Essential
Vietnam in 29 Days: Northern Mountains, Hoi An & the Mekong
Vietnam in 29 Days: Northern Mountains, Hoi An & the Mekong — 29 days, day by day
Day 1 · Noi Bai Airport → Hanoi
~30 km · about 45 minutes · walking at your leisure
Afternoon
- Your driver-guide meets you outside the arrivals hall at Noi Bai Airport and drives you to central Hanoi.
- Check in and rest.
Evening
- Free. Your guide suggests places to eat and stroll nearby.
Day 2 · Hanoi: city and food
In town · walking about 3 km, easy
Morning
- A double-decker bus city tour with your guide: the Temple of Literature and Hoan Kiem Lake.
Afternoon
- The Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum area and Hoa Lo Prison, then a walking food tour of Hanoi street specialities.
Evening
- The water puppet theatre.
Day 3 · Hanoi → Sapa
~314 km · about 5 hours with stops
Morning
- North on the expressway with your driver-guide.
Afternoon
- Arrive in Sapa and check in.
Evening
- Dinner at your hotel.
Day 4 · O Quy Ho Pass · Muong Hoa Valley
~47 km · walking about 5 km, easy to moderate
Morning
- Up the O Quy Ho Pass for the view over the Hoang Lien range.
Afternoon
- A local guide walks with you through the Muong Hoa Valley: terraces, streams and Black H'mong and Red Dao hamlets, away from the busy villages.
Evening
- Back at your hotel.
Day 5 · Sapa → Bac Ha · Ban Lien (optional)
~97 km, plus ~46 km return for Ban Lien · walking 1–2 km
Morning
- East to the Bac Ha plateau.
Afternoon
- Check in. If you feel like it, Ban Lien, a quiet Tay valley of stilt houses, rice paddies and Shan Tuyet tea hills, otherwise the afternoon is yours at the lodge.
Evening
- A short stroll in town.
Day 6 · Can Cau Saturday market · Bac Ha
~50 km · walking about 3 km, easy
Morning
- An early start for the Can Cau Saturday market near the Chinese border, the most local market of the region: Flower H'mong families trading buffalo, horses, rice wine and embroidered cloth.
Afternoon
- Lunch in Bac Ha, the Hoang A Tuong Palace and a gentle walk through a Flower H'mong hamlet with a local guide.
Evening
- Dinner at the lodge.
Day 7 · Bac Ha Sunday market → Ban Phung
~117 km · about 4 hours · walking about 2 km
Morning
- The Bac Ha Sunday market: Flower H'mong families from every valley, buffalo trading, food stalls.
Afternoon
- Through Xin Man on a quiet mountain road to Ban Phung in Hoang Su Phi.
Evening
- Home-cooked dinner with the host family.
Day 8 · Hoang Su Phi terraces → Nam Hong
~70 km · walking about 6 km, moderate
Morning
- A walk with a Dao guide among the Hoang Su Phi terraces and ancient Shan tea trees.
Afternoon
- Dao and Nung hamlets on the way to Nam Hong.
Evening
- Dinner at the retreat.
Day 9 · Nam Hong → Ha Giang → Thon Tha · Ha Thanh
~70 km · walking about 5 km, easy to moderate
Morning
- A morning walk around Nam Hong with a local guide.
Afternoon
- Drive to Ha Giang, walk through Thon Tha, a Tay village of wooden stilt houses, and cool off at Waterfall No. 6.
Evening
- Check in at the ecolodge in Ha Thanh.
Day 10 · Khuoi My → Quan Ba Heaven's Gate
~70 km · walking about 4 km
Morning
- Up to Khuoi My to walk among terraces and old tea trees.
Afternoon
- Quan Ba Heaven's Gate and the Fairy Bosom Hills.
Evening
- Arrive at the H'mong Village Resort, with its pool above the valley.
Day 11 · Lung Tam → Du Gia
~70 km · walking about 4 km
Morning
- The Lung Tam hemp cooperative, where H'mong women weave linen by hand.
Afternoon
- A quiet road into the Du Gia valley and a walk to the Du Gia waterfall through Tay hamlets.
Evening
- Dinner at the ecolodge.
Day 12 · Yen Minh · Tham Ma · Vuong Palace → Dong Van
~105 km · walking about 3 km
Morning
- The pine forest of Yen Minh and the curves of the Tham Ma slope.
Afternoon
- The Vuong Family Palace in Sa Phin, then Dong Van.
Evening
- Walk the old stone quarter at dusk.
Day 13 · Ma Pi Leng · Nho Que River → Khuoi Khon
~110 km + boat · walking about 3 km
Morning
- The Ma Pi Leng Pass, with a walk along the old cliff path, then a boat on the Nho Que River through the Tu San canyon.
