Asia

North of Vietnam

15 October 2020 /

Magnificient North of Vietnam! Which cities should I visit in the North of Vietnam?

Hanoi :

Hanoi is the capital of Vietnam. This is a city full of history and bustling with life. As all the big cities (especially in Asia) you have to be prepared to the noise, the pollution and the global crazy ambiance. We loved discover this town, there is many things to do and see.

What are the best things to do in Hanoi?
Old Quarter Hanoi Train Street
Tran Quoc Pagoda West Lake
Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum Temple Of Literature
Night Market Temple Ngoc Son
Hoàn Kiếm Lake Cầu Long Biên Bridge
St. Joseph's Cathedral Hoa Lo Prison Relic
Vietnam Museum of Ethnology Lotte Observation Deck
Ho Chi Minh Museum Vietnam Military History Museum
Thăng Long Imperial Citadel Vietnamese Women's Museum
Opera House Royal City
Heritage House Bach Ma Temple
Dong Xuan Market Snake village
Pottery village
Where should I sleep in Hanoi?
Destudio homestayy
What are the best places to eat or drink in Hanoi?
Bún Bò Nam Bộ Bách Phương Bún chả Hương Liên
Tips about Hanoi

Around the old Hanoi there are few nice quarters to visit. Less touristic and more local.

Hanoi is a good place to sell or buy a motorbike. But be careful, drive in Hanoi is not an easy thing to do. Mainly because nobody cares about the traffic regulations and also the number of scooters and motorbikes is really impressive!

(by Show Me The Road)

Mai Chau :

Mai Chau is a small town at 150km south from Hanoi. It is the perfect place to discover the rice fields and countryside of the North of Vietnam. It is a really peaceful place where you feel at home, we loved it!

What are the best things to do in Mai Chau?
Bán Lác Village Poom Coong Village
Văn Village Thung Khe Pass flagpole
Chiều Cave Chợ Pà Cò
Gò Lào Waterfall Pù Luông Nature Reserve
Mo Luong Cave
Where should I sleep in Mai Chau?
Homestay Trường Huy
What are the best places to eat or drink in Mai Chau?
Mai Châu Market Quán 3 Chị Em
Tips about Mai Chau

We think that the homestays in the surroundings rice fields are a better option than to sleep in the city

(by Show Me The Road)

Moc Chau :

Moc Chau is a city known for its tea plantation. The town isn’t charming but the surroundings are really beautiful. The tourism isn’t really developed yet, it is mainly Vietnamese people who are coming here.

What are the best things to do in Mộc Châu?
Oolong Tea Plantation Plum Valley Na Ka
Dai Yem waterfall Đồi chè Trái Tim
S myth Thac Chieng Khoa
Hang Dơi Ngũ Động Bản Ôn
Triangle circuit gardens Moc Chau Happy Land
Pha Luong Park
Where should I sleep in Mộc Châu?
Hotel Hương Sen 2
What are the best places to eat or drink in Mộc Châu?
Moc Chau Market
Tips about Mộc Châu

Les parcs fleuris et aménagés sont souvent payants. Mais il y a toujours une alternative à coté pour se promener gratuitement dans les champs.

(by Show Me The Road)

Mu Cang Chai :

Mu Cang Chai is a small village in the north-west of Hanoi. This area is known for its terrace rice fields built by the Hmong ethnicity who lives here. The landscapes are breath-taking.

What are the best things to do in Mù Cang Chải?
Mù Cang Chải Market Rice Fields
La Pan Tan Viewpoint Dế Xu Phình
Ruộng Bậc Thang Vành móng ngựa Village
Ruộng bậc thang Nấm Linh Chi Đồi mâm xôi Hú Trù Lìn
Where should I sleep in Mù Cang Chải?
Home Stay Chơn
What are the best places to eat or drink in Mù Cang Chải?
Quán Luận Còi Restaurant
Tips about Mù Cang Chải

There are few nice homestays in the rice fields. It is a good option to sleep, at 5 min from the village centre, when you cross the bridge, turn left.

Go to La Pan Tan Viewpoint and De Xu Phinh village to see the amazing terrace rice fields. Be careful, to go to La Pan Tan it is a really steep path.

(by Show Me The Road)

Lai Chau :

Lai Chau is a big city in the north-west Vietnam. We can’t say much about it because we’ve been there during the Têt holidays. It was a particular moment, nobody in the streets, most of the restaurants, shops or hotels were closed. It is an extended town and it didn’t charm us.

