How to plan a trip to North Vietnam – The best North Vietnam itinerary

You are going to plan a trip to North Vietnam this year, there are tons of questions and concerns. Don’t worry, we are here with you to help you answer these questions and plan a perfect trip to Northern Vietnam. This post includes information for both first-timers and second-timers in Vietnam with detailed North Vietnam itinerary

You don’t need to spend several days researching information because you are going to find key information that you need as the comprehensive guide to plan the trip to North Vietnam

Planning when to go in North Vietnam – Best time to visit North Vietnam

What’s the weather like in North Vietnam?

There are four distinct seasons in North Vietnam : spring, summer, fall and winter

Winter is cold and dry in late November to late January. The temperature in Hanoi and its vicinities (Ninh Binh, Mai Chau, Halong Bay, Bai Tu Long bay) ranges from 10 to 18 degrees Celcius while mountainous regions like Sapa, Moc Chau, Mu Cang Chai, Hoang Su Phi, Mau Son mountain, Cao Bang is much colder. The temperature is sometimes negative and snowy. 

Don’t think it is like your country. Lots of my guests think that the real feel should be the same but it turns out lots colder than expected.

This time is not ideal for water activities like kayaking, swimming etc….

Spring is from February to April, the temperature ranges from 20 to 29 degrees Celsius. February is still cold. But March and April are a lot warmer. It has light rains here often due to high humidity so it’s foggy and misty.  In late Feb to early April, the weather can be “Nom” –  a phenomenon when everything in your house is wet due to high humidity.

My advice is not to try to go somewhere pretty early to see the view, for example, hiking the Mua viewpoint in Ninh Binh, the view will be ZERO. For cruising in Halong, Lan Ha bay or Bai Tu Long (especially on overnight cruise), you should have less expectation for the view of the limestone. Keep praying hard to get good weather with sunshine. 

The last two weeks of April, the weather is getting better of sunshine, less raining and not too hot. 

Summer is from May to August: This is the hottest time of the month, the temperature ranges from 25 to 37 degrees Celsius but the real feel is hotter than this. May is hot but too hot. June and July is the hottest time of the year and also the monsoon season. In the coastal regions like Lan Ha bay, we called “Mua Gio Nam” (The season of wind from the SouthEast) with stronger wind and water rougher. 

The boat cruise in Halong Bay, Lan Ha bay or Bai Tu Long bay can be cancelled due to bad weather (The local authority decides if the cruise are allowed to go or not) 

Don’t get me wrong. Places like Sapa, Hoang Su Phi, Mu Cang Chai with high altitudes is still much cooler than Hanoi. It’s still a good place for doing trekking trips. Just the gap between daytime and nighttime in terms of temperature can be 8 to 10 degrees Celsius. If you have young kids, you need to be careful 

As an exception, places in the Northwest like Mai Chau, Son La, Dien Bien can be pretty hot like Hanoi even it is located on high altitude. 

Most of the foreign tourists are okay with strong waves but to be more careful, and take motion sickness pills before taking the boat tour in Lan Ha Bay. Halong Bay and Bai Tu Long Bay, the water is calm,

Last two weeks of August, it isn’t too hot but rains heavily more often in August since we called it “Mưa Ngâu” – There is an interesting story behind it. 

Autumn (fall) is from September to early November. Lots of people feel like this is the best time to see North Vietnam. The temperature ranges from 18 to 30 degrees Celsius. 

For September, it may take heavy rain so you need to be careful if you are going to Hoang Su Phi, Mu Cang Chai, Sapa, Pu Luong, Mai Chau during the rice harvest season because of landslides due to heavy rain. Some days in December, the temperature can be over 30 degrees Celsius but it isn’t very often. 

When is the best time to see North Vietnam

September to early February is the best time to see North Vietnam in my opinion.

The last two weeks of April

March and April are the second priority, it is just misty and foggy sometimes. 

Summertime from May to August is for students, family trips, backpackers and young travelers.

It doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t travel to other periods because the weather is changeable. There is always a solution to replan the itinerary. 

The best time to go also depends on where you like to go, so research the weather in your destinations. 

Should I visit North Vietnam during Lunar New year?

You may tons of articles online which says that “Dont visit North Vietnam during Tet” since restaurants, bars, cafes will be close. Well, it isn’t completely true. If you stay in major cities like Hanoi, especially Old Quarter of Hanoi, there isn’t a big deal since it is a big tourist hub. Just less options only. From 3rd of Jan (Lunar Calendar), lots of restaurants, and cafes will be reopened. 

