How much does a Vietnam tour package 7-day cost?

Pricing varies with hotel category, season, and group size, generally ranging from budget 3-star packages to premium 5-star itineraries with private cruise cabins and upgraded transfers. Traveling in the shoulder season (April–May or September) typically offers the best balance of good weather and lower rates.

What is the best time of year to book this 7-day itinerary?

The ideal window is October through April, when Hanoi and Halong Bay enjoy cool, dry conditions and Da Nang and Hoi An stay warm and sunny. July and August bring Vietnam's hottest, most humid weather along with occasional typhoon activity in the center.

Can this 7-day package be customized for families or couples?

Yes. Families traveling with children can swap the Ba Na Hills cable car day for a gentler pace, add connecting rooms, or request kid-friendly meal options on the cruise. Couples and honeymooners frequently upgrade to a private balcony cabin on the Halong Bay cruise and a two-berth private night-train compartment.

Ultimate Northern Vietnam 6 Day Itinerary: Hanoi, Halong & Ninh Binh

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Overview

Northern Vietnam is where three different journeys meet. In Hanoi, a thousand-year-old capital hums with scooters, temple incense and the clatter of street-food stalls. At Halong Bay, a UNESCO seascape of limestone towers rises from emerald water. In Ninh Binh, rice paddies, hidden caves and ancient citadels sit along a slow river valley. Together, they make the Best of Northern Vietnam 6 Day Itinerary Highlights, and six days is the right length to see all three without rushing.

This Northern Vietnam 6 days itinerary is designed for first-time visitors, couples, families and travelers who want a balance of culture, scenery and real rest. The route is deliberately efficient. Hanoi is your arrival and departure point, Halong Bay is a short expressway drive east, and Ninh Binh lies south on the way back. You spend your time on the experiences, not in the car. This Hanoi Halong Ninh Binh itinerary is based on routes we run for international guests every season, with private transfers and local guides throughout.

Quick Fact

Duration	6 days / 5 nights
Route	Hanoi → Halong Bay → Ninh Binh → Hanoi
Transfers	Private vehicle on expressways (Hanoi to Halong about 2.5 to 3 hours, Halong to Ninh Binh about 3.5 hours)
Accommodation	2 nights in Hanoi, 1 night on a Halong Bay cruise, 2 nights in Ninh Binh
Pace	Relaxed, with an optional climb at Mua Cave
Best for	First-time visitors, couples, families and mid-age travelers
Best time	October to April

Choose the Ticket That Fits Your Journey

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TICKET TYPE

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Adult- 100 left

$599

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Child- 100 left

$499

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Highlights

🍜 Hanoi Cultural Awakening: Wander the historic Old Quarter, marvel at Hoan Kiem Lake, and savor authentic street food like Phở, Bún Chả, and egg coffee.
🚢 5-Star Halong Bay Cruise: Sail through UNESCO-listed limestone karsts, kayak hidden lagoons, explore prehistoric caves, and practice sunrise Tai Chi on deck.
🚣 Ninh Binh River & Peak Adventure: Glide on a hand-rowed sampan through Trang An’s water caves and conquer the 500 steps of Hang Mua for panoramic valley views.
🚴 Authentic Countryside Agritourism: Cycle through peaceful rice paddies, visit local eco-farms, and enjoy a memorable water buffalo ride along rural paths.
🎭 Heritage & Water Puppet Show: Step back in time at Hoa Lu Ancient Capital or Thung Nham Bird Garden, and delight in a traditional Hanoi water puppet performance.

Places You'll See

What's Included?

Private, air-conditioned vehicle transfers throughout the entire route.
4 nights accommodation in Hanoi & Ninh Binh + 1 night aboard a 5-star Halong Bay Cruise.
Daily breakfasts, scheduled lunches, and full-board gourmet meals on the cruise.
All entrance tickets, Trang An sampan boat fees, and Mua Cave tickets, Hoa Lu Ancient Capital.
Professional, English-speaking private tour guides.
Activites: Halong Bay kayaking/bamboo boat riding, cooking class, and Tai Chi session, Cycling in Ninh Binh.

What's Excluded?

International flights to/from Vietnam.
Vietnam visa / e-visa fees.
Personal expenses, beverages outside set menus, and spa treatments.
Gratuities for drivers and tour guides (optional).
Travel and medical insurance.
Surcharges during Vietnamese public holidays (Tet, National Day, etc.)
VAT and bank service fees
Single supplement: $50 USD per room per night
Anything not specifically listed under “What’s Included”

What to Expect?

