Table of Contents
Northern Vietnam has some of the most remote and stunning scenery in the country, delicious food & one of the best places to experience the rich Vietnamese culture. If you’re taking the time to read this north Vietnam itinerary, I’m assuming you’re in the process of planning a trip to Vietnam. I’m so excited for you because Vietnam is a fantastic country and one of my favourite places in Asia.
Vietnam is an affordable and safe destination and traveling anywhere here will give you unforgettable memories.
This itinerary will have you exploring three incredible parts of Northern Vietnam, at a pace that won’t leave you exhausted by the time you fly home. And, I will also suggest a couple of other places if you have longer than 7 days.
Pre-Trip Essentials for 1 Week in Vietnam
Visa For Vietnam
The majority of countries will need a tourist visa when for Vietnam. Vietnam has an e-visa system which makes it very easy to apply for and pay for your visa online.
The tourist e-visa is available for 80 countries and costs 25USD. The visa is valid for 1 month, you must have at least 6 months of validity on your passport.
There’s also a few countries that won’t need to apply for a visa at all;
Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Singapore, visa-free for 30 days.
Philippines, visa-free for 21 days.
Japan, South Korea, Denmark, Russia, Sweden, Norway, Finland, UK, France, Germany, Italy, and Spain, visa-free for 15 days.
Brunei & Myanmar, visa-free for 14 days.
This information can change without notice so always check the specific visa requirements for your passport before you travel.
Money in Vietnam
The official currency in Vietnam is the Vietnamese Dong. At the time of writing this blog, 1 USD was approximately 23,000 Dong and 1 AUD was 16,000 Dong.
Language in Vietnam
While backpacking in Vietnam I found very few people spoke fluent English, even the younger generation. Also in a lot of restaurants, the menu was only written in Vietnamese.
A couple of things I would recommend when traveling to Vietnam to assist with a possible language barrier; have google translate downloaded on your phone and make sure Vietnamese is available offline. And, learn a few of the local words for food.
Some words you may find helpful when ordering meals:
Vegan – Thuan Chay
Vegetarian – An Chay
Chicken – Ga
Beef – Bo
Fish – Ca
Pork – Thit Lon
Rice – Com
Packing for This North Vietnam Itinerary
If you’re traveling to northern Vietnam in the winter months (December – February) it can get surprisingly cold, so make sure you pack winter gear. Especially if visiting mountain areas such as Sapa.
Traveling with a portable charger can always come in handy, particularly in Vietnam if using trains or buses. These journeys can be very long and often (if they even had them) the chargers on board didn’t work.
Also, comfortable shoes are a must for Vietnam. Cities like Hanoi are best explored on foot so you’ll be doing a lot of walking.
How Long to Spend in Vietnam
Before traveling to Vietnam I really underestimated how big it is, it may not be wide but Vietnam is mighty long!
If you plan to visit North, Central & South Vietnam, I really think you need to spend 1 month (most visas are only valid for a maximum of 1 month). My husband & I spent a month in Vietnam and although we saw heaps, there are still so many destinations we didn’t get to.
But if your sights are just set on North Vietnam, 7 days will be perfect. One week will give you time to visit three of the best areas at a reasonably relaxed pace.
Best Time to Visit North Vietnam
Vietnam sits in a tropical zone so technically only has two seasons, rainy and dry. But the Northern region of Vietnam does experience a variety of seasons throughout the year.
And, as Vietnam is so long the weather can vary quite a bit depending on which region you’re visiting.
Generally, the best time to visit North Vietnam is during Spring and Autumn, when the weather is dry and not too hot. Perfect for outdoor activities and getting amongst the beautiful scenery.
I visited in June and although it was very hot and we had a few days of rain, it was still amazing.
Summer (May-August)
This is the hottest and sweatiest time of the year, and during summer there can be tropical storms. I love the heat so really enjoyed visiting in summer but did always need to cover up when I was on the back of the bike because I could feel my skin burning.
Autumn (September-November)
For many, this is a much more pleasant time to visit north Vietnam with the daily average temperature being in the mid-20s.