Take advantage of this time by looking for a guided tour with a home visit to local families to learn more about the culture and traditions of Vietnamese people during the New Year. It can be a highlights of your trip.

Please note that due to a shortage of suppliers, the tour price can be 30 to 40% higher than usual. Please understand it that we need to pay at least double for tour guide’s fee and the extra cost of transportation and other services.

Some tourist attractions in Hanoi can be closed during the first 1 to 3 days of the New Year, apart from temples and pagodas since Vietnamese have the custom of visiting holy places to pray for good luck, and good health for the New Year.

Visa to Vietnam

There are a ton of articles that give you detailed information about visas to Vietnam. You can easily google it. I just wrote down personal tips to get a visa in Vietnam

Double-check the information of your full name (even each letter), order of the full name, and entry date (pretty important, it can be later than the flight date but not before (You may not enter Vietnam or pay a high fee for fine), date of birth, year of birth etc….

In case your visa has errors, contact visa agents for urgent visa services from 4 hours to 1 day (The government office is off during weekends: Sat and Sun) 

Print the visa document in case your phone has a problem

Use one passport to apply for visa if you travel to multiple countries in Southeast Asia like Cambodia, Laos, Thailand etc….

Apply for a evisa a month ahead of time in case there is a problem, you still have time to fix it. 

Money Matters and Atms in Vietnam

I have written a detailed article Atms in Vietnam, you can find every single detail in the link below

Read more : Atms in Vietnam: The complete guide

Just some tips for those who take the guided tour

Pay the balance in USD, EURO, AUD or the currency that you agree with the tour companies in  Vietnam to save 3.5% of the bank fee.

Some of the hotels will charge you 3% extra to pay via credit card (don’t be surprised)

If you deposit the tour via Paypal, you had better add a couple of dollars to pay the loss from the side of the tour company for the following reasons.

• It takes 3 days to withdraw money to our bank account
• The exchange rate is 5% lower than the bank exchange rate
• It costs 3 USD to withdraw money to our bank account

Budget for a traveller per day in Vietnam

Note : This table is just for reference, it depends on your travel style, budget, type of activities and tours etc….

This price is per person, based on twin sharing, for solo travelers, the accommodation cost will be double.

Where to exchange money

Gold shops with the best rate. The one is at Ha Trung Street is the top priority then Hang Bac Street are best place to exchange money in Hanoi.

For all regions in  North Vietnam, Hanoi is the best place for money exchange with good rate.

Packing list when travelling to North Vietnam

• Suncream
• Sung glasses
• Insect spray
• Swimsuits
• Waterproof bag for phone and bag
• Towels
• A pair of sneakers
• A pair of thongs
• Jacket
• shorts
• Long sleeves shirts
• T-shirts
• Cash in  your currency 
• Phone charger
• Original Passport (Also some of the copies)
• Evisa letter (If available)
• Travel insurance

Best areas to stay in each location in North Vietnam

Hanoi

Old Quarter : The best place for those who want to experience Hanoi at its best Ton of shops, restaurants, bars, cafes and local eateries. You can easily find English-speaking rickshaw drivers, shop keepers and more

Tay Ho District near To Ngoc Van street : Popular place to stay for expats but less crowded and quieter than the Old Quarter of Hanoi

Ninh Binh

Tam Coc : known a tourist hub with mini-marts, hotels, homestays, restaurants, cafes etc…..? I often recommend the guests staying here. There are homestays/bungalows about 10-15 minute walk to the town for those who like stay away from the bustle and hustle of the town

Trang An : With a few homestays/guest houses and bungalows, away from the main tourist trail, super quiet and tranquil settings at night

Halong 

Vuon Dao : Backpackers may like staying in this neighborhood since it is the center of the tourist town. You can walk to Sunworld and nearby beach

Cai Dam : Less busy than Vuon Dao but there are many restaurants, mini marts etc…. 

Halong city : Away from all the main tourist spots where locals live, it will take 20-30 minutes to get to tourist ports. 

Sapa

Sapa town : The best area for tourists

Lao Chai or Ta Van village : Good for those who take a trekking trip and spend the night in the village.

Mai Chau

The quieter area of Na Phon, Na Thia, Van village (not for party tourists)

Pu Luong

Don village is the main tourist hub with lots of restaurants, cafes, homestays and bungalow

Muong village, Hieu village are quieter areas 

How to book an accommodation in North Vietnam

Agoda, Booking.com, Hotels.com 

Those are reputable booking platforms for hotels, resorts, homestays, guest houses and hostels. It’s easy, fast and convenient. You can choose to pay cash or credit card at the hotel. Beware that credit card payments with 3 percent extra on top of the price won’t be written in the condition of the booking sites.

