Upon arrival at Noi Bai terminal in Ha Noi

34km from Noi Bai airport, 01hour drive by taxi (10USD) or a private car (16 -18USD), No toll fee in the route.

The public bus departs every 10mins to/from Noi Bai aiport, stop at Kim Ma bus station, following Nguyen Thai Hoc street (10mins walking) to Cua Nam crossing road, turn left to Hang Bong street, the Old quarter area.

You can book directly at some sales counters for Tourism service at the airport,Be careful! Some taxi drivers like to play a little game when it comes to talking you to a hotel, promise FOC taxi for you but on the way, they may ask you for road fee...

From some hotels in the city

PM: Start the city tour with a visit to 

• Hoan kiem lake-ngoc son temple: 3.000VND

• Water puppet show (nearby) the show opens at: 16.00, 17.15, 18.30, 20.00 & 21.15 everyday, cost: 20.000 VND and 40.000VND/ front seat
  

• The old quarter walking, shopping streets and night market at weekend

AM: The tour often starts at 8h00 AM:

• Ho Chi Minh mausoleum (open Am only, closed on Mon, Fri but can go around to see), EF: 10.000VND
• Ho CHi Minh Museum, 10.000VND
• One pillar pagoda then driving about 5mins to
• The temple of literature: 5.000VND
• Fine art museum, nearby 25.000VND

This trip can be called a half day city tour implemented in both AM or PM.

AM trip can extend to Halong Bay but stay o/n at hotel in Halong.

PM trip can include water puppet show, dinner or transfer to Railway station to Sapa around 20h30 or the southern destination.

Other pagodas like Tran Quoc pagoda, Quan Thanh temple (5.000VND), Hoa lo prison (5.000vnd) and museums scattered in the city, the bus driving takes about 10 -25mins, 30 -45mins visiting at one museum seems to be okay enough.

Trade village tours

Bat trang ceramic village (15km from Hanoi center, 3hours for transferring and visiting is ok enough) located on the way to Halong Bay,

• Dong ho village also located on the way to Halong Bay, around 02hours 30mins to visit and drive
• Van Phuc silk village (12Km from Hanoi center) on the way to perfume pagoda

Click to: Grand destination for more details about hotels, food, attration....

Hanoi Capital and its vicinities

Hai Phong City

110km away from Hanoi city and less than 2hrs drive by car, tourist can go there by the train. See more details in the weblink of Vietnam railway: http://www.vr.com.vn/

In Hai phong, visit Hang kenh communal house and Du Hang pagoda

Extension to Halong Bay about 60km in 01h10mins driving

Extension to Cat ba island 02hrs by high speed boat at 9AM and 01PM from harbour in Hai phong to Cat ba island and at 13h00 return from Cat ba island to Hai phong or take a boat cruise to halong Bay (6hours)

Trekking in Cat ba national forest about 3hours from hotel, bathing at the beach, Cat Co, Cat Tien, 10mins walking from hotels to the beach.

Extension to Ninh Binh

Click to: destination Guide for more details about hotels, food, attration....

Ha Long Bay – Quang Ninh province

175km from Ha noi Capital, 3hours driving, one stop on the way, from Noi Bai airport, tourist can go directly to Ha long Bay. On the way, can visit Bat Trang village, paper village in Bac Ninh province.

60km in 01h10 mins driving from Hai phong city and 6hours on boat cruise from/to Cat ba island

The most wanted places: Thien cung cave, Dau go grotto, Sung sot grotto, Hon Trong Mai, Titop beach,...kayaking on the Bay

O/n at very good hotels or luxury boats on the bay

Extension to Cat Ba island by boat around 6hours

Extension to Mong cai border pass with China 175Km, more than 3hours driving or speed boat ticket from Halong pier at 13h00 everyday and 7Am depart from Mong Cai pier morethan 2hrs to Halong Bay

Sleeping boats welcome their tourists normally from 11h00 -12h00 at Halong Pier then starting cruising. it means if the clients stay overnight on boat, they should depart fom Ha Noi in the morning and should be at the pier before 11h45 everyday.

In case, they will spend o/n at hotels then enjoy one night on boat on the romantic Halong Bay. The cost is based on the boat suppliers, see details at Vietnam cruises

Tourist boat: Normally, travel agents book a private boat for thier clients so the boat available to depart before 8h00 Am, finish before 12h00, so they will start PM trip, finish after 4 or 5hours cruising on the Bay.

The 4hours cruising on Halong seem to be enough enjoyable, Price per hour per private boat is 100.000VND ++

Entrance fee: 2USD/p/p for the whole Halong Bay’s attraction

There are many kind of tours designed by travel agents to Halong Bay from Hanoi, such as: Halong Bay: 01day, 2days, 3days, overnight on boat and at hotels

Click to: Destination guide for more details about hotels, food, attration....