Winter (December-February)
The northern region of Vietnam gets very cold in winter. It’s essential to pack warm clothing, the temperature can get as low as 13 degrees.
Spring (March – April)
This would be the best time of year for hiking as the weather is pleasant & wildflowers will be in full bloom. The weather in spring is also the most consistent.
7-Day North Vietnam Itinerary
Day 1-3 North Vietnam Itinerary; Hanoi
Accommodation: Golden Art Hotel
Highlight: Train Street, The Imperial Citadel of Thang Long, Water Puppet Show at Thang Long Theatre & Old Quarter.
Hanoi is the vibrant capital of Vietnam and you could spend way more than 3 days getting lost in these busy streets. But over three days visitors can tick off all the main highlights and attractions.
Arriving in Hanoi by air is easy as the airport is one of the busiest in the county. To avoid too much hassle when you arrive, treat yourself to a private airport pick to drop you at your hotel. This is actually very reasonably priced, I booked this one through Get Your Guide and it only cost $20.
Day 1
On day 1 of this 7-day North Vietnam itinerary, I suggest heading straight to the popular Train Street. This narrow street, filled with lively cafes will have you seated only centimetres away from the train as it rushes past.
Many of the cafes have the train schedule so it’s easy to plan your visit. I liked to arrive at least half an hour prior to the train so we could beat the crowds and get a good spot along the tracks.
Take heaps of photos and enjoy some brunch before heading off to the next place.
After Train Street, it would be ideal to visit the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long as this is only a 10-minute walk away.
The Citadel is a complex of historic buildings, built in the 11th century by the Vietnamese Ly dynasty.
Two highlights of the Citadel are the main gate and the Hanoi flag tower. Plus there’s a museum and underground meeting rooms, used for planning during the Vietnam war. Both are very interesting!
It’s open until 5 pm every day and entry will cost 30,000 VND.
For the last stop of day 1, I suggest visiting the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, which is a 10-15 minute walk from The Citadel. This is where you can see Vietnam’s former President Ho Chi Minh’s body laying at rest in a glass box and this box is always surrounded by 4 guards.
Visiting the mausoleum is free but there’s a dress code; no short skirts or revealing tops. Once inside visitors won’t be allowed to talk, point fingers or take photos. Also, backpacks aren’t allowed, but there’re lockers out the front.
Day 2
On day two in Hanoi spend the morning exploring Old Quarter on foot. This part of the city offers a real insight into local life, with narrow streets jammed packed with cars, motorbikes, rickshaws and pedestrians.
And of course, how every good day should start is with a coffee. Old Quarter is the perfect place to find Vietnam’s unique egg coffee.
Old Quarter is full of with original architecture, beautiful trees spilling onto the roads and so many delicious restaurants. Like Binh Mu 25, which sells the best Vegan Binh Mu in Hanoi or any small local restaurant serving Bun Cha.
In the afternoon I would recommend visiting Dong Xuan wholesale market. This market is indoors & absolutely jammed packed with products so the perfect place for shopping in Hanoi. Plus, as it’s a wholesaler you’ll find the best bargains.
Many of the stalls sell the same products so definitely shop around until you find what you like & at a good price. The market is open every day from 6 am – 6 pm.
If you’re tired from all today’s walking why not end the day by taking a seat on the tiny plastic chairs and enjoying a beer (or 10) along Ta Hien Beer Street? This lively walking street closes off to traffic every evening and is the perfect place to meet fellow travellers.
By nightfall, the bars & restaurants along Beer Street are jam-packed and street vendors & patrons will be spilling onto the streets.
Day 3
The most peaceful way to start a day in Hanoi is by Hoan Kiem Lake. Popular with morning Tai Chi classes or a stroll around the lake, it’s a great way to start your day.
Hoan Kiem Lake is in the middle of the city. This freshwater lake is somewhat of a mythical place for locals, since their school days they learn stories about the most revered heroes, a giant turtle, and a magic sword.
At the northern end of the Lake, there’s a beautiful red bridge called Cau The Huc, which connects to Ngoc Son Temple. Entry to the temple cost 30,000VND and is the most visited temple in Hanoi.
