Vietnam

Off the Beaten Path: Hanoi to Sapa by Night Train

Ten nights that reach Sapa by sleeper train instead of the usual coach, with a glass bridge and an alpine coaster along the way.

10 Nights / 11 DaysDuration
6Cities

The Overnight Train to Sapa

Most Vietnam itineraries reach Sapa by road, if they reach it at all. This one takes the sleeper train both ways , Hanoi to Lao Cai and back , and uses the extra day it buys for two things most first trips skip entirely: the Cloud Dragon Glass Bridge strung across the Hoang Lien Son range, and an alpine coaster run through Mong Village.

This is one of the Vietnam itineraries we've planned for a large group before , ten nights, eleven days from Hanoi to Sapa, Da Nang, Hoi An and Phu Quoc, built for 22 adults and three children (7, 7 and 11 years) travelling together. It's shared here to show what a longer, more offbeat route through Vietnam could look like. A version built around your own group's size, pace, and dates would look a little different , and that's the point.

Why This Trip

Why Take the Night Train to Sapa

Why Take the Night Train to Sapa

Two overnight sleeper trains do the work a flight or a six-hour drive usually does elsewhere, and they buy back a full extra day in Sapa for the Cloud Dragon Glass Bridge , 300 metres of transparent walkway strung across the O Quy Ho Pass , and an alpine coaster through Mong Village that most Sapa itineraries never get to.

The rest of the route runs wider than deeper: Ninh Binh's limestone rivers on the way north, Hoi An's lantern-lit river and Ba Na Hills' Golden Bridge in the centre, and three closing days across Phu Quoc's theme parks and islands.

If you asked us: the overnight train is worth the discomfort once. Twice, and a group this size starts to feel it , build in a rest morning either side.

Holiday Overview

Cities Covered
Hanoi, Ninh Binh, Sapa, Da Nang, Hoi An, Phu Quoc
Starting Price
₹98,500

per adult, ₹89,975 per child with an extra bed and ₹75,545 per child without, based on 22 adults and 3 children (7, 7 and 11 years) travelling together, excluding international and internal airfare

Best Time to Travel
Late April to early May (dry, before the summer heat)
Experiences Covered
Hanoi city tour & water puppet show, Ninh Binh's Tam Coc & Hoa Lu, overnight sleeper train to Sapa, Cloud Dragon Glass Bridge & Cat Cat Village, Fansipan cable car & Mong Village Alpine Coaster, Hoi An lantern boat ride, Ba Na Hills & Golden Bridge, Marble Mountain & Cam Thanh Coconut Village, Phu Quoc island hopping, VinWonders, Vinpearl Safari & Grand World

Tap a pin to preview each stop

Trace Your Path

An itinerary designed
for every moment.

Hanoi Day 1

An afternoon at the Ho Chi Minh Complex and the Temple of Literature, closing with an evening water puppet show.

Ninh Binh Day 2

A Tam Coc boat ride through limestone caves and the ancient temples of Hoa Lu.

Sapa Day 3–4

The Cloud Dragon Glass Bridge, Cat Cat Village, the Fansipan cable car and an alpine coaster through Mong Village.

Da Nang Day 5–7

A cable car up to Ba Na Hills' French-inspired village, the Golden Bridge, Linh Ung Pagoda, and Marble Mountain's caves and pagodas.

Hoi An Day 5

An afternoon in Hoi An's Ancient Town, closing with a lantern boat ride on the Hoai River.

Phu Quoc Day 7–11

Vinpearl Safari, Grand World's Venice-style canal, VinWonders, and an island-hopping speedboat tour closing at Sunset Town.

Day By Day

Vietnam Trip Itinerary

  1. Day 1

    Hanoi Arrival, City Tour & Water Puppet Show

    A transfer to the hotel, then an afternoon at the Ho Chi Minh Complex and the Temple of Literature, closing with an evening water puppet show , a traditional art form performed on the water's surface.

  2. Day 2

    Ninh Binh Day Trip, Overnight Train to Sapa

    A drive south to Ninh Binh for a Tam Coc boat ride through limestone caves and the ancient temples of Hoa Lu, before an evening sleeper train from Hanoi to Lao Cai.

  3. Day 3

    Lao Cai to Sapa, Cloud Dragon Glass Bridge & Cat Cat Village

    An early arrival into Lao Cai and a transfer to Sapa, followed by the Cloud Dragon Glass Bridge over the Hoang Lien Son range and an afternoon trek down to Cat Cat Village.

  4. Day 4

    Fansipan Cable Car & Alpine Coaster, Overnight Train to Hanoi

    A cable car to Fansipan's summit, the Roof of Indochina, then an alpine coaster run through Mong Village before an evening sleeper train back to Hanoi.

  5. Day 5

    Hanoi to Da Nang, Hoi An Lantern Boat Ride

    A flight to Da Nang, then an afternoon in Hoi An's Ancient Town, closing with a lantern boat ride on the Hoai River.

  6. Day 6

    Ba Na Hills & Golden Bridge

    A cable car up to Ba Na Hills' French-inspired village, the Golden Bridge held up by giant stone hands, Linh Ung Pagoda, and Fantasy Park's rides.

  7. Day 7

    Marble Mountain & Cam Thanh, Fly to Phu Quoc

    Marble Mountain's caves and pagodas, a bamboo basket boat ride through Cam Thanh's coconut forest, then an evening flight to Phu Quoc.

  8. Day 8

    Vinpearl Safari & Grand World

    A morning at Vinpearl Safari's open-habitat tour, followed by an evening at Grand World's European-inspired architecture and Venice-style canal.

  9. Day 9

    VinWonders

    A full day at Vietnam's largest theme park, moving between rides, water slides and street performances at the group's own pace.

  10. Day 10

    Island Hopping & Sunset Town

    A speedboat tour from An Thoi Harbor to Mong Tay, Gam Ghi and May Rut Islands, closing with the Hon Thom cable car and an evening Kiss of the Sea show at Sunset Town.

  11. Day 11

    Phu Quoc Departure

    A transfer to the airport for the flight home.

What's Included

Experiences Included.

Where You'll Stay

Hotel Stays.

Hotel and sleeper trains stay across Hanoi, Sapa, Da Nang and Phu Quoc, with breakfast daily.

Hanoi: Grand Ciditel Hotel. Sapa: Silk Path Sapa Hotel, a Balcony Classic Garden room. Da Nang: Balcona Hotel Da Nang, a Deluxe Balcony Seaside room. Phu Quoc: Vinpearl Resort & Spa Phu Quoc, a Deluxe King room, for the final three nights.

The Fine Print, Handled

What Travenza Holidays
Will Arrange.

Itinerary planning, hotel reservations, sleeper train bookings, private transfers, sightseeing, domestic flights, visa assistance, and a single point of contact for the whole group.

Customised by group size, hotel preference, budget, travel dates, and pace. For larger groups: one coach for road transfers and a dedicated guide throughout.

Ready When You Are

Plan Your Off the Beaten Path Holiday to Vietnam

A glass bridge over the Hoang Lien Son range, two nights on a sleeper train, an alpine coaster most Sapa itineraries skip , this route gives a large group a way into Vietnam's north that a coach or a flight wouldn't.

This is one of the itineraries we've built for a group travelling together before, shared here to show what the trip could look like. A version built for your own group , size, pace, and dates , would look a little different.

Estimated from ₹98,500 per adult · All inclusive

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