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Ninh Binh
One of northern Vietnam's most scenic provinces, Ninh Binh remains comparatively under-explored in tourism terms. Tam Coc, with its limestone caves, is an inland version of Halong Bay; Hoa Lu, the ancient northern capital, boasts splendid old royal palaces; Cue Phuong National Park is one of the country's most easily accessible and has an amazing variety of flora; and the eerie limestone landscape of Kenh Ga is a photographer's paradise.
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Day 1: Arrive in Hanoi and check into one of the Old Quarters charming boutique hotels. Spend the evening in one of the city's growing number of bars, or sample some earthy mountain food and rice wine at Highway 4.
Day 2: Take a guided tour of Hanoi and discover more about the old capital, whilst visiting the Old Quarter, Hoan Kiem Lake, the Temple of Literature, the Hanoi Hilton, and the One Pillar Pagoda, In the evening, try the delicious fish/turmeric/dill speciality at Cha Ca La Vong.
Day 3: Enjoy some free time for shopping, sightseeing or just aimless wandering before taking the overnight train to Lao Cai.
Day 4: Wake dp, you're in Lao Cai! Take a morning walking tour of Sapa town and visit the busy market where the ethnic minority people converge to sell their embroidery, silverware, and handicrafts, then spend the rest of the day relaxing in this charming mountain town.
Day 5: Get your walking boots on for a full day's trekking in the mountains around Sapa, visiting several ethnic tribal villages and getting a glimpse of Mount Fansipan, Vietnam's only Himalaya! Then it's back to Lao Cai for the overnight train to Hanoi.
Day 6: Good morning Hanoi! Transfer from the railway station to Mai Chau, and try to stay awake en route - the scenery is beautiful. On arrival, drop off your bags at your family's stilthouse and pick up a bike to spend the day cycling through the local villages, with their picturesque wooden houses. In the evening, enjoy some rustic home-cooked mountain food, before sleeping with the rest of the family.
Day 7: In the morning, get those boots on again for a trek into the hills around Mai Chau valley, meeting more local tribespeople (many of whom speak Thai rather than Vietnamese). In the afternoon, head to Ninh Binh for your overnight stay.
Day 8: Camera at the ready as you visit stunning Tam Coc with its streams, tunnels and limestone cliffs, before spending the afternoon strolling around Cue Phuong National Park
Day 9: Back to Hanoi, stopping at Kenh Ga on the way to marvel at its bizarre landscapes, made up of lakes, rivers, limestone cliffs, grottos and fishing villages. One of northern Vietnam's true hidden gems.
Day 10: Off to Halong Bay where you will join your cruise late morning. Spend the day relaxing on deck, kayaking, or visiting the fascinating floating villages that hug the bases of the limestone islands. Cocktails and dinner are served on board, before you enjoy the kind of restful sleep only a night on calm waters can bring.
Day 11: After a delicious brunch on board, head back to port and your return drive to Hanoi, for your onward journey.
Sapa
This former French hill station is now a bustling market town and trading centre for the colourful hill tribes who flood the market every day to sell their wares. It's also a great place to bed down in one of a growing number of boutique hotels and eco-lodges, get some cool, fresh air, and for trekking through ethnic hill villages and, for the really adventurous, climbing Mount Fansipan, Vietnam's highest point. As with Mai Chau, cameras are essential as this is stunning countryside.
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