Exploring Sapa and Hanoi Vietnam: A Complete Travel Itinerary and Guide (2025)

Sapa and Hanoi are two of Vietnam's most captivating destinations, each offering a unique blend of culture, history, and breathtaking landscapes. Plus, if you're looking to experience your first winter as a Filipino like me, this would be it!

Whether you're exploring the vibrant streets of Hanoi or hiking through the misty mountains of Sapa, this itinerary will help you make the most of your trip. From travel essentials to must-visit attractions, here's everything you need to know about my 7-day adventure in Vietnam.

Exploring Sapa and Hanoi Vietnam: A Complete Travel Itinerary and Guide (2025) Exotic Philippines Travel Blog blogger vlogger


What You Need

eSIM for Connectivity

I got my eSIM via Klook, which covered both Vietnam and Thailand since I was heading to Thailand afterward. While you can buy a physical SIM card upon arrival at Hanoi airport, the hassle of removing your current SIM and the risk of losing it made me opt for an eSIM. It's an easy and seamless option—just add it to your phone and you're good to go.

No worries, I will provide the link down below to where I bought the esim online, and everything else I booked online so everything you need to book is here in this Sapa - Hanoi travel guide and itinerary.

Winter Clothes

During my visit, the temperature ranged from 5°C to 20°C. To stay warm, I bought Uniqlo's Ultra Heattech, which I wore under my hoodie or jacket—it worked wonders! When I arrived in Hanoi, I visited the stunning Uniqlo shop near Hoan Kiem Lake and picked up Heattech gloves and a beanie. These small additions made a big difference in keeping me comfortable.


What to Do Upon Arrival at Hanoi Airport

Buy a SIM Card

If you prefer a physical SIM, multiple vendors are available before you exit the airport.

Withdraw Cash

I found using my GCash Visa card to withdraw cash at ATMs super convenient, rather than exchanging USD. It made me feel like a local! There are at least three ATMs from different banks at the airport.

My DIY 7-Day Sapa - Hanoi Itinerary

January 2: Arrival in Hanoi

  • 10:00 AM - Arrive at Hanoi Airport
  • 12:00 PM - Left baggage at HK Buslines office in Old Quarter
  • 12:00 - 1:00 PM - Lunch at Bancong Coffee Shop
  • 1:00 PM - City Tour Bus (Book Via Klook)
  • 5:00 PM - Explore Old Quarter
  • 10:00 PM - Board HK Buslines sleeper bus to Sapa (Book via Klook)

January 3: Exploring Sapa

  • 5:00 AM - Arrive in Sapa
  • 6:00 AM - Left luggage at Phuong Nam Hotel
  • 7:00 AM - Early morning photo session at Sapa Station
  • 8:00 AM - Breakfast at Cafe Bao Cap
  • 9:00 AM - Visit Moana Sapa
  • 12:00 PM - Lunch at VietTrekking
  • 2:00 PM - Hotel check-in
  • 3:00 PM - Rest
  • 6:00 PM - Dinner at Family Sapa Restaurant

January 4: Fansipan Adventure 

  • 6:00 AM - Free breakfast at the hotel
  • 7:00 AM - Head to Sapa Station for the Sun World Fansipan Legend (Book via Klook)
  • 3:00 PM - Return to hotel
  • 5:00 PM - Van pick-up to Lao Cai Station
  • 9:00 PM - Board VicSapa Sleeper Train to Hanoi (Book via Klook)

January 5: Back in Hanoi

  • 5:00 AM - Arrive in Hanoi
  • 6:00 AM - Left luggage at Golden Moon Hotel
  • 7:00 AM - Breakfast at Tiem Banh Trieu Patisserie
  • 8:00 AM - ATM withdrawal
  • 9:00 AM - Stroll around Hoan Kiem Lake and visit Uniqlo
  • 12:00 PM - Lunch & coffee at Calina Cafe (across Uniqlo)
  • 2:00 PM - Hotel check-in
  • 5:00 PM - Vietnamese Cooking Class (includes dinner) - (Book via Klook)
  • 9:00 PM - Explore the night market & shopping

January 6: Ninh Binh Tour

  • 7:00 AM - Hotel pick-up for Ninh Binh Tour (Book via Klook)
  • 8:00 PM - Return to hotel
  • 9:00 PM - More shopping

January 7: Halong Bay Tour

  • 7:00 AM - Hotel pick-up for [Route 2] Halong Bay Cruise Tour (Book via Klook)
  • 8:00 PM - Return to hotel
  • 9:00 PM - Shopping

January 8: Departure to Bangkok

  • 5:00 AM - Hotel checkout
  • 9:00 AM - Flight to Bangkok, Thailand

Vietnam Travel Tips

Tet Holiday Precautions

If you're visiting in February, check the Tet holiday dates in advance. Many businesses, including restaurants and grocery stores, shut down as locals return to their hometowns. Prices for tours might also surge due to demand.