Once you’ve seen enough of the lake head to the southern end towards Hanoi Opera House, which is only a short walk away. This impressive building was built by the French colonial administration between 1901 & 1911.
The Opera House is impressive from the outside, but if you wanted to see more the best way to experience the Opera House is by booking tickets to one of the shows held there. Check out this website to see if there are any shows on while you’re in town.
Finish your last day in Hanoi at the Long Water Puppet Theatre. The theatre has been around since 1969 and is one of the most authentic cultural experiences you will have in Hanoi. The show was very beautiful & even though the dialogue was in Vietnamese I still got the gist of the storyline.
You can purchase tickets for the puppet show at the theatre and it’s better to buy them in advance. Ticket costs between 100,000 – 200,000 VND, and the most expensive seats are closer to the stage.
Want to read more on Hanoi? Click here for my Hanoi Travel Guide.
Day 4-5 North Vietnam Itinerary; Halong Bay
Accommodation: Halong Fantasea Cruise
Highlight: The scenery & Kayaking in Luon cave.
The best way to visit Halong Bay is by booking a cruise package that comes complete with return transfers from Hanoi, all your food, accommodation and activities.
Depending on which ship you choose, cruise packages on Halong Bay aren’t too expensive, and these cruise packages generally have very similar itineraries.
I booked a 2 day 1 night tour of Halong Bay through Bikudo Travel and Fantasea was the name of the ship. I’ll give you a rundown of my itinerary & experiences.
Day 4
After being picked up from our hotel in Hanoi the bus (which only had two other passengers) traveled 3.5 hours to Tuan Chau harbour. A tender will then transfer everyone out to the ship and for the next couple of hours, we settled into the ship and had lunch.
Then in the afternoon, we made the most of our time on Halong Bay by Kayaking in Luon Cave, visiting Titop Island to swim at the beach and hike the 400 steps up to the island’s lookout point.
Later that evening everyone was back on the ship for sunset drinks on the deck, lessons in making spring rolls, buffet dinner and karaoke.
Day 5
Depending on the weather day two on Halong Bay may start with a Tai Chi class on the top deck. Unfortunately, I missed this as it was pouring rain!
But after a filling breakfast, it’s off the ship again to explore Sung Sot Cave. Which was incredible and really exceeded my expectations. Sung Sot Caves are massive and even with all the other boast arriving at the same time the cave never felt cramped.
By late morning we were back on the boat to check out of our rooms, have lunch and then transferred back to Hanoi.
Want to read more on Halong Bay? Click here to read my full guide on Halong Bay.
Day 6-7 North Vietnam Itinerary; Ninh Binh
Accommodation: Trang An Peaceful Homestay
Highlight: Bamboo boat ride in Van Long Nature Reserve.
Now that your Halong Bay tour has brought you back to Hanoi, transport to Ninh Binh on day 5 is very doable.
The transport option I chose was the train, this was due to the convent schedule and low cost. I love train travel, the ease of the whole experience and all the beautiful county side along the way makes train travel the absolute best transport option to get to Ninh Binh.
The train trip is only 2.5 hours and costs 127,000 VND per person.
There’s also the option to book a private minivan transfer or tourist bus and these should also only take two hours. But of course, could vary depending on traffic. Check out 12Go for ticket prices & schedules.
Then once you have arrived the best way to explore Ninh Binh and get the most out of your two days is to hire a scooter.
This will give you the freedom and flexibility to explore at your own pace, daily scooter hire shouldn’t cost more than 110,000 VND and your hotel can organise this for you.
Day 6
Wake up early for your first day in Ninh Binh and head to Am Tien Cave. This complex opens at 7 am and it’s particularly good to get here early in the warmer months as a lot of the area has strong sun exposure.
Am Tien Cave consists of a massive lake surrounded by high limestone karst mountains. One hour is enough here and I particularly loved that Am Tien Cave didn’t feel touristy and the cave & temple were a real place of worship and not just for show.
Afterwards, ride to Bich Dong Pagoda, this should take around 20 minutes. The main gate to Bich Dong Pagoda is across a small bridge and it’s the most beautiful part.
