How to Plan a Dream Trip to Northern Vietnam
Vietnam is an ideal destination for adventurous backpackers, history, and nature lovers. This is a 10 day travel guide for northern Vietnam with recommendations to help you make your dream trip into a reality.
Vietnam is bursting with culture, incredible landscapes, and charm. In the northern remote areas it feels like stepping back in time from the modern world into a simpler way of life.
It’s impossible to ignore the frequent reminders of war history and the resilience of the Vietnamese people. It’s a lawless land of motorbikes; crossing the street as a pedestrian can be a thrill or an anxiety inducing event. During your travels, I guarantee you will fall in love with the unique landscapes, Vietnamese coffee, and spring rolls.
10 Day Travel Guide for Northern Vietnam
Hanoi – 2 days
The capital city of Hanoi is the perfect springboard to start your trip around northern Vietnam. Upon arriving in Hanoi you will likely feel jet lagged mixed with chaotic excitement. The constant noise of motorbikes and honking is something you will get used to.
The city is easy to explore on foot. Hanoi’s Old Quarter is a good place to base yourself for a few days to have convenient access to all the main attractions.
But first, coffee to kick the jet lag! Cafes are plentiful in the Old Quarter area around Hoan Kiem Lake. Pick a cafe with views so you can watch the lively streets and adjust to your new surroundings.
I loved the traditional Vietnamese coffee, it’s served with sweetened condensed milk. Another option is the popular Vietnamese egg coffee, it has a really creamy foam top. After caffeinating, you will be ready to hit the streets for an exciting day exploring Hanoi.
Things to do in Hanoi:
- Walk around Hoan Kiem Lake
- Visit Temples (Tran Quoc Pagoda and Ngoc Son Temple)
- Learn about war history at Hoa Lo Prison Museum
- Walk along the unique Train Street
- Shop in the Markets
- Try Vietnamese Coffee
- Walk across Long Bien Bridge
- Hire a Cyclo
- Eat street food
- Try Bia Hoi beer on beer street
Check out my blog post, How to Spend 2 Days in Hanoi, Vietnam for all the details about activities in Hanoi.
Halong Bay – 2 days
Halong Bay is known for its captivating seascape in the Gulf of Tonkin. There are endless massive limestone islands covered in lush green vegetation popping up out of the emerald green water. Visiting Halong Bay is a guaranteed highlight of any trip to Vietnam and a bucket list destination for sure.
The best way to experience Halong Bay is on a cruise where you have the opportunity to see so much more of the bay’s pristine beauty. Waking up on the peaceful water and being able to watch the sun fade away at the end of the day on the top deck of the cruise boat is an experience I will never forget.
Things to know about Halong Bay Cruise
There’s no lack of cruise options with different lengths, different itineraries, and different price points. However, you pay for what you get, so I recommend you do your research and find something reputable with good reviews and pre-book before arriving in Vietnam.
Remember, these are not American style cruise ships, they are actually named, “junk boats” so a little preparation goes a long way to ensure you have a good experience. There are options for luxury boats and others are…not luxury.
Also, consider what activities the cruise offers; you do not want to unknowingly end up on the booze cruise when you’re expecting a peaceful nature experience. Many offer kayaking, cooking classes, cave excursions, and a chance to visit a floating village.
I booked with Maya Cruise for a 2 day/1 night adventure. The boat was clean, the room was comfy, and the staff was great. I felt this amount of time was short, but just right to see the bay and do a few activities. You may prefer to do a longer cruise for the chance to explore some of the lesser visited areas or maybe even just a day tour without spending the night. You have plentiful options to make it what you want.
Lan Ha Bay
Lan Ha Bay is a great alternative compared to the busy touristy main area of Halong Bay. I specifically chose a cruise that offered Lan Ha Bay in its itinerary so I could get dropped off at Cat Ba Island instead of getting transported back to Hanoi at the end of the cruise.
