North Vietnam Itinerary - A comprehensive Guide to explore the North

04/12/2024

By Elton

Things to know for a North Vietnam travel itinerary

What is the climate and weather of the North of Vietnam?

The weather of North Vietnam has 4 clear divisions and patterns, just as in most countries in the Northern Hemisphere. These include Summer, Winter, Autumn and Spring. Usually, climates in Northern regions are tropical in nature, with some peculiar seasonal dynamics in the weather. These are the Northern Vietnam weather overview.

What is the climate and weather of the North of Vietnam?

Spring: This often spans from February to April with an average temperature of approximately 15 degrees Celsius to 25 degrees Celsius. The average humidity during this season sits at about 80%, with some random drizzles but often with sunshine and clear blue skies. This season is usually tagged as the best time to visit for tourism and other activities like hiking etc.

Summer: This is the period that spans from May to August and is deemed the hottest period all year round. This season often has an average temperature of about 30 to 38 degrees Celsius. The average humidity around this time comes to a whooping 75%, with precipitation level between 240 and 340mm. This simply means that regardless of the weather forecast around this time, you can literally get caught up in the rain as rains come and go quickly without notice.

Autumn: This season in Vietnam is usually from September to November. During this period, the weather is cool and dry with some little amount of breeze. It wouldn’t be surprising at all when we say that this Autumn season records the most in terms of tourism in the whole of Vietnam. This is due to the fact that it stands on a perfect mark when it has to do with outdoor activities as its temperature records an average of 24 degrees Celsius to 30 degrees Celsius.

Winter: In Northern Vietnam, winter is mostly from late November to February. This period proves to be the coldest of all with temperatures dropping below 10 degrees Celsius, being very worse in mountainous areas like Ha Giang, Sapa, Mau Son etc where the temperature could drop up to 0 degrees Celsius.

Number of days to spend on the North Vietnam itinerary?

Number of days to spend on the North Vietnam itinerary?

There is usually no cap on the number of days one should spend or use to explore the beauty of Northern Vietnam. Be that as it may, if you want to fully discover and explore the aesthetic qualities, the culture, beliefs and tradition of the North of Vietnam as a whole, it is recommended that you spend about 5 to 10 days. More time however means more opportunities to do and discover more, and so assuming you have more time on your hands, you will be able to discover and explore more intriguing and exciting places in the North of Vietnam.

Best time to visit Northern Vietnam

Best time to visit Northern Vietnam

Generally, the most appropriate time to visit North Vietnam is around September to November and also from March to May. During these times, it is calm and good with temperatures hitting approximately 15 degrees Celsius to 28 degrees Celsius. Outdoor activities are well encouraged during these months because of clear skies and convenient climate as opposed to total heat during summer.

Winter periods are usually from December to February, while temperatures could be extremely cold, especially around the mountainous areas with temperatures falling to about 10 degrees Celsius. On the contrary, the summer temperatures ( from June –August) get very hot with rampant rain showers.

As a tourist, if you want to explore a very good and serene Autumn, your best bet is from September to November. Assuming you want to go trekking in the mountains or go see a Hill tribe, March to May promises much better weather conditions.

Top places to add to the North Vietnam itinerary

Ha Giang

Ha Giang

To the extreme far Northern point of the country lies the mountainous province of Ha Giang. You will be amazed just by looking at its breathtaking landscape. As a tourist, you can’t afford to visit Ha Giang without seeing the Giang loops. This practically leads you through the most calm and nature reserved places in the area.

Sapa – Unmissable place in North Vietnam tour packages

Sapa

Sapa, which is situated on the West-North of Hanoi, a 5.5 hour drive, harbors the ethnic minority communities who are still accustomed to their traditional way of life. As a tourist, deciding to trek through village paths and terraced rice farms and paddies, as well as going to local markets would be a way of properly exploring the place for a unique tourist satisfaction.

Also, do not be alarmed when you see children or sometimes even adults chasing you to buy souvenirs from them. It is completely normal, as they do this for their own means of livelihood amongst other things.Be relaxed to spend some quality time in the place to get the necessary experience of a lifetime.

Mu Cang Chai

Mu Cang Chai

Recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage site, Mu Cang Chai terraced rice fields have appeared in several world magazines. This wonderfully designed landscape is a natural masterpiece, with the yellow season in Mu Cang Chai falling in September as well as October. There is another season here known as the flooding season, which also comes around May and June.

These seasons are quite the best times to visit the place because these are the times that truly bring out the beauty and quality of the place. It is very picturesque during these times, and for those who seek beautiful places for amazing photos, do not miss out on this, as you might see dried fields if you decide to visit this place at other seasons, because the rice and other stuff might have been harvested at that time.

Cao Bang

Cao Bang

Cao Bang is a tourist site that can be located in the Northeast part of Vietnam. It possesses some of the country’s most captivating and enchanting landscapes. The site is diverse with exceptional displays that uncovers a spectacularly adventurous journey. Some of the most wonderful sites include Nguom Ngao cave, Ban Gioc waterfall as well as the Non Nuoc Cao Bang Global Geopark.

