Northern Vietnam & Hoi An

Today marks your departure from your selected airport. You’ll be heading to Vietnam’s enchanting capital, Hanoi, with connecting flight(s) along the way. 

You will land at Hanoi's international airport, Noi Bai, where you’ll pass through immigration control and collect your luggage. Your guide will be waiting outside the arrivals hall beyond the exit doors. The guide will be wearing a TourCompass uniform and holding a TourCompass sign, so you can easily find him or her.

You’ll then head to your hotel and, after checking in, you’ll have the rest of the day free to explore your first impressions of Vietnam's fascinating capital on your own.

We can highly recommend heading out to explore the narrow, lively alleyways of the Old Quarter, where each alley offers scents, sounds, and glimpses of everyday Vietnamese life. You can also take a relaxing stroll around the peaceful Hoan Kiem Lake, where shady trees and the local city life together create a popular oasis in the heart of the city.

Today, an exciting city tour awaits, taking you to some of Hanoi’s most iconic sights.

Your guide will collect you from your hotel, and the day begins with a Vietnamese coffee at a local café overlooking Hoan Kiem Lake, the city’s green heart and a natural meeting place for Hanoians of all ages.

From here, stroll across the iconic The Huc Bridge to Ngoc Son Temple, set on an islet in the beautiful Hoan Kiem Lake. The bridge’s name means "place touched by the morning sun’s rays". Here, you’ll hear the legend of the emperor, the magical sword, and the giant turtle, and discover how the lake got its name and special significance to the city.

You’ll then be driven to the Temple of Literature, a tranquil complex founded in the 12th century by disciples of the Chinese philosopher Confucius. With almost a millennium of history, the temple is a rare, beautifully preserved example of traditional Vietnamese architecture, complete with colonnades, ponds, and leafy courtyards where young students still come to pray for luck in their exams.

You’ll enjoy lunch at KOTO, which is more than just somewhere to eat. KOTO stands for “Know One, Teach One” and is a restaurant that trains and supports young Vietnamese people from disadvantaged backgrounds, providing professional training and a fresh start in life with the vocational and personal skills needed for lasting employment, all while serving delicious Vietnamese dishes in peaceful surroundings. You can read more about the restaurant here.

The tour will then continue by traditional cycle rickshaw – known locally as a cyclo – through the maze of narrow lanes and lively commerce in the Old Quarter. This historic neighbourhood is famous for its 36 streets, originally named after the goods once traded here: bamboo, silk, paper, and tin. Many of those street names survive today, and the atmosphere brims with local charm, as Hanoians still shop, chat, and serve steaming bowls of pho from their street kitchens. 

After an exciting cyclo ride, you’ll visit the historic Long Bien Bridge, an iconic landmark from the French colonial era, built in the early 1900s. The distinctive iron bridge spans the Red River and was heavily damaged during the Vietnam War, yet today it stands as a powerful symbol of Hanoi’s resilience and history. From the bridge, you’ll get a vivid glimpse into everyday life in Hanoi, with locals riding scooters to and from work alongside cyclists and pedestrians. Look down from the bridge and you’ll see the bustling Long Bien Market, alive from the early hours, while the river views offer a calm counterpoint to the city’s pulse. The bridge is a favourite subject for photographers and travellers keen to capture Hanoi’s soul.

Round off the day’s sightseeing with a performance at a water puppet theatre, a centuries-old Vietnamese tradition where puppets dance on the water’s surface to live music and classic storytelling.

After a full and fascinating day, you’ll be driven back to your hotel, and the evening will be yours to spend as you please.

Today, you’ll have plenty of time to explore Vietnam’s vibrant capital city – at your own pace. You might like to join one of our optional tours, or perhaps you’d rather set off and discover the city independently.

Begin your morning early with a visit to the famous Train Street, when there are fewer people around and the atmosphere is calm. Here, the train passes right next to the street’s small cafés, offering a unique glimpse of daily life before the city properly stirs to life.

Afterwards, make your way to the picturesque Hoan Kiem Lake. The narrow streets and French colonial buildings here conceal charming shops, colourful art galleries, and cosy cafés. Settle down with a Vietnamese coffee and watch everyday life unfold, as locals and visitors cross paths. Not far away stands the iconic St. Joseph’s Cathedral – with its Gothic façade and lively square, it’s a popular meeting place for both locals and travellers.

