Asia · North & Centre: Hanoi, Ha Long Bay, Hue & Hoi An
Street food in Hanoi, a night on a junk in Ha Long Bay, karst rivers in Ninh Binh, a sleeper train south, and lantern-lit Hoi An.
Overview
Vietnam may be the best-value long-haul trip in Asia, with incredible food, dramatic landscapes and a real sense of history. This route covers the classic north and centre. You start with Hanoi's buzzing Old Quarter and an overnight cruise among the limestone islands of Ha Long (or quieter Lan Ha) Bay. Next come boat rides through the rice fields and caves of Ninh Binh, the 'Ha Long Bay on land'. A sleeper train then takes you south to the imperial city of Hue. Longer versions add the rice terraces of Sapa and the giant caves of Phong Nha. Everything works without a car: comfortable 'limousine' vans with hotel pickup, sleeper trains, Grab and cheap private drivers.
Scorecard
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Average of 19 criteria
One of the world's great street-food countries: pho, bun cha, banh mi, cao lau; fresh, cheap and everywhere.
Hanoi, Hue's Imperial City and tombs, Hoi An's UNESCO old town, and the My Son temples.
Ha Long Bay, Ninh Binh's karsts, Sapa's rice terraces and the world's largest caves.
Pleasant beaches near Hoi An and Da Nang (An Bang), but not the focus of this route.
Little wildlife on this route (some primates at the Cuc Phuong rescue centre).
Kayaking in the bay, trekking in Sapa, caving in Phong Nha, cycling in Ninh Binh and Hoi An.
Hanoi's beer corners and rooftop bars, lively Hoi An evenings.
Quite an active trip; Hoi An and the cruise are the slower moments.
Megacity, bay cruise, karst valleys, mountains, imperial heritage and a coastal old town.
One stop from Geneva (≈ 15–17 h).
Limousine vans, sleeper trains, Grab and cheap drivers cover everything; motorbike traffic is intense.
Visa-free for Swiss travellers (45 days); English is patchy outside tourist areas, but booking is easy.
+5 h (summer) / +6 h (winter) from Geneva.
Excellent value: great meals for CHF 3–8, boutique hotels for CHF 40–80.
The north and centre have different seasons, so no month is perfect for both; February–April is the best compromise.
Very safe for travellers; watch for petty theft, overcharging and chaotic traffic.
No mandatory vaccines; dengue exists; drink bottled water.
Superb boutique hotels and homestays for very little money.
Ha Long Bay and Hoi An old town are busy; Lan Ha Bay, Ninh Binh at dawn and Hue are calmer.
When to go
Aim for late February to April. May–June works too if you don't mind heat, and it's the best time for Hoi An's beaches. Avoid October–November for the central part of the route.
Getting there
There's no direct flight from Geneva. The easiest options are one-stop flights to Hanoi (HAN) via Istanbul, Doha, Dubai or Abu Dhabi, or with Vietnam Airlines via its nonstop flights from Paris or Frankfurt (15–17 h in total). Book an open-jaw ticket: fly into Hanoi and home from Da Nang (DAD), which is 45 min from Hoi An.
| Routing | Airline | Stops | Travel time | Return, economy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GVA → IST → HAN | Turkish Airlines | 1 | 15h–17h | CHF 700–1050 |
| GVA → DOH → HAN | Qatar Airways | 1 | 15h–17h | CHF 750–1150 |
| GVA → DXB / AUH → HAN | Emirates / Etihad | 1 | 15h–17h | CHF 700–1100 |
| GVA → CDG / FRA → HAN Nonstop long-haul leg on the Vietnamese flag carrier. | Vietnam Airlines (+ Air France / Lufthansa feeder) | 1 | 15h–16h | CHF 800–1250 |
Itinerary
Pick a trip length. Day 1 is arrival day and the last day is departure day; the overnight flights are extra. Each transfer lists every option, with the recommended one first.
Hanoi, an overnight cruise in the bay, Ninh Binh, the night train to Hue, the Hai Van Pass and Hoi An.
Land at Noi Bai, check into the Old Quarter, and dive straight into the street-food evening.
Noi Bai airport is 30 km from the centre.