Book Tours in Advance

I missed out on some tours because I hesitated to book early. Many get fully booked, especially in peak seasons. If you’re using Klook (highly recommended!), try to book at least a day before since same-day bookings are often unavailable.

Secure Hotel Bookings Early

Hotels fill up quickly during peak seasons. I couldn't stay at my first-choice hotel in Sapa because I booked too late. Plan ahead to secure your preferred accommodation.

You Can Use Grab

Yes, you can use Grab in both Sapa and Hanoi. In Sapa, I opted for their electric vehicles since they operate without waiting for additional passengers. For VND 60,000, they can take you anywhere within Sapa town.

Sapa and Hanoi Travel Expenses

I won't include the flight cost here since I could have booked a cheaper flight, but because I didn’t want to exit the Philippines via Manila, I chose to have a layover in Hong Kong and celebrate the New Year (yes, it was January 1) with their famous Peking Duck.

Note: The amount in pesos shown is the amount deducted from my GCash card.

  • Hanoi Airport to Old Quarter (GrabCar) - VND 283,920 (P650)
  • Hanoi City Tour Bus - P650
  • Hanoi to Sapa Sleeper Bus (HK Buslines) - P1,130
  • Sapa 1N/2D Hotel - P2,031
  • Moana Sapa - VND 90,000 (P206)
  • Sunworld Fansipan Legend - P2,661
  • Sapa to Hanoi Sleeper Train (VicSapa) - P2,306
  • Taxi to Hotel in Hanoi from Station - VND 150,000 (estimate,i forgot the exact amount) [P205]
  • Hotel in Hanoi (Golden Moon) - VND 3,061,000 (P6,997)
  • Vietnamese Food Cooking Class - P2,067
  • Ninh Binh Tour - P3,436
  • Halong Bay Tour - P2,349
  • Old Quarter to Hanoi Airport (GrabCar) - VND 331,760 (P759)
  • eSim - P1,285 (10 days for 3 countries, unlimited data)
Total on this part is P26,532

Other Expenses

Food Expenses

I ate at different places and drank a lot of coffee because I loved it! If you have a budget of VND 300,000 per meal, that’s more than enough. I usually paid around VND 100,000 to VND 250,000 (with drinks).

Transportation Expenses

In Sapa, electric vehicle rides cost VND 60,000, but you can easily walk to nearby tourist spots. Moana Sapa and Sapa Station were within walking distance from my hotel.

In Hanoi, I enjoyed walking around, watching young locals in Ao Dai doing photoshoots. The cold weather made it comfortable, and I loved relaxing by Hoan Kiem Lake.

Shopping / Pasalubong Expenses

I shopped a lot and ended up having an overbaggage at the airport! Here’s a rough idea of prices:

  • Hoodies - Around VND 800,000
  • Tired City - Shirts cost around P800, the quality is really nice though but ask if they have a promo. Because they had one when I was there - buy 4 shirts get 1 free.
  • Imitation brand luggage (best quality, they said) - VND 1,900,000
  • Vietnamese instant coffee - VND 120,000 per box (12 sticks, discounts for bulk purchases)
  • Trung Nguyen Legend Coffee (various flavors) - VND 86,000 per box (12 sticks)
  • Dri-fit shirts (likely imitations) - VND 100,000 - 150,000

Total Expenses

Tours / Transpo / Hotel - P26,532
Food (budget VND 250,000 [571] x 7 meals) = P3,997
Total: P30,529

Note: I might have spend less on the meal part since I ate a meal and drinks for VND 100,000 (I have the receipts), also the cooking class includes lunch / dinner since you will eat what you cooked. Plus, make sure to include some allowances because you will eat some street food there and have more coffee than usual and enjoy some pastries.

Also, again. This does not include the flight cost since it was my decision to choose a different route though I can get a flight cheaper. Plus, I booked a month before the flight, so it is of course more expensive.

DIY Your Travel in Sapa and Hanoi: You Can Do It Too!

This was a DIY trip, and I planned everything myself and booked everything myself. If I could do it, so can you! Below, I will list down all the links you might need to book your hotels, transportation, and tours. Traveling on your own allows for flexibility and a more personal experience—so go ahead, plan your adventure, and enjoy Vietnam at your own pace!

Flights

I used Google flights to find flights that I want (which is not a layover in Manila) since there's no direct flight from Cebu to Vietnam, I have to do a layover somewhere - choices are Hong Kong, Singapore, and Bangkok Thailand.