What are the best things to do in Lai Chau?
Pu Sam Cap Caves Ho Chi Minh statue
Chùa Linh Sơn Thac Tac Tinh
Thác Trái Tim Bach Moc Luong Tu
Si Thau Chai Village Động Tiên Sơn
Tam Duong Market Guồng Nước Bản Bo
Where should I sleep in Lai Chau?
Nhà Nghỉ Hoàng Quân Motel

Sa Pa :

Sa Pa is the touristic town of the north of Vietnam. It remembered us of a ski station because unfortunately it was really cold and cloudy. We couldn’t see anything after 20 meters. We weren’t able to visit the surroundings which are supposed to be wonderful.

What are the best things to do in Sa Pa?
Sapa Museum Notre Dame Cathedral
Love Market Sapa Sa Pa Market
Sapa Heaven Gate Fansipan Mountain
Ham Rong Mountain Cat Cat Village
Mường Hoa Valley Ta Phin Village
TaVan Valley View Séo Mý Tỷ Reservoir
Silver Waterfall CẦU KÍNH RỒNG MÂY
Where should I sleep in Sa Pa?
Khách sạn QUÓC THÁI
What are the best places to eat or drink in Sa Pa?
H'mong restaurants
Tips about Sa Pa

If you are not a fan of touristic restaurants (like us) we recommend you to try one of the local Hmong restaurants in the « Tuê Tinh » street.

(by Show Me The Road)

Bac Ha :

Bac Ha is a small town in the North of Sa Pa. It is known for its huge market where all the minorities come to sell their products. This area offers also beautiful landscapes.

What are the best things to do in Bac Ha?
Bac Ha temple King Palace
Bac Ha Market Culture H’Mong festival
Mountain Landscape View all thị trấn Cốc Pài
Thác Tiên
Where should I sleep in Bac Ha?
Ngan Nga Bac Ha Hotel
What are the best places to eat or drink in Bac Ha?
Phở Lý Thi
Tips about Bac Ha

The big Bac Ha Market is opened only on weekends.

(by Show Me The Road)

Hoang Su Phi :

Hoang Su Phi is a small town surrounded by mountains. We stopped there for one night on the road to Ha Giang. We stayed at Hotel Tay Con Linh. The rooms are cold and need a bit of maintenance but it was ok for one night.

What are the best things to do in Hoang Su Phi?
Ruộng Bậc Thang Kiou Leou Ti
Viewpoint
Where should I sleep in Hoang Su Phi?
Hotel Tay Con Linh
Tips about Hoang Su Phi

There is a three hours motorbike trip around the peak of Kiou Leou Ti. It seems to be very nice. We advise you to take one day to fully enjoy the landscapes. If you don’t have much time, you might still ride around (1h) like we did.

There are more guesthouses in the city than it appears first on Google Maps.

Don't take the "197C" road! This is a crazy, small and dangerous road (from what people told us, what you can read on Facebook and what you can see on youtube) only local, brave bikers or cross motorbikes should/could do it ! - Follow the "DT177"! This road is beautiful and then the take the "QL2".

(by Show Me The Road)

Ha Giang :

Ha Giang is the starting point for the Ha Giang Loop. It is a motorbike trip in the region to do in 2-3 days at least. It is really wonderful if the weather is good! Else, there is not much to do or see in Ha Giang city beyond walk in the street and meet local people.

What are the best things to do in Ha Giang?
Suspension bridge View Point Dốc Bắc sum
Quan Ba Heaven Gate Fairy Mountain
Cây cô đơn Yen Minh Town
Tham Ma slope Lung Khuy Cave
Lung Tam village Dinh Vua Mèo
Where should I sleep in Ha Giang?
Ruby Hotel
What are the best places to eat or drink in Ha Giang?
Quán Cơm Phở 289
Tips about Ha Giang

There are many shops around the city to rent a scooter or a motorbike to do the Ha Giang Loop. It is often possible in your guesthouse. That’s why the nights are cheap here.

There is a shortcut to go to Yen Minh town. Take the road to the old tree called « Cây cô đơn” and go up by the mountain.

(by Show Me The Road)

Dong Van :

Dong Van is a small village in North Vietnam, near the Chinese border. It is one of the stops to do in the Ha Giang Loop. The road to arrive there is just breath-taking! The surroundings of the town are really beautiful.

What are the best things to do in Dong Van?
Mã Pì Lèng Lung Cu Flag Point
Ta Lung Cave Pải Lủng Cave
Mèo Vạc Du Già
Where should I sleep in Dong Van?
Hoang Van Hotel
What are the best places to eat or drink in Dong Van?
Bánh Cuốn Vinh Kiều

Bao Lac :

Bao Lac is another village where to stop for a night on the Ha Giang Loop.

