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Northern Vietnam · 7 days

A car-free loop of northern Vietnam's highlights: Hanoi's lakeside old quarter and pottery village, a Ha Long Bay cruise, Ninh Binh's karst rivers and pagodas, then an overnight train to Sapa for hill villages, valleys and the Fansipan cable car.

7days
21stops
830km

The route

Tap a day or a town

You sleep in Hanoi · Ha Long · Ninh Binh · Hoa Lu — start in Hanoi, end in Sa Pa.

DAY01

Hoan Kiem Lake → Ta Hien Beer Street

2.3 km · 20m driving · Overnight in Ta Hien Beer Street
  1. 09:00
    ⭐ Hoan Kiem Lake· start
  2. 1.1 km · 10m
  3. 12:00
    Hanoi Train Street
  4. 1.2 km · 10m
  5. 15:00
    Ta Hien Beer Street· overnight
DAY02

Temple of Literature → Dong Xuan Market

25 km · 30m driving · Overnight in Dong Xuan Market
  1. 09:00
    ⭐ Temple of Literature· start
  2. 12 km · 10m
  3. 12:00
    Bat Trang Ceramic Village
  4. 11 km · 10m
  5. 15:00
    Dong Xuan Market· overnight
DAY03

Ha Long → Sung Sot Cave

196 km · 2h 6m driving · Overnight in Ha Long Night Market
  1. 09:00
    ⭐ Ha Long Bay· start
  2. 15 km · 10m
  3. 12:00
    Sung Sot Cave
  4. 14 km · 10m
  5. 15:00
    Ha Long Night Market· overnight
DAY04

Trang An → Ninh Binh

186 km · 2h 10m driving · Overnight in Ninh Binh Night Market
  1. 09:00
    ⭐ Trang An· start
  2. 6 km · 10m
  3. 12:00
    Hang Mua Viewpoint
  4. 5.7 km · 10m
  5. 15:00
    Ninh Binh Night Market· overnight
DAY05

Tam Coc → Hoa Lu

19 km · 30m driving · Overnight in Hoa Lu Ancient Capital
  1. 09:00
    ⭐ Tam Coc· start
  2. 2.4 km · 10m
  3. 12:00
    Bich Dong Pagoda
  4. 9.5 km · 10m
  5. 15:00
    Hoa Lu Ancient Capital· overnight
DAY06

Cat Cat Village → Ham Rong Mountain

377 km · 4h 17m driving · Overnight in Ham Rong Mountain
  1. 09:00
    ⭐ Cat Cat Village· start
  2. 1.8 km · 10m
  3. 12:00
    Sapa Market
  4. 0.5 km · 10m
  5. 15:00
    Ham Rong Mountain· overnight
DAY07

Fansipan → Ta Van Village

25 km · 30m driving
  1. 09:00
    ⭐ Fansipan· start
  2. 13 km · 10m
  3. 12:00
    Muong Hoa Valley
  4. 2.1 km · 10m
  5. 15:00
    Ta Van Village
Heads Up
  • Book Hanoi–Ha Long buses or cruise transfers, Ha Long–Ninh Binh limousine buses, and the overnight Ninh Binh/Hanoi–Lao Cai sleeper train in advance.
  • Hanoi Train Street access is restricted at times; check current rules and never stand on the tracks when trains pass.
  • Fansipan cable car and Ha Long cruises can pause in bad weather; check forecasts and keep a flexible half-day.
  • Village treks around Ta Van and Muong Hoa are best with a local guide; wear grippy shoes for muddy paths.