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15 Days in Northern Vietnam
Hanoi · Sa Pa · Ninh Bình · Cát Bà — a taste of my complete guide, with the itinerary, the budget, and one full day offered for free.
Page 1 · The Itinerary
Fifteen days, four regions, a slow pace
Vietnam doesn't need much planning, but it deserves good planning. Here is the exact structure of the trip I lived, from the Old Quarter of Hanoi to the karsts of Lan Hạ Bay.
Days 1 – 2
Hanoi
Old Quarter, hidden cafés, first night and overnight train north.
Days 3 – 6
Sa Pa
Mường Hoa valley, a night with a Hmong family, Cát Cát and Fansipan.
Days 7 – 9
Ninh Bình · Tam Cốc
Boat on the river, cycling between karsts, sunset and a pagoda.
Days 10 – 14
Cát Bà
Lan Hạ Bay by boat, kayaking, Việt Hải village, karsts and sunsets.
Day 15
Back to Hanoi
Ferry + bus (3 h), last night in the Old Quarter, flight home.
Interactive map
The itinerary at a glance
Click a stage to discover what awaits you there and jump to the matching chapter.
Days 1 & 2
Hanoï
Old Quarter
Arrival, bus 86 from the airport, settling into the Old Quarter, hidden cafés and a first Michelin-starred table.
Read the stageThe journeys
- Hanoi → Lao Cai / Sa PaNight train
- Sa Pa → HanoiReturn
- Hanoi → Tam CốcBus
- Tam Cốc → Cát BàBus + ferry
- Cát Bà → HanoiFerry + bus, 3 h
Real trip budget
- Round-trip international flight≈ $870
- Accommodation (14 nights)≈ $380
- Local transport≈ $165
- Meals & cafés≈ $195
- Activities & excursions≈ $220
Page 2 · One Day, Free
Day 1 — Arrival in Hanoi
Landing at Nội Bài late in the morning. Head to the Old Quarter on bus 86: an hour's ride for a few tens of thousands of dong, the simplest and cheapest way to reach the center.
Afternoon: settling into the Old Quarter. We drop our bags and wander aimlessly among the tangled power lines, honking horns, and steaming bowls of broth. In the evening, we treat ourselves to a Michelin-starred table to celebrate our arrival — a memorable dinner for the price of a lunch back in France.
Day sheet
- Transport
- Bus 86 · airport → Old Quarter, ~1 h
- Overnight
- Hanoi Old Quarter
- To plan ahead
- Small dong notes as soon as you land
- Day's budget
- ≈ $49
End of the free preview
The rest is in the complete guide
- · Full itinerary, day by day, hour by hour
- · Daily practical sheet: transport, night, budget
- · Address book sorted by day (cafés, restaurants, homestays)
- · Tested booking links (trains, buses, ferries, excursions)
- · Detailed budget and money-saving tips
- · eSIM, apps, my complete backpack packing list
- · Interactive map of the itinerary
All 15 days, the addresses and the bookings, gathered in one guide