All tours / Whole country / Mu Cang Chai, Bac Ha & Ha Long Bay - 7 Days
Multi-region · Multi-day package
Mu Cang Chai, Bac Ha & Ha Long Bay - 7 Days
Great for couplesGreat for backpackersEasy fitness levelDaily departures
From
From $700 /person
Duration
7 days 6 nights
Departure
Daily
Pickup
Hanoi (any hotel) - private van
Group size
2-16 guests
Hotels
Standard / Premium / Luxury package
Fitness
Easy
Type
Multi-day packages
A 7-day northern Vietnam photography journey from Hanoi: the Tu Le Valley and Mu Cang Chai sunrises, the Muong Hoa terraces at Sapa, the Flower Hmong Sunday market at Bac Ha, and a finishing overnight cruise on Ha Long Bay.
Itinerary - 7 Days 6 Nights
Day 1 · L, D
Hanoi → Tu Le Valley → Mu Cang Chai
Drive northwest through mountain passes and the Tu Le Valley to Mu Cang Chai. Overnight Mu Cang Chai.
Day 2 · B, L
Mu Cang Chai Sunrise → Sapa
Early light (6-9am) over the Mu Cang Chai terraces, then a ~5h scenic drive through the Hoang Lien Son range to Sapa. Overnight Sapa.
Day 3 · B, L
Sapa → Muong Hoa Valley → Topas Ecolodge
Morning walk through the Muong Hoa terraces (Black Hmong & Red Dao, ~900-1,400m); afternoon at ridge-top Topas Ecolodge.
Day 4 · B, L
Topas → Nam Cang → Bac Ha
Sunrise at remote Nam Cang (Red Dao village), then the drive onto the Bac Ha plateau in northeast Lao Cai.
Day 5 · B, L
Bac Ha Sunday Market → Hanoi
The colourful Flower Hmong Sunday market at Bac Ha (Sundays only), then the long drive back to Hanoi. Overnight Hanoi.
Day 6 · B, L, D
Hanoi → Ha Long Bay Overnight Cruise
Drive to Ha Long and board an overnight junk; Sung Sot Cave, Ti Top Island, sunset on the sundeck, dinner on board. Overnight on the bay.
Day 7 · L
Ha Long Bay → Hanoi + Departure
Morning cruising among the karst islands, brunch on board, disembark and transfer back to Hanoi. Tour ends.
Notes
- Tier ($700 / $980 / $1260) changes hotel class only
- Bac Ha market is Sunday-only - Day 5 is timed for it
- NW leg is photography-focused; best end-May to early-October
✓ Included
- Accommodation 7 Days / 6 Nights (hotel class per tier; incl. 1 night Halong overnight cruise)
- Meals as listed (breakfast daily + most lunches & dinners; cruise full board Day 6)
- Private airport pick-up & drop-off
- Private van throughout + Halong overnight cruise
- All entrance tickets & transportation on tour
- English-speaking guide (professional photographer guide on request, extra cost)
✕ Not included
- Early check-in & late check-out
- Tips
- Personal expenses
- Drinks & other meals
🎒 What to bring
- Camera + spare batteries (photography-focused NW leg)
- Warm layers for pre-dawn shoots + Sapa
- Trekking shoes + rain jacket
Travelling with children
- Free for children under 3
- Full price from age 12
Good questions about this tour
Bac Ha market only runs on Sundays - does the tour time it right?
Yes - Bac Ha's famous Flower Hmong market only runs on Sundays, so the 7-day itinerary is timed so Day 5 lands on a Sunday. If your travel dates are fixed, tell us and we'll confirm the market day works before you book.
Is there a lot of mountain driving over the 7 days, and is it worth it?
There are several hours of mountain driving on the northwest days - that's the price of reaching Mu Cang Chai and Bac Ha, which few tours do. The reward is the finest terrace scenery in Vietnam plus a Halong overnight cruise to relax at the end. The driver stops at the best viewpoints, so the drive is part of the experience.
