Heritage Trails: Exploring Vietnam's Core
Vietnam North – Central Tour Package: 13-day journey to discover the pristine nature and well-reserved culture. Start & end in Hanoi. Check the package deal now
From $1096 / person (private tour, price per person drops as your group grows)
Vietnam North – Central Tour Package: 13-day journey to discover the pristine nature and well-reserved culture. Start & end in Hanoi. Check the package deal now Fully private and customizable, with your own guide and driver, honest online pricing, and cabin & pickup confirmed within 1 hour.
Day-by-Day Itinerary
Click any day to expand. “Stay” shows the accommodation on this route. Prefer to upgrade a hotel or cruise cabin? We’ll tailor it — and the price — in your free quote.
Day 1 — Hanoi
Welcome to Hanoi, enjoy a walking tour in the old quarter. Upon your arrival at Noi Bai Airport , you'll be greeted by our guide and driver at the pickup lobby. You'll then enjoy a 45-minute drive to the heart of Hanoi , passing over the Red River, where you can catch a glimpse of the city's unique architecture and its famously bustling traffic.
Stay: Conifer Grand Hotel ★★★ (Deluxe Room) *or similar hotel
35km – 0.75h
Day 2 — Hanoi – Lao Cai
Exploring the center of culture & education Van Mieu, outstanding museum of ethnology, water puppet show and night train to Lao Cai. 9:00 AM: Get Pick up by tour guide to Temple of Literature which was built under the Ly dynasty in 11th century for worshipping Confucius and teaching Royal children. Enjoy a walk in the garden to the city's symbol Khue Van Cac. You will then visit the World Heritage "s tone steles " which shows the name of outstanding students. Continue to explore the Quoc Tu Giam which is considered as the first national university of Vietnam.
Day 3 — Lao Cai – Sapa
Trekking through the World's most amazing rice terrace in Y Linh Ho, Lao Chai, Ta Van, meeting H'mong & Dzay people. Arrive in Lao Cai train station in the early morning. Private guide and car will escort you an hour trip up-hill to Sapa . Enjoy the beauty of nature and rice terraces after every turns and meet H'mong, Red Dao people along the way. Have a breakfast at local restaurant before exploring the town.
Stay: Sapa Elegance Hotel ★★★ (Deluxe Room) *or similar hotel
35km – 1h
Day 4 — Sapa – Hanoi
Discovering the Red Dao culture in Ma Tra & Ta Phin village, transferring back to Hanoi. After breakfast, you on the trek from from Ma Tra hamlet to Ta Phin village , this walk leads through a beautiful valley of rice terraces. Along the way, you will have the opportunity to meet local people from the Black Hmong and Red Dao ethnic groups. Originally from Southern China, they settled in Vietnam in the 11th century and continue to live in remote highland areas, helping preserve their traditions, language, and ancestral way of life. There may also be an opportunity to visit a Hmong family and a local school in Ma Tra village. After around three hours of trekking, you will reach Ta Phin village, home to the Red Dao community. During the walk, enjoy interacting with local people and learning more about their daily life and culture.
Stay: Conifer Grand Hotel ★★★ (Deluxe Room) *or similar hotel
320km – 6h
Day 5 — Hanoi – Ninh Binh – Hanoi
Biking to Thung La temple and then a boat trip in Van Long Nature Reserve, embroidering experience. 8:00 AM: Transfer from Hanoi to Ninh Binh, driving through the picturesque countryside of the Red River Delta, painted by rice and vegetable fields. Take a 15km bike ride (optional) or walk through the villages. A journey along the dyke will offer you gorgeous landscapes of rice fields, a river and limestone mountains. There are several stops for you to take beautiful photos or encounter the locals then walk to discover Thung La temple , dating back to the 11th century. Meet Mr Tuong, the temple guardian, and enjoy an authentic conversation as well as a 20 minute drum show. Later, take a sampan boat trip along the stream and among the limestone mountains to discover the beauty of Van Long nature reserve. If lucky, you might get to see white monkeys and egrets on the cliffs. After the boat trip, visit an embroidery village and take part in an embroidery course under the instruction of local craftswoman, Mrs Lam. She will proudly explain the techniques of her traditional craft. This will be a good opportunity for you to practice on fabric like a real craftsman.