Try bun cha (Obama's famous lunch), pho, banh mi, and egg coffee at Giang Café. Join a guided street-food tour for the first night (CHF 25–40 per person), then eat on low plastic stools on the beer corner of Ta Hien.
Temple of Literature, Ho Chi Minh's mausoleum area, Hoan Kiem Lake, and an evening water-puppet show.
Vietnam's first university (1070): courtyards, turtles and stone stelae.
The mausoleum opens only in the morning and is closed on some days; the square is impressive even from outside.
The heart of the city, pedestrian-only on weekend evenings.
A centuries-old art form performed in the water, with live music at the Thang Long theatre.
A shuttle van takes you to the harbour, then you board a junk for kayaking, a cave visit, sunset on deck and a night among the karsts.
Kayaking or a bamboo boat through lagoons, a cave or floating-village visit, a sunset cocktail on deck, a sunrise tai chi session, and seafood meals. Lan Ha Bay itineraries (from Hai Phong) are quieter than classic Ha Long.
Brunch on board, then a direct van to Ninh Binh. In the late afternoon, a boat ride through Tam Coc.
Rowers (often using their feet!) take you through three river caves between rice fields.
Morning boat in Trang An, a climb up Hang Mua for the view, then board the overnight train south.
A UNESCO landscape: 2–3 hours by rowing boat through 9 caves and past temples (quieter than Tam Coc).
500 steps up to a dragon statue and the iconic view over the river and rice fields (best in the late afternoon).
The Imperial City in the morning, then the emperors' tombs in the hills by car or boat.
The Nguyen emperors' walled palace and Forbidden Purple City, partly restored after the war.
Ornate and romantic royal tombs in the pine-covered hills, and the seven-storey pagoda on the Perfume River.
Bun bo Hue (spicy beef noodle soup) and the delicate 'royal' rice cakes (banh beo, banh nam).
A private car over the spectacular coastal pass, with stops at the Lang Co lagoon and the Marble Mountains, arriving in Hoi An for the lantern-lit evening.
Lantern-lit streets, the Japanese Covered Bridge, and floating candles on the Thu Bon river.
Heritage houses in the morning, a cooking class with a market visit and basket-boat ride, and a fitting at a tailor's.
Assembly halls, merchant houses and the Japanese Bridge; go before 9 am to have the streets almost to yourself.
Shop at the market, paddle a round basket boat in the coconut forest, then cook 4–5 dishes.
Order a suit or dress in the morning and pick it up 24–48 h later after a fitting.
Early morning at the Cham temple ruins in the jungle, then an afternoon on An Bang beach.
UNESCO Hindu temple ruins of the Cham kingdom (4th–13th c.) in a jungle valley. Go at sunrise, before the heat and the groups.
Relaxed beach with seafood restaurants and sunbeds, 4 km from town.
A short transfer to Da Nang airport for the flight home (via a hub).
An iced coffee with condensed milk before the drive.
An extra day at the end: snorkelling at the Cham Islands or simply the beach and a spa.
Land at Noi Bai, check into the Old Quarter, and dive straight into the street-food evening.
Noi Bai airport is 30 km from the centre.
Try bun cha (Obama's famous lunch), pho, banh mi, and egg coffee at Giang Café. Join a guided street-food tour for the first night (CHF 25–40 per person), then eat on low plastic stools on the beer corner of Ta Hien.
Temple of Literature, Ho Chi Minh's mausoleum area, Hoan Kiem Lake, and an evening water-puppet show.
Vietnam's first university (1070): courtyards, turtles and stone stelae.
The mausoleum opens only in the morning and is closed on some days; the square is impressive even from outside.
The heart of the city, pedestrian-only on weekend evenings.
A centuries-old art form performed in the water, with live music at the Thang Long theatre.
A shuttle van takes you to the harbour, then you board a junk for kayaking, a cave visit, sunset on deck and a night among the karsts.
Kayaking or a bamboo boat through lagoons, a cave or floating-village visit, a sunset cocktail on deck, a sunrise tai chi session, and seafood meals. Lan Ha Bay itineraries (from Hai Phong) are quieter than classic Ha Long.