Cat Ba Island – 2 days
Cat Ba Island is so much more than a hop off visit from the cruise boats. It is a peaceful retreat from the mainland situated in the waters of Lan Ha Bay. I instantly felt relaxed during the taxi ride from the boat dock through the quiet back roads surrounded by nature and into the main hub of the island. Most of the island is still rugged and untouched by tourism, which I loved! After being limited to a boat for a few days, I was ready to get out and explore.
Most hotels are located in the main area of Cat Ba town. I stayed at Hung Long Harbour hotel, I know, what a name. It was very cheap, but also didn’t have heat which was a minor inconvenience if you are visiting during January like I did. There are lots of fishing boats and floating restaurants in the bay with views of the limestone karsts in the distance. Karaoke and pool games are always happening in town which makes it easy to meet other travelers and new friends.
Things to do on Cat Ba Island:
- Cannon Fort
- Rent a Motorbike
- Cat Ba National Park
- Hike Ngu Lam Peak
- Lounge on the beach
- Visit the local villages
- Explore the caves (Hospital Cave and Trung Trang Cave)
Check out my blog post, Best Things to Do on Cat Ba Island for more information about activities and how to plan a trip to visit Cat Ba Island.
Tam Coc and Ninh Binh region – 3 days
I was excited for the final stop in Ninh Binh region, and excitement quickly turned into awe when I saw the idyllic countryside. The area is rural and gives you the chance to see what life is like for the locals. Many people opt to do a day trip from Hanoi to the Ninh Binh region, but trust me, you will want to spend at least 2 days here.
It is known as “Halong Bay on land” and it lives up to the name. The Vietnamese countryside is picturesque with towering limestone karsts (I swear you never get sick of seeing them), vast rice fields, and wetlands. Here you can float down the Ngo Dong river, explore grottos, travel by bike, and visit the temples and pagodas.
I don’t recommend you to actually stay in Ninh Binh. Tam Coc and Trang An are a little more built up for tourism and a good place to base yourself. I loved Tam Coc, I felt close to nature and enjoyed walking along the lake daily. Restaurants, shops, and of course karaoke and pool bars were all easily accessible as well.
Things to do in Tam Coc and Ninh Binh region:
Ride around rice fields on a bicycle
Check with your hotel or homestay to see if they offer bicycles. Cruising on a bike allows you to feel up close and personal to the rice fields, rural life, and is a fun way to explore on your own terms.
There are lots of back roads and dirt roads to explore, some will take you through the fields. Please be mindful of the farmers and locals, stick to the paths, and have fun!
Bich Dong Pagoda
From the center of Tam Coc it’s a little under 2 miles to Bich Dong Pagoda, perfect for a bike ride. The bike ride will take you alongside the rice fields, definitely add this to your Tour De Tam Coc. This is one of the places that will make you feel like you are stepping back in time. Bich Dong is a peaceful ancient mountainside temple with a serene entrance crossing a pond. There’s multiple levels to explore with caves and shrines.
It’s free to enter, however you will likely get charged to park your bike. There’s lots of vendors close to the entryway attempting to sell you things and collect money for parking. It is cheap to park, but you could also park your bike further back on the road away from the entrance and easily walk in while avoiding having to pay for parking.
Hang Mua peak, temple, and caves
The steep steps and the views from the top of Hang Mua peak will take your breath away! Upon entering you will find a restaurant, a pond, and a cave to explore at ground level. For the main attraction, you will need to ascend steep steps to get to the two incredible viewpoints at the top of the mountain.
The stairs will break off to two different viewpoints. To the left you will find a stone dragon positioned on top of the mountain and an impressive view overlooking the river and wetlands. To the right you will see a pagoda and a view overlooking the rice fields and village. Both are panoramic and impressive. Don’t rush yourself and enjoy the peaceful views from the top.
You can easily bike here from Tam Coc as well. There is no shade, so if it’s a hot day plan accordingly to go early or wear a hat. It was quite misty when I visited in January. The fields were still very wet and the greens were not vibrant yet. The view will appear different throughout the seasons.
