8 days
Hanoi, Sapa, Ninh Binh, Halong Bay
Stand above the clouds on Fansipan, follow the paths through Cat Cat village and drift between limestone cliffs in Tam Coc. Finish with dinner on the bay and a night aboard your cruise. This 8-day northern Vietnam holiday brings together Sapa, Ninh Binh and Halong Bay, with Hanoi as your welcoming base.
Your sample route is Hanoi → Sapa → Hanoi → Ninh Binh day trip → Hanoi → Halong Bay → Hanoi. Stay five nights in Hanoi, one in Sapa and one on the cruise. A free Hanoi day after the mountain excursion gives you time to slow down, enjoy local food or add a city experience.
This is a sample programme, ready to be shaped around your flights, interests and preferred comfort. Choose hotel categories, cruise cabins and the level of support your group wants. The sample combines shared touring transport with private airport transfers; ask for a private version if that suits your family better.
Send your Hanoi arrival and departure details, dates, group size and hotel preferences. Vietpower Travel will connect your airport transfers, Sapa excursion, countryside day and cruise into a practical holiday. Plan your northern Vietnam journey with Vietpower Travel or use this tour’s enquiry form. Email our travel team.
| Days | Experience | Overnight |
| 1 | Hanoi arrival; settle in and explore at your own pace | Hanoi |
| 2 | Road journey to Sapa; Cat Cat village walk | Sapa |
| 3 | Fansipan cable car; return to Hanoi | Hanoi |
| 4 | A free day for Hanoi food, shopping or an optional city tour | Hanoi |
| 5 | Hoa Lu temples, Tam Coc boat ride and Bich Dong countryside | Hanoi |
| 6 | Transfer to Halong Bay; cruise activities and dinner aboard | Cruise |
| 7 | Morning on the bay; return to Hanoi | Hanoi |
| 8 | Breakfast and transfer to Hanoi Airport | — |
Sapa gives you mountain air, village paths and the changing views around Fansipan. Ninh Binh adds a quiet river journey, temple courtyards and countryside lanes. On the bay, leave room to sit on deck and watch the islands pass. The free Hanoi day is yours: a leisurely breakfast, coffee in the Old Quarter and an evening of local flavours, or a guided city tour arranged separately.
Explore our Ninh Binh tours and Halong Bay and Lan Ha Bay cruise collection when choosing your day trip and cabin. For a longer journey, browse Vietnam tours; we can build a route that continues south.
Since 2009, Vietpower Travel has helped thousands of travellers from around the world explore Vietnam and Indochina. We understand that planning a holiday far from home means placing your trust in the people arranging it.
Vietpower Travel holds International Tour Operator Licence 01-711/2015/TCDL-GPLHQT under Vietnam’s Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, giving you the reassurance of an established, licensed local travel company.
We take the time to understand your interests, travel style and budget, drawing on our local knowledge to recommend suitable hotels, restaurants, cruises and experiences. Our long-standing relationships with local partners help us arrange dependable services at fair prices.
Staying in close contact with these partners keeps our recommendations current as services change and new experiences become available. Throughout your holiday, our team coordinates your itinerary and provides support when you need it.
Before you book, your quotation clearly explains what is included, any shared arrangements and items priced separately, so you know what to expect.
Read our travellers’ reviews on Tripadvisor, then tell us what matters most to you. Let us help you plan a holiday that feels right for you, with the reassurance of an experienced local team.
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Before payment, we confirm your dated itinerary, hotels and cabin category, included meals and activities, shared or private transport, the quoted price and any applicable supplements, payment schedule and cancellation terms. Cruise excursions and their order follow the chosen vessel’s programme. Mountain and water activities depend on weather and operating conditions; we plan alternatives with you when needed.
The sample visits Hanoi, Sapa and Fansipan, Hoa Lu–Tam Coc–Bich Dong in Ninh Binh, and Halong Bay with an overnight cruise. There are seven nights: five in Hanoi, one in Sapa and one aboard the cruise.
Private Hanoi airport transfers are included. The touring programme uses shared bus transport, with local English-speaking guides for the arranged excursions. A private version can be quoted for your group; it is not the same as the sample shared programme.
Yes, Day 3 features the Fansipan cable-car experience before returning to Hanoi. There are still steps and walking at the mountain complex. Tell us about mobility needs so we can plan the visit and confirm any funicular options in your quotation.
The sample walk is about 2.5 kilometres, usually around two hours, with downhill and uphill sections. Wear shoes with grip and tell us your group’s walking ability so the guide can help plan a comfortable pace.
This sample uses Hoa Lu temples, the Tam Coc riverboat ride and Bich Dong countryside. Trang An is a different boat route; ask us to tailor the day if you prefer it. Cycling can be adjusted for your group.
The sample features a night aboard the cruise, meals and the vessel’s scheduled bay excursions. Kayaking or swimming, a cooking demonstration, Tai Chi and a cave visit depend on the selected cruise programme and conditions. We confirm your vessel’s itinerary before booking.
The daily sample lists seven breakfasts, four lunches, two dinners and one cruise brunch. Arrival-day meals and other meals not listed are at your own expense. Tell us your dietary needs when enquiring.
Yes. Choose hotel and cabin categories, add an optional Hanoi city tour, extend Sapa or add extra nights. Send your flights and priorities to Vietpower Travel for a tailored itinerary and quotation.
Plan eight days around the north’s experiences you love. Tell us your dates, group, hotel comfort and preferred pace. Plan your northern Vietnam journey on WhatsApp or email our travel team for a personalised itinerary and quotation.
