16 days
Hanoi → Sa Pa → Ninh Binh → bay cruise → Hanoi → Hoi An → Ho Chi Minh City
Walk through Sa Pa’s green valleys, drift between Ninh Binh’s limestone cliffs and wake up on the bay. Then let the pace soften in Hoi An before discovering Ben Tre’s coconut waterways. This 16-day Vietnam tour with Sa Pa connects the north, central coast and south, with generous stays where the scenery deserves more than a quick stop.
There are three nights in Sa Pa, three in Ninh Binh and three in Hoi An, alongside Hanoi, one overnight cruise and Ho Chi Minh City. Travel north to south, with two domestic flights connecting the regions. You have time for local encounters, a mountain viewpoint, lantern-lit evenings and a proper pause between excursions.
Vietpower Travel designs the holiday around your own group. Choose the hotel comfort you enjoy, a shorter village walk, a comfortable road transfer or a second night on the bay. The itinerary below is a starting point for your own Vietnam journey.
Already booked your flights? Send us your arrival and departure. We will fit the airport welcome, hotel nights and domestic connections around your tickets.
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Sa Pa: a valley walk at your pace. Follow a local guide through Ta Van and the Muong Hoa valley, with time to notice the houses, terraces and daily rhythms. Choose Cat Cat as an alternative village day. Fansipan adds a dramatic mountain perspective, while a free afternoon leaves room for a warm café and the town’s easy pleasures.
Ninh Binh: settle into the countryside. A boat carries you through Trang An’s cliffs and waterways, followed by the story of Vietnam’s former capital at Hoa Lu. Stay in the same area for three nights, with a free day to enjoy the rural setting. The next transfer goes straight to the bay harbour, saving another hotel move in Hanoi.
The bay: let the scenery come to you. Lunch on board, an afternoon excursion, limestone islands at sunset and a night in your cabin turn a famous landscape into part of your holiday. Browse our Halong Bay and Lan Ha Bay cruises to choose the style of boat you prefer.
Hoi An and the south: colour, warmth and everyday life. Wander old merchant streets and return to the riverside as the lanterns glow. A day at Ba Na Hills brings the Golden Bridge and cable-car views. Finish with a Ben Tre boat journey, coconut gardens and lunch in the Mekong Delta, returning to your Ho Chi Minh City hotel for an easy departure.
The base programme combines private airport and road transfers with guided sightseeing for your group. Cruise activities and local scheduled boats are shared. Comfortable limousine or cabin-bus services on the northern road legs and selected small-group excursions offer another way to balance comfort and cost.
Choose three-, four- or five-star hotels, with location and room style matched to how you like to travel. Families can ask for connecting rooms, lighter walking and more downtime. Couples can add a quieter countryside stay or another cruise night. You do not need to buy a rigid package to enjoy a well-connected route.
Extend the cruise to three days and two nights, making the holiday 17 days and 16 nights. You keep the same land route, with later days moved back by one day. It is a good choice if you would rather enjoy more time among the islands than fit the bay into one overnight stay. We help choose a vessel whose two-night programme suits your group.
Vietpower Travel has operated since 2009 under international tour operator licence 01-711/2015/TCDL-GPLHQT. We have served thousands of international travellers from many countries, including families and private groups. That experience helps us understand different food preferences, cultural expectations and holiday rhythms.
Our offices in Vietnam’s major cities support your journey, with 24/7 travel assistance while you are on tour. Local relationships with hotels, guides, drivers and cruise teams help us match the experience and comfort to your budget. You have a team to contact throughout the trip, from the airport welcome to your final transfer.
See traveller reviews of Vietpower Travel on Tripadvisor, then talk directly with the team planning your holiday. Before payment, you receive a written programme and quotation showing what you are booking.
The sample combines Hanoi, three nights in Sa Pa, three nights in Ninh Binh, one overnight bay cruise, three nights in Hoi An and two nights in Ho Chi Minh City. There are 15 nights in total: 14 hotel nights and one cruise night. Airport transfers, the stated guided visits and listed meals form the starting package; domestic flights are quoted separately.
