Tours to Halong Bay and Sapa from Hanoi

I'm planning my itinerary for Vietnam and need to work out how long I need to spend there, so:

How many days do you need to do a tour from Hanoi to Halong Bay? And how long would you recommend for a tour from Hanoi to Sapa?

Also, how much should I be looking to pay for these tours and can anyone recommend any particular tour companies?

I haven't been to sapa but I would recommend doing 2 nights and 3 days in Halong Bay. There are numerous 'Sinh Cafes' in halong bay which can arrange tours or your hostel/could arrange this for you.

I havent done the Sapa tour - but l can recommend Kangaroo Cafe - who do both a 2 day 1 night and 3 day 2 nights tours to Halong Bay - we did the 3 day tour - totally worth it, and one night on the boat and one night on Cat Ba island.

It cost $115 for all transport accomodation and meals except second night evening meals, drinks are additional. That was 2 weeks ago!

[ Edit: Edited on Dec 3, 2007, at 3:56 AM by Purdy ]

Like bex76 said just go to one of those Sinh Cafe's when you arrive in Vietnam. They are all over the place and they can arrange tours for you. They aren't the highest quality but they are certainly not bad especially for the money you pay. I only did Halong Bay as a daytrip due to time restrictions, but I reckon 2 nights would be enough time to see it at a relaxed pace. One day is a little bit of a rush but was still good. I can't recall the exact cost of the tours, but they are dirt cheap at those cafes that are all over the place. They also have a website which you could do a google search for, but DO NOT purchase anything off the site because it is considerably more expensive on the site for most stuff than when you buy in Vietnam.

[ Edit: Edited on Dec 3, 2007, at 3:59 AM by aharrold45 ]

Sapa tour would normally takes 2 night on trains and two nights in Sapa, you may have 3 days and 4 nights on the trip. Get on the train at 9pm and reach Sapa at 7am next day. You will spend totally 2 later days to discover how great the town is. Don't forget enjoying grilled meat and San Lung alcohol in the freezing wind...lol...that's great...I suggest you visit Sapa in winter, in Sec ect...it is much more interesting than Summer, although lot of people come here in summer because of the heat.

Hey,

I have a very similar question so i didnt see the point in starting off another thread.

I plan on being in Vietnam for September 2009. i already know how im travelling down the country from Hanoi - Saigon (Train) but would be greatful if you could tell me how to spread my 2 week itinery out.

I plan on visiting (In order):

Hanoi
Sapa
Halong Bay (going by what others have said in this thead i have decided on 2 nights 3 days here)
Hue
Saigon (then heading to Phonm Penh)

Thanks for any advice.

Hi freemee,

Tot of sharing my May '09 itinerary with you. Flights and hotel nights booked only. Still comparing the tours. The tours available are overwhelming and need sometime to choose but of course if you're not on any budget, the choices are easier made. Looking forward to this trip and I have to admit that before I did any read up, I was under the impression that its a 3 to 4 days place of visit but now I know it's not true! Two weeks is in fact insufficient if you consider the Central parts of Vietnam which I have totally left out.

Day1: Arrive Hanoi
Day2: Hanoi
Day3: Halong 2D/1N
Day4: Hanoi
Day6: Hanoi, overnight train to LaoCai
Day7: BacHa Market, 1N
Day8: Sapa, overnight train back to Hanoi
Day9: Hanoi
Day10: Saigon, domestic flight from Hanoi to Saigon
Day11: CuChi/CaoDai 1D tour
Day12: Mekong Delta 2D/1N
Day13: Saigon
Day14: Saigon
Day15: Fly home

Cheers!

Hi,

Overnight one night on Junk ( 2days, 01 nights) and do 4 day in Sapa will fine

Happy trip
Dent Tran

Hi all,

Need some advice on Nam. I'm arriving in hanoi with my wife on sept 17 morning and will be in Vietnam for 8 days. Do you think we would be completely insane to cram hanoi, sa pa, Ha long bay, Hue, and HCMC into 8 days 7 nights??

Here's The Plan:

Stay two days (night 1) in Hanoi,

leave for sa Pa by overnight train (night 2),

stay the day in Sa Pa, leave for Ha Long Bay by overnight train/bus (night 3).

Stay the day and night at ha long bay,(night 4)

leave the next morning for Hue (by air), stay all day and night at Hue (night 5)

leave by air for HCMC the next morning, stay in Ho Chi Minh for 2 days/ one night (night 6).

Fly back evening of day 2 in HCMC. stay the night in Hanoi (night 7)

and fly back next morning. Flight back is at 11 am, Sept 24, from Hanoi.

What do you think? Seems totally insane to me, but really wanna do it. You think it's possible, or should we just concentrate on North only: Hanoi, Sa Pa, Ha long, and fly to Hue for a day/night up-down trip, if possible, or even leave that out too (or do this and leave out Sa Pa). We are really confused as to what to keep and what to leave out.

Desperate for advice,

Seerat Hazir
Pakistan

I have just left Vietnam and took 2 weeks going from north to south, even that i felt was a rush!

Although it can be done i would recommend consentrating on the north and do 2 nights in Ha Long Bay, as its amazing, Han Oi is a great city too and lots to do just outside.

Just my opinion