Fanning out from the Vietnamese capital of Hanoi is a vast area characterised by the most incredible mountain scenery anywhere in the country. Imposing, forested mountain ranges topped with evocative mist are some of the enduring images of Vietnam, along with terraced rice paddies clinging to their sides and the colourful ethnic culture that thrives in such beautifully natural spaces. Though these may seem like distant images for ambitious dreamers, the reality is that many lie in close proximity to the capital and are available to visit on a daytrip from Hanoi.
At Vietnam Escape Tours, our Hanoi daytrips reveal exactly these locations; ones that leave our guests with a gorgeous lasting image of Vietnam and the beauty its captures throughout its northern region. There is a deep well of diversity to discover across the north, in the naturally blessed areas of Halong Bay, Mai Chau, Ninh Binh and several more. We also feature a strong focus on Vietnamese and ethnic culture during our daytrips from Hanoi, which adds yet another splash of colour to a region of already vivid hues.
With Vietnam Escape Tour, quality and professionalism is assured. Our daytrips out of Hanoi are led by experienced tour guides and organised by a company with a huge amount of positive TripAdvisor reviews. Escape the ordinary with Escape Vietnam.
Vietnam Escape Tours have chosen the best of Hanoi’s outer surrounds for our selection of Hanoi daytrips. These incorporate both the widely known and the hushed secrets of Northern Vietnam, all of which are accessible via a day-long tour from the capital.
Quite comfortably the most famous of ours and Vietnam’s destinations, Halong Bay is located about 180km (3.5 hours) from Hanoi and represents the jewel in the crown of Vietnam and one of the gems of Asia. In the 1,550km2 seascape, limestone mountains permeate the emerald waters, which lap the shores of hidden coves and run through caves speckled with stalagmites. A multitude of fishing villages add to an atmosphere of being on the edge of the world, which attracts visitors from far and wide to find tranquility on the sundeck of a cruise.
• Our daytrip from Hanoi to Halong Bay provides guests with a 4-hour exploration of the twice-recognised UNESCO World Heritage Site from the capital, including chances to kayak, swim and relax in style.
Lan Ha Bay
Located in the southern part of Halong Bay, about 135km (2 hours) from Hanoi, Lan Ha Bay enjoys a similar amount of natural majesty with its more famous neighbour, but with far fewer cruise ships in the water. Images of the two bays are indistinguishable from each other, and passengers on a Lan Ha Bay day cruise will be able to experience the limestone rock towers, sprawling forests, abundant wildlife and welcoming locals with a heightened sense of peace.
• The daytrip from Hanoi to Lan Ha Bay has time for 8 hours of cruising because of Lan Ha’s closer access point to the capital. This gives us the chance to relax on our luxury day cruise, the Escape Sails, as well as the opportunity to explore a vast and largely untouched world in total style.
The lush province of Ninh Binh finds itself just 95km (2 hours) south of Hanoi. This is the perfect location for daytrips from the capital, which present the deep green majesty of this small province across iconic limestone mountains, rice paddies and forests of untamed tropics. Wildlife and human life abound here, as does wonderful architecture dating back to ancient times. At Hoa Lu, Bai Dinh and Phat Diem Cathedral, the architecture is represented in beautiful fashion, while the overwhelming natural splendour of Ninh Binh is best seen at Tam Coc, Hang Mua, Trang An, Van Long and Cuc Phuong National Park.
• We have several daytrips from Hanoi to Ninh Binh, many of which combine 2 or 3 attractions into one activity-packed tour. These trips still feature plenty of opportunity to relax, letting you absorb the luxuriant feel of Ninh Binh at its natural level.
There are few pictures of Vietnam more iconic than those of golden rice terraces, pressed up against the side of mountains, with wooden stilt houses dotted amongst them. This is the scene available at Mai Chau, 150km (4 hours) away from Hanoi and a much-needed natural retreat from the city. Along with the staggeringly beautiful rice paddies are the farmers who own them; those of ethnic minorities such as the Tay, Giay and H’mong groups. Each has a vibrant set of clothing to match their surroundings and their attractive culture, which focuses on the simple things, promotes a very relaxing lifestyle.
• The daytrip from Hanoi to Mai Chau features trekking and cycling as our methods to see the glory on offer. We also feature short visits to local stilt houses to see how the ethnic minorities of Mai Chau live.
Hanoi’s Craft Villages
Both inside and outside of Hanoi, there is a collection of handicraft villages specialising in creating materials long sought-after in the capital. Historically, these are small villages that specialised in one trade each, such as the ceramics of Bat Trang, the silk of Van Phuc, the folk art of Dong Ho, the rice paper of Tho Ha and the gorgeous bamboo butterflies of Thach Xa. Over time, each of these villages have solidified their reputations as masters of each craft, to the point where even Vietnamese royalty would demand these traditional arts for the royal palace.
• We have many half and full day trips from Hanoi, all of which feature 1 or 2 villages, where our guide will explain about the history and current practice of creating handicrafts. These are great chances to get souvenirs before your time in Vietnam is done.
