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Explore The Northern Vietnam in Depth 16 Days

9.9 5 Reviews - Excellent
Hanoi > Ba Be Lake > Ban Gioc Waterfalls > Ha Giang > Bac Ha > Lai Chau > Dien Bien > Mai Chau

Overview

Experience the untouched beauty and rich cultural heritage of northern Vietnam with this immersive 16-day Explore Northern Vietnam tour. Designed for adventurous travelers, this journey takes you to some of the most remote and breathtaking corners of the country, offering a deep connection with the landscapes, history, and people that make this region so unique.

Your adventure begins in the vibrant capital, Hanoi, where ancient temples, bustling streets, and French colonial architecture set the stage for your journey. From Hanoi, head to the tranquil waters of Ba Be Lake, nestled amidst lush mountains and valleys. This picturesque lake is a haven for nature lovers and offers a peaceful escape from the hustle and bustle of the city.

Next, journey to the awe-inspiring Ban Gioc Waterfalls, located on the border with China. This natural wonder, with its cascading falls and verdant surroundings, is one of Vietnam’s most stunning landscapes. Continue to Ha Giang, where towering limestone peaks, winding mountain roads, and traditional ethnic villages offer a glimpse into a world few tourists ever see. The region’s dramatic scenery and rich cultures make it a photographer’s paradise.

In Bac Ha, explore the vibrant markets and experience the colorful traditions of the Hmong and Tay people. Then, venture through Lai Chau, an area known for its stunning landscapes and the warm hospitality of the local hill tribes. Discover the historical significance of Dien Bien, where the famous Battle of Dien Bien Phu took place, shaping the future of Vietnam’s independence.

Finally, relax in the peaceful Mai Chau valley, where lush rice fields and traditional stilt houses offer a serene setting to unwind. This 16-day journey through northern Vietnam provides an unparalleled opportunity to experience the raw beauty, diverse cultures, and historical richness of this fascinating region.

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Tour Highlights

  • Hiking mountainous areas of northern Vietnam.
  • Get picture of many impressive scenery en route and colorful weekly market.
  • Visiting and experiencing the life of local ethnicity.
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Detailed Itinerary

Dinner

Arrival at Noi Bai Airport. Meeting with guide and transfer to the hotel. Welcome dinner featuring Vietnamese specialties.

Overnight in Hanoi.

Breakfast

AM: Depart for Ba Be Lake, a mountain area which is nearly 200km far from Hanoi. Arrival on midday.

PM: Visit Ba Be area: Nang river, grottos, and waterfall. Enjoy meals of ethnic minorities. Overnight in guest’s house.

Ba Be Lake
Ba Be Lake
Breakfast

7 hours hard trekking to visit Tay’s village accompanied by local guide. Take away lunch will be arranged. It takes 5-hour walk to the village – spend time with ethnic people. Overnight in the village of Tay people.

Pac Ngoi - Tay ethnic people's village
Pac Ngoi – Tay ethnic people’s village
Breakfast

Trekking back to Ba Be Lake. At leisure on the day. Overnight in Ba Be guest house.

Ba Be Lake
Breakfast

After breakfast, say goodbye to your host at homestay, the driver car will take you to Cao Bang city. It takes around 6 hours to arrive Cao Bang, then free by your own to enjoy the fresh air as well as the peaceful space of the city. Overnight at hotel.

Breakfast

On the way to Ban Gioc, you will have a chance to take photos of grandiose mountains, forests, and terraced rice fields.  Stop at a famous blacksmith village where you can buy some high-quality knives and scissors.

North Vietnam adventure tour
Ban Gioc Waterfall

Arrive at Ban Gioc waterfall at lunchtime. Located on Quay Son River, Ban Gioc is the largest waterfall in Vietnam. Traveling to this place, not only can you take some pictures of one of the most beautiful waterfalls in Vietnam but you can also discover Nung, Dao and H’mong ethnic hill tribes.

In the afternoon, we will visit Nguom Ngao cave which is 4 km from Ban Gioc waterfall. Discover deeply inside the cave, you will be astonished by so many special stalagmites and stalactites which look like corals, lotus flowers, candles, terrace rice fields, etc.