Hanoi Capital – Hai phong port city

Quang Ninh province(Halong city)

make an economic square, Vietnam.

Ninh Binh Province

Hoa lu citadel

90km from Hanoi capital in 2hours driving, 190km from Hoa Binh Town, 4hours driving, 120km from Hai phong city, located on the way to Hue –Hoian –Sai gon city

EF: 20.000VND ,

Extension to around 7km to Tam Coc –Bich Dong, dry Halong Bay, Halong Bay on land,

Private a sampan cruise along the rice field to grotto, church around 2hours, EF: 55.000VND includeding boat

Extension to 20km to Phat Diem cathedral

Extension to Cuc Phuong National park, 18km

Extension to Kenh Ga Spa, 16km

Travel agents often organise a day trip and extend to Sapa tours

Perfume Pagoda (Huong pagoda)

50km from Hanoi, 01hour by car, on way, can stop over at van Phuc silk village, EF: 55.000VND

Boat cruise along Yen stream in 10mins then stop over at Trinh temple, after your presence here, around 50mins on the stream to the Thien Tru pagoda where Cable cabin station located (20m walking up) and 10mins on the cable cabin over the mauntain to station, 15mins away from Huong Tich grotto or walk on foot up mauntain to Huong tich grotto in 01hours, passing some temples, well and pagodas on the mautain

Travel agents often organise a day trip and extend to Sapa tours or overnight in Hanoi

Hoa Binh Province – Mai Chau village

75km far off distance in 1h30 mins driving from Hanoi capital, visit Thermal station, trekking village, boat along the river to Mai Chau village 2hours, trekking in Mai Chau village. other way is to drive to Mai Chay overland 80km

Hoa binh standard hotels with 48rooms located in the city.

Mai Chau village

80Km from Hoa Binh town, 2hours driving, homestay at Thai ethbic minority village, trekking in Thai village. The bamboo dance with pipe wine, camping fire can be showed by the ethnic minority peoples upon the requests. The cost is based on one show, should not calculate per person

Son La – Lai Chau

150km from Mai Chau village in 4hours driving, 170km to Dien Bien Phu in more than 4hours ,Only standard hotels serve tourists

Dien Bien Phu Victory

500km away from Hanoi, driving in 12hours on land, 185km to Lai Chau on the way to Sapa, and 170km to Sapa in 6hours driving

01 flights from Hanoi, 01 return one from DBP in 01hour

The flight from DBP to Hanoi can connect with a flight to Hue, Danang, Saigon, transit at Noi bai airport in Hanoi

Visit: www.vietnamairlines.com for more details

Return to the victory, visit the museum, , A1 Hill, De Castrie Cellar, Muong Thanh Aerodrome.

Sapa mist town

400 km from Hanoi Capital in 9hours driving, one day on vehicle

By train: 3trains depart from Hanoi starting from 21h30 to 22h10, 45mins before the train departure is best, Arrive in Lao Cai station around 5h30 to 6h30 in the early morning, then 30km from lao Cai railway station by car up-mauntain driving, ABF can be serve at the restaurant near the station.

A night train to Sapa is so smooth that you can sleep well on 4berth cabin, soft sleeper with 2levels in one cabin of 4beds, cost = 20-25USD/p/p/way, based on train typed like: Tulico, Ratraco, Star pole, Royal...

You can book a private cabin with 2beds, VIP tickets for a nice couple.

There are also 6berth-cabin at 3levels with A/C but you should not book this cabin

The luxury train Victoria costs you 110USD/tickets/2ways/weekday/ surcharge 20USD/weekeend

Means of transportation is available for types of vehicle: 4seats, 16seats, 24seats bus, price per way: 20USD/30USD/50USD/ private one

public bus fee, joined bus fee: 25.000VND =1.5USD

Visist: Cat Cat village trekking, Ham Rong mauntain, Ta Van, Ta Phin villages, Thac Bac water fall, Love market on Satuday only and Bac Ha market only on sunday, 100km in 3hours getting there, 2hours disvocery at the market, 3hours return to Lao Cai station, can extend to Hanoi on Train around 19h00 – 20h20 to Hanoi or border pass to Kunming

3km from Lao Cai Railway station to Ha Khau border pass to Kunming, China

Click to: Destination guide for more details about hotels, food, attration....

Border pass with China (Kunming)

Ba Be lake -Bac Can

250km from Hanoi capital in 6hours, tourist can stay at hotels in Cho Ra, or at Babe national part, homestay there. Boat trip on babe lake about 3hours

We highly appreciate your recommendation & comments on the missing places that we should mention on the page, let’s share your experience here!

The diary of Tour Operators!