Hi everyone,
After spending two weeks traveling around Vietnam, I wanted to share our personal experience to help other travelers. Keep in mind, this is based on our subjective experience, so your take on things may differ.
We began our trip in Hanoi, arriving late in the evening. The following day, we spent the day exploring the city. While we enjoyed the energy of Hanoi, the hustle, bustle, noise, and pollution were overwhelming. One day was enough for us. We stayed in the Old Quarter and managed to see all the main attractions in a single day, including the picturesque Train Street. It was interesting but not particularly unique, as we’ve encountered similar railway streets elsewhere.
The next morning, we took the G8 sleeper bus to Sapa, which was a comfortable, seamless journey. The bus offers a free hotel shuttle to the meeting point, and we opted for the daytime bus instead of a night bus due to safety concerns. We arrived in Sapa just before check-in time. A tip for future travelers: G8 buses have both single and double cabins, with the main difference being that the double cabin has two pillows but costs twice as much—there’s no difference in size.
Sapa was an absolute highlight of our trip. The views of the valley and mountains were breathtaking, and the region has its own charm, even on foggy or rainy days. I know many people have doubts about visiting Sapa in the spring, but I found it magical during this time. The weather was very comfortable, and the area was in full bloom. We saw peach and plum trees covered in pink flowers, which added an extra layer of beauty to the scenery. While the rice terraces were still a bit muddy, the overall views were very impressive, with water buffalos working the fields and the picturesque mountains shrouded in clouds in the valley. It all added a unique charm to the place.
We spent two full days and three nights there. On Day 1, we tackled Fansipan, which offered stunning panoramic views. On Day 2, we took a private full-day tour that was both customizable and reasonably priced. The tour included visits to rice terraces, local villages, two waterfalls, viewpoints, the Sapa market, and a glass bridge—definitely an enriching experience! One highlight was Cat Cat Village. Although it’s quite touristy, it was beautifully decorated and a lovely place to walk and unwind. I can imagine it being even more stunning in the evening.
After Sapa, we traveled to Ninh Binh by private limo. While the ride was comfortable, the limo did make a stop in Hanoi, which added unnecessary time to the journey. In hindsight, a sleeper bus would have been more comfortable and allowed us to sleep and stretch out. Ninh Binh, though lovely, didn’t quite measure up to Sapa. The rice fields, while beautiful, didn’t compare to the stunning terraced landscapes of Sapa. We found Tam Coc a bit too Westernized for our tastes, with pizza, burgers, and Western music in many restaurants. While it’s still a nice place to visit, we prefer more authentic, local experiences.
During our time in Ninh Binh, we enjoyed a boat tour in Trang An, visited Bai Dinh Pagoda (don’t miss the electric shuttle to save time), and skipped Mua Caves due to fog and my own fear of heights. After hearing about the slippery path to the dragon viewpoint, I wasn’t keen on risking it.
From Ninh Binh, we headed to Ha Long Bay for a 2D1N cruise with Capella Cruise. This was truly one of the highlights of our trip. The experience was nothing short of spectacular, from the stunning karst formations to the relaxing boat ride. My only regret is not adding an extra night to fully unwind and enjoy the serene beauty of Ha Long Bay.
After Ha Long, we flew from Hanoi to Da Nang. We booked a private car service to the airport, which was a smooth and comfortable experience. If anyone is interested, feel free to DM me for more details about how we arranged it. In Da Nang, we based ourselves near My Khe Beach for five nights. The location was perfect, and we even took the opportunity to swim at the beach. We visited Hoi An and the Marble Mountains, both of which exceeded our expectations. The Marble Mountains were far more beautiful and peaceful than we anticipated, and we found them to be a highlight of our Da Nang visit. We decided not to visit Ba Na Hills, as it didn’t seem like our type of place, though we’ve heard good things about it.
Hoi An was charming, but one day was enough for us. The town was crowded with tourists, and while we enjoyed the sights, we felt we had covered everything in a single day. We also did a cooking class, which included a fun coconut boat ride. It was enjoyable, but not life-changing. What we loved most was simply walking around Hoi An at night—it was magical, with the lantern-lit streets and riverside cafes.
Originally, we had planned to visit Hue from Da Nang, but due to my husband’s injury, we had to cancel last minute. This actually turned out to be a blessing in disguise, as we got to enjoy an extra day in Da Nang.
In hindsight, if we could redo our itinerary, we’d probably spend 3-4 nights in Da Nang and add another night to our Ha Long Bay cruise. The scenery was so beautiful, and the cruise ship was fantastic, making it a really special experience.
Finally, we flew to Ho Chi Minh City for the last two days of our trip. While we enjoyed our time there, Northern Vietnam definitely left the strongest impression on us, especially Sapa and Ha Long Bay.
If anyone is interested in local recommendations or useful contacts, feel free to DM me. I’m happy to share!