9 days in Vietnam Itinerary

The capital of Vietnam, Hanoi has bounded back from the effects of war, and today serves as a bustling commercial and cultural hub bursting at the seams.

For traveler tips, maps, ratings, and more tourist information, read Hanoi online driving holiday planner.

Kolkata (Calcutta), India to Hanoi is an approximately 5.5-hour flight. You can also drive. You'll lose 1.5 hours traveling from Kolkata (Calcutta) to Hanoi due to the time zone difference. You'll set off for Halong Bay on the 23rd (Sun).

Halong Bay encompasses a cluster of verdant limestone islets that jut out from the sea and make up an enchanting setting recognized as a World Heritage Site.

Kick off your visit on the 23rd (Sun): Head underground at Tien Ong Cave and then contemplate the waterfront views at Hạ Long Bay.

For photos, traveler tips, reviews, and more tourist information, read Halong Bay trip planner.

Getting from Hanoi to Halong Bay by combination of bus and ferry takes about 5 hours. Other options: do a combination of train, car, and ferry; or do a combination of bus, flight, and ferry. On the 24th (Mon), wrap the sightseeing up by early afternoon so you can travel to Sapa.

A hub of tourism in the country's northwestern mountainous region, Sapa represents home for a large number of ethnic minorities from the hill tribes of the region, and acts as a base for explorations of the surrounding area's wealth of natural sights.

Start off your visit on the 25th (Tue): take in the dramatic scenery at Love Waterfall, stroll through Fansipan Mountain, and then take your sightseeing to a higher altitude at Y Linh Ho. On the 26th (Wed), you'll have a packed day of sightseeing: look for gifts at Indigo Cat, don't miss a visit to Cat Cat village, and then appreciate the views at Muong Hoa Valley.

To find ratings, traveler tips, other places to visit, and tourist information, read Sapa travel itinerary planner.

Traveling by combination of ferry, car, flight, and bus from Halong Bay to Sapa takes 9.5 hours. Alternatively, you can do a combination of ferry, flight, and bus; or do a combination of ferry and bus; or do a combination of ferry, flight, taxi, train, and bus. Finish your sightseeing early on the 27th (Thu) so you can drive to Ninh Binh.

A fairly nondescript town, Ninh Binh acts as a base for explorations of the province of the same name, with the karst landscape and lush valleys that surround the town offering a wealth of scenic vistas of rice paddies and rugged rocks.

Step out of Ninh Binh with an excursion to Bai Dinh Pagoda in Gia Sinh--about 34 minutes away. And it doesn't end there: explore the fascinating underground world of Trang An Grottoes, don't miss a visit to Hoa Lu Temples of the Dinh & Le Dynasties, relax and rejuvenate at Mai Spa, and tour the pleasant surroundings at Tam Coc.

To see photos, ratings, other places to visit, and more tourist information, use the Ninh Binh trip planner.

You can drive from Sapa to Ninh Binh in 5 hours. Other options are to take a bus; or do a combination of car, flight, and bus. In April, daytime highs in Ninh Binh are 32°C, while nighttime lows are 26°C. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 29th (Sat) to allow time to drive to Hanoi.

Kick off your visit on the 30th (Sun): browse for treasures at Miranda's Jewelry.

To see where to stay, ratings, reviews, and more tourist information, go to the Hanoi journey app.

You can drive from Ninh Binh to Hanoi in 2 hours. Other options are to take a bus; or take a train. You will have some time to spend on the 30th (Sun) before leaving for home.