Brunch on board, then a direct van to Ninh Binh. In the late afternoon, a boat ride through Tam Coc.
Rowers (often using their feet!) take you through three river caves between rice fields.
Morning boat in Trang An, a climb up Hang Mua for the view, then board the overnight train south.
A UNESCO landscape: 2–3 hours by rowing boat through 9 caves and past temples (quieter than Tam Coc).
500 steps up to a dragon statue and the iconic view over the river and rice fields (best in the late afternoon).
The Imperial City in the morning, then the emperors' tombs in the hills by car or boat.
The Nguyen emperors' walled palace and Forbidden Purple City, partly restored after the war.
Ornate and romantic royal tombs in the pine-covered hills, and the seven-storey pagoda on the Perfume River.
Bun bo Hue (spicy beef noodle soup) and the delicate 'royal' rice cakes (banh beo, banh nam).
A private car over the spectacular coastal pass, with stops at the Lang Co lagoon and the Marble Mountains, arriving in Hoi An for the lantern-lit evening.
Lantern-lit streets, the Japanese Covered Bridge, and floating candles on the Thu Bon river.
Heritage houses in the morning, a cooking class with a market visit and basket-boat ride, and a fitting at a tailor's.
Assembly halls, merchant houses and the Japanese Bridge; go before 9 am to have the streets almost to yourself.
Shop at the market, paddle a round basket boat in the coconut forest, then cook 4–5 dishes.
Order a suit or dress in the morning and pick it up 24–48 h later after a fitting.
Early morning at the Cham temple ruins in the jungle, then an afternoon on An Bang beach.
UNESCO Hindu temple ruins of the Cham kingdom (4th–13th c.) in a jungle valley. Go at sunrise, before the heat and the groups.
Relaxed beach with seafood restaurants and sunbeds, 4 km from town.
A speedboat to the Cham Islands marine park for snorkelling, or a lazy day between the pool, the beach and a spa.
A marine protected area 30 min offshore, with coral, reef fish and a fishing village. The season runs roughly from March to September.
An hour's massage (CHF 15–30), then a lantern boat on the river at dusk.
A short transfer to Da Nang airport for the flight home (via a hub).
An iced coffee with condensed milk before the drive.
Adds two days in the mountains of the far north with a village trek, before the bay cruise.
Land at Noi Bai, check into the Old Quarter, and dive straight into the street-food evening.
Noi Bai airport is 30 km from the centre.
Try bun cha (Obama's famous lunch), pho, banh mi, and egg coffee at Giang Café. Join a guided street-food tour for the first night (CHF 25–40 per person), then eat on low plastic stools on the beer corner of Ta Hien.
Temple of Literature, Ho Chi Minh's mausoleum area, Hoan Kiem Lake, and an evening water-puppet show.
Vietnam's first university (1070): courtyards, turtles and stone stelae.
The mausoleum opens only in the morning and is closed on some days; the square is impressive even from outside.
The heart of the city, pedestrian-only on weekend evenings.
A centuries-old art form performed in the water, with live music at the Thang Long theatre.
A comfortable limousine van into the mountains, with an afternoon walk to Cat Cat village and terrace views.
A short walk down to a Hmong village with a waterfall; it's touristy, but a good introduction.
A guided day trek through the Muong Hoa valley's terraces and villages, then the afternoon van back to Hanoi.
About 12 km through rice terraces and Hmong and Dao villages with a local guide, with lunch in a village. The terraces are green in May–Aug and golden in Sep–early Oct.
A shuttle van takes you to the harbour, then you board a junk for kayaking, a cave visit, sunset on deck and a night among the karsts.
Kayaking or a bamboo boat through lagoons, a cave or floating-village visit, a sunset cocktail on deck, a sunrise tai chi session, and seafood meals. Lan Ha Bay itineraries (from Hai Phong) are quieter than classic Ha Long.
Brunch on board, then a direct van to Ninh Binh. In the late afternoon, a boat ride through Tam Coc.
Rowers (often using their feet!) take you through three river caves between rice fields.
Morning boat in Trang An, a climb up Hang Mua for the view, then board the overnight train south.