You travel with your own group, with private transfers and guided sightseeing in the base plan. The overnight cruise and scheduled boats are shared with other travellers. We can also quote selected small-group excursions and comfortable limousine or cabin-bus transfers to suit your budget. Your written itinerary identifies the arrangement for each day.
Choose a shorter Ta Van valley walk or a Cat Cat village visit instead of a strenuous trek. Fansipan involves mountain altitude and some walking or steps; a lower-altitude day can replace it. Day 6 from Sa Pa to Ninh Binh is a full road day. Tell us about walking limits or travel sickness so we can choose the vehicle and, if needed, split the drive.
No. The sample travels from Sa Pa directly to Ninh Binh via the expressway corridor, then directly from Ninh Binh to the cruise harbour. One Hanoi night after the cruise provides a relaxed connection before the flight south. An evening flight straight from the bay can replace that night when the confirmed cruise and flight times fit.
Yes. Choose the 17-day version with two cruise nights rather than one. The extra day gives the selected vessel more time for its bay programme; the later land days move back by one day. We match the route and activities to the boat you choose.
Arrive in Hanoi and depart from Ho Chi Minh City for the sample direction. It also needs Hanoi–Da Nang on Day 11 and Da Nang–Ho Chi Minh City on Day 14. Domestic flights are not included in the indicative land price. Send your international tickets first, and we will coordinate the domestic legs, baggage and hotel nights.
March–April is a useful starting window across the three regions. September–October can be appealing around Sa Pa, while central Vietnam needs closer rain and storm planning. Northern mountain temperatures, bay sailings and Hoi An weather vary by season. Send your dates so we can advise on the actual route rather than promise identical weather nationwide.
Yes. This is a sample itinerary, not a fixed departure that everyone must follow. We can change hotel comfort, reduce walking, add rest nights or choose suitable shared and private services. Tell us the children’s ages, room needs, dietary preferences and your must-do experiences; our travel consultant will build your own programme and quotation.
A Vietnam journey for travellers from every country. Whether you travel as a couple, a family or a group of friends, we shape the same route around your own interests, pace and hotel comfort. Share your dates and flight details with Vietpower Travel on WhatsApp, and we will help you connect each stay smoothly.
Tell us your dates, the people travelling with you and the part of Vietnam you most want to feel: mountain villages, countryside, a beautiful cruise or time together in Hoi An. We will shape the journey and explain the options clearly.
Chat with Vietpower Travel on WhatsApp or email sales@vietpowertravel.com.
Highlights
Open the 16-day route in Google Maps — places by day and the two domestic flight connections.
| By Day | Transfer | Destinations | Activities | Meals |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Hanoi | Arrival and a gentle start | None | |
| Day 2 | Hanoi | Hanoi’s heritage and everyday life | Breakfast, lunch | |
| Day 3 | Hanoi – Sa Pa | A comfortable journey into the mountains | Breakfast | |
| Day 4 | Sa Pa | Ta Van and the Muong Hoa valley | Breakfast, lunch | |
| Day 5 | Sa Pa | Fansipan and an unhurried afternoon | Breakfast | |
| Day 6 | Sa Pa – Ninh Binh | Continue straight to the countryside | Breakfast | |
| Day 7 | Ninh Binh | Trang An waterways and Hoa Lu’s history | Breakfast, lunch | |
| Day 8 | Ninh Binh | A day to enjoy your countryside stay | Breakfast | |
| Day 9 | Ninh Binh – bay cruise | Your cabin among the limestone islands | Breakfast, lunch, dinner | |
| Day 10 | Bay cruise – Hanoi | A last morning on the bay, then Hanoi | Cruise breakfast/brunch | |
| Day 11 | Hanoi – Da Nang – Hoi An | Fly south to Hoi An | Breakfast | |
| Day 12 | Hoi An | Old merchant streets and lantern evenings | Breakfast | |
| Day 13 | Hoi An – Ba Na Hills – Hoi An | Golden Bridge and cable-car views | Breakfast, lunch | |
| Day 14 | Hoi An – Ho Chi Minh City | Connect to the south | Breakfast | |
| Day 15 | Ho Chi Minh City – Ben Tre – Ho Chi Minh City | Coconut gardens and Mekong river life | Breakfast, lunch | |
| Day 16 | Ho Chi Minh City | A relaxed farewell and airport transfer | Breakfast |
Your driver welcomes you at Noi Bai Airport and takes you to your Hanoi hotel. Settle in after the flight, then enjoy a light stroll or a café near your hotel if you feel like it. The first day is deliberately open so you can start the holiday refreshed.
