Home to soaring mountain peaks, emerald hills carved with rice terraces, waterways punctuated with karst formations, and a mosaic of hill tribe cultures, northern Vietnam summons travelers seeking the wild heart of the country.  

Led by a local guide, trek along timeworn rural trails, share a fresh, herbaceous meal with a family in a remote village, and cruise down a river hugged by towering limestone cliffs. While the north of Vietnam will delight nature and adventure lovers, we’ll design a trip with depth and nuance, where you’ll benefit from intimate, authentic connections with people and culture. That cultural exploration includes an immersion in the heady buzz of Hanoi, discovering the city’s history, art, and contemporary food scene. 

From the calm waters of legendary Ha Long Bay and quiet hilltop retreats in the mountains of Mai Chau to urban exploration, Northern Vietnam travel delights the adventurous at heart. 

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What is Northern Vietnam Known For?

Ninh Binh

Northern Vietnam, which borders China and Laos, is often considered the country’s cultural heartland. Outside of the capital city of Hanoi, the north is marked by smaller communities and rural villages where time-honored artisan and culinary traditions are still a part of everyday life. The majority of Vietnam’s 54 ethnic groups live in this region, including the country’s hill tribes such as the Red Dao and Hmong. Their vibrant contemporary culture has deep roots in the cultural and spiritual traditions of the past, which you’ll experience during heartfelt conversations. 

While connecting with local people and their culture, you’ll also be journeying through some of Vietnam’s most spectacular landscapes. Imagine trekking above a green valley carved with rice terraces, through a sun-dappled forest set to birdsong—or even scaling the country’s highest peak. Paddle down a river while watching life play out on the shore and spend a night sailing through Ha Long Bay’s secret coves, marveling at the bay’s iconic craggy karst formations rising from the water. There’s no shortage of natural splendor here. 

In Hanoi, ground yourself in centuries of history. Serving as the political and cultural capital of the country for thousands of years, there’s a palpable sense of ancient tradition that hangs in the air here. Wind your way down the narrow streets of the Old Quarter, passing French colonial buildings and streetside bars and restaurants, before exploring museums and galleries. 

What to Expect on a Luxury Trip to Northern Vietnam 

With Extraordinary Journeys, you’ll venture deep into Vietnam’s northern reaches, seeing storied sights from an unexpected perspective and discovering less-traveled places and experiences far off the tourist trail.

Spend time in the capital of Hanoi and then set out to visit the UNESCO World Heritage sites including Ha Long Bay and Ninh Binh in unique ways that skirt the crowds and allow you to fully embrace the awe that these natural wonders inspire. Breath in the invigorating mountain air while trekking along quiet routes, kayak around a glassy lake that’s off most travelers’ radar, and spot rare endemic wildlife from the leafy trails of Vietnam’s oldest nature reserve. 

Along the journey, expect intimate, heartfelt encounters that many travelers miss, whether that’s visiting a family home that’s been passed down through the centuries or learning about traditional handicrafts in a remote Red Dao mountain village. Tasting the regional flavors is another blissful part of travel and you’ll get a taste for Vietnamese cuisine in exclusive ways. Embark on a foodie-led street tour, break for mouth-watering bowl of bún chả on the streets of Hanoi, indulge in hearty, fresh mountain fare at a hilltop retreat, and share lunch with a local family in a small village.  

Whether you focus your time here on food, culture, or outdoor adventure—or a mix of all three—you’ll be guided by local experts with fascinating stories, from a former fighter pilot to an art historian. 

Northern Vietnam Travel Highlights

Discover History and Cuisine in Hanoi

Capella Hanoi | One of Hanoi’s best luxury hotels

Embark on a culinary tour of Hanoi’s Old Quarter while gaining insights into Vietnamese food culture from your expert guide. Take in the bouquet of aromas, sights, and sounds of Thanh Ha Market, which captures the essence of Vietnamese culture. Continue through the warren of streets in Dong Xuan Market, where you can try specialities such as tiu and bun dau and take in the visual feast of stalls heaping with spices, dried goods, and aromatics. When you’ve had your fill, get a masterclass in Hanoi’s culture, history, and fine arts on a tour with an esteemed local expert, meeting in a charming art cafe and then making your way to the Vietnam National Museum of Fine Arts, housed in a former French convent. 

Dive deeper into Hanoi’s history through personal, first-hand accounts of the country’s past. Over a cup of tea in a 20th-generation home, get to know the family as they share stories passed down through the generations and explain the history and architecture of their home. For more captivating storytelling, head into one of Hanoi’s residential neighborhoods to meet a former fighter pilot and learn about his inspiring life over tea. As you pour over his old photographs, books, and testimonials together, he shares his wartime experience as one of only 120 fighter pilots in the Vietnam War. 

