Things to do in Northern Vietnam
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Hanoi motorbike tour with food: Backstreets & local dishesA half-day motorbike tour of Hanoi on a customized USSR vintage Minsk, led by an English-speaking guide who takes you through backstreets, the French Colonial and Old Quarters, and a forgotten river island, with traditional Hanoian food and beverages included. Hotel pickup is provided; the ride covers roughly 4 to 5 hours and vegan and vegetarian options are available.Is it for me?The pace is steady riding through traffic and alleys for 4 to 5 hours, which suits travelers comfortable on a motorbike as a passenger and ready to move between stops without long walks. If you prefer a slower, walking-focused tour or need to avoid motorbike travel, a different Hanoi tour will serve you better.
Hanoi Old Quarter: Street Food Walking Tour with PickupYou’ll wander Hanoi’s Old Quarter with a local guide, tasting everything from steaming noodle soups to sweet donuts at family-run stalls. Sip sidewalk green tea while learning quirky facts about daily life here. With hotel pickup included and dishes changing daily, you’ll get a genuine slice of Hanoi’s street food scene — plus some laughs along the way.
Hanoi Craft Classes: Lacquer, Hat & Incense MakingA full-day small-group class in Hanoi where you learn lacquerware, conical hat making and incense production by working alongside artisans in Ha Thai, Chuong and Quang Phu Cau villages. The day includes a home-cooked lunch, an air-conditioned vehicle with pickup, a conical hat to take home, and a live English-speaking guide. Half-day options focus on hat and incense making only, without lunch.Is it for me?Choose the full-day tour to learn all three crafts and share a meal with a local artisan; pick half-day if you want to focus only on hat and incense making and need to finish by early afternoon.
Ha Long Bay: Day Cruise, Sung Sot Cave & Kayaking with LunchYou’ll cruise through Ha Long Bay’s limestone islands with a local guide, kayak into Hang Luon Cave, explore Sung Sot Cave’s surreal formations, swim or hike at Ti Top Island, and share lunch on deck before heading back to Hanoi. Expect laughter, salt air, and one or two moments you’ll want to keep for yourself.
Hanoi: Old Quarter Walking Tour & Temple of LiteratureYou walk Hanoi's main sights — Hoan Kiem Lake, Ngoc Son Temple, Temple of Literature, and Hoa Lo Prison — with a private guide who adjusts the pace to your interests. Hotel pickup is included, the itinerary is flexible, and you avoid the noise of a group tour while learning the real history behind each stop.Is it for me?Book this if you want to see Hanoi's main sights without the pace and noise of a group tour — the private guide and flexible schedule mean you move at your own speed and can linger where you're interested, which is what makes a walking tour feel like exploring instead of checking boxes.
Hanoi: Half-Day Food & Culture Tour by Russian JeepYou’ll ride through Hanoi’s tangled alleyways and French boulevards in an open-air Russian jeep with a local guide, tasting over seven authentic street foods along the way. Expect unexpected moments—like pausing at Westlake or sharing laughter with locals—that linger long after you return.
Hanoi: Incense Village & Conical Hat Artisan Tour with PickupYou’ll walk through Chuong village’s quiet lanes, meet artisans weaving conical hats by hand, and try decorating your own. In Quang Phu Cau Incense Village you’ll photograph bold red incense drying in sunlight and watch locals blend fragrant powders in lively workshops. With a local guide sharing stories along the way—and hotel pickup included—it’s a half-day full of color and small surprises.
Hanoi: Coffee Workshop with Egg, Salt & Coconut TastingYou’ll taste six kinds of Vietnamese coffee—including egg, salt & coconut styles—in a cozy Hanoi roastery with a local guide who grew up among coffee farms. Brew your own cup, hear family stories over ginger tea & rice wine, and leave with recipes plus pickup if you’re staying in the Old Quarter.
Hanoi Old Quarter: Private Street Food Walking Tour & Egg CoffeeYou’ll follow a local guide through Hanoi’s Old Quarter, tasting everything from steaming phở bò to sweet sticky rice and fresh donuts along bustling alleys. End with creamy egg coffee in a hidden café near Hoan Kiem Lake. With hotel pickup included and dishes tailored to your preferences, you’ll experience Hanoi’s flavors like a true insider.
Halong & Lan Ha Bays: 3-Day Cruise, Kayak & Floating VillagesYou’ll drift through Halong & Lan Ha Bays on calm water, kayak beneath towering cliffs, try your hand at local dishes in Viet Hai village, and feel welcomed by both crew and villagers alike. Expect slow mornings with coffee on deck, quiet moments in caves or floating villages, and plenty of chances to pause for yourself along the way.
Ha Giang Loop Motorbike Tour: 3 Days, Dong Van & Meo VacA three-day guided motorbike tour through Ha Giang loops through Dong Van, Meo Vac and Ma Pi Leng Pass on a 110cc bike with an experienced local guide and trained driver. Groups stay under ten riders, and you sleep in private rooms at local homestays each night. Meals are included, and the tour can be arranged from Hanoi with sleeper bus pickup on request. Minimum age is 18.Is it for me?Choose the Easy Rider option if the mountain roads and tight curves worry you—a trained driver handles the bike while you take in the views and the stops. Ride your own if you're comfortable on a motorbike and want the control; either way, the three-day route and homestays stay the same, so the choice is about how you want to experience the ride itself.