For lunch, head out in search of Hanoi’s famous street food. Try a steaming bowl of pho, enjoy the aroma of grilled bun cha, or grab a crispy banh mi to eat on the go.

From here, you can continue towards the area around the Long Bien Bridge and the nearby Long Bien Market, where the trade in fruit, vegetables, and flowers spills out into the streets, offering a vibrant glimpse into daily life in the city. The pace is lively and the atmosphere authentic, no matter the time of day.

If you’re curious about Hanoi’s history, you can also visit the ancient Imperial Citadel, which stands as a fascinating reminder of the city’s past. In the same area, you’ll also find the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum – one of Hanoi’s most iconic landmarks and a key site in Vietnam’s modern history.

When night falls, Hanoi truly comes alive. The streets glow with the flames of street kitchens, and the air fills with the aromas of grilled meat, fresh coriander, and fragrant broth wafting through the narrow lanes. Take a leisurely stroll through the Old Quarter and soak up the atmosphere, or settle at a rooftop bar to enjoy a view of the city’s vibrant nightlife.

Today you will leave Hanoi and head for rural life in Mai Chau, one of Vietnam’s most beautiful valleys. You’ll be picked up from your hotel and driven through the northern Vietnamese countryside. The journey takes around 3½ hours on well-maintained roads. Along the way, you’ll make a short stop to stretch your legs and enjoy the view.

Upon arrival, the valley opens out to green rice fields, dramatic limestone mountains, and small villages where ethnic minorities still live by age-old traditions.

After checking in at the hotel, a traditional and delicious lunch awaits.

In the afternoon, you’ll borrow a bicycle from the hotel and set off with your guide along small paths through the valley’s peaceful scenery. The route is flat and covers about 10–12 km. The lanes wind between hamlets and green rice paddies where water buffalo graze. The air is filled with the sounds of children at play and clucking chickens as everyday life unfolds around you. En route, you’ll visit villages such as Pom Coong and Na Phon, gaining an insight into the daily life of the Thai people, one of the largest ethnic groups in the area. You’ll also pass a local market where the stalls are piled high with just about everything you can imagine. Soak up the local atmosphere and enjoy some time at your own pace to browse. You’ll then cycle back towards the hotel, passing fields and watching local farmers at work as the sun slowly sinks. 

Back at the hotel, you can enjoy the peace and quiet on your veranda with a good book.

After breakfast, you’ll leave Mai Chau and will be driven to our social sustainability project in Quyet Thang, set up by our local partner. The drive takes about 1½ hours, winding through beautiful, rolling countryside where rice fields, small villages, and verdant mountain slopes give way to one another.

Quyet Thang lies in the southern part of Hoa Binh Province and comprises 23 small villages, home among others to the Muong people. Families here mainly make a living growing cassava and maize on depleted soil, and the challenging road conditions make it difficult to transport and sell their crops. At the same time, traditional Muong customs are under pressure as many young people leave to seek work in larger cities.

Upon arrival, you’ll be welcomed by a local representative from the village. Together, you’ll stroll through the village and experience everyday life up close. You’ll pass fields and traditional stilt houses, greet families, and meet village children who will shyly wave to you. You’ll also see the community hall, where residents hold meetings and children can come to do their homework. 

You will then reach a tranquil river, where a peaceful ride on a traditional bamboo raft awaits. You’ll be given a life jacket and, as the raft moves against the current, you can help paddle if you wish.

After the boat trip, you’ll visit a local village home, where you will join your hosts in preparing traditional dishes. Lunch is served at a beautifully set table laden with local specialities, shared together and offering an authentic insight into the region’s culinary traditions. There’s also time to chat with your hosts and learn more about the everyday life, culture, and traditions of the Muong people.

Next, you’ll visit an elderly couple and gain an insight into the age-old craft traditions of the Muong people, including weaving and bamboo basketry, passed down through generations. The luong bamboo species is used to make, among other things, baskets, fish traps, and mats. Each pattern and technique reflects a part of the Muong cultural heritage, and the products serve both as sustainable alternatives to modern materials and as unique souvenirs. You’ll also have the chance to try your hand at the craft and weave your own small basket to take home.