Afternoon
- Through Meo Vac and Bao Lac to Khuoi Khon, a village of the Black Lo Lo people.
Evening
- Dinner with the host family.
Day 14 · Khau Coc Cha Pass → Pac Bo
~78 km · walking about 4 km
Morning
- The fourteen bends of the Khau Coc Cha Pass.
Afternoon
- Pac Bo: a walk along the clear Lenin Stream and the cave where Ho Chi Minh lived in 1941.
Evening
- Dinner at the farmstay.
Day 15 · Border road along the Quay Son River → Ban Gioc
~103 km · walking about 3 km
Morning
- The quiet road along the border and the green Quay Son River.
Afternoon
- Ban Gioc Waterfall, Nguom Ngao Cave and the Truc Lam Pagoda above the falls.
Evening
- Relax on your balcony with the waterfall below.
Day 16 · Ban Gioc by bamboo raft → Cao Bang
~87 km · walking about 2 km
Morning
- A bamboo raft to the foot of Ban Gioc Waterfall.
Afternoon
- Drive to Cao Bang city.
Evening
- Rest.
Day 17 · Cao Bang → Ba Be Lake
~130 km · walking about 2 km
Morning
- Drive to Ba Be National Park.
Afternoon
- A boat on Ba Be Lake.
Evening
- Dinner by the lake.
Day 18 · Puong Cave · Dau Dang · Pac Ngoi
By boat · walking about 5 km, easy
Morning
- By boat through Puong Cave to the Dau Dang Waterfall.
Afternoon
- A walk through Pac Ngoi, a Tay village on the lake shore, with a local guide.
Evening
- Dinner by the lake.
Day 19 · Ba Be → Hanoi
~213 km · about 4.5–5 hours
Morning
- Leave Ba Be for Hanoi.
Afternoon
- Arrive and check in.
Evening
- Free.
Day 20 · Ninh Binh: Tam Coc · Trang An
~157 km + boats · walking about 2 km
Morning
- Drive to Ninh Binh and a boat through the rice fields and caves of Tam Coc.
Afternoon
- The Trang An boat trip among limestone towers.
Evening
- Rest at your hotel.
Day 21 · Thung Nham · Ninh Binh countryside
~49 km · walking about 5 km, easy
Morning
- The Thung Nham bird valley.
Afternoon
- A walk through the Ninh Binh countryside with a local guide.
Evening
- Rest at your hotel.
Day 22 · Ninh Binh → Hanoi Airport · flight to Da Nang → Hoi An
~129 km to the airport + ~30 km · walking about 1 km
Morning
- A last breakfast in Ninh Binh, then your driver-guide takes you to Noi Bai Airport for an afternoon flight to Da Nang.
Afternoon
- Your new private guide and driver meet you in Da Nang. On the way to Hoi An you pass the Dragon Bridge and My Khe Beach.
Evening
- A short, easy stroll through lantern-lit lanes in Hoi An.
Day 23 · Tra Que cooking class · Hoi An by night
Short drives · walking about 3 km, flat
Morning
- Through the rice fields to Tra Que, a vegetable-growing village: time in the gardens with the farmers, a herbal foot massage and a cooking class. You eat what you cook for lunch.
Afternoon
- Rest at your hotel, then a gentle guided walk through Hoi An Ancient Town (UNESCO): the Japanese Covered Bridge and an old merchant house.
Evening
- Dinner in the old town, then a wooden boat on the Hoai River to set paper lanterns on the water, and the night market.
Day 24 · Bay Mau coconut forest by basket boat
~20 km · walking about 1 km
Morning
- A round bamboo basket boat into the Bay Mau coconut forest: nipa-palm canals, fishermen with lift nets, folk music on the water.
Afternoon
- Lunch at a riverside restaurant, then the rest of the day is yours: the pool, the spa or the old town.
Evening
- Free.
Day 25 · A free day in Hoi An
No planned drives
Morning
- Nothing planned, breakfast at your own pace.
Afternoon
- The pool, a spa treatment, the beach or a tailor in the old town. A car for the day can be arranged at extra cost.
Evening
- Free.
Day 26 · Flight to Saigon · sunset on the river
~30 km + ~8 km · little walking
Morning
- Transfer to Da Nang Airport for a late-morning flight to Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon).
Afternoon
- Your Saigon guide meets you and takes you to your hotel.
Evening
- A sunset cruise on the Saigon River as the city lights come on.
Day 27 · The Mekong Delta: My Tho and Ben Tre
~150 km return + boat · walking about 2 km, flat
Morning
- South through rice fields to My Tho, then a private boat across the Mekong and into palm-shaded canals to an orchard island in Ben Tre: coconut-candy workshops, seasonal fruit and folk music.