Lan Ha Bay Day Trip from Hanoi: Kayaking, Lunch & CruiseYou get picked up from your Hanoi hotel, driven 3.5 hours to Beo Pier, then spend the afternoon kayaking, swimming and exploring Viet Hai Village from Serenity Cruise. Lunch, welcome drink, water equipment and a bilingual guide are all included. The return bus reaches Hanoi around 8:30pm.Is it for me?Book this if you want a full Lan Ha Bay experience without arranging your own transport or timing the village visit and water activities yourself — the fixed schedule and included transfers mean you leave Hanoi in the morning and return in the evening with nothing else to organize.
Halong Bay Cruise: Luon Cave Kayak, Titop Island & Hanoi PickupYou’ll float through Halong Bay’s emerald waters, kayak beneath arching caves at Luon Cave, climb Titop Island for panoramic views, and share laughter during sunset happy hour—all with hotel pickup from Hanoi and full meals included. Expect small surprises: smoky grilled clams at dinner or a quiet sunrise on deck that stays with you long after you leave.
Kayaking Halong Bay: Route 2 Less CrowdedKayak Halong Bay on Route 2, a less-crowded route through limestone formations and caves, departing early morning from Tuan Chau Island with an English-speaking guide. The day includes hotel pickup from Hanoi, Vietnamese seafood lunch onboard, swimming at Titop Island, hiking to Halong Surprise Cave, optional kayaking or bamboo boat through Luon Cave, and a sunset party with tea and fruit. Duration is 12 hours; choose your transport option at checkout.Is it for me?Book this route if you want to kayak or swim in Halong Bay without fighting the crowds — Route 2 draws fewer boats, so the caves and islands stay quieter. The 12-hour day is long, but the early departure and fixed itinerary mean you're back by evening; choose your transport option at checkout based on whether you want hotel pickup from Hanoi or prefer to meet the boat at the island.
Ninh Binh Day Trip from Hanoi: Bai Dinh, Trang An, Mua CaveA full-day guided tour from Hanoi to Ninh Binh visiting Bai Dinh Pagoda, the Trang An UNESCO site by bamboo boat, and Mua Cave with its panoramic view, including hotel pickup, English-speaking guide, Vietnamese buffet lunch and all entry fees. The fixed itinerary and included transport mean you move through the region without planning stops or managing timing.Is it for me?The fixed schedule and included guide mean you skip the planning—pickup, transport between three sites, lunch timing and all entry fees are arranged, so the day holds together without you building it. Book this if you want to see multiple landmarks in one trip without managing the route or the logistics.
Sapa: Fansipan Cable Car, Cat Cat Village & Moana Day TourYou ride the Muong Hoa monorail and Fansipan cable car to the 3,143-meter summit, eat a buffet lunch in the clouds, then visit Cat Cat Village with an H'Mong guide who explains the terraced fields and traditional crafts. Moana Sapa rounds out the afternoon with viewpoint photos and a complimentary drink. Transport and guide are included; Fansipan tickets are purchased on-site at the official counter.Is it for me?Choose this if you want Sapa's main sights—the cable car, the village, the viewpoints—in one day without arranging your own transport or tickets; the guide handles logistics so you focus on the views and the H'Mong culture.
Halong Bay Cruise: Overnight from Hanoi with Kayaking & MealsYou’ll drift through Halong Bay’s limestone islands by cruise boat, kayak into quiet coves, learn to make spring rolls with local crew, and wake up to sunrise over calm water. This overnight tour from Hanoi includes transfers, all meals (with fresh seafood), and moments that stick with you long after you’ve left the bay.
Halong Bay Cruise: 2-Day Kayak, Caves & Island from HanoiYou’ll drift past Halong Bay’s limestone islands by boat, kayak through Luon Cave’s quiet archways, swim off Titop Island or just watch locals joke around in the sun. Wake up on calm water before exploring Surprising Cave and learning to make Vietnamese spring rolls — all with meals, hotel pickup and a local guide included.
Halong Bay: Luxury Day Cruise, Sung Sot Cave & Buffet LunchYou’ll float through Halong Bay’s surreal limestone islands on a luxury cruise with buffet lunch, kayak or take a bamboo boat at Luon cave, wander through Sung Sot cave’s cool chambers, and swim or climb for panoramic views at Titov Island—all with hotel pickup and sunset treats included.
Hanoi Jeep Tour: West Lake, Opera House & Train StreetA small-group jeep tour of Hanoi that covers the city's landmarks—the Opera House, Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, West Lake—and the quieter sides tourists usually miss: backstreets, Banana Island's rural farms, the Van Nien Pagoda, and the Train Street cafes. The tour runs 4.5 hours with an English-speaking guide, lunch, and hotel pickup; you choose between a private jeep or a shared group departure.Is it for me?Pick the private jeep if you want to explore narrow backstreets and rural villages without stopping for other passengers, or the group jeep to share costs while following the same route.
