Northern Vietnam Tier List: The 10 Best Places to Visit, Ranked
Choosing the best places to visit in Northern Vietnam is hard when everything looks spectacular on Instagram. To make it easier, our team at AmGo Travel, who live and work in Hanoi, ranked the region’s top 10 destinations in a simple tier list.
How we ranked them: wow factor (how unique the scenery and culture are), access (how easy it is from Hanoi) and versatility (whether it works for most travellers and most seasons). Every place on this list is worth visiting; the tiers simply help you decide what to see first.
Rowing boats among the karst peaks of Trang An, Ninh Binh (Photo: Jakub Hałun / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0)
Contents
The best places to visit in Northern Vietnam at a glance
S tier: unmissable on a first trip. A tier: outstanding, add if you have time. B tier: hidden gems for a second trip or slower travellers.
S tier: unmissable
1. Ha Long Bay and Lan Ha Bay
Wow factor ★★★★★ · Access ★★★★☆ (2.5–3 h from Hanoi) · Ideal stay: 2 days 1 night
Around 1,600 limestone islands rise from the sea in this UNESCO World Heritage Site, now extended to include the Cat Ba archipelago. Sleep on a cruise, kayak into lagoons and watch the sunrise over the karsts. Choose Ha Long Bay for the famous caves, Lan Ha Bay for calm water and fewer boats. Read our Ha Long Bay cruise tips or browse our Ha Long Bay cruises.
Aerial view of the limestone islands
2. Ha Giang Loop
Wow factor ★★★★★ · Access ★★☆☆☆ (6–7 h from Hanoi) · Ideal stay: 3–4 days
The most dramatic landscapes in Vietnam: the Ma Pi Leng Pass, the Nho Que River canyon, Lung Cu and colourful ethnic markets on the Dong Van Karst Plateau. It only misses a perfect score on access, because it is far from Hanoi. Read our full Ha Giang Loop guide or join the Ha Giang Loop 3 Days 2 Nights.
The Nho Que River seen from Ma Pi Leng Pass (Photo: NKSTTSSHNVN / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0)
3. Ninh Binh (Trang An, Tam Coc, Hang Mua)
Wow factor ★★★★☆ · Access ★★★★★ (about 2 h from Hanoi) · Ideal stay: 1–2 days
Often called “Ha Long Bay on land”, Ninh Binh offers rowing-boat trips through caves and rice fields at Trang An, a UNESCO site since 2014, and Tam Coc. Climb the steps to Hang Mua for the best view, then visit Hoa Lu, Vietnam’s capital in the 10th century. It is the easiest wow-trip from Hanoi. Try A Full Day to Explore Vietnamese Culture in Ninh Binh or Ninh Binh 2 Days 1 Night.
The view over Tam Coc from Hang Mua (Photo: Shyamal / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0)
Terraced valleys, Hmong and Dao villages, homestays and Fansipan, the highest peak in Indochina. Sapa town itself is busy, but the valleys are stunning, especially in September and October. Read our Sapa trekking guide or book the Sapa Trekking 3 Days 2 Nights with Homestay.
Rice terraces in the Muong Hoa Valley (Photo: Christophe95 / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0)
Vietnam’s capital is a destination in itself: the Old Quarter, Hoan Kiem Lake, the Temple of Literature founded in 1070, French colonial architecture and arguably the best street food in the country. See it with a guide on the 3.5 Hour Hanoi City Tour, the Visit Ha Noi City Full Day or the Half Day Food Tour Hanoi.
The Temple of Literature in Hanoi (Photo: Daderot / Wikimedia Commons, CC0)Flower sellers in the Old Quarter (Photo: Jakub Hałun / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0)
Ban Gioc Waterfall on the border with China is one of the most beautiful waterfalls in Asia, and the nearby Nguom Ngao Cave and quiet karst valleys see far fewer visitors than Ha Giang. It scores A only because it takes long to reach. Join the Cao Bang Motorbike Tour.
Ban Gioc Waterfall in Cao Bang (Photo: Lê Minh Phát / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0)
A peaceful nature reserve of rice terraces, bamboo forest, Thai stilt houses and water wheels. Perfect for slow travellers who want to hike, cycle and sleep in an eco-lodge. Try 2D1N Pu Luong Nature and Local Life Experience.
Village and rice fields in Pu Luong (Photo: Benjamin Smith / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0)
8. Mai Chau
Wow factor ★★★☆☆ · Access ★★★★☆ (about 3.5 h) · Ideal stay: 1 day or 1 night
A flat green valley surrounded by mountains, home to White Thai villages with stilt houses and weaving traditions. Easy cycling and a gentle introduction to rural life. See the Mai Chau 1 Day Trip.
The Mai Chau valley (Photo: Shyamal / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0)
9. Bai Tu Long Bay
Wow factor ★★★★☆ · Access ★★★★☆ · Ideal stay: 2 days 1 night
Ha Long’s quieter neighbour, with the same limestone scenery and far fewer boats. Ranked B only because most travellers choose Ha Long or Lan Ha first. Sail with Signature Halong Cruise or Treasure Junk Cruise.
The islands of Bai Tu Long Bay
How to combine the best places to visit in Northern Vietnam
5 days: Hanoi (1 day) + Ninh Binh (1 day) + Ha Long Bay cruise (2 days 1 night) + Hanoi. See our 5 Day Vietnam Tour Itinerary.
10 days: add Sapa (3 days) or the Ha Giang Loop (4 days including travel).
2 weeks or more: Hanoi, Ninh Binh, Ha Long, Sapa and Ha Giang. Our 15 Days Tour of Northern Vietnam covers the best of the north.
💡 The best overall season for Northern Vietnam is September to November, followed by March to May. Summer is hot and rainy; winter is cool and misty, and cold in the mountains.
Do you agree with our ranking?
Every traveller has their own list of the best places to visit in Northern Vietnam. Some of our guests put Cao Bang in S tier, others say Hanoi deserves the top spot for its food alone. Tell us your travel style and the number of days you have, and we will build a route that ranks S tier for you.
Get a tailor-made Northern Vietnam itinerary from our local team
Photo credits: NKSTTSSHNVN / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0; Jakub Hałun / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0; Shyamal / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0; Christophe95 / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0; Daderot / Wikimedia Commons, CC0; Lê Minh Phát / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0; Benjamin Smith / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0. Photos edited with the AmGo Travel logo.