Stay: Conifer Grand Hotel ★★★ (Deluxe Room) *or similar hotel
100km – 2h
Day 6 — Hanoi – Hai Phong – Lan Ha bay
Cruising from Halong to Lan Ha bay, swimming & kayaking, cooking class. 9:00 AM: Pick up at your hotel (in the Hanoi Old Quarter) . Enjoy two and a half hour drive from Hanoi to Lan Ha Bay on the national highway No5B. Your journey will pass the series of villages and rice fields in the Red River Delta . Have a stop for drink and restroom. Continue driving to the harbor around noon, get warmly welcome at cruise reception.
Cruise: Peony Cruise – 2D1N
140km – 2.5h
Day 7 — Hai Phong – Lan Ha bay – Hoi An
Exploring Trung Trang Cave, visiting Cat Ba National park, Transferring back to Hanoi for a flight to Danang – Hoi An. 6:00 AM : Begin the day full of energy with a Tai Chi session and enjoy the sun as it rises beyond the horizon. 6:45 AM – 7:15 AM : Breakfast is served while cruising back to Gia Luan jetty. (Breakfast time may be adjusted to follow the real itinerary). 7:30 AM – 9:00 AM : Join the tour of Cat Ba World Biosphere. It takes 30 minutes to transfer from Gia Luan to Trung Trang cave – one of the most impressive caves in Cat Ba Island, Vietnam. The limestone cave has thousands of stalactites in various shapes, offering geological values with a typical cave ecosystem. 9:30 AM : Return to the main boat from the cave, and you will check out of your cabin. Luggage is to be placed outside of the cabin. Early Lunch is served at the restaurant. Settle any bar bills at the restaurant's desk (if any). 10:30 AM – 11:00 AM : Disembark from the Peony Cruises and transfer back to Tuan Chau port. 11:30 AM – 12:00 PM : You should be ready at Tuan Chau port.
Stay: Delicacy Hotel & Spa ★★★ (Deluxe City View Room) *or similar hotel
Day 8 — Hoi An
Discovering Hoi An rural by cycling and city walking tour. 8:00 AM: Pick up from hotel to Hoian town center. First, visit Cam Pho – one of the oldest communal houses in Hoi An. It was built in the shape of Chinese character means the country for worshipping and trading business and cultural exchange between locality and Chinese, Japanese traders.
Stay: Delicacy Hotel & Spa ★★★ (Deluxe City View Room) *or similar hotel
Day 9 — Hoi An – My Son – Hoi An
Exploring My Son Sanctuary, Champa culture, unique architecture. 8:00 AM: Pick up by tour guide and driver from your hotel. Spend a half-day exploring the sacred valley of the Champa Kingdom. Located 40km from Hoi An Town, My Son Sanctuary was once the most important intellectual and religious center of the ancient kingdom, and a revered burial place for Cham monarchs. Recognized as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site, this sanctuary preserves around 70 ruined brick and stone architectural works built between the 7th and 13th centuries. During the visit, the rich cultural, historical, and architectural values of each relic will be fully unveiled as you leisurely wander through the ancient complex . The experience is further enriched by attending a traditional Champa dance performance before leaving the sanctuary.
Stay: Delicacy Hotel & Spa ★★★ (Deluxe City View Room) *or similar hotel
40km – 1h
Day 10 — Hoi An
Hoian free & easy. Today, enjoy a full day at leisure to relax or explore the surrounding area at your own pace. A variety of optional activities are available, including snorkeling , cooking classes , cycling , sightseeing, or boat excursions. Please note that these activities are not included and are at your own expense. Feel free to contact us for more information and availability. Lunch & dinner at your own expense (not included). Overnight in Hoi An.
Stay: Delicacy Hotel & Spa ★★★ (Deluxe City View Room) *or similar hotel
Day 11 — Hoi An – Hue
Travelling to Hue, visiting Cham sculpture museum, Hai Van Pass, Thien Mu Pagoda and Hue citadel. 8:00 AM: Pick up from hotel then travel to Hue by passing Da Nang along the sea road. Once you arrive in Da Nang, stop to visit the Cham Museum which preserves the most important Cham culture collections in the world. Then, walk to My Khe beach where you can enjoy the view of giant Goodness of Mercy statues in the Linh Ung Pagoda. Take photos of fishermen by the beach then continue driving along the coastline to Hue ancient capital. Make a stop at top of the Hai Van pass to enjoy the breathtaking view of the ocean.
