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The Bays of Northern Vietnam

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The Bays of Northern Vietnam
From $2,495USDBook Now
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14 days from $2,495USD
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Panoramic view from Northern Vietnam Trekking and Halong Bay
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This 14-day tour in Northern Vietnam is the perfect mix of adventure and relaxation. Here you’ll get to combine hiking and cruising into a wonderful guided tour that gets you in touch with the natural beauty and culture of this country.

Climb one of Vietnam’s highest mountains until you’re above the clouds. Explore the rural landscape on hikes to tribal villages and markets and see the spectacular scenery this region is famous for. Then, relax and wind down on an overnight cruise to Lan Ha Bay. More remote than Ha Long Bay, this bay is far from the tourist trail. You’ll see one of the world’s most iconic landscapes with your own eyes, and enjoy dinner, cocktails and activities on the boat. Cruise to Bai Tu Long Bay, revelling in the unique beauty of the islands and turquoise water here without the crowding that other similar places experience.

Between hikes, boat cruises, and cultural encounters, this tour will leave Northern Vietnam in your memory forever.

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The Bays of Northern Vietnam

Experience the best of Northern Vietnam with mountain hiking and cruising around Lan Ha Bay
4.70
(67 reviews)
14 days from $2,495USD
Easy quote
Duration
14 days
Season
Jan-Apr, Sep-Dec
Season
Soft Adventure
Type
Guided, Private
Accommodation
Hotels, Train, Cruise ship
Difficulty
Hard (4/5)
From $2,495USD (see prices for this tour)
Get a quote
Got any questions?
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National Geographic
Guardian
FodorsTravel
Time
Backpacker
National Geographic
Guardian
Panoramic view from Northern Vietnam Trekking and Halong Bay
Personalized Service
Let our experienced travel advisors plan your perfect adventure

This 14-day tour in Northern Vietnam is the perfect mix of adventure and relaxation. Here you’ll get to combine hiking and cruising into a wonderful guided tour that gets you in touch with the natural beauty and culture of this country.

Climb one of Vietnam’s highest mountains until you’re above the clouds. Explore the rural landscape on hikes to tribal villages and markets and see the spectacular scenery this region is famous for. Then, relax and wind down on an overnight cruise to Lan Ha Bay. More remote than Ha Long Bay, this bay is far from the tourist trail. You’ll see one of the world’s most iconic landscapes with your own eyes, and enjoy dinner, cocktails and activities on the boat. Cruise to Bai Tu Long Bay, revelling in the unique beauty of the islands and turquoise water here without the crowding that other similar places experience.

Between hikes, boat cruises, and cultural encounters, this tour will leave Northern Vietnam in your memory forever.