By joining this excursion, you’ll help make a difference for families in Quyet Thang. A percentage of your tour price goes directly to the project and is used, among other things, for education and to improve infrastructure, for example by building roads and installing solar-powered lampposts. You can read more about the project here.

After a day full of meaningful encounters and insights into local life, you will continue to your hotel in Ninh Binh. Along the way, the landscape changes, and the green mountains gradually give way to a flat delta of mirror-still rivers and dramatic limestone mountains rising vertically from the paddy fields. Upon arrival at the hotel, you’ll check in, and the rest of the day is at your leisure.

If you fancy it, you can head into the centre of Tam Coc, where life unfolds along the main street, with small cafés, local restaurants, and a handful of shops. 

After breakfast, you will drive towards the Gia Vien district, where today's cycle ride of around 14 km begins. Here you will hop in the saddle and pedal at a leisurely pace along small lanes past green rice fields and local villages en route to the Van Long Nature Reserve. There's time for photo stops on the way, including at a local Catholic church, before the route continues through the open countryside. The area around Van Long is known for its tranquil wetlands, striking limestone cliffs, and abundant birdlife, which provide a beautiful backdrop to the ride.

The ride continues to a local family in the village of Mai Trung, where you'll be welcomed into their home. Here you’ll gain an insight into rural life as you take part in seasonal activities such as working in the rice fields, gardening, or feeding fish and poultry. Activities vary with the time of year and offer an authentic picture of everyday life in Vietnamese agriculture.

Afterwards, the family will invite you into the kitchen for an informal cooking class, where you'll be introduced to Vietnamese cuisine and get hands-on with the preparation. The experience is rounded off with a home-cooked lunch, enjoyed in relaxed surroundings.

You will then cycle back to the starting point. It's just a few minutes' ride. Here you’ll leave your bike before being driven to the Trang An caves, a spectacular natural area of dramatic rock formations and hidden caverns. You’ll board a traditional sampan and glide quietly along the calm river through a network of caves, including Lam Cave, Vang Cave, Dai Cave, and Thanh Truot Cave. Along the way, you will also pass the temples of Cao Son, Suoi Tien, and Vu Lam, as well as Skull Island, which was used as a filming location for the 2017 film "Kong: Skull Island".

After a two-hour boat trip, you'll be driven back to the hotel, and the rest of the day is at your leisure.

From Ninh Binh, you'll be driven to Ha Long Bay for a mini-cruise with two days of sailing and one night on board. The drive takes around four hours, with a stop en route to stretch your legs and grab a drink.

Ha Long Bay is one of Vietnam's most distinctive natural landscapes. Hundreds of verdant limestone outcrops rise sheer from the sea, which shifts in hue through the year from deep blue to jade green. For travellers, Ha Long Bay is first and foremost a world-class natural wonder; for Vietnamese people, it is also a place steeped in legends of dragons and drama. The bay spans roughly 1,500 km² and was added to the UNESCO world heritage list in 1994.

You will arrive at Tuan Chau Marina for check in, and before boarding your mini-cruise ship, you can relax in the lounge.

Once on board, you’ll be warmly welcomed with a refreshing drink as the crew gives a short introduction to your mini cruise. A delicious lunch will then be served while the boat quietly glides out onto the emerald-green water. Along the way, you’ll pass some of Ha Long Bay’s most iconic limestone formations, including Incense Burner, Dog Stone Islet, Fighting Cock Islet, and Three Coconuts Island. Afterwards, you can settle into your cabin and make yourself comfortable.

Later in the afternoon, you’ll visit Sung Sot Cave, the largest and most impressive stalactite cave in Ha Long Bay. To reach the cave, you’ll need to climb around 800 steps, but your efforts will be rewarded with a mesmerising landscape of stalactites and stalagmites shaped over millions of years. We recommend wearing sturdy, closed shoes, especially in wet weather.

Afterwards, you’ll have the option to explore Luon Cave either by kayak or bamboo boat.

