Tonkin Elegance 8 Days
4.4 8

Itinerary

The iconic beauty of the north can be easily found on this tour. In a week, the northern Vietnam itinerary covers the 1,000-year-old Hanoi capital, then onto the night train to the well-known stunning Sapa with cultural diversity and beautiful rice terraces on the mountains. The trip ends with a relaxing time onboard an amazing Halong Bay overnight cruise. This Tonkin tour is top of the best Vietnam holiday packages all inclusive, enquired and favored by many of our travelers.

Highlight

  • Immerse yourself in the charming but bustling Hanoi Old quarter
  • Enjoy the stunning landscapes in Sapa and surrounding areas with various options for trekking lovers
  • See the magnificent Ha Long Bay, together with an overnight experience onboard a cruise
  • Captured to all of the famous sites  North Vietnam Tours has to offer

Besides if you want to visit off-the-beaten-path destinations, discover hidden gems, or focus on specific cultural or historical aspects, let us know your travel preferences, and we’ll help you create a customized itinerary just for you!

DAY 01: HANOI ARRIVAL

Arrive at Noi Bai Airport. You are welcomed by our driver at the exit gate. Transfer to the hotel (45min). Check in and have a restful overnight stay at the hotel.

Meal: N/A
Tour guide: English-speaking guide

woman on bicycle selling things on Hanoi street

DAY 02: HANOI – LAO CAI

The full day tour takes you around Hanoi’s highlights sites, including the Ho Chi Minh Complex: Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, Ho Chi Minh Museum, his stilt house, Presidential Palace, and the One Pillar Pagoda to learn about Buddhist practices in Vietnam. You also have the chance to visit the historic University – The Temple of Literature dates back to the 11th century. Continue the trip to the Ethnology Museum a very informative museum including indoor and outdoor exhibitions. Back to the Old Quarter to walk through the narrow streets that were famous for its specialized craft making guilds, the guild streets were named for their product or location and still bear such names nowadays. Then later that evening, our staff will escort you to your cabin on the train to Lao Cai. Overnight on the train.

Tour guide: English-speaking guide

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Man on bicycle selling hat on Hanoi street

DAY 03: LAO CAI – SAPA

Arrive at Lao Cai train station at around 6 am. Pick up and transfer to the hotel in Sapa (1 hour drive). Once in Sapa, have breakfast and check in to your hotel (the early check-in is upon availability and the hotel’s policy). Some free time is offered to explore the town by yourself. Meet your guide and driver for a leisure trip. The drive uphill offers most spectacular scenery of Fansipan Mountain. Just a kilometer out of the town, rose flower farms and later chayote grew on bamboo frames covering a vast area. We’ll stop at the magnificent Silver Waterfall before continuing the road trip for some kilometers further to Heaven Gate and Tram Ton Pass. At 2047m above sea level, the Heaven Gate & Tram Ton Pass is the highest mountain pass in Vietnam. From here enjoy walking around for half an hour for beautiful scenery of both two side of the Hoang Lien Son mountain range. The wind blows stronger to force the clouds moving constantly. It is the best point here to enjoy breathtaking scenery of the two side of Fansipan Mountain Range. Amazingly that the weather is very different by the side: In many days It is foggy and cloudy on Sa Pa side and sunny brightly the other side. 

Leaving the Heaven Gate for the way back downhill 7 km, where you may stop to taking pictures of some lush farm in O Quy Ho where different kind of vegetable, flower, fruit trees and even medicinal plants are grown for years which makes this part of Sapa ever green.

Transfer back to Sapa and trip ends with drop off at hotel.

Meal: Breakfast
Tour guide: English-speaking guide

Sapa rice terrace with children

DAY 04: SAPA – MA TRA – TA PHIN – HANOI

Located just a bout 5km southeast of Sapa town, Ma Tra valley attracts visitors for its stunning scenery highlighted with impressive terraced rice fields. The Hmong peoples has changed from sifting lifestyle into sedentary one form early 20th Century and built terraced field to ensure their ermanent earning by farming wet rice. 

Trip commences from Sapa at 08.30am or 01.30pm by a 5km road transfer out of Sapa town. Then walk starts from here downhill and cross the stream to the other bank where Suoi Ho village beautifully sits on the top of a low hill. Spend half an hour to visit several local homes for understanding of local life before continue walking along a large path on hillsides which is paved with rock to get through Ma Tra village. This portion of the walk offers beautiful scenery of the valley and terraced paddies as well as flower farm. Late afternoon, we bring you back to Lao Cai Railway station for overnight train to Hanoi.