Turn back to our car and drive back hotel in Cao Bang city for staying overnight.

Breakfast
Lo Lo people in Ha Giang
Lo Lo people in Ha Giang

After breakfast, continue to Ha Giang on driving. The scenery is spectacular and the road runs along the sides of the mountains on the way.You will visit the Meo Vac and join the local Lo Lo, White H’mong, Tay people in their daily local market. You’ll continue your journey onto the nearby village of the Lo Lo minority. Overnight at homestay.

Breakfast
Ma Pi Leng Pass
Ma Pi Leng Pass

After breakfast, our guide and driver will transfer you to Dong Van town where your guide can show you its charming ‘Old Streets’ near the market. Continue on a scenic route, it will take you to the Ma Pi Leng Pass from where you can enjoy a panoramic view of the Nho Que River – with luck you might see one of the northeast’s stunning sunsets. You will visit the small communities of Quan Ba, Yen Minh and Dong Van, some of the most picturesque villages in the northern tip of Vietnam.

Tam giac mach flower in Ha Giang
Tam giac mach flower in Ha Giang

After lunch, move to Ha Giang town. On the way to Ha Giang, you can see the scenery which is very spectacular with a vast limestone mountain range and perpendicular walls of rock. You’ll call in at the infamous Vuong Palace, once the home of a high-ranking H’mong family during French colonial rule. The palace attracts architecturally minded visitors due to its unusual combination of European and Chinese styles. Overnight and having dinner in Hagiang.

Breakfast

Today, we continue our trip to North West for Bac Ha. This day is a hard travelling by car but the scenery on route is incredible. Overnight in Bac Ha.

Bac Ha Market
Breakfast

Visit Can Cau Market, an outstanding feature of ethnic people in the North. Buying souvenir from ethnic people. Short walk to discover some surrounding villages.

Overnight in Bac Ha.

Breakfast

Depart for Tam Duong.

Stop enroute to visit Sapa market which is organized weekly only in Saturday. 5 hours trekking to discover villages of ethnic minorities such as Sandiu, Hanhi, Xa that remains natural and unspoiled by mass tourism.

Overnight in Tam Duong.

Tourists Trading At Sapa Ethnic Market

Breakfast

Trekking by shortcut to SinHo villages. Car will run free and meet you at Sinho village. Continue to drive to Lai Chau town. Overnight in Lai Chau

Lai Chau
Breakfast

Leave Lai Chau for Dien Bien Phu. Visit the old battle field. Overnight in Dien Bien Phu.

Dien Bien Phu From Above
Breakfast

Leave Dien Bien for Son La, visit the prison of French war in Son La.

Overnight in Son La

Rice Season At Mai Chau

Breakfast

We continue our trip to Mai Chau, join the activities to Thai minority.

Overnight at house-on-stilt in Mai Chau.

 

Hanoi Old Quarter

Breakfast

Transfer to Hanoi airport for your home flight. End of service.

Prices

Prices are in USD, per person.

This tour can be customized to fit your own demands.

Hotel / Group2 guests3~4 guests5~6 guests7~8 guests9~12 guestsSingle surcharge
3 Star1,8941,4341,115943859303
4 Star2,0711,6131,2951,1231,038458
5 Star2,6172,1581,8381,6621,573915

What's included

  • English Speaking Guide
  • All hotels and home stay
  • Meals as indicated in the itinerary
  • All tours & transport by Jeep or private car
  • Entrance fees and permits during guided time

What's excluded:

  • Personal travel insurance
  • Personal expenses such as Bar, Telephone and Laundry bills.
  • Tips and gratuities

Cancellation by Customer

Please note that some services such as flights, hotels and other bookings may have cancellation fees once they have been confirmed and paid. Any applicable supplier cancellation fees will be charged to the traveler.

