Highlights of The North: Sapa – Halong Bay – Ninh Binh in 6 Days

Your guide or operator meets you at your hotel and helps you transfer to the railway station. You’ll receive your tickets and get ready for the overnight ride.

Board the Dream Train Express for your overnight ride to Lao Cai. You’ll stay in a 4-berth air-conditioned cabin decorated with touches of Sapa style. Bedding is provided and luggage fits under the berth. It’s not luxury, but it’s comfortable enough and part of the adventure. Keep in mind the ride can be a little bumpy and noisy, and taller travelers (over 1.83 m) may find the berths slightly short. The train arrives in Lao Cai around 05:55 the next morning.

A car will be waiting at Lao Cai station to bring you to Sapa. You’ll have a chance to store your luggage and enjoy breakfast in town before starting the day.

The tour begins with a short car ride and a walk of about 1 km along the Golden River to the picturesque Love Waterfall.

Continue by car to Tram Ton Pass, Vietnam’s highest mountain pass, and stop at Silver Waterfall. Cascading 200 meters down the mountainside, this powerful waterfall is the source of the Muong Hoa Stream. You’ll spend around 25 minutes here before heading back to Sapa town.

Return to town for lunch, then enjoy the rest of the afternoon at leisure. Wander the streets, explore the local market, or simply rest at your hotel.

After breakfast, the trek starts at 9:00 AM with a downhill walk of about 2 km towards Cat Cat’s road and the Muong Hoa River. Cross a hanging bridge, then follow trails uphill through a bamboo forest with sweeping mountain views.

Admire some of Vietnam’s most spectacular rice terraces before arriving at Y Linh Ho village. Stop for lunch in a family-run Hmong restaurant.

After lunch, continue walking to Lao Chai, one of the largest Hmong communities in the valley, then on to Ta Van village, home to Giay and Hmong people. Depending on the season, you might see farmers planting or harvesting rice. Along the way, you’ll learn about the different ethnic groups and their traditions.

Spend your morning as you wish — shop for local crafts, enjoy a café, or simply take in the mountain views.

Then check out of your homestay at noon.

At 14:30, travel back to Hanoi in a comfortable limousine bus (either 8 or 18 seats). The journey takes about 6.5 hours, with two short breaks along the way. Coffee is fine to buy during breaks, but snacks and fruit are best avoided. Drop-off will be at your hotel in Hanoi in the evening.

Note: on weekends, drop-off in the Old Quarter may be slightly outside the pedestrian zone.

Between 07:45 and 08:30, you’ll be picked up from your Hanoi hotel by shuttle or limousine bus for the drive to Halong Bay. There’s a short rest stop on the way.

Arrive at Halong International Cruise Port around 12:30. After a quick check-in at the lounge, transfer by tender to your boat. Enjoy a welcome drink, safety briefing, and cabin check-in, followed by a Vietnamese set-menu lunch while cruising deeper into Bai Tu Long Bay.

At 15:00, reach Cap La Island where you can kayak among dramatic karst cliffs, swim, or simply relax on the water.

Return to the boat for a sunset party as the vessel anchors for the night. A multi-course dinner is served at 19:00, followed by free time. You can join puzzle games, squid fishing, board games, or just enjoy a drink on deck under the stars.

Begin your day with Tai Chi at sunrise, followed by breakfast.
At 08:00, visit Thien Canh Son Cave with its impressive limestone formations, then relax on the sandy beach of Hon Co Island.

Back on board, pack up and check out of your cabin. Take part in a traditional cooking demonstration before enjoying lunch.
Disembark at Halong port around noon, then continue by bus straight to Ninh Binh.

At 10:00, your guide will collect you from the homestay. The first stop is Hoa Lu, Vietnam’s capital in the 10th century under the Dinh, Le, and Ly dynasties.

Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant before heading to Trang An, a UNESCO World Heritage site known for its limestone landscapes and cave waterways. Spend about 2 hours on a sampan boat through tunnels and valleys — you may recognize the setting from the movie “Kong: Skull Island.”

Cycle around a village for about 45 minutes to see daily life, then drive to Mua Cave. Climb nearly 500 steps to the top of Lying Dragon Mountain for panoramic views over Tam Coc’s rice paddies.

Transfer back to Hanoi, arriving around 19:30. Optionally, you can end the trip in Ninh Binh instead of returning to the capital.