Stay: Rosaleen Boutique Hotel ★★★ (Deluxe Double Room) *or similar hotel
125km – 3h
Day 12 — Hue
An amazing day tour to explore Perfurme River by boat trip, excursion to Tien Non, Thanh Tien, Sinh village, Khai Dinh King's Tomb. 8:00 AM: Firstly, transfer to the Huong River (or Perfume River) to embark a Royal boat trip to the villages in the East of the city. This is an opportunity to discover the local life on the both sides of this poetic river. Upon arrival in Tien Non village, disembark for a bike ride in the countryside through three villages: Tien Non, Thanh Tien and Sinh village. During the trip, you will be immersed into the daily rhythm of life in the villages. In Tien Non village , meet the villagers working on the fields and vegetable gardens. Then, visit a family worship house in the village. Next, reach Thanh Tien village , an artificial paper flower village dating back 400 years . Besides the rural works, they make paper flowers for the New Year festival to offer their ancestors the best wishes. Visit Mr. Hieu's family , one of the well-known artisans in the village to learn how to make paper flowers under his instruction. Keep going to Sinh village , a cradle of 400 year folklore prints in Hue. Meet Mr. Phuoc who will explain the techniques of traditional prints. You will find beautiful souvenirs on this trip.
Stay: Rosaleen Boutique Hotel ★★★ (Deluxe Double Room) *or similar hotel
25km – 1h
Day 13 — Hue
From Hue, flying to other destinations. Our driver picks you up from your hotel lobby in Hue City and transfers you to Phu Bai Airport. The journey takes approximately 45 to 60 minutes, depending on traffic conditions.
What’s Included
Included
- Accommodation as listed, with daily breakfast
- Halong Bay cruise: Peony Cruise – 2D1N
- Private English-speaking guide throughout
- Private air-conditioned car & driver
- Entrance fees & permits in the itinerary
- Meals: Breakfast: 13, Lunch: 07, Dinner: 01
- 02 bottles of water per person per day on tour
- 24/7 WhatsApp · cabin & pickup confirmed within 1 hour
Not Included
- International flights
- Vietnam e-visa (~$25)
- Travel insurance (required)
- Drinks, tips & personal expenses
- Optional activities not listed
- Meals not specified
Pricing
Private tour, price per person — it drops as your group grows (your own guide & car are shared). Pick your group and room type for an indicative from-price; your exact price for specific dates (seasonal, only ~7% either way) is confirmed within 1 hour on WhatsApp.
| Group size | Sharing twin/double | Private single |
|---|---|---|
| 1 traveller (solo) | — | $2,575 |
| 2 travellers | $1,517 | $1,907 |
| 3 travellers | $1,351 | $1,741 |
| 4 travellers | $1,240 | $1,631 |
| 5 travellers | $1,171 | $1,561 |
| 6 travellers | $1,127 | $1,518 |
| 7 travellers | $1,096 | $1,486 |
| 8 travellers | $1,128 | $1,519 |
Indicative from-prices (season varies ~7%). Single traveller = private single room. Child (2–11, sharing): reduced rate · Infant (<2): free — confirmed in your quote.
Good to Know
Is 13 days enough to enjoy this route?
Yes — this 13-day private itinerary is paced so you see Hanoi and more without rushing. We can shorten or extend any part to fit your dates.
Best time to travel?
March–April and October–November are the most reliable nationwide. Northern Vietnam is cool and dry December–February. We’ll advise the best dates for your route.
Can I customize it?
Fully — change hotels, upgrade your cruise cabin, add or remove stops. It’s a private tour built around you.
How do I pay?
After we agree your itinerary we send a secure online payment link. Cabin & pickup confirmed within 1 hour, honest local pricing.
Get your free, no-obligation quote
Tell us your dates and what you’d like — Ava replies within 1 hour with a tailored itinerary and honest pricing. No payment now; you only pay online once you’re happy.
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