rating
Read about our scale for Tour Difficulty Ratings.
Trip highlights

Climb Ky Quan San, one of Vietnam’s highest mountains

Hike to tribal villages and visit colorful markets

Explore Ba Be National Park and stay overnight in a Tay stilt house

Cruise to Lan Ha Bay and Bai Tu Long Bay with their perfect scenery

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Trip map

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Day by day itinerary
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Day 1
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Hanoi
Today you'll arrive in Hanoi and be transferred to your hotel.
Distance None
Overnight Location Hotel in Hanoi
Included Meals None
Day 2
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Rural Biking & night train to Sapa
This morning get a snapshot of rural life during a tour of a farming village. You'll see the houses, market and temples, learn how rice is cultivated and watch a cooking demonstration. Lunch will be in the company of a local family. In the afternoon there is free time in Hanoi before you take the overnight train to Lao Cai.
Distance None
Overnight Location Sleeper train to Lao Cai
Included Meals Breakfast, Lunch
Day 3
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Trek to Sang Ma Sao commune
After traveling overnight on the sleeper train you’ll wake up in the highlands of North Vietnam. A car will transfer you to Sang Ma Sao Valley, where you’ll catch your first glimpse of the famous rice terraces. Your two-day ascent of Ky Quan San begins this morning with a 9 km hike to an elevation of 1,100 m. The hike can be rocky and uneven in parts. After a picnic lunch, you’ll continue another 6 km to 2,100 m. Here there is a rest stop with some basic wooden cabins where you'll spend the night. The guides will cook dinner while you admire views of mountain peaks swathed in clouds.
Distance 6 hours, 15 km
Overnight Location Wooden cabins on Ky Quan San
Included Meals Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 4
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Climb Ky Quan San peak
Today you’ll ascend to the summit of Ky Quan San (3,045 m). This section is quite difficult, with some steep climbs over rocks and boulders. When you reach the top you'll feel a fantastic sense of achievement. Take in the views of mountain peaks disappearing into the clouds. When you’re ready, descend to the wooden cabins (9 km) for the night.
Distance 6 hours, 18 km
Overnight Location Wooden cabins on Ky Quan San
Included Meals Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 5
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Climb Muoi peak
Today begins with your second hike in the Hoang Lien Son mountains. You'll set off from the cabins and head east to a neighboring mountain, Nui Muoi (2,850 m). This is just a short 1 km hike but is worth doing as the views from this mountain are also spectacular. Then you’ll make the descent back to Ky Quan San village. Dinner and overnight accommodation is in a local homestay.
Distance 8 hours, 20 km
Overnight Location Homestay in Ky Quan San village
Included Meals Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 6
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Visiting Ha Giang and Quan Ba
You'll leave the mountains behind today and drive more than 300 km northeast to Quan Ba. This corner of rural Vietnam is famous for its mysterious landscape of cone-shaped limestone hills. Many of Vietnam’s ethnic communities live here in villages and small towns. The drive takes all day with breaks and lunch in a local restaurant along the way. You’ll spend the night in Tam Son village.
Distance None
Overnight Location Homestay in Quan Ba
Included Meals Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 7
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Trekking around Quan Ba
Explore the rice terraces this morning on an 8 km trek from village to village. You'll finish at the Lung Tam Commune, a handicraft center where you can buy products made from traditional textiles. In the afternoon you’ll transfer to Dong Van. Have your camera ready as there will be some good views of the limestone karsts along the way. You'll also stop for a look around Vuong Palace, a mansion once owned by Hmong king Vuong Chinh Duc.
Distance 4 hours, 8 km
Overnight Location Guesthouse in Dong Van
Included Meals Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 8
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Dong Van hill tribe market & Bao Lac
Have a wander around the village this morning before your visit to the market. People from the many different ethnic tribes of the area gather here and you can haggle for some souvenirs if you like. Then you'll set off for Bao Lac. On the way, don't miss the views of the UNESCO-protected Dong Van Geopark with its otherworldy limestone mountains. You'll drive over the Mai Pi Leng Pass, where the road winds its way along the side of a cliff, with breathtaking views.
Distance None
Overnight Location Guesthouse in Bao Lac
Included Meals Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 9
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From Bao Lac to Ba Be
Your destination today is Ba Be National Park. Ba Be means ‘three lakes’ and refers to the three lakes at the centre of the park, which join to form Vietnam’s largest natural lake. A paradise for nature lovers, the park is teeming with wildlife. Enjoy the peaceful, natural environment during a boat excursion on the lake. Your accommodation this evening is in a traditional Tay stilt house.
Distance None
Overnight Location Homestay in Ba Be
Included Meals Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 10
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Tea plantation and return to Hanoi
Today you’ll depart rural Vietnam for Hanoi, stopping en route at a tea plantation to discover how tea is grown and picked. Lunch is at the plantation with a chance to taste the tea before continuing. You'll arrive in Hanoi around 4 PM and check into your hotel.
Distance None
Overnight Location Hanoi Boutique Hotel
Included Meals Breakfast, Lunch
Day 11
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Cruising to Hai Phong and Lan Ha Bay
This morning you'll travel to Hai Phong, one of North Vietnam’s most important cities and tourism hubs. Check out the views from Vu-Lach Huyen Bridge, the longest sea bridge in the country, on the way. Board your boat and enjoy a welcome drink followed by lunch. In the afternoon you'll sail to Lan Ha Bay (avoiding crowded Ha Long Bay). Take in the beauty of the hundreds of limestone islands, have a swim and watch the sunset with a cocktail. In the evening, several activities are offered on board, including a cooking demonstration and a traditional tea ceremony.
Distance None
Overnight Location Heritage Cruise to Lan Ha Bay
Included Meals Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 12
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Cruising to Bai Tu Long Bay Hideaway
If you're up early, have a go at Vovinam, a Vietnamese martial art, on deck. Later you’ll visit a traditional village on Cat Ba Island where you can cycle around the pretty countryside and have lunch before getting back on the boat. In the afternoon, the boat will sail to Bai Tu Long Bay, an idyllic bay where you can kayak, take out a bamboo boat or go for a swim. Back on board, enjoy the sunset, dinner, and the evening’s activities.
Distance None
Overnight Location Heritage Cruise to Bai Tu Long Bay
Included Meals Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 13
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Returning to Hanoi
Head out on a bamboo boat this morning to explore tunnels under the limestone karsts which lead to caves and hidden lakes. After brunch on board, the boat will return you to the harbor where you'll disembark and be transferred back to your hotel in Hanoi.
Distance None
Overnight Location Hanoi Boutique Hotel
Included Meals Breakfast, Lunch
Day 14
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Farewell
Today it’s time to say goodbye to Vietnam as you’re transferred to the airport for your return flight.
Distance None
Overnight Location None
Included Meals Breakfast