Boat tour
This is the main attraction in the Ninh Binh region and it lives up to the hype. You will easily see why this area is known as the Halong Bay on land.
The boat tour will take you on a slow paced ride along the waterways and through low ceiling caves of the surrounding mountains. You will be treated to views of high rise limestone karsts in all directions. Some of the rowers are so talented that they can row the oars with their feet! It is a relaxing way to absorb all the sights from a new perspective. I can’t help but sing the line to one of my favorite Beatles songs, “turn off your mind, relax and float down stream…”
Options for Boat Tours
You have several choices for boat tours in the Ninh Binh region. Tam Coc, Trang An, and Van Long all offer boat tours and each provides a slightly different experience.
Tam Coc boat tour
- The #1 reason to choose the Tam Coc boat tour is to see the floating rice fields on the Ngo Dong River. You will also pass through three grottos as the river cuts through the mountains.
- Consider what time of year you are visiting. The rice fields will be in peak beauty May through July with vibrant green colors turning to golden yellow prior to harvest. I visited in January and the appearance was an uneventful muddy brown, but I still loved the experience.
- This tour is “out and back” which means you will see the same sights on return and lasts around two hours.
- The rowers generally expect tips and might pressure you to buy snacks from the boat vendors at the turn around spot. Some online reviews denounce this behavior as “scammy” which turns a lot of people off to the Tam Coc boat tours.
- They only allow two riders per boat. If you are traveling as a couple, this is ideal.
Trang An boat tour
- Trang An is a UNESCO World Heritage Site; the nature and landscapes are protected and remain pristine.
- The boat tours are operated by a private company and therefore, more organized. You will not be harassed for tips.
- There are three different loop routes to choose from and the boat ride lasts around 3 hours.
- The boat accommodates four riders, so you may have to share a boat with another party if you are a group of two.
Van Long boat tour
- Van Long is a protected wetland area and nature reserve great for bird watching and tranquility.
- This is the off the beaten path option, it is less known and less crowded.
- It is approximately a 30+ minute drive from Tam Coc.
- The boat tour lasts around 1-1.5 hours and will take you through the wetlands, a cave, lagoon, lotus ponds, and of course the towering limestone cliffs.
I don’t think you can go wrong with your decision between the different boat tours. If you have extra time, why not try more than one?! Out of convenience, I opted for the Tam Coc boat tour because it was a 5 minute walk from my accomodation. I recommend getting an early start to beat the tour bus crowds arriving from Hanoi around midmorning.
The final day of this travel guide will account for a travel day. You will need to arrange for transportation from Ninh Binh back to Hanoi to fly home or wherever your adventure takes you next. 12go.asia is a convenient site to find the best options for trains, buses, and taxis.
Additional places to visit in Ninh Binh and Tam Coc area:
- Van Long Nature Reserve
- Bai Dinh Pagoda
- Cuc Phuong Național Park
- You may need a motorbike or a taxi to reach these sites as they are further away
After boating, hiking, and biking around Vietnam you will have experienced its beauty and culture in many different ways. Somewhere along the journey, I hope you find bliss in the present moment and gratitude for experiencing a different culture. I hope you have incredible memories and plentiful stories to bring home and share.
If you have more time in Vietnam, here are extra ideas to add to your itinerary:
- Sapa Valley
- Ho Chi Minh City
- Visit the world’s largest cave, Hang Son Doong in Phong Nha Ke Bang National Park
- Ban Gioc waterfall
- Hoi An
- Hike the highest mountain in Vietnam, Fansipan
- Phu Quoc Island
- Visit the historic town of Hue
- My Son Hindu temple ruins
- The Golden Bridge
- Con Dao Islands
- Sand Dunes of Mud Ne
- Boat ride on the Mekong Delta river
Wow, I clearly need to make another trip to Vietnam 😂
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