The following are the maximum cancellation fees that may apply:

  • After booking confirmation: Any applicable cancellation fees charged by airlines, hotels, or other suppliers.
  • 11–20 days before arrival: Up to 20% of the total tour price, plus any applicable cancellation fees charged by airlines, hotels, or other suppliers.
  • 3–10 days before arrival: Up to 30% of the total tour price, plus any services already used or any applicable cancellation fees or penalties charged by airlines, hotels, or other suppliers.
  • Less than 3 days before arrival, during the tour, or in case of no-show: Up to 100% of the total tour price, limited to 10% management fee and the actual costs incurred, including services already used and any applicable cancellation fees or penalties charged by airlines, hotels, or other suppliers

Please contact us as soon as possible if you need to cancel or change your trip. We will always do our best to minimize any cancellation costs where possible.

Children Policy

  • Children under 5 years old: Travel free of charge when sharing a room and meals with a full-paying adult. Any applicable airfare, entrance fees or additional expenses will be charged separately.
  • Children aged 5 to under 11: Pay 50% of the adult rate when sharing a room and services with a full-paying adult.
  • Children aged 11 and above: Pay the full adult rate.

Please note: The child rates apply when children share a room and services with a full-paying adult. Additional charges may apply for extra beds, private rooms, special meals or other services requested for children. Child rates may also vary depending on the specific tour, hotel policy and services included.

Customer reviews

9.9
Excellent 5 Reviews
Itinerary
10.0
Food/Drink
9.6
Activity
9.8
Tour guide
10.0
Accomodations
10.0
Giada Nguyen
Giada Nguyen Italy August 15, 2025
10.0 All perfectly organized through a private tour tailored to our specific needs View on Google
Our experience with Vietnam Paradise Travel Agency was nothing short of exceptional. Thanks to their incredible support, we were able to enjoy 20 unforgettable days in Vietnam, all perfectly organized through a private tour tailored to our specific needs.Liah, in particular, was an absolute star throughout the entire process. She was always responsive, attentive, and went above and beyond to ensure that every detail of our trip was just right. Without her, our journey through Vietnam would not have been the same.The itinerary was meticulously planned, allowing us to experience the best of Vietnam in a way that felt both personalized and seamless. From the stunning landscapes to the cultural experiences, everything was perfectly coordinated, making our trip truly memorable.We highly recommend Vietnam Paradise Travel Agency to anyone looking for a well-organized, personalized travel experience in Vietnam. Liah and her team made our dream trip come true, and for that, me and my boyfriend are truly grateful.
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Northern Vietnam 16 Days
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Mr Richardson Adrian Matthew
Mr Richardson Adrian Matthew Australia January 17, 2020
10.0 Wonderful Tour View on TripAdvisor
We had a wonderful 16 day tour of Vietnam as a family. From start to finish the tour went off without a problem. The guides were great and, as with the transport, were always on time. The tour schedule allowed us to avoid the early starts and long days you would associate with big group tours. If we wanted to find specific sights or retailers the guides were always ready to help. Alex was very honest and professional. He tailored the tour to our needs and nothing was too much trouble. We would definitely recommend Paradise Travel and we hope to return in the future!
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Ms. Annabelle Cameron
Ms. Annabelle Cameron USA June 26, 2019
10.0 Book with this company View on TripAdvisor
If you are planning to visit Vietnam, book with this company!!! I dealt solely with Ms Helen. I could not recommend or praise her enough. She responded promptly to all my inquiries and complied an itinerary that suit my wishes and need. Thank you Ms Helen!
Brenda B. Roney
Brenda B. Roney Brooklyn, NY March 4, 2018
9.8 Excellent trip and travel company
We have just completed our trip to Vietnam where all of the hotels, transfers and guided tours were planned by Paradise Travel. They worked to our budget and provided good advice in the planning stage. They were patient when we requested different hotels but were insistent when they believed our choices were bad ones. On the tour itself they responded quickly and to our satisfaction when there were issues such as a typhoon. The guides they organised were knowledgeable, friendly and spoke good English. I would highly recommend them.
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Royden Michel
Royden Michel France December 21, 2017
9.6 Very professional service
At the beginning, I was skeptical because Paradise Travel is an on-line service and hesitant to wire money....However, Paradise Travel has gone beyond our expectations! From the tailor made trip planning to the timely response to questions big or small, to the assistance during our journey, Paradise Travel was amazing! And their recommendations for things to do were really helpful, making our trip a wonderful and indelible experience!
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