Halong Bay – Ideal place for an ultimate Vietnam itinerary

Halong Bay is a tourist site that has been approved by UNESCO and is famous for its exciting fishing villages, amazing limestone cliffs and nice emerald waters. As a tourist, to explore this beautiful site, you will need to book a very good cruise boat with specific itineraries. You can go on this wonderful expedition within 1 to 3 days so as to have a very wonderful and captivating Halong Bay cruise.

Hanoi

Hanoi

To fully understand and appreciate Vietnamese culture and history, you cannot afford to miss a visit to Hanoi. This city is the Capital of Vietnam which is often tagged as the cultural and historical hub of Vietnam.

When tourists visit the North of Vietnam, Hanoi city usually begins their travel itineraries. Depending on the length and budget of your travel, you can typically spend a day and a night or even more, exploring the city of Hanoi.

There are quite a number of tourist attractions in Hanoi which include Hanoi Old Quarter, Temple of Literature and Imperial Academy, Imperial citadel of Thang Long, Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum Complex, Water Puppet Show etc.

Mai Chau

Mai Chau

The Thai people, Muong people, to mention a few, are all ethnic minority communities in Mai Chau that are quite famous for their typically traditional stilt houses and weaving talents.

If you are a fan of trekking and cycling, you probably wouldn’t want to miss an opportunity to visit this enchanting valley enclosed with rice paddies and green culture.

One major thing you can’t afford to miss in Mai Chau is spending a night or two in a simple stilt house to allow yourself to experience true Vietnamese culture and tradition as well as enjoy good Vietnamese local foods and also have a chance to cycle through some of the humble villages.

Ninh Binh – Scenic place for North Vietnam travel itinerary

Ninh Binh

To have a great tour in Ninh Binh, you might need to explore a number of amazing places in order for your tour to be complete. You can begin with Tam Coc which is a good place to check out, as it has a unique tourist attraction which features natural scenery like mountains, caves as well as certain charming historical artifacts and relics. You can ride in a boat to get the feeling of the serene countryside atmosphere as you navigate rice fields, landscapes and other spectacular scenes.

Afterwards, you can explore Trang An, a recognized tourist site by UNESCO with enough landscape of limestone Karsts coupled with great temples and pagodas as well as archeological discoveries.

It is a worthwhile experience especially exploring the rivers and other scenes via the kayak. Another wonderful experience is to go see Hoa Lu city, which is Vietnam’s ancient capital and has a number of mountains and interwoven streams. As a tourist, you can also visit the temples of king Dinh Tien Hoang as well as that of king Le Dai Hanh.

Pu Luong

Pu Luong

In Between Mai Chau and Ninh Binh lies an enchanting Vietnamese countryside called Pu Luong. The region is quite famous for its bamboo forest, traditional stilt houses as well as nice rice terraces. As a tourist, Pu Luong brings you into a series of traditional cultures of ethnic minorities.

Suggested North Vietnam itinerary for first-timers

If this is your first time visiting Vietnam, let us look at this Vietnam itineraries featuring the North of Vietnam.

North Vietnam itinerary 10 days

North Vietnam Itinerary 10 days

Day 1: Hanoi - Make your first step at Hoan Kiem Lake, where you’ll meet new people and socialize. It’s actually a great avenue to help you learn more about the city and the people. You can then move to st. Joseph’s cathedral in central Hanoi. This cathedral reflects so much of the western Heritage as well as the unique architectural designs (outer and inner parts of the cathedral)

Day 2: Move along as you enjoy the excitement that comes with discovering the Hanoi city attractions . You can watch the water puppet with designs and rich culture from the people.

Day 3: A day in a Mai Chau might bring good grace and happiness. While staying in Mai Chaun, there are quite a number of things to do, the best of them is to go on a hiking trail and enjoy.

Day 4: Enjoy your trip from Mai Chau through to Pu Luong, with an option of spending the night in Pu Luong

Day 5: You get to experience the food and get to do a full day trek , through small ethnic ‘s villages.

Day 6: Experience tourism at its best, as you go through the beautiful sceneries and sites like the rice terraces, fish streams etc

Day 7: At this point, nature is a saturated venture.You can explore the peoples’ diverse culture and tradition.

Day 8: Get the cycling experience and also take a boat trip to Van Long Natural site or reserve. You can decide to spend the night at Van Long.

Day 9: As a tourist, you can explore from Hanoi right to Lan Hank Bay as you experience the complete seascape and swim in some parts of the Lan Ha Bay while staying overnight.

Day 10: Keep enjoying the Lan Ha Bay cruise as you wait and try putting your things together for flight back.