A UNESCO landscape: 2–3 hours by rowing boat through 9 caves and past temples (quieter than Tam Coc).
500 steps up to a dragon statue and the iconic view over the river and rice fields (best in the late afternoon).
The Imperial City in the morning, then the emperors' tombs in the hills by car or boat.
The Nguyen emperors' walled palace and Forbidden Purple City, partly restored after the war.
Ornate and romantic royal tombs in the pine-covered hills, and the seven-storey pagoda on the Perfume River.
Bun bo Hue (spicy beef noodle soup) and the delicate 'royal' rice cakes (banh beo, banh nam).
A private car over the spectacular coastal pass, with stops at the Lang Co lagoon and the Marble Mountains, arriving in Hoi An for the lantern-lit evening.
Lantern-lit streets, the Japanese Covered Bridge, and floating candles on the Thu Bon river.
Heritage houses in the morning, a cooking class with a market visit and basket-boat ride, and a fitting at a tailor's.
Assembly halls, merchant houses and the Japanese Bridge; go before 9 am to have the streets almost to yourself.
Shop at the market, paddle a round basket boat in the coconut forest, then cook 4–5 dishes.
Order a suit or dress in the morning and pick it up 24–48 h later after a fitting.
Early morning at the Cham temple ruins in the jungle, then an afternoon on An Bang beach.
UNESCO Hindu temple ruins of the Cham kingdom (4th–13th c.) in a jungle valley. Go at sunrise, before the heat and the groups.
Relaxed beach with seafood restaurants and sunbeds, 4 km from town.
A short transfer to Da Nang airport for the flight home (via a hub).
An iced coffee with condensed milk before the drive.
The Sapa version with an extra relaxed day in Hoi An.
Land at Noi Bai, check into the Old Quarter, and dive straight into the street-food evening.
Noi Bai airport is 30 km from the centre.
Try bun cha (Obama's famous lunch), pho, banh mi, and egg coffee at Giang Café. Join a guided street-food tour for the first night (CHF 25–40 per person), then eat on low plastic stools on the beer corner of Ta Hien.
Temple of Literature, Ho Chi Minh's mausoleum area, Hoan Kiem Lake, and an evening water-puppet show.
Vietnam's first university (1070): courtyards, turtles and stone stelae.
The mausoleum opens only in the morning and is closed on some days; the square is impressive even from outside.
The heart of the city, pedestrian-only on weekend evenings.
A centuries-old art form performed in the water, with live music at the Thang Long theatre.
A comfortable limousine van into the mountains, with an afternoon walk to Cat Cat village and terrace views.
A short walk down to a Hmong village with a waterfall; it's touristy, but a good introduction.
A guided day trek through the Muong Hoa valley's terraces and villages, then the afternoon van back to Hanoi.
About 12 km through rice terraces and Hmong and Dao villages with a local guide, with lunch in a village. The terraces are green in May–Aug and golden in Sep–early Oct.
A shuttle van takes you to the harbour, then you board a junk for kayaking, a cave visit, sunset on deck and a night among the karsts.
Kayaking or a bamboo boat through lagoons, a cave or floating-village visit, a sunset cocktail on deck, a sunrise tai chi session, and seafood meals. Lan Ha Bay itineraries (from Hai Phong) are quieter than classic Ha Long.
Brunch on board, then a direct van to Ninh Binh. In the late afternoon, a boat ride through Tam Coc.
Rowers (often using their feet!) take you through three river caves between rice fields.
Morning boat in Trang An, a climb up Hang Mua for the view, then board the overnight train south.
A UNESCO landscape: 2–3 hours by rowing boat through 9 caves and past temples (quieter than Tam Coc).
500 steps up to a dragon statue and the iconic view over the river and rice fields (best in the late afternoon).
The Imperial City in the morning, then the emperors' tombs in the hills by car or boat.
The Nguyen emperors' walled palace and Forbidden Purple City, partly restored after the war.
Ornate and romantic royal tombs in the pine-covered hills, and the seven-storey pagoda on the Perfume River.
Bun bo Hue (spicy beef noodle soup) and the delicate 'royal' rice cakes (banh beo, banh nam).