While technically not a daytrip ‘from’ Hanoi, there are many full daytrips around the capital that offer a lot for customers to gain. Hanoi is stunning collection of ancient architecture kept remarkably well-intact despite the constant expansion of the city. Its history reaches back to ancient Vietnam, where influences of Chinese architecture and philosophy crept into the country. Following this, French colonialists took over Hanoi, making an indelible mark with colourful buildings, now evocatively faded with time and standing alongside buildings and relics from the Vietnam War.
• Our Hanoi city tour is a full-day tour exploring some of the enticing aspects of the composition of the capital. We visit ancient buildings like the Tran Quoc Pagoda, Temple of Literature and Ngoc Son Temple, along with seeing the French influence in the bustling Old Quarter. Our tours are topped off with a view of the wartime history at the Ho Chi Minh Complex and Hoa La Prison.
At Vietnam Escape Tours, we want your time in our country to be remembered for the things that you did. To this end, we feature many different activities on our day tours outside Hanoi, ones that get you closer to the action on offer and let you experience our beautiful country from all of its best angles.
Kayaking is one of the consistently favourite activities taking place in Halong Bay and Lan Ha Bay, due to its ability to magnify the grandeur of the overall scene from ground level. Kayaking is a very tranquil activity because of the feelings of isolation and freedom that it bestows, and the fact that it is a stalwart of Hanoi daytrips to Halong and Lan Ha bays is a testament to its popularity.
One of the most rewarding ways to unravel the beauty of Vietnam on a daytrip from Hanoi is via treks through Mai Chau, Hang Mua and Cuc Phuong National Park. After a hike of a few hours speckled with incredible views, visitors can feel like they have earned their beautiful sights over terraced rice paddies and untamed jungle.
Bicycles are able to cover a lot of ground, and many tourists to Vietnam find that it is a country made for cycling. This is displayed best at Tam Coc and Mai Chau, which feature flat paths running between forested mountains and lush rice paddies. Cycling is especially evocative in these rural areas, where cars are a rarity and bicycles represent a very welcome step-back in time.
The most local method of transportation in the watery enclaves of northern Vietnam is the sampan boat – a rustic, wooden vessel made for simple transportation across the water. The opportunity to ride this beautifully humble rowboat presents itself on many of our daytrips from Hanoi, namely those going to Tam Coc, Trang An, Van Long, Halong Bay and Lan Ha Bay.
Many of our guests, understandably, wish to take mementos of their time in Vietnam to proudly display back home. Shopping is a popular activity on our daytrips out of Hanoi and we often leave some free time in our itineraries to allow for our guests to make their purchases. We can do this at places like Hanoi, Bat Trang, Van Phuc, Dong Ho, Tho Ha, Tam Coc and Mai Chau.
Our wealth of daytrips from Hanoi, including those actually in Hanoi, feature opportunities to see the treasured main sites of northern Vietnam. Hoan Kiem Lake and the Ho Chi Minh Complex are two such sites in Hanoi, but even Halong Bay features natural sites in Fighting Cock Islet and Titop Island. This is a list padded out by the rice fields of Tam Coc, stilt houses of Mai Chau and the temples of Hoa Lu and Bai Dinh.
With Vietnam being such a long country, it comes under three different weather systems that govern its northern, central and southern regions. In and around Hanoi, there are the four seasons of summer, autumn, winter and spring, but also the wet and the dry seasons within. Here is a summary of those different seasons and their suitability for a Hanoi day tour.
• Summer – Between early June and September, guests to Hanoi and its surrounding areas should be prepared for downpours of rain, thrown with fury over the course of several hours. This is the wet season in the north, but also the season of searing heat and inescapable humidity. Pleasant days are possible, but if you have a choice, it would be best to leave your north Vietnam daytrip for another time.
• Autumn – Late September, October and November present some of the best weather in northern Vietnam, characterised by warm, sunny days with little threat of serious rain. These will be the best times to visit the outdoor attractions of Halong Bay, Mai Chau or Ninh Binh on your daytrip from Hanoi.
• Winter – Winter is a fairly mild time of year in and around Hanoi, taking place in December, January and February. Most foreigners are unfazed by the cold, as temperatures still stay relatively warm compared to most western countries and rain is at an annual low. The grey clouds and overcast days make travelling less appealing, yet, all one-day north Vietnam tours still have beauty to offer.
• Spring – Spring is much like autumn in its weather, with long, sunny days of warm temperatures dominating throughout March, April and May. Spring is a great time to head to Tam Coc on a daytrip from Hanoi, as the area is rich in golden rice ready for the harvest. It is also the time for many cultural festivals around northern Vietnam, which celebrate the abundancy of the new year after February.
Please take a look at the following daytrips from Hanoi below. If you are unclear on any aspects of the itinerary or inclusions, please contact us via the chat box, telephone or email; we will be happy to help out in any way that we can!
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Code: SIC11
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Code: HD15