Want to experience Northern Vietnam’s culture, landscapes, homestays, caves, waterfalls, lakes, and mountain roads in one deeper journey? This 2-week Northern Vietnam Discovery Tour takes you from Hanoi to Mai Chau, Pu Luong, Ninh Binh, Ba Be National Park, Cao Bang, Ban Gioc Waterfall, Ha Giang, Dong Van, Ha Long Bay, and back to Hanoi.
View Itinerary Book This TourThis Northern Vietnam Discovery Tour is designed for travelers who want a responsible, culture-rich route through the north. Travel from Hanoi to Mai Chau, Pu Luong, Ninh Binh, Ba Be, Cao Bang, Ha Giang, Ha Long Bay, and Hanoi’s classic landmarks, with homestays, local communities, trekking, boat trips, caves, and waterfalls along the way.
Trek through forest, rice fields, White Thai valleys, Hieu Hamlet, waterfalls, water wheels, and ethnic minority villages.
Visit Tam Coc, Bich Dong Pagoda, Mua Cave, Hoa Lu Temple, Trang An, rivers, caves, and limestone mountain scenery.
Cycle through forest scenery, visit Hua Ma Cave, stay in Pac Ngoi Village, and take a full-day boat trip on Ba Be Lake.
Visit Angel Eye Mountain, Phuc Sen forging village, Phia Thap incense village, Nguom Ngao Cave, Ban Gioc Waterfall, and Phat Tich Pagoda.
Travel through Bao Lac, Nho Que River, Ma Pi Leng Pass, Dong Van, H’mong King Palace, Lao Xa, Lung Tam, Quan Ba, and Thon Tha.
End with a Ha Long Bay cruise, Luon Cave, Titov Island, Sung Sot Cave, Hanoi landmarks, Old Quarter cyclo ride, and water puppet show.
Follow the journey step by step, from Hanoi to Mai Chau, Pu Luong, Ninh Binh, Ba Be National Park, Cao Bang, Ban Gioc Waterfall, Ha Giang, Ha Long Bay, and your final Hanoi classic city day.
Your private car and tour guide pick you up at your hotel at 8:00 AM and begin the drive toward Mai Chau, about 160 km from Hanoi.
On arrival, start a trek through forest paths, open rice fields, and small villages, meeting local farmers along the way.
Continue into a valley that is home to the White Thai community and spend the night at a local homestay.
Explore the pristine and peaceful landscapes of Pu Luong Nature Reserve, known for ethnic minority villages, rice terraces, and mountain scenery.
Travel to Hieu Hamlet, one of the most beautiful and remote hamlets in Pu Luong, then trek along the waterfall area.
See traditional water wheels used by Thai and Muong communities for irrigation, then stay overnight at a local Thai homestay or bungalow in Pu Luong.
After breakfast, say goodbye to your host family. If it is Sunday, visit Pho Doan Market, then transfer to Tom Village for a scenic hike with your guide.
Spend time trekking through Pu Luong’s rice-terraced paddies, mountain scenery, and water-wheel landscapes before lunch at a local restaurant.
Continue to Ninh Binh, often called “Ha Long Bay on land.” Upon arrival in Tam Coc, cycle around the area and visit Bich Dong Pagoda before staying overnight at a local homestay.
Travel by boat through Ninh Binh’s limestone scenery, rice fields, river landscapes, and cave areas.
Stop at Hoa Lu, the ancient 10th-century capital of early Vietnam, to visit temples connected to historic dynastic royalty.
After exploring Ninh Binh’s history and natural scenery, depart back to Hanoi.
Your guide and driver pick you up again at 7:30 AM from your hotel lobby and take you to Ba Be, with the drive taking around 5 hours.
After lunch at a local restaurant, cycle through Ba Be’s forest landscapes, slow-flowing rivers, dramatic mountains, valleys, caves, rice fields, and rich flora and fauna.
Visit Hua Ma Cave, an atmospheric cave with thousands of stalactites and stalagmites, then stay overnight at a local homestay in Pac Ngoi Village.
Spend the day learning about different ethnic minority groups in Bac Kan, including Dzao, H’Mong, and Tay communities, while enjoying peaceful villages and Ba Be Lake.
Take a boat trip on Ba Be Lake and visit Puong Cave, famous for thousands of bats, before continuing down the Nang River.
Continue to Dau Dang Waterfall, have lunch at a nearby village restaurant by the river, and stay another night at the same homestay in Pac Ngoi Village.
Enjoy a scenic drive from Ba Be to Cao Bang, with a short trek along the way to enjoy the landscape and learn more about local life.
Visit Angel Eye Mountain, also known as Nui Thung, a mountain with a natural through-going hole set among grasslands, green lakes, and Non Nuoc Cao Bang UNESCO Global Geopark scenery.
Continue to Phuc Sen forging village and Phia Thap incense village before staying overnight at a local homestay in Nguom Ngao.
Visit Ban Gioc Waterfall, one of Vietnam’s biggest waterfalls, stretching more than 300 meters along the Vietnam–China border.
Visit Phat Tich Truc Lam Ban Gioc Pagoda, set near Ban Gioc Waterfall with views over the waterfall, paddy fields, and mountain ranges.
Explore Nguom Ngao Cave, a large limestone cave with stalactites, legends, three gates, and many small grottos, then continue the journey toward Bao Lac.
Transfer from Bao Lac toward Dong Van, passing through dramatic mountain scenery and ethnic minority areas.
If the weather is suitable, travel to Meo Vac for a boat trip along the Nho Que River, then continue to Ma Pi Leng Pass for spectacular mountain and valley views.
Warm up with a trek around the Skypath road to a Flower Hmong village, reaching the peak of Ma Pi Leng Mountain before checking in at your accommodation in Dong Van.
