What To Add To Your Itinerary in North Vietnam

I fell in love with Vietnam. I loved the natural surroundings. I loved the people. I loved the food. I just loved everything about the place. And one of my favourite locations in the whole of Vietnam was in the north.

We spent a whole month in Vietnam, with two weeks in the north and two weeks in the south. Unfortunately, we had to skip the middle of the country as it was monsoon season. I was gutted because places like Hue looked stunning – but it just gives me an excuse to go back. It's worth noting that Vietnam has different seasons which can affect your travel plans. In general, it’s best to avoid monsoon season or heavy rain periods, because when it rains, it really does pour!

The main starting point in North Vietnam is Hanoi, as that's where most international and domestic flights land. It’s also easily accessible by sleeper bus if you're coming from elsewhere in the country, so it makes a great base to begin your northern adventure.

Places To See In North Vietnam

In this blog, I’m sharing all my top recommendations for places I visited in North Vietnam and what’s worth adding to your itinerary.

Old Quarter

Located in Hanoi, there's no doubt you’ll end up wandering through the Old Quarter at some point during your trip. You’ll know straight away when you’ve arrived. There’s a striking entrance decorated with lanterns that marks the start of the area. Throughout the Old Quarter, you’ll find plenty of food stalls and small restaurants serving some of the tastiest food you can imagine. Cast your doubts aside, grab a small plastic stool, and enjoy a delicious meal. You’ll also come across shops selling fabrics and other goods. We visited during Halloween and I’ve never seen so many decorations!

Hoan Kiem Lake

Situated in the centre of Hanoi, this one’s hard to miss. But if you’re not staying in central Hanoi, make sure you pay a visit. It’s a lovely spot, with temples dotted around the lake. Grab a mango smoothie and take a stroll, there’s often something happening nearby. We stopped to watch people taking part in a dance class on the lakeside, which was so wholesome to see.

Train Street

There have been a lot of recent restrictions on visiting this famous Hanoi street. When we went, we weren’t really aware of them and were a bit sceptical, wondering if we were being scammed. You can’t just wander freely down the street – you have to choose a café beforehand. This is due to the number of incidents that have occurred and how often the trains have had to stop.

I’m not sure how strictly enforced these rules are, but there were police monitoring the area. They also walk down the tracks to make sure people aren’t sitting too close, so don’t be surprised if café owners suddenly ask you to move. Despite all that, it’s a brilliant experience being so close to a train as it rumbles down such a narrow street. Just make sure you check the train times before going, as they’re not that frequent. Saturdays tend to be best, with more trains coming through.

Thang Long Water Puppet Show

My partner was a bit unsure when I suggested this one evening, but he ended up really enjoying it. The puppets are beautifully made and so cleverly operated. The shows are based on traditional legends, and even though there isn’t much speaking (and very little in English), the storytelling through the puppets is easy to follow. It’s a lot of fun and something a bit different. Tickets do sell out quickly, so I’d recommend popping by earlier in the day (or the day before) to grab yours.

Café Dinh

We were recommended this café to try the famous egg coffee. Now don’t panic if you’ve never heard of it! Egg coffee is basically egg yolk whisked with condensed milk and poured over coffee, creating a sort of frothy custard topping. This café is arguably one of the best places to try it, as the owner is the daughter of the person who invented it! Definitely worth a visit. Just be warned – Vietnamese coffee is much stronger than what we’re used to. It’s delicious, but you’ll feel the effects!

Temple of Literature

This one was special for me as I’m a big lover of writing and this temple is known for bringing good fortune to writers. Naturally, I had to visit. Even if writing’s not your thing, it’s still a beautiful place to explore. You can go inside some of the buildings too and get a sense of the grandiosity of the temple.

Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum

This area of Hanoi is known as Ba Dinh Square and it’s a hugely significant site. It’s where Ho Chi Minh’s tomb lies and where many important historical events took place. The Presidential Palace is also nearby. The mausoleum itself was fascinating, and you’ll learn all about Ho Chi Minh and how influential he was in Vietnam’s history.

One thing to note though is make sure your shoulders and knees are covered. I wasn’t properly dressed the first time we went and was turned away at the entrance.

Ha Long Bay

If you’re heading to North Vietnam, you absolutely need to book an overnight cruise in Ha Long Bay. It’s honestly breathtaking, the views are incredible. Even just doing a one-night trip like we did is completely worth it.

Most cruises take you through caves and viewpoints around the bay. Food is usually included, along with a couple of drinks. They also tend to offer a few activities, like squid fishing or morning tai chi. My favourite part was having a balcony, being able to soak in the views in your own space was so peaceful. If possible, choose a room with a balcony!

I didn’t realise at the time that most boat companies offer transport from and back to Hanoi, so we ended up staying in Ha Long, which I wouldn’t recommend – there is not much going on there. Just use the transfer service. Also, be wary of fake or overly glowing reviews online. Make sure to check a few different sites and look for consistency in reviews. If it seems too good to be true and there is an insane number of reviews, it probably is.

Ha Giang Loop

We didn’t end up doing the Ha Giang Loop. We chose Sapa instead and instantly regretted it. While Sapa is beautiful with its rice paddies, it’s suffered from over-tourism. It felt less authentic, with lots of people asking for money or pushing their activities.

Several of my friends did the Ha Giang Loop and absolutely loved it. It’s a multi-day motorbike road trip through stunning scenery, staying with local families and sampling traditional food in the evenings. It sounds like such an authentic way to experience Vietnam.

Their top tip though was unless you’re super confident on a motorbike, go with a driver. The roads are very windy and can get quite slippery in the rain.

Ninh Binh

Ninh Binh was my favourite place in all of Vietnam – and possibly one of my favourite places in all of Asia. It’s definitely in the top three! I honestly could have cried at how beautiful the scenery was. It completely took my breath away.

There’s plenty to see in the area, which I’ll go into now, but honestly, you could just spend your time cycling through the rice paddies and taking it all in. The local food is amazing too. They’re known for spit-roasted duck, stuffed with herbs under the skin, and mountain goat, which is leaner than in other countries but still really tasty.

If you’re heading to Ninh Binh, I’d recommend hiring a bicycle and visiting Hang Mua. It’s a steep climb, but the view from the top is absolutely stunning. There’s also a lotus pond nearby that makes for a great Instagram pic. One tip is locals may try to stop you and say you have to park at their café. Just cycle past them, there’s parking right by the entrance.

Another must-do is the Trang An boat trip. Part of King Kong was filmed here, and it’s easy to see why, it feels like another world. There are a few different routes – we chose one with a mix of caves and scenic views for the best of both. Trips last about two hours, so you get a good amount of time on the water.

Lastly, visit Thung Nham Bird Park. You can get there by bike, but if you want to save your legs, go by motorbike. It’s a beautiful area where you can spot local wildlife and even taste some regional fruit. The best part is taking the short boat trip at sunset where you can watch wild storks fly home in flocks. It was a proper ‘wow’ moment that I’ll never forget.

Conclusion

There’s just so much to see and do in North Vietnam, you could easily spend a whole month here just exploring. My biggest tip is don’t cut your time short. Vietnam offers so many unique experiences, and the local people are incredibly warm and welcoming. Nothing made me smile more than the local kids waving at us and asking to practise their English.

Like I said, I really fell in love with this part of the world, and I’d urge anyone who gets the chance to visit.

Hopefully this blog has helped you start putting together your North Vietnam itinerary and has got you excited for your travels! If you’re a fellow foodie like me, don’t forget to check out my blog Foods To Try in Vietnam for all the must-eats while you’re there.