5 Days in Mountainous North Vietnam: Ha Giang and beyond

Accommodations on those adventures range from luxury hotels to budget-friendly guesthouses, providing options to suit various preferences and budgets. In major cities like Hanoi, you can find high-end hotels with modern amenities, as well as charming boutique hotels that offer a more personalized experience. In places like Halong Bay, you might stay on a traditional junk boat, enjoying a unique overnight cruise. In Sapa and other rural areas, homestays with local families are the best-seller choice, offering an authentic cultural experience and a chance to connect with the local community. No matter where you stay, our accommodations are selected to provide comfort and convenience throughout your tour.

If you agree with the itinerary proposed by one of our advisors, please send us an email to confirm the reservation of the tour with our agency. Your advisor will then provide you with the booking documents, including:

• A reservation form containing detailed information about your booked tour, as well as your personal details and contact information to be completed. You will need to return the form with these details duly filled out, which will be used for the organization of your trip. Please also send us a scan of your passports.

• A travel invoice requesting a deposit payment of 25% of the total price.

The organization of your trip will be confirmed upon receipt of the completed form and once the deposit is in our possession. We will also send you a travel contract that certifies the details of your trip, including the duration, travel dates, deposit paid, and your contact information."

North Vietnam trips offer a rich array of highlights, including the vibrant capital city of Hanoi, with its bustling Old Quarter and historical sites such as the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and the Temple of Literature. Another must-see is Halong Bay, renowned for its stunning limestone karsts and emerald waters, perfect for a scenic cruise. Sapa, with its terraced rice fields and ethnic minority villages, provides a glimpse into rural life and breathtaking landscapes. Additionally, the ancient city of Ninh Binh, often referred to as "Halong Bay on land," offers stunning scenery and the historic Trang An complex.

Yes, you can specify a timeframe with a date that suits you or allows you to acquire the most affordable flight tickets. We will then tailor our program accordingly. Please note that we are a specialized agency in custom travel, and we can certainly design a personalized itinerary based on your availability.

Northern Vietnam itineraries offer opportunities to see a variety of wildlife in different natural settings. In the national parks such as Cuc Phuong and Ba Be, you can encounter diverse flora and fauna, including rare species like the Delacour's langur and numerous bird species. Halong Bay is home to marine life, and while cruising, you might spot dolphins, fish, and various seabirds. In the rural and mountainous regions, you can see water buffalo, traditional livestock, and sometimes even wild pigs. These wildlife experiences add a unique dimension to your tour, allowing you to connect with Vietnam's natural heritage.

Vietnam is divided into three major regions: the North, the Central, and the South. Each region has its distinctive features, and the choice of the region to visit will depend on your interests.

Among the three regions, the North has more interesting things to discover. It entices travelers with its rich natural beauty (stunning bays and rivers, impressive mountains and hills, winding mountain paths, lush valleys with beautiful terraced rice fields) and cultural heritage (numerous historical monuments, ancient temples and pagodas, craft villages, a large community of ethnic minorities with authentic villages and colorful weekly markets). Without time constraints, most of our clients spend a significant portion of their trip exploring this region.

Vietnam is well connected to major international airlines. If you're traveling from the USA, the UK, Canada, or Australia, you can choose from airlines like Vietnam Airlines, Qatar Airways, Emirates, Singapore Airlines, and Cathay Pacific, which offer flights to Vietnam’s major cities, Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, often with layovers in major hubs like Doha, Dubai, or Singapore.

From the USA and Canada, popular airlines include ANA, Japan Airlines, Korean Air, and EVA Air, which usually include layovers in cities such as Tokyo, Seoul, or Taipei.

If you’re departing from the UK or Australia, you can also explore direct or one-stop options with British Airways, Qantas, or Malaysia Airlines, which typically stop in Southeast Asian hubs.

For the best deals, visit airline websites directly or use flight comparison tools like Skyscanner, Google Flights, or Kayak.

No, insurance is not included in our package rates, and clients will need to purchase it separately. These insurance policies are typically affordable and easy to obtain. Many of our clients often choose providers like Allianz Global Assistance, Travel Guard, World Nomads, or AXA Travel Insurance.

Additionally, by paying for your plane ticket or travel invoice with a credit card, you may already have some travel insurance coverage provided by your bank or card issuer. It’s worth checking with them to see what coverage may be included.

Tipping for guides and drivers is not included in the quote and is not mandatory. However, it is common to show appreciation to guides and drivers with a tip, and the amount is at your discretion.

As a rough guideline, consider 3 - 6 USD per traveler per day for the guide and half of that (2-3 USD per person per day) for the driver. Tips in Euro, USD, or Dong (local currency) should be given at the end of each stage of the journey (when you are definitively parting ways with the guide/driver to move to another region).

All other small tips for cyclo drivers, rowers, boatmen, porters, etc., are included and will be handled by our guide, so you can travel more comfortably.

As an approximate guideline, the cost of a 2-week trip to Vietnam would be around 1450$ per person when traveling as a pair (excluding airfare). For a 3 or 4-week journey, please budget between 1900$ and 2500$ per person. If you're in a larger group (4 or 6 people), the trip will be more cost-effective. The price always varies depending on the duration and time of your stay, as well as your preferences (activities, services). Please leave us a quote request, and our travel advisor will provide you with more detailed information and a quote.