Highlights
| By Day | Transfer | Destinations | Activities | Meals |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Hanoi | Arrive in Hanoi; private airport transfer and time to settle in | ||
| Day 2 | Hanoi, Sapa | Travel to Sapa; lunch and a guided walk in Cat Cat village | B, L, D | |
| Day 3 | Sapa, Fansipan, Hanoi | Fansipan cable-car experience; return to Hanoi | B, L | |
| Day 4 | Ha Noi | Free day in Hanoi; local flavours and your own rhythm | B | |
| Day 5 | Hoa Lu, Tam Coc, Bich Dong, Hanoi | Hoa Lu temples, Tam Coc boat ride and Bich Dong countryside | B, L | |
| Day 6 | Hanoi, Halong Bay | Travel to Halong Bay; cruise activities and an overnight aboard | B, L, D | |
| Day 7 | Halong Bay, Hanoi | Morning on the bay, cave excursion and return to Hanoi | B, Br | |
| Day 8 | Hanoi | Breakfast and private transfer to Hanoi Airport | B |
Welcome to Hanoi. Your guide and driver meet you at Noi Bai Airport and take you to your hotel by private car.
After checking in, enjoy the rest of the day at your own pace. A gentle walk, a local meal and an early night make a comfortable start after a long flight. Meals today are at your own expense.
Overnight: Hanoi
After breakfast, join the road journey from Hanoi to Sapa via the Noi Bai–Lao Cai expressway. This is a substantial travel morning; settle into the shared bus and enjoy the changing scenery as the route climbs towards Sapa.
On arrival, enjoy a welcome drink, the programme briefing and lunch with local Vietnamese dishes, then check in.
In the afternoon, explore Cat Cat, associated with the Hmong community. Follow your local guide downhill towards the waterfall and bridge, pausing for village views and photographs. The sample walk covers about 2.5 kilometres and takes around two hours, including uphill sections on the return.
Return to Sapa for dinner and an evening in town. The mountain air and village surroundings make a memorable change from the city.
Overnight: Sapa
After breakfast, meet your local guide for the Fansipan visit. Ride the cable car across the mountain landscape and explore the upper complex at a pace that suits your group. On a clear day, the surrounding peaks and valleys are spectacular; mist creates a different mountain atmosphere.
There are steps and walking beyond the cable-car ride. We confirm tickets and any funicular options with your final programme rather than describing the whole summit visit as step-free.
Enjoy lunch and return to Hanoi by shared touring transport. The afternoon is reserved for this road journey; check in and relax on arrival.
Overnight: Hanoi
Enjoy breakfast and a full day to discover Hanoi at your own pace. Wander the Old Quarter, spend time around Hoan Kiem Lake, try local food or relax in a café. This pause also gives you time to recover after the Sapa road journeys.
If you would like a guided city day, Vietpower Travel can arrange a separate programme around the Temple of Literature, the Ho Chi Minh complex, the Old Quarter and Hoan Kiem Lake. A Train Street visit is considered only where access is permitted. These optional services and meals are quoted separately.
Overnight: Hanoi
After breakfast, join the Ninh Binh day excursion from Hanoi. The guide introduces Hoa Lu, Vietnam’s former capital, and the temples dedicated to King Dinh and King Le.
Enjoy lunch with local flavours, then take a sampan along the Tam Coc river, passing limestone cliffs, caves and riverside scenery. Rice-field colours change with the agricultural season; the river and karst landscape remain the heart of the experience.
Continue with the sample cycling visit towards Bich Dong pagoda and the surrounding countryside. Tell us if your group would prefer a gentler alternative to cycling or steps.
Return to Hanoi in the late afternoon. This is a day trip with another Hanoi night; we can quote a countryside overnight and onward route separately if you would like fewer returns to the city.
Overnight: Hanoi
After breakfast, travel from Hanoi towards the cruise port. Meet the crew, enjoy a welcome drink and settle into your cabin as lunch is served and the vessel moves into the bay.
Spend the afternoon between the cruise’s excursions and time to relax on deck. The sample includes kayaking or swimming and a cooking demonstration according to the chosen vessel’s schedule and conditions. Your crew provides the required activity guidance.
Enjoy dinner aboard, then watch the bay’s evening light from the deck or your cabin. Sleeping on the water gives the experience a different rhythm from a day cruise.
Overnight: Halong Bay cruise
Start with the cruise’s morning programme, such as Tai Chi on deck, then breakfast and more time among the limestone islands.
The sample includes a Sung Sot Cave visit and the return cruise towards port. The actual cave and activity order follow your chosen vessel’s dated programme; we confirm them before booking. Cave visits involve steps, so tell us about mobility needs when selecting your cruise.
Enjoy the final brunch, disembark around midday according to the cruise schedule and return to Hanoi. Check in and spend your last evening as you please.
Overnight: Hanoi
Enjoy breakfast. Any time for shopping or a final stroll depends on your flight schedule and hotel check-out time.
Your driver takes you by private car to Noi Bai Airport for your departure. The transfer time is arranged around your confirmed flight. International flights are not included in the tour price.
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Customize Your Trip
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Choose the hotel category and cruise cabin that suit your comfort. Private airport transfers and shared touring services are different parts of this sample. If you prefer a fully private land programme, Vietpower Travel will quote it separately and confirm the details in writing.
Entry requirements depend on your passport and journey. Use the Vietnam Immigration Department’s official e-visa portal for current requirements and applications. Vietpower Travel can help you prepare the information needed for your trip; the issuing authority decides visa outcomes. Visa and e-visa fees are excluded. Official portal checked 7 October 2026.
Send your flight details, dates, group size, hotel preferences and any dietary or mobility needs. We provide a tailored programme and written quotation before payment, with your transport arrangements, hotels, cruise, supplements and cancellation terms. Ask Vietpower Travel to plan your eight days.
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