August, though guests may still take photographs outside and visit the surrounding attractions within the complex. Visitors should dress modestly by covering shoulders and knees when visiting the Mausoleum, temples, pagodas, and religious sites. Continue to the Temple of Literature, recognised as Vietnam’s first university and known for its traditional gardens and historic architecture. Later, travel from Hanoi to Halong Bay approximately 165 km with a journey time of around 3.5–4 hours, passing through the fertile landscapes of the Red River Delta where local farmers work among the green paddy fields. In the evening, enjoy free time to explore the Halong Night Market. Check in to your hotel in Ha Long Bay.

Board your boat to see limestone landscapes of Halong Bay, a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its emerald waters and thousands of limestone islands. During the excursion, visit Paradise Grotto, the famous Kissing Chicken Rock, and a traditional Fisherman Village while enjoying the scenery across the bay. After the boat ride, return to Hanoi and experience a traditional Water Puppet Show, one of Vietnam’s best-known folk art performances.

After breakfast, depart Hanoi and travel to the mountain town of Sapa approximately 400 km with a journey time of around 5–6 hours, known for its terraced rice fields and highland ethnic communities. In the afternoon, walk down into the valley to visit Cat Cat Village, where local ethnic communities continue traditional farming practices among the rice fields and mountain scenery. Continue to the historic Sapa Stone Church, a well-known Catholic landmark built during the French colonial period, followed by free time for shopping at the Sapa Minority People Market.

Today, trek along buffalo paths and trails through the spectacular scenery of Muong Hoa Valley, visiting the hill tribe villages of Lao Chai and Ta Van, home to the Black H’Mong and Dzay communities. Along the route, admire the famous multi-layered rice terraces covering the valley walls, one of the most recognised landscapes in Northern Vietnam. After lunch, begin the return journey from Sapa to Hanoi approximately 320 km with a journey time of around 5–6 hours.

After breakfast, enjoy free time in Hanoi for last-minute shopping or personal leisure before your transfer to Noi Bai Airport for your onward flight.