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Best North Vietnam Tour 10 Days

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Depart Time:Daily
Starts/Ends:Hanoi/Hanoi
Tour type:Private Tours
Travel Style:Nature & Adventure, Culture & History
Activities:Walking tours, Local culture tours, Countryside and village visits tours
Suitable for:Solo, Family, Group, Couple
Age range:1 To 90 Years
Operated in:English, French, Spanish, German, Italian

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Northern Vietnam Itinerary in 2 weeks

North Vietnam Itinerary in 2 weeks

Day 1: Once you land in Hanoi, you have to know what to eat and drink, then you take a stroll, not better than a walking tour. It suffices to say that spending the night in Hanoi is the way to go.

Day 2: Immerse yourself and let yourself into the amazing attraction, while you go see the “Water Puppet Show”

Day 3: From Hanoi, you can go and visit Nghia Lo and discover the amazing tea plantation and visit the ethnic groups’ villages. Again, you can stay overnight in Nghia Lo.

Day 4: Tip toe gradually into the nature and culture of Mu Cang Chai. Explore the way of life of the people and have the option to spend the night there.

Day 5 : Find yourself trekking the routes of Na Tam as you climb to the peak to face various beautiful and adventurous landscapes. Try to visit the Lu people’s villages in Mu Cang Chai and spend the night in Sapa.

Day 6: While you are still in Sapa, there are still a number of villages to visit, including Lao Chai, Ta Van and Bac Ha. You can pass through and explore the people and their way of life.

Day 7: Experience the overnight stay in Ha Giang, after visiting the Bac Ha region and an absolute mountain market.

Day 8: Go high on trekking as you conquer the Me-Lup-Tha villages and get to rest over the night in Ha Giang.

Day 9: A whole day full of discoveries about the H’mong and Bo Y ethnic group and their traditional house and King’s palace, not forgetting the Dong Van Karst Plateau Geopark.

Day 10: Spend the night at Bao Lac as you visit the villages of the Lo Lo and H’mong people.

Day 11: As you visit the San Chi ethnic people in the Hill villages, you can try and explore Ba Be and then the Hua Ma cave. You can then go on to spend the night in Ba Be for a wonderful experience.

Day 12: Experience a very captivating boat trip as you appreciate various landscapes and sites as well as admiring the wilderness, Dau Dang Waterfall and the Puong cave. While at it, you can decide to stay in Hanoi overnight.

Day 13: Experience Bai Tu Long Bay as you engage in sunbathing and swimming at the Ban Chan beach, and having the long overnight stay in HaLong Bay.

Day 14: Experience another enchanting cruising route called Thien Canh Son Cave, as you prepare to go back to Hanoi for your flight back.

North Vietnam itinerary 7 days

North Vietnam Itinerary 7 days

Day 1: When you arrive in Hanoi, take your time to go round the city to explore different places and sites, as well as mingle and socialize with new people as you understand their way of doing things.

Day 2: The second day is always about discovering other attractions in Hanoi city and also watching the water puppet show.

Day 3: On this day, trekking is the most appropriate activity to embark on. While you trek, you shouldn’t lose sight of the beautiful Mai Chau.

Day 4: When you arrive in Ninh Binh straight from Mai Chau, you can get on a bike to help you go round to explore the whole region and see how beautiful it is.

Day 5: While still in Ninh Binh, you are afforded the opportunity to visit more tourist places such as Tam Coc, Bich Dong etc.

Day 6: In Hanoi, you can move with a Lan Ha Bay cruise so that you can go see some nice landscapes such as karst mountains and beaches.

Day 7: On this 7th day, you are to be on leisure as you prepare for your flight back.

North Vietnam itinerary 5 days

North Vietnam Itinerary 5 days

Day 1: Arrive in Hanoi and take the time to explore the whole city if you can, as you socialize and connect with people all over.

Day 2: The second day is mostly for seeing new attractions and hopefully to watch a water puppet show.

Day 3: As you move from Hanoi to Ninh Binh, you can use a bike to go round through Thung La and Van Long Nature Reserve. Here, you are able to get a feel of the whole natural setting and breathtaking adventures.

Day 4: While you’re back in Hanoi, you can go on a Lan Ha Bay cruise to visit some breathtaking landscapes like caves, beaches and karst mountains.

Day 5: Relax and leisure away on Lan Ha Bay cruise while you prepare to move back.

Visit Remote Hilltribe Villages in North Vietnam 5 Days

Ha Giang - Meo Vac - Hanoi

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Depart Time:Daily
Starts/Ends:Hanoi/Hanoi
Tour type:Private Tours
Travel Style:Nature & Adventure
Activities:Trekking and Hiking, Sightseeing Tours, Countryside and village visits tours
Suitable for:Solo, Family, Group, Couple
Age range:1 To 90 Years
Operated in:English, French, Spanish, German, Italian

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Conclusion

The North of Vietnam has amazing things to offer, whether you are an adventurous tourist who has immense interest in trekking through mountains or someone who is just fascinated by simple things like culture, tradition and belief systems, this part of Vietnam has lots in store for everyone.

There are so many different sites with a variety of amazing and enchanting landscapes in North Vietnam, all you need to do is make up your mind and make a decision to start. Do not hesitate to let us handle all your travel needs, visit Asiatouradvisor, to access all you need to know about your trip.

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