Overnight is on the train.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Tour guide: English-speaking guide

Ethic woman at Ta Phi Village, Sapa

DAY 05: HANOI - NINH BINH - HOA LU - TRANG AN

Around 5.00 am, arrive at Hanoi and our staff will pick you up at the train station. Rest and breakfast in a hotel in Hanoi. Around 8:30 am, our guide and driver will take you to visit Hoa Lu, the ancient capital of Vietnam, where you can explore the historic temples dedicated to King Dinh and King Le. Immerse yourself in the rich history and admire the architectural marvels. Afterward, head to Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Here, embark on a tranquil boat ride through a stunning network of rivers, caves, and lush greenery. Marvel at the limestone karst landscapes and enjoy the serene beauty of the natural surroundings. Then, return to your hotel in Hanoi.

Overnight in Hanoi.

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch
Tour guide: English-speaking guide


DAY 06: HANOI - HALONG

After breakfast, at around 8.00 am, we will pick you up to embark on a journey to the mesmerizing Halong Bay.

On arrival, you are welcomed on board and served a mouth-watering lunch while cruising through the bay. Depending on which cruise you choose, the detailed itinerary will include a visit karst cave, kayaking (an extra option on most of the boats, some boat has kayaking included), swimming in crystal water, and enjoying the landscape, or relaxing at the sundeck. The day will end with a sumptuous dinner on board, and you will spend the night under the starry sky.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Tour guide: English-speaking guide on board


DAY 07: HA LONG - HA NOI

Wake up on the bay to the sounds of waves, fresh air, and breeze. A brand new day comes. Following breakfast, you can discover a breathtaking limestone grotto before returning to the boat for a scenic cruise back to the dock.

Your boat will arrive at the harbor by 11:30 am, and your driver is waiting to take you to the hotel in Hanoi.

Overnight in Hanoi.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Tour guide: English-speaking guide


DAY 08: HANOI DEPARTURE

Free for your own leisure until pick up and transfer to the airport for your departure flight.

Meals: Breakfast
Tour guide: English-speaking  guide

The Huc bridge Hanoi - Hanoi city tour

Pricing

Category Price valid from Jan 1st – Dec 31st, 2026 (per person in US dollar)
2 people 3 – 4 people 5 – 6 people 7 – 8 people Single supplement
Superior $914 $782 $657 $597 $254
Deluxe $991 $859 $734 $674 $318
Luxury $1,131 $999 $874 $814 $473

 

ACCOMMODATION

Cities Hotel Category
Superior Deluxe  Luxury
Hanoi San Boutique Hotel
Premium
Anatole Hanoi Hotel
Grand Deluxe
Peridot Grand Luxury Boutique Hotel
Grand Deluxe
Sapa Bamboo Sapa Hotel
Superior Window
Aliana Boutique Sapa
Deluxe Balcony
Silk Path Grand Sapa
Balcony Classic Garden
Halong Renea Cruise
Deluxe
Peony Cruise
Deluxe Balcony
Indochine Lan Ha Cruise
Junior Suite

Include & Exclude

TRIP INCLUSIVE

  • Accommodations based on twin sharing room with daily breakfast
  • Private transfer with air conditioning for airport pick up/drop off
  • A bottle of water anda  cold towel daily in the private car
  • Regional and experienced English-speaking guides
  • Meals as indicated (without beverage)
  • All entrance and sightseeing fees.
  • 2D1N trip in Ha Long Bay
  • Overnight train tickets: Hanoi Station – Lao Cai Station (02 ways)
  • Service charges and government tax

TRIP EXCLUSIVE

  • Travel insurances
  • Drink and meals not mentioned in the Inclusive column
  • Personal tipping and gratuities
  • International flight ticket
  • Vietnam Visa

Note:

* Check-in time: 02.00 pm – Check-out time: 12.00 pm

* Special offer in Low Season from May 1st – Sep 30th is applied. Please contact us for more details.

* Price is based on a minimum of 2 people sharing 1 double/ twin room. Single supplement is surcharged when one person occupies one room.

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