American Express isn’t widely accepted so Visa card and Master Card are alternatives.

Airbnb

I feel like it’s a growing trend. Lots of my guests like couples, and families choose to stay in an Airbnb instead of a hotel. Amenities and facilities are pretty much the same as hotels but the price is a lot cheaper

Tips when booking accommodation

Booking directly with local businesses to support them. It’s also a good option for those who have special room requests like next-door, with a balcony and others that won’t be shown on the booking sites (I won’t say any of the requests as mentioned)

Double check with your accommodation a week in advance during the peak season (Christmas, New Year) and high season (March, April) a week in advance in case of overbooked. 

Confirm with your accommodation options to settle payment cash in VND, USD or other currencies or credit card. …..

Breakfast time in case of you are leaving the hotel early for a guided tour

In case you leave the hotel earlier than breakfast, please ask your hotel to help with preparing a takeaway breakfast.

North Vietnam itinerary – How to plan a trip to North Vietnam

North Vietnam itinerary for those who have a limited-time budget

• Hanoi : day trip
• Ninh Binh day trip 
• Halong Bay/Lan Ha Bay/Bai Tu Long Bay day trip from Hanoi

Typical North Vietnam itinerary with short time period

• Hanoi day trip
• Ninh Binh day trip
• Overnight trip on Halong/Lan Ha bay/Bai Tu Long bay 2 days 1 night

1 week North Vietnam itinerary

• Hanoi : 2 days
• Ninh Binh : 2 days
• Overnight boat tour Halong/Lan Ha bay/Bai Tu Long bay 3 days 2 night

10 days North Vietnam itinerary

• Hanoi : 2 days
• Ninh Binh : 2 days
• Overnight boat tour Halong/Lan Ha bay/Bai Tu Long bay 3 days 2 night
• Sapa/Mai Chau/Pu Luong : 3 days 2 night

2-week North Vietnam itinerary

• Hanoi : 2 days
• Ninh Binh : 2 days
• Overnight boat tour Halong/Lan Ha bay/Bai Tu Long bay 2 days 
• Mountainous regions: Hanoi – Ba Be Lake – Cao Bang – Ban Gioc waterfall – Ha Giang loop: 8 days

Another option with a mountainous region tour is Hanoi – Mu Cang Chai – Sapa : 6 days trip

I have written a detailed article about the North Vietnam itinerary in the link below

North Vietnam itinerary : Ultimate guide

You will find everything you need to know to plan a trip to North Vietnam in terms of itinerary

Avoids popular scams in North Vietnam

Shoe shine scam

The shoe shine man points at your shoes and say “Your shoes are dirty, grab your shoes and shine them and ask for money.

How to avoid : Just walk away when you see him/her

Pineapple scam

The vendor just put a bamboo pole on your shoulder put a conical hat on your head and asked you to take a photograph then you get charged 5 to 10 USD to buy the pineapples

How to avoid : Just put it down and walk away

Donut lady scam

The donut lady gives you a donut. You think she is so kind and just grab a bite. Later, you have to buy a couples of donuts for 5 to 10 USD.

How to avoid: Walk away

Pedicab (rickshaw scam)

You may get charge double the price of 20 USD to 25 USD for 45 minutes to 1-hour ride around the Old Quarter

Tips: Ask the hotel staff to help with negotiating the price before taking a rickshaw. If not, make a deal in advance before hopping on a rickshaw. 

Pro tips for eating and drinking in Vietnam

• Don’t drink tap water
• Drink less  ice 
• Don’t eat raw meats
• Don’t drink too much “Bia Hoi” in vendor stores because some of them might be good quality which gives you a headache 
• Asking for the price ahead unless you see the menu with a price tag
• Don’t eat too much fresh herbs in local eateries in case you have a weak stomach. 

What to buy in North Vietnam as souvenirs

Hanoi: Silk, Lacquerware, tablecloth, ceramic, Fake Northface bags and jackets

Ninh Binh: embroidery painting (small one), embroidery bag, Nageia fleuryi pair of chopsticks (Cuc Phuong national park)

Sapa: Ethnic handicrafts like Handmade Jewelry And Accessories

Halong bay : Culture Pearl 

Over to you 

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