Start with a visit to the H’Mong King Palace, a historic royal residence known for its mixed European and Chinese architectural style.
Stop at Lao Xa Village to visit H’mong families, see old traditional houses, and interact with local people.
On the route to Thon Tha, stop for photos, hear the legend of Twin Mountain and Heaven’s Gate, and visit Lung Tam Linen Cooperative to learn about local embroidery and linen making.
After breakfast, enjoy free time in Thon Tha Village to walk around, visit local families, explore the landscape, or take a short hike to Ha Thanh Waterfall.
Travel back to Hanoi in about a 6-hour drive.
Optional pickup from Hanoi Old Quarter is around 8:00–8:30 AM. Arrive at La Regina Royal waiting lounge in Bai Chay, Ha Long, enjoy a welcome drink, and board the cruise.
Check in on board with a welcome drink and safety briefing, then enjoy a set-menu lunch as the cruise moves through Ha Long Bay.
Visit Luon Cave for kayaking or rowing boat options, then continue to Titov Island for swimming or a hike to the top for panoramic bay views.
Return to the cruise, relax, enjoy a special dinner, and choose squid fishing, spa, karaoke, or quiet time after dinner.
Greet the new day with Tai Chi on the sundeck, followed by a light breakfast at the restaurant.
Visit Sung Sot Cave, one of Ha Long Bay’s most magnificent caves, with panoramic views across the bay.
Check out of your cabin, enjoy a Vietnamese cuisine buffet while the boat returns to harbor, disembark around 11:00 AM, and arrive back at your Hanoi hotel around 3:30 PM.
Meet your guide at 8:00 AM and visit the Ho Chi Minh Complex, his museum, the wooden ethnic minority house where he lived, and One Pillar Pagoda.
Visit the Temple of Literature, then after lunch continue to the Museum of Ethnology to learn about Vietnam’s 54 ethnic groups.
Visit Ngoc Son Temple on Hoan Kiem Lake, explore Hanoi’s 36 Old Quarter streets by cyclo, and end the tour with a traditional water puppet show before returning to your hotel.
Review the main inclusions and exclusions before sending your request, so you can better understand what is covered in this 2-week Northern Vietnam Discovery Tour.
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Real stories from travelers who joined YESD for authentic, responsible, and locally connected travel experiences in Vietnam.
Well what can I say about my Ha Chiang loop trip I did with Yesd. They were excellent from start to finish. As a 54 year old man I did the loop solo with my driver Chinh as I wanted to avoid the happy water and karaoke aspect. Chinh understood this perfectly and took me on a fabulous trip. We took local routes when he could, avoiding some of main routes. He kept ahead of the ‘Mongolian army’ as he called the throngs of other loopers and often arrived at view points before they arrived …
It was a unique experience that allowed me to truly experience sustainable tourism. The activities took place in breathtaking landscapes and gave us the opportunity to learn firsthand about the traditions and lifestyle of the local communities. The team was very attentive and took care of every detail to ensure we enjoyed our stay to the fullest.
Realmente lo recomiendo! es una manera hermosa de descubrir Ha Giang y, al mismo tiempo, contribuir a un turismo responsable.
An amazing experience! Incredible guides! You almost feel privileged compared to other groups. The accommodation is top-notch; the house, the welcome, the meals—everything is perfect. The mountain trek is magical, the motorbike trek is insane, incredible views the whole time, and super enriching stories. Thank you again to the entire YESD Travel team; they are truly wonderful people.
Practical answers to help you understand the route, homestays, trekking, Ba Be Lake, Cao Bang waterfalls, Ha Giang mountain roads, Ha Long Bay cruise, Hanoi city day, inclusions, and whether this 2-week Northern Vietnam tour is the right fit for your trip.
This tour lasts 2 weeks, with a 14-day itinerary covering Northern Vietnam’s villages, nature reserves, lakes, waterfalls, mountains, caves, bay scenery, and Hanoi landmarks.
The itinerary includes Hanoi, Mai Chau, Pu Luong, Ninh Binh, Ba Be National Park, Pac Ngoi Village, Cao Bang, Ban Gioc Waterfall, Nguom Ngao Cave, Bao Lac, Nho Que River, Ma Pi Leng Pass, Dong Van, Thon Tha, Ha Long Bay, and Hanoi Classic.
Yes. The route includes homestays and local encounters with White Thai, Black Thai, Muong, Tay, H’mong, Dzao, Nung, and other ethnic minority communities across Northern Vietnam.
Yes. The itinerary includes short treks and hikes in Mai Chau, Pu Luong, Ba Be, Cao Bang, Ma Pi Leng Skypath, Thon Tha, and other scenic areas, depending on the day’s route and conditions.
Yes. The tour includes Ba Be National Park, Hua Ma Cave, Pac Ngoi Village, and a full-day boat trip on Ba Be Lake with Puong Cave, Nang River, and Dau Dang Waterfall.
Yes. The itinerary includes Ban Gioc Waterfall, Phat Tich Truc Lam Ban Gioc Pagoda, and Nguom Ngao Cave in the Cao Bang section.
Yes. The route includes Bao Lac, Nho Que River when conditions allow, Ma Pi Leng Pass, Skypath trekking, Dong Van, H’mong King Palace, Lao Xa, Lung Tam Linen Cooperative, Quan Ba, and Thon Tha Village.
Yes. Days 12 and 13 include a Ha Long Bay cruise with Luon Cave, Titov Island, onboard dinner, Tai Chi, Sung Sot Cave, and return to Hanoi.
Ground transport, English-speaking guide, accommodation, and activities and meals mentioned in the itinerary are included.
Yes. The itinerary may change or be cancelled due to weather conditions, especially for mountain roads, boat trips, cave visits, waterfall visits, and Ha Long Bay cruise operations.