7 days in the north: Ninh Binh first, then the bay, Sapa and a final Hanoi night
7 days, 6 nights: Ninh Binh (2N), Ha Long Bay (1N), Sapa (2N), Hanoi (1N). Best time to go: Best Sep–Nov and Mar–May; Dec–Jan Sapa nights drop near freezing.
Day 1: Arrive in Ninh Binh
Ninh Binh
- Tam Coc rowing boat · 2 h. Late May–June the rice is golden.
- Mua Cave viewpoint climb · 1.5 h. ~500 steps; go for sunset.
Local tip: Late May–June the rice is golden.
Day 2: Explore Ninh Binh
Ninh Binh
- Hoa Lu ancient capital temples · 1.5 h
- Trang An boat ride through caves · 2.5 h. Start by 8am to beat tour buses.
- Bai Dinh Pagoda complex · 2 h
- Cycling through rice fields · 2 h
Local tip: Start by 8am to beat tour buses.
Day 3: Ninh Binh → Ha Long Bay
Ha Long Bay · Ninh Binh to Ha Long Bay, Private transfer ~3h
- Ha Long / Lan Ha Bay overnight cruise · Full day. Lan Ha routes are quieter; pick free cancellation in Aug–Oct typhoon season.
- Kayaking & Sung Sot cave · 2 h. Usually included on cruises — confirm before paying extra.
Local tip: Lan Ha routes are quieter; pick free cancellation in Aug–Oct typhoon season.
Day 4: Ha Long Bay → Sapa
Sapa · Ha Long Bay to Sapa, Via Hanoi ~8h
- Cat Cat village walk · 2 h
Day 5: Explore Sapa
Sapa
- Fansipan cable car to the 'Roof of Indochina' · 4 h. Check the summit webcam — cloud often clears after 10am.
- Sapa town & night market · 1.5 h
Local tip: Check the summit webcam — cloud often clears after 10am.
Day 6: Sapa → Hanoi
Hanoi · Sapa to Hanoi, Sleeper bus / train via Lao Cai ~6h
- Hoan Kiem Lake & Ngoc Son Temple · 1.5 h. Weekend evenings the lake roads go pedestrian-only.
- Egg coffee & café crawl · 1.5 h
Local tip: Weekend evenings the lake roads go pedestrian-only.
Day 7: Depart from Hanoi
Hanoi
- Temple of Literature · 1.5 h
- Train Street café stop · 1 h. Watch from a café — walking on the tracks is restricted.
Local tip: Watch from a café — walking on the tracks is restricted.
Keep a buffer before your flight; check-out is usually noon.
Where to stay
- Ninh Binh (2 nights): Tam Coc / Hoa Lu boutique lodges. Pools and karst views, close to both boat rides.
- Ha Long Bay (1 night): On-board cruise cabin (Lan Ha / Ha Long). Your cruise ticket includes the cabin night.
- Sapa (2 nights): Muong Hoa valley eco-lodges. Wake up over the terraces; trek from the door.
- Hanoi (1 night): Hoan Kiem boutique stays. Quiet lanes, still walkable to the Old Quarter.