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4.70 (67 reviews)
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Dates and prices

This guided The Bays of Northern Vietnam Tour is always run as a custom tour for your group only and the price depends on the size of the group.

Prices below are per person sharing a double or a triple room:

  • Guided Groups of 4: from $2,495USD per person*

*-Pricing for this tour depends on the dates of your trip and all the prices are per person. Please click the booking button below to get the exact pricing for your trip dates.

What’s included

Meals

13 breakfasts, 12 lunches, 9 dinners are included.

Accommodation

Accommodation for 13 nights along the tour.

Transportation during the Tour

Transportation is included for you and your luggage. This includes overland transfers, boat tickets, sleeper train ticket.

Also Included

  • English speaking tour guides
  • Entrance fees, taxes and community permits
  • Bike rental for biking days
  • Porter during the climb to Ky Quan San peak
  • Camping gear during the climb to Ky Quan San peak
  • Drinking water
  • All activities mentioned in program

Not included

  • Getting to and from starting and ending points of the tour
  • Visa
  • Insurance
  • Personal expenses
  • Anything not stated as ‘included’

Optional Extras

  • Additional night in Hanoi before and after the tour

Accommodation for The Bays of Northern Vietnam

On this tour, you’ll be staying in hotels, guesthouses and homestays. Homestays are basic accommodation. They allow you to learn about local culture by staying with an ethnic minority family and living and dining in the traditional way.
In some cases, the accommodation listed below may need to be substituted for other, comparable accommodations.

Single Rooms and Solo Travelers
You can pay a supplement to have a private room in a hotel while traveling with your group. Contact us to find out the price for solo travelers.

Frequently asked questions

How hard is the The Bays of Northern Vietnam Tour?

We rate this tour as a 4/5. The difficulty of the tour varies day-by-day. This tour is made for fit trekkers who can do long treks up and down hills.

What is the minimum age for this tour?

The minimum age for this trekking tour is 10 years with no exceptions.

Do I need a visa to travel to Vietnam?

Check with your local country about visa requirements. You could also try this website, though you should verify with your government.

What should I bring on the trip?

Here’s the list of what you should bring with you:

  • Passport
  • Change of clothes
  • Sunglasses & hat
  • Toiletries
  • Sunblock
  • Insect repellent
  • Flashlights
  • Camera
  • Proper sport boots/shoes
  • Personal first aid kit & medicine
  • Small VND notes for buying drinks
  • If you feel the need, you can bring along a luggage lock for your belongings.

Are meals included on The Bays of Northern Vietnam Tour?

13 breakfasts, 12 lunches, 9 dinners are included.

Do I need insurance?

Yes, it is mandatory to have Health and Medical insurance to join this trip. Get your Travel Insurance.

How do I get to Hanoi to start this tour?

You can get to Hanoi by bus or train from most of major Vietnam cities. The closest airport is Hanoi's Noi Bai International Airport, located 45 kilometres from central Hanoi.

Is the The Bays of Northern Vietnam Tour in English?

Yes, the tour guide speaks English.

Where does the The Bays of Northern Vietnam Tour end?

The tour ends in Hanoi.

Do I need special vaccines to travel to Vietnam?

Check with your family doctor.

Are there any travel restrictions for Vietnam?

Please check with your local government about travel restrictions before you book your tour. This map from the US Department of State provides an overview of the current status in countries around the globe. The UK‘s Foreign Office and Government of Canada also provide advice on foreign travel. Note that the travel advice may change depending on your nationality.

When is the best time to travel to Vietnam for this tour?

The best time to travel to Vietnam for this tour is between September and April.

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Why travellers choose this tour
At 10Adventures, it’s easy to make memories with the following six optional inclusions on this tour:
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