Package overview
This routing reorders the standard seven-day Hanoi opening: rather than a full city tour before Ha Long Bay, the group boards the cruise on day two and returns to Hanoi on day three, then heads straight out by road to Sa Pa for two nights rather than flying to a coastal or southern city.
Sa Pa's day covers Silver Waterfall, Heaven Gate at 2,047 metres and the Fansipan cable car up to Indochina's highest point, before the return drive to Hanoi and a half-day city tour on the final morning ahead of the flight home. The overland Sa Pa legs run about six hours each way, so this suits clients comfortable with road time in exchange for mountain scenery unavailable on the other three seven-day options.
Trip highlights
- Overnight Ha Long Bay cruise, boarded directly on day two
- Two full nights in Sa Pa rather than a coastal or southern finish
- Heaven Gate and Tram Ton Pass at 2,047 metres
- Fansipan cable car to Indochina's highest peak
- Hanoi city tour saved for a half-day finish before departure
Day-by-day itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Hanoi (about a 45-minute, 25 km transfer from the airport)
Hanoi's tree-lined boulevards, French colonial buildings and lakeside pagodas set the pace for the days ahead. Arrival afternoons are usually spent close to the hotel, with time for an optional walk through the Old Quarter's narrow lanes of shophouses and street-food stalls.
Day 2: Hanoi to Ha Long Bay, board overnight cruise (about 3 hours / 170 km one way)
An 8am pickup starts the drive through the Red River Delta's rice fields and villages to Ha Long Bay. Once aboard the traditional junk, the cruise passes Dinh Huong, Ga Choi, Dog and Sail Islands, stops at a pearl-farming site and paddles into Luon Cave, with a swim near Ti Top Island before sunset and dinner served on board.
Day 3: Ha Long Bay to Hanoi, Surprise Cave (about 3 hours / 170 km one way)
A Tai Chi session on the sundeck opens the morning before the cruise visits Surprise Cave, entered by around 100 steps and explored on a roughly hour-long walk. After brunch, the boat passes Ga Choi Island, Binh Phong Mountain and Tortoise Island before disembarking at Tuan Chau port for the road transfer back to Hanoi.
Day 4: Hanoi to Sa Pa by road (about 6 hours / 315 km one way)
The drive north on the Noi Bai–Lao Cai highway climbs steadily through terraced rice fields carved into the northwest mountains, with a short break en route. After check-in and lunch at a local restaurant, the rest of the afternoon is free for an easy evening walk around Sa Pa town.
Day 5: Heaven Gate, Silver Waterfall and Fansipan by cable car
The drive uphill takes in rose farms and chayote frames before a stop at Silver Waterfall, then continues to Tram Ton Pass and Heaven Gate — at 2,047 metres, the highest road pass in Vietnam — where a half-hour walk gives views over both sides of the Hoang Lien Son range, often clear on one side and clouded on the other.
Returning downhill, a stop at O Quy Ho takes in terraced vegetable, flower and medicinal-plant farms before the Fansipan cable car, one of the world's longest and highest, covers 6.5 km up to the 3,143-metre summit known as the roof of Indochina in about 25 minutes. Late afternoon transfer back to Hanoi.
Day 6: Sa Pa to Hanoi by road (about 6 hours / 315 km one way)
The return drive follows the same Lao Cai–Noi Bai highway back through the terraced northwest mountains, with a short break along the way. Arrival in Hanoi is usually in the early evening, leaving the rest of the day free.
Day 7: Half-day Hanoi city tour, departure (about a 45-minute, 25 km transfer to the airport)
The half-day tour covers Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum and stilt house, the One Pillar Pagoda and the Temple of Literature, before transfer to Noi Bai International Airport for the departure flight — the capital's sights saved for the trip's final morning rather than opened with them.
What's included
- INCLUSIONS
- EXCLUSIONS
- ACCOMMODATION
- VISA
- PAYMENT TERMS
- CANCELLATION POLICY
- DO'S IN VIETNAM
- DON'TS IN VIETNAM
- Accommodation with twin/ double/ triple sharing room basis with daily breakfast in the category chosen or similar (subject to availability).
- Meals as mentioned in the Tour Itinerary.
- Sightseeing & Transfers according to the above Tour Itinerary Details only.
- Transportation by vehicle with A/C
- Local English-speaking guide’s assistance.
- All Entrance fees for attractions included in the program
- All activities and cruises clearly mentioned in the program
- Government taxes & service charge
- Air Fare / Train fare.
- Personal Expenses such as Laundry, telephone calls, tips & gratuity, mineral water, soft & hard drinks, porterage, water sports.
- Early check-in, late check-out
- Additional sightseeing or extra usage of vehicle, other than mentioned in the itinerary.
- Room Up gradation Charges.
- Any cost arising due to natural calamities like, landslides, road blockage, political disturbances (strikes), etc (to be borne by the client, which is directly payable on the spot).
- Travel Insurance.
- Bank Charges
- Tip to Driver & Guide (Compulsory)
- Airport Taxes
- Visa and Visa arrangement
- Anything which is not included in the inclusion.
Not included
- Air Fare / Train fare.
- Personal Expenses such as Laundry, telephone calls, tips & gratuity, mineral water, soft & hard drinks, porterage, water sports.
- Early check-in, late check-out
- Additional sightseeing or extra usage of vehicle, other than mentioned in the itinerary.
- Room Up gradation Charges.
- Any cost arising due to natural calamities like, landslides, road blockage, political disturbances (strikes), etc (to be borne by the client, which is directly payable on the spot).
- Travel Insurance.
- Bank Charges
- Tip to Driver & Guide (Compulsory)
- Airport Taxes
- Visa and Visa arrangement
- Anything which is not included in the inclusion.
Book this package
Visa requirements, payment terms and cancellation rules for this destination are set out on our [Vietnam travel information page](vietnam/travel-information).
Rates are quoted on request for your dates, party size and hotel category. Send us the itinerary reference and we will come back with a net B2B quotation.