Short Escape in Northern Vietnam: 3 Cities in 4 Days (Hanoi, Ha Long Bay, and Ninh Binh)

Never thought Vietnam would be that cold that March. One of our friends who lived there already warned us about the weather that month, but I was like "How cold would it be, especially in March?".

I just got back from the weekend KL trip a few weeks prior to my departure date to Hanoi (I was sick when I was in KL due to dyspepsia). After trying to recover for a couple of weeks, another sickness hit me, sore throat. One day before the departure, I had a fever. Didn't really pack more sweaters (just brought my wool cardigan) and my other clothes were merely sundresses.

Arrived in cold and windy Hanoi with a slight fever, runny nose, and sore throat. Yes, didn't start the trip in a fit condition. I was like, "I've got 4 days here and I want to explore Hanoi, Ha Long Bay, and Ninh Binh." So ambitious, right? Hahaha.

But, it was possible. I will tell you how. Here are some tips if you only have a few days to explore Vietnam but still want to make the most of it.

1. Decide on The Starting Point

If you only have a few days to explore then you have to choose where you want to start the trip (with considerations to visit up to two more neighboring towns). This time, I chose Hanoi, because I was eager to explore the northern part of the country. If you choose Ho Chi Minh (Saigon) which is located in the southern part, it's possible to visit Hoi An and Mui Ne as well. The ultra-famous Ha Long Bay is situated in Ha Long, it only takes 4 to 5 hours bus ride from Hanoi, while Ninh Binh (which is for me the highlight of my Vietnam trip) is only 2 hours bus ride away from Hanoi.

The Old Quarter in Hanoi is so vibrant at night.

2. Stay in Hanoi and Go on Day Trips to the Neighboring Towns

Hanoi, the capital city of Vietnam, is known for its colonial old quarter and its eye-pleasing architecture. Oh and the culinary adventure as well! You don't need to stay in the old quarter as the other parts of the town offer worth exploring areas. I stayed near the Tay Ho area (there are a lot of cafes, coffee shops, little boutiques here). It only takes around 15-20 minutes car ride to the old quarter (Note: I used ride-hailing service all the time, Grab, to get around).

Going on day trips to the neighboring towns becomes feasible since Ha Long and Ninh Binh are located only a few hours away from Hanoi. You will also get to explore the nightlife in Hanoi after the day trip.

Tam Coc River in Ninh Binh is definitely unmissable.

I took a boat trip along the river.

There were many food and souvenir sellers along the river as well.

Make sure to stop by the Hoa Lu temple if you visit Ninh Binh.

3. Buy Day Trip Packages Prior to Departure Date

Whether it's online or offline, I definitely recommend buying day trip packages. It's a lot cheaper, especially on online platforms (Klook usually offers great deals). It's also time-efficient. I bought a boat ride package in Ha Long on Klook (includes lunch, snacks, bus fares, and kayaking). The Ha Long Bay day trip package cost USD 37 per person. However, Kayaking is optional. I opted to do kayaking although it was raining and the weather was cold. Kayaking in Ha Long Bay will leave you speechless, the view there is wondrous.

As for the Ninh Binh trip, I also bought a day trip package one week prior to the departure date to Vietnam which cost USD 27. The day trip package includes buffet lunch, snacks, admission fee, round-trip bus fare, bike rental around the village, and a boat ride along Tam Coc river.

I enjoyed the breathtaking view of Ha Long Bay.

The view from the top of the hill in Ti Top Island is wondrous.

Those three tips can help you plan your Vietnam trip effectively, especially if you only have a few days to explore (and also a limited budget). For the whole trip, I merely spent around USD 120.

The downside of this trip is actually I didn't really get to explore Hanoi much as I could only spend a few hours each night wandering some parts of the city (yes, don't miss the Old Quarter, this area is very vibrant at night). Other than that, get yourself prepared for an early start every morning (this also means no late-night bar hopping, as you will have to wake up around 6 AM to get ready and go to the meeting point to start your day trip).

This short getaway makes me even more eager to explore the other parts of Vietnam. I would love to visit the southern part of the country, starting from Saigon and then travel to Hoi An (it's on my bucket list). I would love to revisit Hanoi and Ninh Binh (I truly enjoyed biking around the village and met the locals), and then maybe explore the other part of North-western Vietnam, Sa Pa.

I'm not sure whether I want to revisit Ha Long Bay, as it is very touristy and crowded (I guess once is enough). If you decide to visit Ha Long Bay, you should go to Ti Top island and hike up the hill. The view from the top of the hill is quite mesmerizing, so definitely check that out.

Although the itinerary was quite packed, I was able to embrace every day of it. It wasn't a super thrilling adventure (not like my other trips hahaha), but luckily I got to visit new awesome places and spend more time with my travel buddies. It was fun to escape from the hustle and bustle of Jakarta even only for a few days.