Day 1: Welcome to Hanoi, a Cultural & Culinary Awakening 🇻🇳

Stepping into the Millennial Soul of Hanoi

Welcome & Pickup:

✈️ Airport Pickup: Your private driver meets you at Noi Bai International Airport (HAN) and takes you directly to your boutique hotel in the historic Old Quarter.
🏨 Hotel Check-in: Check in and settle in for leisure (if hotel rooms are available).

Evening:

📸 Free Walk: Stroll around Hoan Kiem Lake, cross the red Huc Bridge and visit Ngoc Son Temple, then wander the Old Quarter’s narrow guild streets, where each lane still trades in the craft it is named for.
🍜 Dinner: Taste Hanoi’s iconic street-food such as phở, bún chả, bánh mì, chả cá, and finish with a cup of silky egg coffee (your expense).
🏨 Overnight: 1st night in Hanoi.

💡 Local Insider Tips:

🏨 Pick an Old Quarter hotel for the first night: You can walk everywhere, and the neighborhood is at its best after dark. Sit on a low plastic stool, as locals do, since the best street-food stalls rarely have proper chairs.
📸 Photo Spots: Huc Bridge at dusk, Hoan Kiem Lake, the lantern shops of Hang Ma Street, Dong Xuan market.
🍜 Culinary Highlights: Bún chả, phở, bánh mì, egg coffee.

🌿 Included: Private airport transfer, 1st night in Hanoi.

Day 2: Hanoi to Halong Bay, Cruise into the UNESCO Wonder ⛴️

Sailing Through Emerald Waters & Limestone Labyrinths

Morning:

🍳 Hotel Breakfast: Enjoy breakfast at your hotel then checkout for your Ha Long Bay Overnight Cruise adventure.
🚗 Ha Long Bay Pickup: A private luxury limousine takes you east along the new expressway. The drive to Halong Bay takes about 2.5 to 3 hours with a short comfort break.
🚢 Cruise Welcome: Arrive at the private pier and board your 5-star overnight cruise, receive a welcome drink, and settle into your cabin.

Afternoon:

🍽️ Lunch: A gourmet seafood lunch is served as you sail among limestone islets and glide deep into the UNESCO World Heritage bay.
🛶 Caves & Kayaking: Explore magnificent stalactite formations inside the prehistoric Sung Sot Cave. Engage in immersive water activities by paddling a bamboo sampan or kayaking through hidden lagoons of Luon Cave.
🏖️ Island Exploration: Swim in emerald waters, relax and sunbathe on the beach, or hike up to the panoramic peak of Ti Top Island.

Evening:

🍷 Sunset Party: Watch the sunset from the sundeck and join a hands-on cooking class.
🍲 Dinner: Enjoy a multi-course signature dinner.
🎣 Night Activities: Night squid fishing runs when weather conditions allow.
🚢 Overnight: Overnight stay on a 5-Star Luxury Cruise.

💡 Local Insider Tips:

🛶 Activities: Kayak early in the afternoon, before other boats arrive, to have the lagoons almost to yourselves. Bring a light jacket for the sundeck after sunset.
📸 Photo Spots: Halong Bay Karsts & Ti Top Island Peak. The sundeck at golden hour, the dramatic lagoons from your kayak.
🍜 Culinary Highlights: Fresh bay seafood, hands-on spring roll cooking class.

🌿 Included: Private transfer, cruise activities, 1 night in Halong Bay, English-speaking guide, meals on cruise.

Day 3: Halong Bay Sunrise & the Road to Ninh Binh ⛰️

Morning Tai Chi on the Bay & Journey to the Mystic Countryside

Morning:

🧘 Tai Chi Session: Rise early for a revitalizing Tai Chi session on the sun deck as the sun illuminates the limestone pillars.
🍜 Breakfast: Enjoy a light breakfast before taking a boat ride to a tranquil floating village.
🚢 Brunch & Checkout: Return to the ship for a hearty brunch as it cruises back to the mainland port (docking around 11:30).

Afternoon:

🚗 Ninh Binh Transfer: Your driver collects you at the pier for the transfer to Ninh Binh (about 3.5 hours), often hailed as “Halong Bay on Land.”
🏨 Leisure Time: Check into an upscale eco-lodge or boutique resort surrounded by emerald paddy fields and towering limestone mountains.
⛰️ Cycling & Hiking: Cycle through tranquil villages and paddy fields to the Mua Cave mountain, conquering the Ngoa Long peak via 500 steps to catch the sunset with a panoramic view of the Tam Coc valley and its winding river.

