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Thai Nguyen
I have a trip planned for the last two weeks of March next year with my 2 teenagers. I’m pretty solid on most of our plans, but have about 5 nights that I’m deciding how we should spend them from Hanoi:
1) this is where I’m currently at: 2 nights Mai Chau (be there for the sunday morning market), 2 nights Ninh Binh; 1 night Halong Bay Cruise (read alot of mixed reviews for the cruise). this feels like alot in a small amount of time…
2)I had really wanted to go to Sapa for the cultural/village experience, but it seems that the last 2 weeks of March might not be the best, so that’s where I ended up with #1 above
3) had thought about Ha Giang loop – seems most love this experience, but I’m a bit nervous to do it with my children (15 boy and 17 yo girl)
So – how would you spend 5 nights in the north? we will be in Hanoi for 4 nights after these 5 nights, and before that are coming from Hue (1 night) /Hoi An (3 nights) /HCMC (2 nights).
thank you!
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“Day 9: arrive in Ninh Binh and tour with Toan (or his cousin)”
That’s brave!
Hope you all have a great nights sleep on the train!
Scott
Updating with where I’m at with our final itinerary – not sure if this is the best place to do it?
Day 1: arrive 10:30am in HCMC, will check into hotel, explore a bit and then do an XO food tour in the evening
Day 2: chu chi tunnel tour, explore or rest in afternoon, dinner somewhere (rooftop or local/street food not sure yet)
Day 3: will spend day exploring HCM and take a late afternoon flight to da nang (didn’t add a night here because the price of hotel I had originally booked 2 nights at increased alot), in da nang we will grab a car and go straight to Hoi An arriving in evening
Day 4-6: time in Hoi An (kids want clothes tailored. my son is 6’2″ and 130 pounds so he can get pants that actually fit him! and my daughter is graduating high school this year and wants dresses – she is 5’10”)
Day 7: get a driver to take us vto Hue ia Hai Van pass, stop at marble mountain, and check in afternoon in Hue for one night
Day 8: explore Hue, and get on night train at 8:30pm
Day 9: arrive in Ninh Binh and tour with Toan (or his cousin)
Day 10: explore ninh binh on our own
Day 11: transfer to Hanoi (OR – SHOULD WE SPEND ANOTHER NIGHT IN NINH BINH?)
DAY 12-14: explore Hanoi
Day 15: transfer to Ha long bay for cruise for our last night
Day 16: get private car to Hanoi airport for flight home to canada at 7pm
thanks for everyones ideas and thoughts! my last question is 2 nights ninh binh and 4 Hanoi, or 3 and 3? 🙂 thanks for your consideration.
thanks for these suggestions – my son in particular is very interested in war related things as well.
My kid loves war-related activities, so we visited the B52 Victory Museum, the underground bunker, the Air Force Museum, and Hoa Lo Prison — all conveniently located in the city center.
Hello again,
“go to Bac Ha for a trek, and include the saturday market at Can Cau, and Sunday market at Bac Ha. Any thoughts and suggestions on this?”
Good idea.
You can trek back to Bac Ha town from Can Cau market. Or if that is too much (18km), you get transport back down the road to Lung Phinh and trek from there (9km). You can trek by yourselves, or with a guide.
I’m not sure about flowers in Sapa during this time period, but February-March is plum tree flower season in Bac Ha. It’s a big thing for the locals.
https://e.vnexpress.net/photo/places/northeast-plateau-transforms-into-a-white-wonderland-4721073.html
Take care
ahhh. so hard to decide for me!
Scot – yes, way back when I first started dreaming up a vietnam trip, I had a multi-day Mekong tour, and I think rushing in one day doen’t make sense, so we will skip that. we arrive in HCMC at 10:30 am, and I was planning on doing a food tour that evening, then the chu chi tunnels the next day ends in the afternoon giving us a bit of time, and then we will have day to wander around.
Annie – interesting thought on a day cruise. I have to admit, we are from Vancouver, and my ex in-laws/kids grandparents have a 65′ boat, so we’ve all boated around the pacific northwest a fair amount, which is beautiful in it’s own right – and we can get to where no one else is, which is pretty special. Neither kid loves boating however, so a day cruise might make sense for us – I will think about that one. water activities aren’t unique to us, but the karst formations would be. (we’ve done alot of kayaking).
Michael P – you seem to be an expert in the markets. A new thought I have is to just go to Bac Ha for a trek, and include the saturday market at Can Cau, and Sunday market at Bac Ha. Any thoughts and suggestions on this?
And thoughts from everyone in general if instead of Sapa for 3 nights, it was Bac Ha? I had read somewhere that the trees/flowers were in blossom, and I’m not that fussed if fields are brown, I think the landscapes would still be stunning and unique for us. We are from a very green place, so a little brown is fine lol. I think i’m more interested in the markets and cultural aspect. or, should I forget these far away places and stick to Ninh Binh?
Thank you for humouring all my thoughts!
We were also in 2 minds about Halong Bay which we ended up doing in April.. we were so pleased we did do it all be it a day trip. We did a private tour.. 100% one of the best days..the boat and folks were great, and the guide Si amazing..we did not come across a ton of rubbish like some say.. it was a great day.
Annie
“HCMC 3 nights”
“Another question is if a day trip to the Mekong Delta is a ‘must do’ or do we take that night and add to north. (looking at food tour and chu chi tunnel tour as well in HCMC)”
I don’t believe in ‘must do’s’, as it comes down to what’s important for each individual.
Having said that, the Mekong deserves much more than just a day trip.
And anyway, with only two full days, and one of those taken up with Cu Chi Tunnels and a food tour, when would you actually see a bit of the city itself?
Scott
Hello,
“the weather the last 2 weeks of March?”
The weather in Sapa should be “okay”, but if you are going for for mountain views, the cable car, and the glass bridge, it could be foggy, depending on your luck.
If you are going for trekking, it should be dry, with little or no rain.
However, it’s too early for rice planting season, the famous terraces will be fallow.
Take care
Hello! I’m second guessing not doing Sapa. I’d ;ove some thoughts on the weather the last 2 weeks of March? and if the weather is decent, this would be the itinerary:
HCMC 3 nights
Hoi an 3 nights
Hue 2 nights (fly to hanoi and leave for sapa)
Sapa 3 nights
Hanoi 4 nights (maybe 1 on cruise?)
flight home at 7pm
Another question is if a day trip to the Mekong Delta is a ‘must do’ or do we take that night and add to north. (looking at food tour and chu chi tunnel tour as well in HCMC)
thank you!