Tucked into the side of a mountain in Tam Coc, this ancient pagoda has a pond on either side of the entrance and (depending on the season) are both filled with pink lotus flowers.
Follow the path through the temple complex towards the back and there’s a dark staircase up into the cave with a nice view from the top.
After an hour you probably would have seen it all and as Bich Dong Pagoda is very close to Tam Coc town, this is the perfect place to have lunch.
Later that afternoon ride approximately 40 minutes to Van Long Nature Reserve. The town here is beautiful and much quieter compared with Tam Coc.
[There are three places in Ninh Binh to do a Bamboo Boat Ride tour and we chose Van Log Nature Reserve because it was the cheapest (only 70,000 VND) but also going by all the reviews we read this area is more peaceful and much less touristy compared with Tam Coc & Trang An.]
These tours can be booked for 1 or 2 hours but as lovely as it is these boats aren’t overly comfortable. I found towards the end of an hour I was starting to get very uncomfortable.
The scenery you’ll experience over the hour is absolutely stunning and also where you could potentially see the endangered Langur monkey.
Also, depending on the time of year you’re visiting North Vietnam, there’s a cave in Van Long Nature Reserve that you’ll be rowed into, which was amazing. The roof of the cave gets so low you need to duck right down.
Later that evening; enjoy a slice of local life, by grabbing a drink & street food on the side of Trang An road (driving away from the city towards Trang An). The best spot is opposite Ky Lan Mountain, which is an island on the city’s waterways. And after dark, the temples are all lighten up and look so beautiful.
Day 7
For the 7th day of this North Vietnam itinerary, I would recommend visiting Mua Caves. They open at 6 am, Monday – Friday, I wouldn’t arrive here too late because Mua Caves is a popular attraction for Ninh Binh day trippers.
The ‘cave’ part of Mua Caves is nothing special, it’s more of a rocky walkway but I’m still recommending it because Hang Mua viewpoint and Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva statue on dragon mountain is incredible and the view makes each of the 500 uneven steps well worth the effort.
Then once you’ve come back down to earth, take some time to wander the wooden paths over the lotus pond.
After you’ve had some rest and eaten lunch, I suggest visiting Vietnam’s first National Park, Cuc Phuong National Park.
There you can hike in dense jungle, potentially seeing Great Hornbills, Pangolin or Clouded Leopard in the wild. Or, visit the Endangered Primate Rescue Center and the Bear Sanctuary.
From Tam Coc, the National Park is approximately 50 km so I would only recommend traveling out there if the weather was pleasant and I wouldn’t go if it was raining.
A popular hike in Cuc Phuong NP is Silver Cloud Peak. The peak of this hike is 648 meters high and offers incredible views of the national park.
Out of every destination I’ve included in this north Vietnam itinerary, Ninh Binh should be nonnegotiable, because it’s stunning. With a small-town charm, but so much to see, Ninh Binh is a paradise for any lover of the outdoors.
Want to read my 2 day Ninh Binh itinerary in full? Click here!
Where to next?
After exploring north Vietnam it’s time to discover the wonders of Central Vietnam. From Ninh Binh, I traveled directly to Hue.
Sign up below and I’ll send this travel guide straight to your inbox.
More Destinations That Could be Added to a North Vietnam Itinerary
I would only recommend adding more destinations to this itinerary if you have longer than 7 days.
Sapa
Sapa is a mountainous region in north Vietnam, famous for trekking and views of rice fields, rolling green hills and an insight into the rural Vietnamese lifestyle.
Sapa is perfect for anyone who loves the outdoors and being active. This is where you will find some of the best trekking trails in Vietnam and the option to book a two-day trek. The trek will have you wandering through rice fields, bathing in streams and a bigger understanding of the local’s life.
To get to Sapa from Hanoi there are two options; a 5-hour bus ride, which could be delayed due to traffic. Or a sleeper train which takes up to 8 hours.
To get the most time in Sapa I would recommend arriving via sleeper train, spending 2 full days / 1 night exploring Sapa, and then getting the sleeper train back to Hanoi.