Evening:

🌾 Night Life: Free walk or cycle the lanes around your lodge in the soft evening light.
🍽️ Dinner: Relish a quiet dinner at your eco-lodge featuring organic farm-to-table regional ingredients or enjoy a relaxed dinner near your stay (your expense).
🏨 Overnight: 1st night in Ninh Binh.

💡 Local Insider Tips:

🚶 Treat the afternoon as a recovery time. Take a short walk and an early night, since Day 4 is the most active of the trip.
🏘️ Ninh Binh’s eco-lodges are designed to blend with nature; request a room facing the lotus ponds or rice fields for ultimate tranquility.
📸 Photo Spots: Rice fields at golden hour (green from May to June, golden from September to October), the dragon statue on Mua Cave peak.
🍔 Culinary Highlights: A home-style Vietnamese dinner built on local produce.

🌿 Included: Private transfer, cruise activities, cycling, 1st night in Ninh Binh, English-speaking guide, meals on cruise.

Day 4: Ninh Binh, "Halong Bay on Land": Trang An & Buffalo Cave 🐃

Waterways, Buffalo Riding & Authentic Agritourism

Morning:

🍜 Breakfast: Enjoy your breakfast amidst the tranquility and peace of Ninh Binh rice fields.
🚣 Trang An Boat Trip: Board a hand-rowed sampan through the UNESCO-listed Trang An Landscape Complex. Your boatman steers through low water caves and past emerald waters, with limestone cliffs rising on every side (Tam Coc Rice Field is available as an alternative route if preferred).
🍴 Lunch: Enjoy a buffet lunch at a local restaurant featuring authentic specialties (Cơm cháy, thịt Dê).

Afternoon:

🐃 Buffalo Cave & Agritourism: Experience buffalo riding, farming life, and explore the countryside through popular interactive agritourism activities.
🏇 Water Buffalo Riding: Guided tour to climb onto the backs of water buffaloes and stroll along country roads or wade through water leisurely amidst peaceful natural surroundings.
🌾 Farming Experience: Participate in practical farming tasks such as planting rice, irrigating fields, or catching fish in local canals and ponds.
🦆 Feeding Animals: Experience feeding ducks and goats at eco-farms.

Evening:

🍲 Dinner: Dine on Ninh Binh’s local specialties—mountain goat with lemongrass and crispy rice (cơm cháy)—at your own expense and leisure.
⛩️ Nightlife: Visit the Hoa Lu Ancient Street and immerse yourself in the vibrant evening life of locals.
🏨 Overnight: 2nd night in Ninh Binh.

💡 Local Insider Tips:

🚵 Bring a hat and sunscreen, as sampans offer little shade.
📸 Photo Spots: The cave exits at Trang An, the buffalo, and ducks at the eco-farm.
🍔 Culinary Highlights: Mountain goat and crispy rice (cơm cháy).

🌿 Included: Private transfer, eco-farm activities, 2nd night in Ninh Binh, Trang An boat ride, English-speaking guide, lunch.

Day 5: Hoa Lu Ancient Capital or Bird Garden & Back to Hanoi 🚴

Historical Roots, Bird Sanctuaries & Return to the Capital

Morning:

🍜 Breakfast: Enjoy your breakfast amidst the peaceful countryside.
🚴 Activities: Cycle through peaceful village lanes and past rice paddies at an easy pace. Visit either Hoa Lu (Vietnam’s 10th-century capital) and An Tiem Cave Pagoda, or Thung Nham Bird Garden for a pristine natural ecosystem and boat ride to watch thousands of birds.

Afternoon:

🍴 Lunch: Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant.
🚗 Hanoi Transfer: Drive back to Hanoi (about 2 to 2.5 hours).
🏨 Hotel: Check into your hotel for leisure and relaxation.

Evening:

🛍️ Leisure Time: Browse the Old Quarter for silk, handicrafts, and lotus tea. Dinner is at leisure (your expense).
🎪 Water Puppet Show: Witness exquisitely handcrafted puppets that swim, dance, sing, and retell ancient tales and historical legends (such as the story of Yet Kieu or the legend of Ho Guom Lake).
🏨 Overnight: 2nd night in Hanoi.

💡 Local Insider Tips:

🚴 Choose Hoa Lu Ancient Citadel and An Tiem Cave if you love history and ancient architecture, or Thung Nham Bird Garden if you prefer nature. Ask your guide for quiet cycling lanes, as main roads can be busy.
📸 Photo Spots: The temple gates at Hoa Lu, scenic village lanes from your bicycle, Thung Nham Bird Garden.
🍔 Culinary Highlights: A relaxed countryside lunch of local regional dishes.

🌿 Included: Private transfer, 2nd night in Hanoi, English-speaking guide, lunch, water puppet show.