A private car over the spectacular coastal pass, with stops at the Lang Co lagoon and the Marble Mountains, arriving in Hoi An for the lantern-lit evening.
Lantern-lit streets, the Japanese Covered Bridge, and floating candles on the Thu Bon river.
Heritage houses in the morning, a cooking class with a market visit and basket-boat ride, and a fitting at a tailor's.
Assembly halls, merchant houses and the Japanese Bridge; go before 9 am to have the streets almost to yourself.
Shop at the market, paddle a round basket boat in the coconut forest, then cook 4–5 dishes.
Order a suit or dress in the morning and pick it up 24–48 h later after a fitting.
Early morning at the Cham temple ruins in the jungle, then an afternoon on An Bang beach.
UNESCO Hindu temple ruins of the Cham kingdom (4th–13th c.) in a jungle valley. Go at sunrise, before the heat and the groups.
Relaxed beach with seafood restaurants and sunbeds, 4 km from town.
A speedboat to the Cham Islands marine park for snorkelling, or a lazy day between the pool, the beach and a spa.
A marine protected area 30 min offshore, with coral, reef fish and a fishing village. The season runs roughly from March to September.
An hour's massage (CHF 15–30), then a lantern boat on the river at dusk.
A short transfer to Da Nang airport for the flight home (via a hub).
An iced coffee with condensed milk before the drive.
Everything: Sapa, Ha Long, Ninh Binh, the giant caves of Phong Nha, Hue and Hoi An.
Land at Noi Bai, check into the Old Quarter, and dive straight into the street-food evening.
Noi Bai airport is 30 km from the centre.
Try bun cha (Obama's famous lunch), pho, banh mi, and egg coffee at Giang Café. Join a guided street-food tour for the first night (CHF 25–40 per person), then eat on low plastic stools on the beer corner of Ta Hien.
Temple of Literature, Ho Chi Minh's mausoleum area, Hoan Kiem Lake, and an evening water-puppet show.
Vietnam's first university (1070): courtyards, turtles and stone stelae.
The mausoleum opens only in the morning and is closed on some days; the square is impressive even from outside.
The heart of the city, pedestrian-only on weekend evenings.
A centuries-old art form performed in the water, with live music at the Thang Long theatre.
A comfortable limousine van into the mountains, with an afternoon walk to Cat Cat village and terrace views.
A short walk down to a Hmong village with a waterfall; it's touristy, but a good introduction.
A guided day trek through the Muong Hoa valley's terraces and villages, then the afternoon van back to Hanoi.
About 12 km through rice terraces and Hmong and Dao villages with a local guide, with lunch in a village. The terraces are green in May–Aug and golden in Sep–early Oct.
A shuttle van takes you to the harbour, then you board a junk for kayaking, a cave visit, sunset on deck and a night among the karsts.
Kayaking or a bamboo boat through lagoons, a cave or floating-village visit, a sunset cocktail on deck, a sunrise tai chi session, and seafood meals. Lan Ha Bay itineraries (from Hai Phong) are quieter than classic Ha Long.
Brunch on board, then a direct van to Ninh Binh. In the late afternoon, a boat ride through Tam Coc.
Rowers (often using their feet!) take you through three river caves between rice fields.
Same day in Ninh Binh, but you take the night train to Dong Hoi for the caves of Phong Nha.
A UNESCO landscape: 2–3 hours by rowing boat through 9 caves and past temples.
500 steps to the iconic view over the valley.
Walk a kilometre into the cathedral-like Paradise Cave, then take a river boat into Phong Nha Cave.
31 km long; a wooden boardwalk leads 1 km into giant, beautifully lit chambers of stalactites.
A dragon boat up the river and into the cave, which is lit inside.
Dark Cave's zipline and mud bath, or a full-day Tu Lan / Hang Tien trek with swimming through caves (booked with Oxalis, CHF 80–180).
A morning train to Hue, then a relaxed evening by the Perfume River.
Walk the riverside, then try bun bo Hue and banh khoai at the Dong Ba market area.
The Imperial City in the morning, then the emperors' tombs in the hills by car or boat.
The Nguyen emperors' walled palace and Forbidden Purple City, partly restored after the war.
