10 days in northern Vietnam

Hi there,

We’re traveling as a family of three adults for the holidays. After several iterations, here’s the itinerary we’re considering. We’d thought about including Bac Ha or Mai Chau, but in the end, we wanted to avoid excessive travel and rushing around. That’s not our style—we’d rather see less but have time to enjoy what we visit at a relaxed pace. We’ll definitely be back (in a better season) to see some of what we’ll miss this time. Just to note: we’re not motorbike riders, and we’re not the type to start our days at dawn and keep going until nightfall. We go at the pace of the day’s mood and energy. My questions: - Thoughts on the itinerary? - Ninh Binh: where’s the best place to stay to explore mostly on foot, by bike, or by taxi? - Cat Ba to Ninh Binh route: is it better to arrange it through one of our accommodations (departure or arrival) or handle it ourselves? - For the return day between Ninh Binh and Hanoi, I’d like to visit some sights rather than make a direct trip, since we’ll already spend enough time in Ninh Binh and Hanoi. I was thinking of the Perfume Pagoda and possibly Quang Phu Cau. But we’d need a car for the day. Is it better to organize in advance or on the spot? In Hanoi or Ninh Binh? Any driver recommendations? Price ideas? Other suggestions for things to see along the way?

Proposed itinerary:

### Day 1: **Monday, December 23, 2024** - Arrival in Hanoi in the late afternoon. ### Day 2: **Tuesday, December 24 – Hanoi** ### Day 3: **Wednesday, December 25 – Hanoi – Lan Ha Bay** 2-day, 1-night cruise ### Day 4: **Thursday, December 26 – Lan Ha Bay – Cat Ba** - Overnight on Cat Ba Island. ### Day 5: **Friday, December 27 – Cat Ba – Ninh Binh** ### Day 6: **Saturday, December 28 – Ninh Binh** ### Day 7: **Sunday, December 29 – Ninh Binh** ### Day 8: **Monday, December 30 – Ninh Binh – Return to Hanoi** - Stop by the Perfume Pagoda? Possibly add Quang Phu Cau? ### Day 9-10-11: **Tuesday, December 31 – Thursday, January 2** Hanoi – New Year’s Eve ### Day 12: **Friday, January 3 – Departure**

That’s a lot of text and questions... Thanks in advance if anyone has answers or ideas. Happy travels to everyone!

Yuri

Hi there,

I’ll try to answer modestly, since our trip to northern Vietnam is starting to feel like a while ago.

Opinions on the itinerary?

It’s good, considering the length of the trip. You’d be hard-pressed to fit in much more.

Ninh Binh: where’s the best place to stay to explore mostly on foot, by bike, or by taxi?

If I understood the question correctly, the location of your accommodation doesn’t really matter. The distances are short. We stayed at the Emeralda Resort. This charming place, whose architecture is inspired by pagodas, is set in a stunning environment near the Van Long Nature Reserve. The boat ride among the water lilies and reeds, accompanied by local fishermen, is magical—even on cloudy or misty days. We rented a car with a driver through the hotel for morning excursions in the area, and it was perfect. In the afternoons, we relaxed at the hotel, enjoying the pools and other amenities.

Cat Ba to Ninh Binh route: better to arrange it through one of the accommodations (departure or arrival) or do it on our own?

Same answer as above. Between Cat Ba and Ninh Binh, you can stop in Nam Dinh to see the Pho Minh Pagoda and the Den Tren Temple, set in the middle of rice fields.

For this region, I invite you to check out my travel journal on MyAtlas.

And for Hanoi and Halong Bay, it’s HERE.

Happy planning! 🙂

Hi Yuri, During my trip in 2018, we took a private taxi from Ninh Binh to Cat Ba—there wasn’t a direct bus route at the time. The taxi was arranged by the homestay where we were staying.

Idea for the return to Hanoi: The train? We took it in the other direction, and the journey is quick with a completely different vibe than a car.

In Hanoi, I have great memories of the Serene Premier Hotel—perfect location and top-notch service. They organized quite a few of my trips for me. https://www.tripadvisor.fr/Hotel_Review-g293924-d3396794-Reviews-Serene_Premier_Hotel-Hanoi.html

Thanks so much for this feedback. I’ll take a closer look at it. Beautiful travel journal and gorgeous photos.