Transportation

HK Buslines Sleeper Bus (To and From Hanoi / Sapa) (Book via Klook)

VicSapa Sleeper Train (To and From Hanoi / Sapa)  (Book via Klook)

I booked this two companies because both offered an inclusion of transportation to and from the hotel. The sleeper bus offers a FREE hotel pick up if your hotel is within Old Quarter, and a FREE hotel drop off in Sapa if your hotel is within the town - so be careful on which accommodation you booked since some are too far away.

I booked the VicSapa since it's the only company that time that offered a transportation from your hotel in Sapa Vietnam to Lao Cai train station, it's not free but they'll arrange it for you. But if you book a different sleeper train company, you can book your transfer here.

Tours

Tours in Sapa Vietnam

The only tour in Sapa Vietnam that I booked online was the Fansipan. But you may book these online in advance, especially if you decided to stay longer (which I recommend unless you're only after Fansipan).

Sunworld Fansipan Legend (Book via Klook) *Book this in advance, limited tickets per day

Mong village alpine coaster (Book ticket here)

Glass bottom bridge *far from town, pay around P1500 for transpo RT (Book ticket here)

O Quy Ho Heaven Gate (Book ticket)

Village Trekking 

Love and Silver Waterfalls Tour (Book tour here)

Bac Ha Market and Ban Pho Village Day Tour from Sapa (Book tour here)


Here are the other tours not available online that you can do, but you can do it yourself. You can opt to ride their electric vehicle or hire a motorcycle (yes with driver, we call it Habal-Habal or Angkas in the Philippines).

  • Moana Sapa 
  • Catcat Village (you can book this online but not necessary, they said you really don't need a tour guide but if you want a guide and have a waterfalls tour book here)
  • Sapa Olong Tea Hill (I wasn't able to visit this but this was recommended by a fellow Cebuana (Filipino) that I should visit and get a taste of Sapa's own Olong tea plus a tour around. She said it's like cherry blossom but not in full bloom)

Tours in Hanoi

There are a number of tours or tourist spots that I want to do and visit in Hanoi, but here are the top I wish I've done (I could've done it but because of my aging body, I didn't booked it because I was too tired). I'd definitely come back to Hanoi just to do these.

Please note that tours above are those I wish I booked and have time to do it, but I was not able to because my old body wants to sleep and/or I need more time. So I cannot really endorse or say they are great.

Hotels

Recommended Hotels in Sapa Vietnam

The hotel I was able to stay at is very affordable with a great view, plus it's walking distance to Sapa station. 

Phuong Nam Mountain View Hotel 

(Book via Klook) (Book via Booking)

But if you want a hotel that has the view of the Fansipan rail? train? You might want to book these hotels:

Note: The hotels above is a bit secluded from the town center, so if you want to eat in a different resto or roam around through walking you have to exit the road from that hotel area. But if you just want to have photos with that view, an overnight stay would be fine but I think you'll also enjoy your stay there. No worries, there are locals that are waiting around to provide you transportation in town, even taxis are there.

Recommended Hotels in Hanoi

There are a number of hotels you can choose from in Hanoi, but I highly recommend to stay in the Old Quarter area since the tour providers offers a FREE hotel pick up there and if not you have to go to a specific place in the quarter where they'll have a pick up. But, I really love the hotel I stayed at and I recommend it. But I'll also include the hotels I have saved as my options to stay at:

Golden Moon Suite Hotel & Travel (Book via Booking)

Silk Hanoi Moment Hotel & Spa (Book via Booking)

Little Diamond Hotel (Book via Booking)

Hanoi Central Park Hotel (Book via Booking)

Bonne Nuit Hotel & Spa Hanoi  (Book via Booking)

Hanoi Flora Hotel (Book via Booking)


Note that I can't really recommend the hotels I haven't stayed at because again I haven't experienced their service and all. But they're among the hotels that I've choose from. Again, there are a number of hotels there, depending on your budget and demands on accommodation, they have it. I just need a secure, at least a bit quiet, and clean place to stay and so far Golden Moon Suite Hotel and Travel met it.


Others

eSim

If you're visiting or having a layover in Singapore or Thailand before or after visiting Vietnam, I suggest you get the eSim I have. But if not, you should opt for the one only for Vietnam.

Buy Vietnam + Thailand + Singapore eSim here

Buy Vietnam eSim here


Airport Fast Track

If your flight is the earliest in arrival or departure, the line is not a big issue. But if it is during peak hours. I suggest you go for this fast track, because when I was there the line is starting to pile up that I was so worried I could not make to my flight, but I did and have a few minutes to get some hot coffee. But for me, you really do not need this during arrivals unless you are in a hurry to get out.

Book Fast Track here

This itinerary made my Sapa-Hanoi trip smooth and enjoyable. If you’re planning a similar trip, I hope this guide helps you! Feel free to use my Klook links if you need to book tours. Happy travels!


Note:

I will update this post when I have my videos edited and published so yes there is a video for my tours. I just need more time.



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