What are the best things to do in Bao Lac?
Đèo Mẻ Pia
Where should I sleep in Bao Lac?
Bao Lac Hostel and Homestay
What are the best places to eat or drink in Bao Lac?
Cơm rang Hải Yến
Tips about Bao Lac

Les œufs au barbecue sur le marché ne sont pas des œufs durs comme on le pensait mais des œufs déjà fécondés… Boris a gouté, c’était horrible !!!

(by Show Me The Road)

Cao Bang :

Cao Bang is a city of North Vietnam. It is a good place to sleep and go visit the Thac Ban Gioc waterfalls at the Chinese border.

What are the best things to do in Cao Bang?
Angel Eye Pac Bo Historical Site
Where should I sleep in Cao Bang?
Hoang Anh Hotel
What are the best places to eat or drink in Cao Bang?
Quan Quoc 2 Quan phuong Bun Dau Mam Tom
Bánh mì Kebab
Tips about Cao Bang

It is a good starting point to discover the waterfalls of Thac Ban Gioc and the Angel eye.

(by Show Me The Road)

Thac Ban Gioc :

Thac Ban Gioc is composed of three huge wonderful waterfalls on the Chinese border. They can be observed on the Vietnamese or the Chinese side.

What are the best things to do in Thac Ban Gioc?
Ban Gioc Waterfall Truc Lam Phat Tich Pagoda
Tiger cave
Tips about Thac Ban Gioc

You can eat and sleep in the Thac Ban Gioc city if you are not ready to drive the round trip to Cao Bang.

(by Show Me The Road)

Ba Be Lake :

Ba Be Lake is in the Ba Be National Park. The city of Ba Be is at 40min from the park. Inside the park there is only a small village with mainly guesthouses. There are very few shops and restaurants.

What are the best things to do in Ba Be Lake?
Đền An Mạ Silver Waterfall
Hiking around the Lake Ace Tham Kit Cave
Fairy Lake Puong Cave
Đầu Đẳng waterfall Hua Ma Cave
Pac Hau Waterfall Thác Khuổi Nhi
Kayak
Where should I sleep in Ba Be Lake?
Nhà Nghỉ Sơn Lâm
Tips about Ba Be Lake

More you are to do a boat trip on the lake, cheaper it is.

It is impossible to visit the famous cave and waterfall otherwise than by boat with an engine because of the river.

(by Show Me The Road)

Cat Ba :

Cat Ba is located on the biggest island of Lan Ha bay. It is a pleasant city to visit the Lan Ha bay and the Ha Long bay. It is of course a touristic place but seems to be nicer and less touristic than Ha Long bay.

What are the best things to do in Cat Ba?
Rock trail Biểu Tượng Đảo Cát Bà
Boat cruise Cat Ba National Park
Chợ đêm Cát Bà Cat Ba Market
Canon Fort Boat cruise 2
Trung Trang Cave Hospital Cave
Sunset Viewpoint Động Hoa Cương
Eltinks viewpoint
Where should I sleep in Cat Ba?
Anh Nhu Hotel
What are the best places to eat or drink in Cat Ba?
Quân Cát Bà Buddha Belly Restaurant
Yummy 2 Restaurant Oasis Bar and Restaurant
Tips about Cat Ba

There is a ferry every 30 min to Cat Ba Island every day from 6:00 AM to 5:00 PM, so don’t worry about that!

(by Show Me The Road)

Tam Coc :

Tam Coc is a small town, known as the Land Ha Long Bay. We liked the place. The countryside is amazing and even if it is touristic it is still peaceful.

What are the best things to do in Tam Coc?
Hang Mua cave and viewpoint Bich Dong Pagoda
Bai Dinh pagoda Thai Vi Temple
Discovering the nature Tam Coc boat cruise
Tràng An boat cruise Van Long Nature Reserve
Hoa Lu Ancient Capital Cuc Phuong National Park
Phat Diem cathedral Birds Observation point
Where should I sleep in Tam Coc?
Mr Hieu Restaurant and Homestay The Banana Tree Hostel
What are the best places to eat or drink in Tam Coc?
Ninh Loan Rose Restaurant
Tips about Tam Coc

You can visit the surroundings by bicycle or by foot, it is very pleasant.

(by Show Me The Road)

Other cities in North of Vietnam:

There are many other places we didn't have time to explore, but we would love to do it next time :
Son La Pù Luông Nature Reserve
Cuc Phuong National Park Gò Lào Waterfall
Điện Biên Phủ Lào Cai
Mèo Vạc Lạng Sơn
Lũng Cú Hạ Long
Bắc Ninh Bắc Giang
Son La

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