Ornate and romantic royal tombs in the pine-covered hills, and the seven-storey pagoda on the Perfume River.
Bun bo Hue (spicy beef noodle soup) and the delicate 'royal' rice cakes (banh beo, banh nam).
A private car over the spectacular coastal pass, with stops at the Lang Co lagoon and the Marble Mountains, arriving in Hoi An for the lantern-lit evening.
Lantern-lit streets, the Japanese Covered Bridge, and floating candles on the Thu Bon river.
Heritage houses in the morning, a cooking class with a market visit and basket-boat ride, and a fitting at a tailor's.
Assembly halls, merchant houses and the Japanese Bridge; go before 9 am to have the streets almost to yourself.
Shop at the market, paddle a round basket boat in the coconut forest, then cook 4–5 dishes.
Order a suit or dress in the morning and pick it up 24–48 h later after a fitting.
Early morning at the Cham temple ruins in the jungle, then an afternoon on An Bang beach.
UNESCO Hindu temple ruins of the Cham kingdom (4th–13th c.) in a jungle valley. Go at sunrise, before the heat and the groups.
Relaxed beach with seafood restaurants and sunbeds, 4 km from town.
A short transfer to Da Nang airport for the flight home (via a hub).
An iced coffee with condensed milk before the drive.
Skip a region, add beach days, change the pace… Suggest changes and a new version of this trip will be created.
Getting around
For the north, use 'limousine' vans: comfortable 9-seat minibuses that pick you up at your hotel for Ha Long, Ninh Binh and Sapa. For the long jump south, take the overnight train (with a private-cabin option) or a 1h20 domestic flight. In cities, Grab (car or motorbike taxi) is cheap and fixed-price. For scenic routes like the Hai Van Pass, hire a private car with a driver for the day; it's inexpensive.
Limousine vans with hotel pickup are comfortable, cheap and the standard way to reach Ha Long, Ninh Binh and Sapa.
The Reunification line (SE trains) is slow but atmospheric; book a 4-berth soft sleeper, or a private Lotus/Violette carriage cabin.
Vietnam Airlines, VietJet and Bamboo link Hanoi, Hue and Da Nang in about 1h15 for CHF 40–100.
Grab works everywhere on this route (cars and motorbike taxis), with fixed prices.
Cheap and useful for scenic transfers (Hai Van Pass) and day trips; CHF 50–80 per car per day.
Sleeper buses are cheap but cramped for tall Europeans, and the driving can be scary. Prefer limousine vans or trains.
Great in Ninh Binh and Hoi An: flat and quiet back roads through rice fields.
Where to stay & budget
Per person per day, excluding international flights. Assumes two people sharing a double room, local transport, and a mix of street food and restaurants. The Ha Long cruise is the big single cost (CHF 100–400 per person).
A thousand-year-old capital with lakes, French colonial boulevards, and the chaotic, delicious Old Quarter.
Where: Old Quarter / Hoan Kiem Lake for walkability and food.
Mountain town above spectacular rice terraces and villages of the Hmong, Dao and Tay peoples. It's cool, and often misty.
Where: In a valley homestay or eco-lodge rather than the busy town centre.
Thousands of jungle-topped limestone islands rising from emerald water. Lan Ha Bay (next to Ha Long) is quieter and prettier.
Where: Overnight on a cruise boat; choose Lan Ha Bay itineraries for fewer boats.
Emerald rivers winding through caves and rice fields between karst towers. Rowing boats take you through, and it's great by bicycle.
Where: Tam Coc village or a bungalow resort among the rice fields.
Jungle national park home to the world's largest caves. The accessible ones (Paradise Cave, Phong Nha Cave) are breathtaking.
Where: Phong Nha village by the river.
Former imperial capital on the Perfume River, with the walled Imperial City, royal tombs in the hills and its own spicy cuisine.
Where: South bank near the river (walkable), or a garden villa near the tombs.
UNESCO-listed trading port with yellow shophouses, silk lanterns, tailors and great food, 10 minutes from the beach.
Where: Near the old town (walk or bike in), or at An Bang beach for a beach feel.
Practical
Information last checked: September 2026. Visa rules, prices and timetables change, so always check before booking.
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