Itinerary
- Day 1
Hanoi
You'll arrive at Noi Bai Airport where your driver meets you for the transfer into Hanoi's city centre. After checking into your hotel, the afternoon is yours to explore at your own pace. Head to the Opera House, wander through the Old Quarter's narrow streets, walk around Hoan Kiem Lake, and visit Ngoc Son Temple. You'll have dinner and stay overnight in the city.
- Start point
- Quận Hoàn Kiếm, Hanoi, Vietnam (Pick up is available from your hotel, 07:30 - 07:40)
- Accommodation
- Hotel
Optional Activities
- Visit Opera House
- Explore Old Quarter
- Visit Hoan Kiem Lake
- Visit Ngoc Son Temple
Landmarks Opera House Old Quarter Hoan Kiem Lake Ngoc Son Temple 
- Day 2
Hanoi to Ha Giang
Following breakfast at your hotel, you and your driver and guide head toward Ha Giang, passing through Tuyen Quang along the way. You'll arrive early afternoon to check in. Then take a short walk around the rice fields or do an easy trek to a waterfall if you're interested. There are pools to cool off in if the weather calls for it. Dinner and overnight back at your hotel.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Accommodation
- Hotel
Included Activities
- Guided transfer to Ha Giang
- Short walk around rice fields (optional)
- Easy trek to waterfall (optional)
- Day 3
Ha Giang to Dong Van
The drive takes you to Dong Van Karst Plateau, passing Pac Sum Pass and Heaven Gate. You'll see Fairy Mountain in Quan Ba with views overlooking Tam Son Town. Stop at Pao's House from the film 'The Story of Pao' and the Palace of Hmong King. After that, continue to Dong Van town for dinner and overnight.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch in Yen Minh), Dinner
- Accommodation
- Hotel
Included Activities
- Visit Dong Van Karst Plateau
- Pass through Pac Sum Pass
- View Heaven Gate
- Visit Fairy Mountain in Quan Ba
- Visit Pao's House
- Visit Palace of Hmong King
Landmarks Dong Van Karst Plateau Pac Sum Pass Heaven Gate Fairy Mountain Pao's House Palace of Hmong King 
- Day 4
Dong Van
Start by exploring Dong Van Old Quarter with its centuries-old houses, then travel through remote countryside visiting ancient houses and Hmong minority villages. Trek up to the flag tower on Lung Cu Mountain peak to see the ancient valley and rice paddies below. Later you'll return to your hotel in Dong Van for the night.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Accommodation
- Hotel
Included Activities
- Visit Dong Van Old Quarter
- Visit Hmong minority villages
- Trek to flag tower on Lung Cu Mountain
- Visit ancient houses
Landmarks Dong Van Old Quarter Lung Cu Mountain - Day 5
Dong Van to Ha Giang
You'll return to Ha Giang via a different route. Stop at Ma Pi Leng Pass, one of Vietnam's four most beautiful passes, for photographs of the dramatic mountains and valleys. Visit Meo Vac Market and grab lunch before arriving in Ha Giang in the late afternoon. Your evening is free to explore the town or rest up.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Accommodation
- Hotel
Included Activities
- Stop at Ma Pi Leng Pass for photos
- Visit Meo Vac Market
Optional Activities
- Explore Ha Giang town
Landmarks Ma Pi Leng Pass Meo Vac Market 
- Day 6
Ha Giang to Sin Man
Today involves a full day journey from Ha Giang through dense jungle on winding roads with hairpin bends and steep hills toward Sin Man and Hoang Su Phi. Along the way you'll meet people from various ethnic minority communities including Nung Ing, Tay, Red Dao, Dao Ao Dai, La Chi, and Co Lao. You'll stay overnight in a homestay in Sin Man.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Accommodation
- Home-stay
Included Activities
- Drive through scenic jungle route
- Meet ethnic minority communities
- Day 7
Sin Man to Bac Ha
Drive to Bac Ha, capital of the Flower Hmong region, traveling through mountainous scenery on winding roads. You'll stop for lunch during the journey. Check in to your hotel in Bac Ha and spend the rest of the afternoon and evening exploring the relaxed town at your own pace.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch en route), Dinner
- Accommodation
- Home-stay
Included Activities
- Drive to Bac Ha through mountainous landscape
Optional Activities
- Explore Bac Ha town
- Day 8
Bac Ha to Sapa
After breakfast, you'll head out on a full day guided trek through Sapa's valleys with terraced rice fields and remote hill tribe villages. Choose your trek level: soft (roughly 3 km), medium (roughly 6 km), or long (roughly 12 km). You'll learn about H'mong, Dzao, and Dzay cultures, have lunch in a hill tribe village, explore it yourself, then spend the night in a traditional homestay with dinner included with a local family.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch in hill tribe village), Dinner (Dinner with local family)
- Accommodation
- Home-stay
Included Activities
- Guided trek through Sapa valleys with terraced rice fields
- Visit remote hill tribe villages
- Lunch in hill tribe village
- Explore village by yourself
- Dinner with local family
Optional Activities
- Soft trek (approximately 3 km)
- Medium trek (approximately 6 km)
- Long trek (approximately 12 km)
Landmarks Sapa 
- Day 9
Sapa to Hanoi
After breakfast at the homestay, your driver takes you back to Sapa Town where you have free time to discover the hillside town at your pace. In the afternoon, you'll drive back to Hanoi for overnight.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
- Accommodation
- Hotel
Included Activities
- Guided return to Sapa Town
Optional Activities
- Discover Sapa Town at leisure
Landmarks Sapa Town - Day 10
Hanoi to Halong Bay Cruise
After breakfast, you'll transfer to Halong Bay for a 24-hour traditional junk cruise through limestone islands and turquoise waters. Boarding happens around noon with fresh seafood lunch on deck as you sail into the bay. You'll cruise around Ha Long's islands in the afternoon, stop at a sheltered cove with white sand beach (weather permitting), and spend the night aboard your junk.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Gourmet lunch of fresh seafood on board), Dinner
- Accommodation
- Berth / Cabin
Included Activities
- Shuttle bus transfer to Halong Bay
- Board traditional junk cruise
- Gourmet seafood lunch on board
- Cruise around Ha Long islands
- Stop at sheltered island cove (weather permitting)
Landmarks Halong Bay 
- Day 11
Halong Bay to Hanoi
Wake early for optional Tai Chi on the top deck or relax watching sunrise over the bay's islands. Have morning coffee or tea, then explore nearby islands by rowing boat. Return to the junk for breakfast, relax on the sundeck admiring rock formations, then head back to Halong City. Drive back to Hanoi for overnight.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
- Accommodation
- Hotel
Included Activities
- Rowing boat exploration of nearby islands
- Return cruise to Halong City
Optional Activities
- Tai Chi on top deck at sunrise
- Relax and enjoy sunrise over the bay
- Day 12
Hanoi Departure
You'll have free time until your transfer to Noi Bai Airport. This marks the end of your Explore The North Of Vietnam In 12 Days package.
- Meals
- Breakfast
