Northern Vietnam in Five Days
Hanoi, the rice fields of Ninh Binh and a night on Ha Long Bay
Northern Vietnam can be seen well in five days if the route is kept simple. Two nights in Hanoi cover the old quarter, the temples and the food; a day trip to Ninh Binh, two hours south, brings limestone cliffs rising from rice fields, explored by rowing boat; and a night aboard a cruise boat on Ha Long Bay ends the trip on the water. It suits a first visit to Vietnam, or a short extension to a longer trip in the south.
This is a starting-point itinerary — we adapt every detail to your travel dates, interests, pace, and group. Speak to our concierge to begin.
Indicative price
from €100 per person per day
For 2 travellers sharing a room, from published entry-level hotel rates and ground costs read on 10 October 2026. How we calculate it
Request this itineraryIncluded
- 4 nights' accommodation: 3 in Hanoi and 1 aboard a cruise boat
- A private day to Ninh Binh and Tam Coc
- A named Excurze concierge before and during the trip
Each stage has two or three hotels we know well. We propose the one that fits your dates and budget, and swap it if you prefer another.
Hanoi3 nights
Heritage
Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi
Near the Opera House
A colonial-era hotel opened in 1901, in the French quarter.
Luxury
Capella Hanoi
Near the Opera House
A newer luxury hotel with Art Deco-influenced interiors, in the same district.
Ha Long Bay1 night
Boutique
Halong Heritage Cruise
Overnight on the bay
An overnight cruise boat with cabins, meals and excursions.
Boutique
Paradise Elegance Cruise
Overnight on the bay
A larger wooden-style cruise boat with balcony cabins.
Hanoi
Arrive in Hanoi
Private transfer from the airport
Evening walk around Hoan Kiem Lake and the old quarter
Dinner of Hanoi dishes
Sleep: Hanoi (3 nights)
Hanoi
Hanoi's temples and streets
The Temple of Literature and the Hoa Lo prison museum
Street-food tour through the old quarter
Water puppets in the evening
Sleep: Hanoi
Ninh Binh
Ninh Binh and Tam Coc
Private car to Ninh Binh, about two hours
A rowing boat through the caves and rice fields of Tam Coc
Bich Dong pagoda and a cycle ride, then back to Hanoi
Sleep: Hanoi
Ha Long Bay
Overnight on Ha Long Bay
Transfer to the harbour, about three hours by road
Cruise among the limestone islands, with kayaking and a cave visit
Dinner and the night on board
Sleep: Cruise boat (1 night)
Ha Long Bay, Hanoi
Departure
Morning on the bay and brunch on board
Transfer back to Hanoi and the airport, or to your onward flight
Add Sapa
Two nights in the northern mountains, for rice terraces and hill-tribe villages, reached by road or the night train.
Lan Ha Bay instead of Ha Long
A quieter bay next to Ha Long, which the smaller cruise boats prefer.
Add Hoi An and Hue
A flight to central Vietnam for a few days of lantern-lit streets and imperial tombs.
Cooking class
A morning in Hanoi, starting at the market.
Best time to go
October to April
Dry, cool and clear, with the best conditions for Ha Long Bay in October and November and in spring. December to February can be cool and misty in the north, which is attractive on the bay but makes for greyer photographs.
Less suited: June to August, when it is hot, humid and wet, and storms sometimes close the bay to boats
from €100 per person per day
This is an indication, not a quote. It adds up the lowest published entry-level rates we found for the hotel we priced at each stage, plus the cost of a private guide and car, divides by 2 travellers and 5 days, and rounds up to the next €50. Peak-season rates, larger rooms and the other hotels named above will change it. Your quote will be built on your dates.
| Item | Rate | In euros |
|---|---|---|
Hanoi, 3 nights at Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi (from, queen room) momondo, Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi | 210 USD × 3 | €562 |
Ha Long Bay, overnight cruise on Halong Heritage Cruise, per person, 2 days and 1 night Halong Heritage Cruise | 150 USD × 2 | €268 |
Private day to Ninh Binh and Tam Coc, with entrance fees and a boat ride, per person Viator, Tam Coc | 79 USD × 2 | €141 |
| Total for 2 travellers | €971 | |
| Per person per day (€971 ÷ 2 ÷ 5), rounded up to €50 | €100 | |
The figure covers
- 3 nights at Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi, at its lowest published rate; Capella Hanoi starts at about US$370 a night
- One night on Halong Heritage Cruise, with meals and excursions (the Paradise Elegance cruise costs more)
- A private day to Ninh Binh
Not included
- International flights and the airport transfers
- Road transfers between Hanoi and Ha Long Bay, and a guide in Hanoi
- Meals not included in the hotel rate, the optional modules and tips
Converted at the European Central Bank reference rates of 9 October 2026. Hotel rates come from third-party booking and guide sites and change with dates and availability; each line links to the page we read.
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