Sail the Waterways of Ha Long Bay

Discover the UNESCO World Heritage site of Ha Long Bay differently. Bypass the crowded group tours and board a private, one-cabin traditional Chinese junk boat, sailing the tranquil waters of Bai Tu Long Bay, a less-traveled alternative to the busier Ha Long Bay routes. Over two days, you’ll cruise and kayak through the region’s iconic karst formations and emerald waters, savoring fresh seafood lunches out on the deck or mouth-watering barbecue beach picnics. 

Discover Mystical Ninh Binh 

In UNESCO-designated Ninh Binh, often skipped by travelers, rivers flanked by sheer limestone cliffs reminiscent of Ha Long Bay’s karst formations have earned the region the moniker “Ha Long Bay On Land”. Head out on a day of active adventure, gliding along the river in a traditional boat past green rice paddies and visiting the Tam Coc grottoes before hopping on a bike and cycling along mountain paths that wind through quaint villages.  

Trek Through the Mountains of Sapa

Sapa’s mist-shrouded mountains are threaded with sublime hiking routes that wind through rice terraces and shadowy forests, making it the trekking capital of Vietnam. The region is also home to the country’s hill tribe communities, making a stay here rich in culture as well as scenery. Follow a mountain trail marked by deep valleys, green rice fields, and thundering rivers and waterfalls to reach two remote Red Dao villages. Share a cup of tea with local people, learn about their agrarian lifestyle, and discover their traditional handicrafts, including making rice paper, crafting silver jewelry, and sewing colorful embroidery for traditional costumes.   

On another day, set out on a scenic hike to Silver Stone Mountain, which offers yawning views of Sapa’s postcard scenery stretching toward the horizon. At the end of nature-filled days, instead of staying in the sometimes-bustling town center, decompress at Topas Ecolodge. At this rustic yet elegant hilltop hideaway, you can indulge in spa treatments, locally sourced food, and infinity pool dips, all surrounded by the mountains of Huang Lien National Park.  

Slow Down in Mai Chau’s Countryside 

Hiking at Avana Retreat

The mountainous province of Mai Chau is a lesser known but no less beautiful alternative to Sapa. Loved for its hiking routes, you’ll trek along trails that pass through meadows and forests dotted with Hmong houses, a local ethnic minority, witnessing life play out in this remote rural region. Follow paths that carve through cassava fields, bamboo groves, and rice fields, and trace red dirt roads serenaded by the sound of chiming buffalo bells. Enjoy picnic lunches in peaceful mountain settings before descending back into the valley.  

Your homebase in Mai Chau is Avana Retreat, a stunning haven nestled in the mountains. While the region appeals to active travelers, there’s plenty of serenity to be found at this property: Organic food, traditional Vietnamese wellness remedies, all enjoyed in an Edenic setting where the only noise is murmuring springs and birdsong.  

Northern Vietnam’s Best Luxury Lodges

At the end of a day of exploring, recharge at some of the north’s most stylish hotels and lodges, including a sleek and sumptuous hotel in the heart of the city, a beautiful traditional wooden boat, and a romantic forest hideaway in the mountains. 

In the capital city, check into Capella Hanoi. Set on a quiet boulevard on the shores of Hoan Kiem Lake—a lake and greenspace in the heart of Hanoi—this hotel is an elegant ode to Hanoi’s opera culture, situated just moments from the Hanoi Opera House and boasting exquisite suites and a Michelin-starred restaurant. In the green mountains of Sapa and Mai Chau, you’ll settle in at Edenic hideaways that focus on nourishing food, nature immersion, and wellness rituals. We love Avana Retreat, a romantic haven overlooking green rice fields in Mai Chau, and Topas Ecolodge, a charming hilltop retreat with panoramic views of the surrounding mountains.  

The traditional Chinese junk boat that you’ll board for a private overnight sailing in Ha Long Bay is also a highlight. While you enjoy days of cruising the area’s hidden coves and emerald waters, you’ll enjoy al fresco, fresh seafood lunches on the deck, sunbathe on lounge chairs, and savor a restful sleep in a well-appointed cabin with views of the water right outside the window. 

When Is the Best Time to Travel to Northern Vietnam?

The best time to travel to Northern Vietnam is from November to April, when you’ll enjoy drier weather and mild temperatures. In comparison, May to October is marked by hot, humid, and rainy weather, making it less ideal for a region focused on trekking and other outdoor adventures. Be forewarned, in the far north in places such as Sapa, December and January can get quite chilly but still fairly dry overall, so if you don’t mind bundling up, you’ll share the trails with less people.   

Northern Vietnam On a Map

Mai Chau

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Ha Long Bay

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Ninh Binh

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Northern Vietnam Travel Itineraries

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  • Itinerary

Northern Vietnam In Depth

Cultural Traditions, World Heritage Sites, and Mountain Trekking The green mountains of Sapa are…

12 Days | $6,300 per person

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