Travel: Private airport transfer
Meals: None
Overnight: Hanoi
Explore the Temple of Literature and the Ho Chi Minh complex with your guide, then discover the Old Quarter and Hoan Kiem Lake. Enjoy a local lunch and the stories behind the city’s streets. Train Street can be an optional café stop when permitted access allows; otherwise choose another atmospheric Hanoi café.
Travel: Private guided sightseeing; shared excursion option
Meals: Breakfast, lunch
Overnight: Hanoi
Leave Hanoi for Sa Pa, following the expressway into the northern mountains. Take breaks along the way, check into your hotel and leave the afternoon free to enjoy the town. Choose a comfortable private vehicle, limousine or cabin-bus service as agreed in your travel plan. This is a travel day, with no rushed sightseeing circuit after arrival.
Travel: Road transfer, approximately 5.5–6.5 driving hours plus breaks
Meals: Breakfast
Overnight: Sa Pa
Walk with a local guide through Ta Van and the Muong Hoa valley, taking in the houses, terraces and rhythms of village life. Choose a distance that feels comfortable, enjoy lunch and return to your Sa Pa hotel. Cat Cat can replace the valley visit if you prefer its shorter village experience; it is an alternative rather than a second full trek.
Travel: Local guide and transport for the agreed village walk
Meals: Breakfast, lunch
Overnight: Sa Pa
Ride the Fansipan cable car for a mountain perspective, with the walking and final approach arranged around your comfort. Return to Sa Pa for a free afternoon: a café, the town’s streets or simply time at your hotel. If altitude or steps do not suit your group, choose a lower-altitude town and valley experience instead.
Travel: Guided visit, transfers and Fansipan cable car in the base plan
Meals: Breakfast
Overnight: Sa Pa
Travel directly from Sa Pa to Ninh Binh via the Hanoi expressway corridor, taking lunch and comfort stops along the way. Arrive, check in and relax; the countryside exploration begins tomorrow. This avoids another Hanoi hotel move. A comfortable vehicle or suitable limousine/cabin-bus option is agreed before travel; a Hanoi stop can split the drive for those who prefer it.
Travel: Full road day, approximately 7.5–8 driving hours plus stops
Meals: Breakfast
Overnight: Ninh Binh
Glide through Trang An’s limestone scenery in a local rowing boat, then explore the temples of Hoa Lu with your guide. Enjoy lunch and a gentle countryside walk or cycle where suitable. Hang Mua is an optional replacement for an afternoon activity if you would like a viewpoint climb.
Travel: Guided sightseeing, road transfers and shared local rowing boat; shared excursion option
Meals: Breakfast, lunch
Overnight: Ninh Binh
Wake up slowly and keep the day free in Ninh Binh. Enjoy your hotel, a nearby walk or an independent outing at your own pace. If you would like an extra guided visit or a car, your Vietpower Travel consultant can arrange it as a separately quoted addition. You stay in the same hotel tonight, ready to continue directly to the bay tomorrow.