Afternoon
- Lunch at a riverside garden restaurant, time to rest in the garden, then back to Saigon.
Evening
- Free.
Day 28 · Saigon city
In town · walking about 2 km, flat
Morning
- A half-day city tour: the Reunification Palace, the Central Post Office and Ben Thanh Market.
Afternoon
- Lunch at a local restaurant, then free for shopping or a rest.
Evening
- Free, your last night in Vietnam.
Day 29 · Departure from Saigon
~8 km · about 30 minutes
Morning
- A last breakfast and free time at the hotel.
Afternoon
- Check-out by 12:00 and transfer to Tan Son Nhat Airport for your flight home.
Where you sleep
- Nights 1–2 · 19 — Hanoi: La Siesta Classic Hang Thung or Meliá Hanoi · Comfort 4-star in the Old Quarter · Premium 5-star with pool
- Nights 3–4 — Sapa: Bamboo Sapa Hotel or Silk Path Grand Sapa · Comfort 4-star with mountain-view balcony · Premium 5-star with pool and spa
- Nights 5–6 — Bac Ha Lodge Retreat · Lodge on the plateau
- Night 7 — Chi Tai Homestay 3, Ban Phung · Family homestay in Hoang Su Phi
- Night 8 — Panhou Retreat, Nam Hong · Eco-retreat in the valley
- Night 9 — Ha Giang Ecolodge, Ha Thanh · Ecolodge
- Night 10 — H'mong Village Resort, Quan Ba · Mountain resort with a pool above the valley
- Night 11 — Cheers Ecolodge, Du Gia · Ecolodge
- Night 12 — Amira Premium Lodge, Dong Van · Boutique lodge
- Night 13 — Khuoi Khon Homestay, Bao Lac · Black Lo Lo family homestay
- Night 14 — Me Farmstay, Pac Bo · Farmstay
- Night 15 — Saigon – Ban Gioc Resort · Resort facing the waterfall
- Night 16 — Muong Thanh Luxury Cao Bang · 5-star city hotel
- Nights 17–18 — Ba Be Jungle Houses · Lakeside eco-lodge
- Nights 20–21 — Ninh Binh: The Reed Hotel or Hidden Charm Hotel & Resort · Comfort 4-star with pool · Premium resort with pool
- Nights 22–25 — Hoi An: Hoi An Memories Resort or Little Oasis · Comfort 4-star with pool and spa · Premium 5-star with pool and spa
- Nights 26–28 — Saigon: Sky Gem Ben Thanh or Hotel Grand Saigon · Comfort 4-star by Ben Thanh Market · Premium 5-star with pool and spa
Why riders pick this one
- Ten nights in Ha Giang and Cao Bang, on secondary roads through quiet valleys and along the border
- Village walks every day, never more than about 7 km, always with a shorter option on the day
- One English-speaking driver-guide for the whole North in a private 7-seat electric car, with a local villager guide joining you on foot in each region
- Ecolodges and family-run lodges in the mountains, a double bed and private bathroom in every room
- A slow final week: a cooking class and lantern boat in Hoi An, a basket boat in the coconut forest, a sunset cruise in Saigon and a day in the Mekong Delta
- Comfort (4-star) or Premium (5-star) hotels in the cities, the same lodges, car and guides in both
What is included
- North: private electric car (VinFast Limo Green, 7 seats), charging, tolls and parking, with an English-speaking driver-guide
- Local walking guides in Sapa, Bac Ha, Hoang Su Phi, Ha Giang, Cao Bang, Ba Be and Ninh Binh
- Hoi An and Saigon: private car and local English-speaking guide for every outing and airport transfer
- 28 nights as listed, one double bed and a private bathroom in every room, daily breakfast
- Meals as set in the final programme, dietary needs briefed to every kitchen in advance
- Boats and rafts: Nho Que River · Ban Gioc · Ba Be Lake · Tam Coc · Trang An · Hoai River · Bay Mau basket boat · Saigon River sunset cruise · Mekong Delta
- Tra Que cooking class with herbal foot massage · Hanoi city bus, food tour and water puppets
- Entrance fees on the programme · bottled water in the car
- Border-area permits for Ha Giang and Cao Bang · travel insurance (BIC) · VAT
Not included
- International flights and your Vietnam visa
- Two domestic flights, Hanoi – Da Nang and Da Nang – Saigon: we book them for you at cost, about USD 200 per person in Economy Flex or USD 370 in Business
- International travel insurance with medical evacuation (please bring your own)
- Drinks, personal expenses and tips
- Early check-in before 14:00 and late check-out after 12:00
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