Mountains, terraced rice & island bays
The North
From the stone passes of Hà Giang to the still waters of Hạ Long Bay — the north is the cradle of the country, where history and nature meet.
Most journeys begin in Hà Nội and radiate outward — a night train toward the mountains, a slow boat among the karst, a motorbike loop that climbs above the clouds. The distances are short; the changes are enormous.
It is also the country's oldest heart: Hà Nội's tile-roofed old quarter, the flooded karst of Tràng An, and a thousand years of dynasties written into the land.
Don't miss
Places that make the region
01Hạ Long Bay
Quảng NinhTwo thousand karst islands rising from jade water.
02The Hà Giang Loop
Tuyên QuangThe legendary road across the northern stone plateau.
03Sa Pa & Mù Cang Chải
Lào CaiTerraced valleys glowing gold in the harvest light.
04Tràng An & Tam Cốc
Ninh BìnhSampans thread cave tunnels between still valleys.
05Hà Nội
Hà NộiThe thousand-year capital around Hoàn Kiếm Lake.
At the table
What you'll eat
Northern cooking is quiet and precise: a bowl of phở at first light, bún chả over charcoal at noon, and an egg coffee in a hidden old-quarter café when the evening cools.
The North food guide →When to go
Month by month
| Hà Nội | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg high (°C) | 20° | 22° | 24° | 28° | 32° | 34° | 34° | 33° | 32° | 30° | 26° | 22° |
| Avg low (°C) | 14° | 16° | 18° | 22° | 24° | 26° | 26° | 26° | 25° | 22° | 19° | 15° |
| Rainfall (mm) | 20 | 20 | 35 | 105 | 165 | 265 | 255 | 275 | 245 | 155 | 60 | 20 |
Highlighted months are the most comfortable window. · 30-year climate normals (WMO 1991–2020) — long-term averages, not a forecast.
Daily budget
What a day here costs
Backpacker
~$25–40/day
Hostels or guesthouses, street food and local buses.
Mid-range
~$60–120/day
3-star hotels or boutique stays, restaurant meals, ride-hailing and a guided day trip now and then.
Comfort
~$150+/day
4–5-star stays, private drivers and guides, cruise cabins and fine dining.
Reference ranges per person per day, excluding international flights. Hà Nội, Đà Nẵng and Sài Gòn run toward the top of each band; small towns toward the bottom.
Full Money & Costs guide →Book this region
Stays, experiences & tours
Everything you need to actually go — places to sleep, things to do, and the trips that run here.
Where to stay794
See all →Things to do13
See all →
Trips that go here11
See all →Make it real
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