Day 6: Hanoi Farewell & Departure ✈️

A Regal Farewell & Departure

Shopping & Departure:

☕ Breakfast: Enjoy a slow breakfast and a last Vietnamese coffee.
📷 Optional Activities: Visit the Temple of Literature, Vietnam’s first national university set in quiet courtyards. If time allows, add the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum complex and the One Pillar Pagoda (your expense).
🛒 Shopping Time: Check out and enjoy free time for last-minute souvenir shopping or relaxing at a lakeside café.
✈️ Departure: Your driver takes you to Noi Bai International Airport (HAN) for your departure flight, concluding your unforgettable tour.

💡 Local Insider Tips:

✍️ The Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum closes on certain days and for annual maintenance; check the schedule with your guide. Cover your shoulders and knees for religious and sacred sites.
📸 Photo Spots: Khue Van Cac pavilion at the Temple of Literature.
🍔 Culinary Highlights: A final Vietnamese iced coffee (Cà phê sữa đá).

🌿 Included: Private airport transfer.

🧭 Looking for another trip?

Prefer a trip to other part of Vietnam? Explore our 7-Day South Vietnam Package Tour.
Traveling with family? Check our Family-Friendly 7-Day Package Tour.
If you have less time, see our 5 day northern itinerary Vietnam tour, which condenses the same route.

Additional Info

Child policy

Under 4 years old: Travel free of charge, sharing a bed with a parent in the hotel room and a berth in the cruise cabin. A second child under 4 in the same family is charged at 75% of the adult rate.
Ages 5 to 8: Charged 75% of the adult rate, sharing existing bedding with parents.
Ages 9 and up: Charged the full adult rate.
Children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian at all times, including during the Hang Mua hike, the cruise, and the Trang An boat trip.
Valid ID or passport may be requested at hotel check-in and on the cruise to confirm a child’s age.

Cancellation policy

Because this package bundles a Halong Bay cruise cabin, booked and paid for in advance with limited allotment, our cancellation terms are more conservative than a single-day tour:

Free cancellation for notice given more than 30 days before departure.
50% charge of the total package value for cancellations made 15 to 30 days before departure.
75% charge of the total package value for cancellations made 7 to 14 days before departure.
100% charge (no refund) for cancellations made within 7 days of departure, or in case of no-show.

If the Halong Bay cruise is cancelled due to severe weather or a government directive, guests are offered a rescheduled cruise date or a full refund for that portion of the package, without affecting the rest of the itinerary.

Good to know

Best Time to Visit: The optimal window for Northern Vietnam is from October to April. During these months, the weather is cool, dry, and pleasant—ideal for cruising Halong Bay and exploring Ninh Binh’s outdoor landscapes.
Customizable Pace: This private itinerary can be fully tailored to accommodate families with children or senior travelers by adjusting trekking intensity or daily schedules.
Halong Bay Weather Policy: Cruise operations are strictly regulated by the Halong Bay Port Authority. In rare cases of storms or heavy fog, itinerary adjustments or alternative land-based options will be arranged immediately for your safety.
Tipping Culture: Tipping is not mandatory in Vietnam but is customary and deeply appreciated for exceptional service by private drivers and local tour guides.
Dietary Preferences: Please inform us in advance of any food allergies, vegetarian requirements, or dietary restrictions so we can curate your dining experiences accordingly.
Currency and cash: Vietnamese dong is the primary currency. ATMs are available in Sapa and Ninh Binh towns, but cash is more reliable for smaller hillside markets and craft villages.

What to bring

What to Pack: Pack lightweight, breathable clothing for daily activities, a modest outfit covering shoulders and knees when visiting temples, comfortable walking shoes for uneven terrain and stairs, and a warm layer for chilly bay evenings.
Footwear: Comfortable walking shoes or sneakers for city strolls, and sturdy athletic/hiking shoes with good grip for climbing the 500 stone steps at Mua Cave.
Attire for Temples: Modest clothing covering shoulders and knees is strictly required when visiting sacred sites such as the Temple of Literature and Hoa Lu Ancient Capital.
Swimwear & Sun Protection: Swimsuits, sunglasses, wide-brim hats, and eco-friendly sunscreen for the Halong Bay cruise and Trang An boat ride.
Electronics & Documents: Passport (required for overnight check-in on the Halong cruise), universal power adapter, and a waterproof phone pouch or dry bag for water activities.

Price from

Original price was: 699 $.Current price is: 599 $.

Ultimate Northern Vietnam 6 Day Itinerary: Hanoi, Halong & Ninh Binh

Overview