Back on board, you can unwind with a drink at the bar before the crew invites you to a cooking demonstration, where you’ll learn how to make traditional spring rolls.

In the evening, a delicious dinner is served featuring a selection of local dishes prepared by the ship’s chefs.

Please note that all activities are optional. You can therefore also choose to simply relax on the sun deck and take in the stunning views from the ship.

PLEASE NOTE: In the event of bad weather or storms, the authorities in Vietnam reserve the right to prohibit sailing in Ha Long Bay for safety reasons. This only happens a few times a year. In such cases, the mini-cruise will be replaced by a hotel stay and an excursion.

Begin your day by experiencing Ha Long Bay bathed in the soft light of the morning mist.

After breakfast, you’ll visit Ti Top Island – a small limestone island boasting one of Ha Long Bay’s finest sandy beaches. Here, you can enjoy a refreshing swim in the emerald-green waters or climb to the top of the island for a breathtaking panoramic view of the bay.

Once back on board, there’s time to pack and prepare for check-out before an early lunch is served. Meanwhile, the ship gently sails back to the harbour, allowing you to savour the final glimpses of the bay’s stunning scenery from the deck.

You’ll disembark at Tuan Chau Marina, where your guide and driver will be ready to take you to Hanoi’s Noi Bai airport. From here, you fly to Da Nang in central Vietnam – a flight of around 1 hour and 20 minutes.

Your guide will be waiting just outside the arrivals hall, beyond the exit doors. They’ll be wearing a TourCompass uniform and holding a TourCompass sign, so you can find them easily. From here, you’ll be driven to your hotel in Hoi An.

After about an hour’s drive, you’ll arrive at your hotel in Hoi An, and after check-in, the rest of the day is at your leisure. 

Hoi An is an experience in itself – a town that’s easy to fall in love with. The old quarter, listed as a UNESCO world heritage site, is especially known for its beautifully preserved architecture, proud silk production, and talented tailors. Life here moves at a gentler pace, and history can be felt in every street, facade, and little shop.

The Thu Bon River flows through the heart of the town and, in the 17th and 18th centuries, it was a bustling hub of international trade. Today, its banks offer a serene backdrop to daily life, with small boats still gliding gracefully across the water. Not far away lies the local market, a lively mix of scents, colours, and activity, where stalls overflow with fresh produce and local goods.

Beyond the river spreads a maze of charming narrow streets. Here you’re met by a vibrant mix of Japanese wooden houses, Chinese assembly halls, French colonial buildings, and the town’s distinctive merchant houses. Cars are not permitted in the old quarter, allowing you to explore the town more peacefully on foot. Colourful lanterns hang like garlands above the streets, creating a magical atmosphere – especially as evening falls. Shops and restaurants line the streets inviting you to slow down, explore, and enjoy the moment. Hoi An is also renowned for its unique coffee culture, and across town you’ll find cosy cafés where you can settle in and savour a Vietnamese coffee – perhaps the classic variety with condensed milk.

The days are yours to spend as you please, and Hoi An offers endless possibilities – whether you’re after relaxation, adventure, or a taste of local culture.

Perhaps a peaceful day by the sea appeal to you? Hire a bicycle and ride out to one of the nearby beaches, Cua Dai or An Bang, where soft sand and swaying palms create the perfect setting for a swim in the warm sea. You could also go cycling through the lush rice fields outside the town, where small villages and everyday glimpses of local life offer a wonderful insight into the Vietnamese countryside.

In Hoi An, you can also immerse yourself in the local cuisine on a cookery course, take a boat trip along the Thu Bon River, or see the town from a different perspective as the lanterns light up towards the end of the day. You might even fancy visiting a local tailor to have an outfit made – a lovely keepsake to take home.

If you’re curious about the area surrounding Hoi An, you can choose from one of our exciting optional tours, which you can read more about below.

Today marks the end of your Vietnam adventure—for now. You will be collected from your hotel and driven to Da Nang airport, where you’ll catch your flight back to Europe with connecting flight(s) along the way. 

You will arrive at your selected airport after a wonderful tour through northern and central Vietnam, bringing home a suitcase full of brand-new memories.