Travel: Independent free day
Meals: Breakfast
Overnight: Ninh Binh
Leave early for the cruise harbour and board your chosen vessel. Settle into your cabin, enjoy lunch as the islands pass, and join the boat’s afternoon programme, such as a scenic visit or kayaking. Sunset, dinner on board and a night on the bay make this more than a quick sightseeing stop. The selected boat determines whether you sail Halong Bay or Lan Ha Bay.
Travel: Direct road transfer to confirmed harbour; shared overnight cruise
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Overnight: Bay cruise
Enjoy the boat’s morning programme and its breakfast/brunch service before disembarking. Your driver takes you back to Hanoi for an easy afternoon and an overnight stay. If you prefer fewer hotel changes, ask about going straight to the airport for a suitably timed evening flight; we adjust the following nights and rest time to match the actual cruise and flight.
Travel: Shared cruise, then private harbour–Hanoi transfer
Meals: Cruise breakfast/brunch
Overnight: Hanoi
Transfer to Hanoi airport for your flight to Da Nang, then continue by road to Hoi An. Check into your hotel and enjoy a relaxed afternoon. You have three nights here, so there is no need to rush straight into a tour on arrival. Domestic airfare is quoted separately.
Travel: Private airport transfers and Hanoi–Da Nang flight
Meals: Breakfast
Overnight: Hoi An
Explore Hoi An’s old town with a guide, visiting a historic house and assembly hall through the sightseeing ticket. Discover the stories of the former trading port, then enjoy a free afternoon. Return independently to the riverside as the lanterns glow. A lantern-making workshop can be added if you would like a hands-on souvenir of the town.
Travel: Private guided old-town visit; shared excursion option
Meals: Breakfast
Overnight: Hoi An
Travel to Ba Na Hills, ride the cable car and see the Golden Bridge. Enjoy the mountain setting and selected areas of the hilltop complex, with lunch during the visit. Return to your Hoi An hotel in the afternoon. Your programme identifies included tickets and any optional paid activities.
Travel: Private guided excursion with cable car; shared excursion option
Meals: Breakfast, lunch
Overnight: Hoi An
Leave Hoi An for Da Nang Airport and fly to Ho Chi Minh City. Your driver takes you to the hotel, with time to settle in and enjoy the city independently. You stay here for two nights and return to the same hotel after tomorrow’s Mekong excursion. Domestic airfare is quoted separately.
Travel: Private airport transfers and Da Nang–Ho Chi Minh City flight
Meals: Breakfast
Overnight: Ho Chi Minh City
Discover Ben Tre on a focused day among coconut gardens and waterways. Travel by local boat, visit small riverside businesses and enjoy a local lunch. A rowing-boat section explores a suitable canal where conditions allow. There is time to meet the people behind the landscape before returning to your Ho Chi Minh City hotel.
Travel: Guided day excursion with road transfers and local boats; shared excursion option
Meals: Breakfast, lunch
Overnight: Ho Chi Minh City
Enjoy breakfast and the time available before your private transfer to Tan Son Nhat Airport. Your pickup follows your actual flight time. For an evening flight, leave luggage at the hotel or ask about an additional late-checkout arrangement. Depart with the mountain villages, lantern nights and river encounters still close in memory.
Travel: Private airport transfer
Meals: Breakfast
Overnight: No overnight stay
14 hotel nights
1 cruise night
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Customize Your Trip
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The sample begins at Noi Bai Airport in Hanoi and finishes at Tan Son Nhat Airport in Ho Chi Minh City. Share both flight times with us so the first day stays relaxed and the final transfer fits your departure.
Ask for a lighter Sa Pa walk, a more comfortable hotel, a two-night cruise or fewer hotel changes. We will work through the choices with you and keep the journey coherent, rather than adding stops simply to make a longer list.
Private tours give you more flexibility in your movements
Convenience and saving time are huge reasons people choose private tours
Add more exciting or reduce the less attractive destinations.
Please kindly send us your ideas about the tours: destinations, attractions, your group, hotel class... we will get back to you with details & best offers quickly. Surely, you will feel satisfactory!
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