Phong Nha
Visiting Phong Nha would be a good option if you plan to visit central Vietnam, as this can be done along the way. Phong Nha is south of Hanoi and from the city, a bus will take 9 hours or the train 11 hours. There are options to travel overnight.
Phong Nha is well known for Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park which is a UNESCO World Heritage-listed site.
The park is home to 300 caves, including the largest cave in the world, called Son Doong. Son Doong was discovered in 1990 but only first explored in 2009.
Millions of years of flooding in the region have carved the most beautiful and unique landscape. Tourists should have at least two days in the region for hiking, kayaking, and caving or rent a bike and discover the local villages.
Is Vietnam Expensive?
Not at all, Vietnam is one of the cheapest countries in Asia and especially when it comes to accommodation you get so much value for money. It’s very easy to find a 3-star hotel for less than $30 a night.
Than $1 beers and meals for $3 are very easy to come by and that’s not skimping on quality.
The biggest expense for us was transport and that was generally going the cheapest route. But to limit this by traveling slowly and try spending more than a couple of days in each place, of course, this would depend on how much time we have to travel in Vietnam.
Budget For 1 Week in North Vietnam
Following this 7 day north Vietnam itinerary, for two people we spent a total of $728AUD. This is including everything apart from flights into Hanoi but all our transport, the Halong Bay tour, food, drink & attractions. So that’s only $52AUD per person / per day.
Comment below if you think that is cheaper or not.
In Conclusion
I think regardless of your age, travelling through Vietnam is an incredible experience but doing it while you’re young and being happy to rough it, will definitely be more of an adventure.
Traveling on an old bumpy sleeper bus isn’t something I want to do when I’m old, but after this trip experiences like that have really left a lasting impression.
In this post, I have put together a detailed 7-day north Vietnam itinerary and also linked to bigger articles on each destination.
If you found this information helpful, please consider booking your trip via my affiliate links. This won’t be at any extra cost to you and will help fund this blog, thank you.
Thanks for reading,
Happy Travels
Like this Article?
Pin It!
If you liked this article, I would love for you to share it with your friends.
Planning a Trip? Travel Resources Below;
Searching For The Best Flights
Without a doubt the best site for comparing and booking flights is Skyscanner. Just click here to compare flights and get the best prices with Skyscanner.
Booking Accommodation
Click here to save on accommodation, from hostels to luxury hotels!
Get Cashback on Bookings
Before you book don’t forget to activate your Rakuten browser extension so you get cashback on your travel bookings.
Don’t know what Rakuten is? Read my guide here!
Never Skip Travel Insurance
Unfortunately, everything doesn’t always go to plan but travel insurance will protect you when it comes to illness, injury, theft & cancellation. I never travel overseas without travel insurance, it’s just not worth the risk!
Cover-More is a trusted company, who have a good reputation for making customer claims a hassle-free process.
Where to Next?
If you’re unsure of where to visit next, why not check out my Destination Page filled with exciting ideas from all over the world?
Elyse is the author & content creator behind A World To Live. After traveling to over 40 countries, she has a passion for discovering new places. Elyse is a money-conscious traveller who loves writing independent travel guides to help her readers get the most out of their travels.
Vietnam is truly a dream destination for me! I haven’t made my way to Asia just yet, but I am hoping to within the next year or two, definitely saving this guide to refer back to for when I can make it 🙂
Wow, this is such a great detailed guide! Will absolutely be returning to this in the future . Thanks!
Thank you so much Brianna
Gahhh! This is making me want to book a trip to Vietnam ASAP! Thanks so much for posting this. Saving for a future trip!!
You’re welcome!Thanks heaps Nikki
I was in Vietnam for several days so I only got to see a little of what you did. If I return, I would definitely go to Ninh Binh and spend more time in Hanoi.
Sounds great, Ninh Binh is definitely one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever seen
I loved Vietnam when I visited several years ago, and it’s great to know that it’s still an inexpensive and exciting place to go. Great tips and itinerary suggestions 🙂
Thanks a lot Melanie