Join SideQuests host Ryan on a thoughtfully paced journey through North Vietnam. We'll start in Hanoi, immersing ourselves in its delightful chaos as we wander through old quarters, bustling markets, and tucked-away cafés. From there, we head south to Ninh Binh, where emerald rice paddies stretch between dramatic limestone peaks, winding rivers carve through ancient caves, and rural life moves at the gentle rhythm of water buffalo and wooden sampans. Our Quest finishes with an overnight, luxury cruise through the otherworldly limestone karsts of Ha Long Bay (it feels like you're in the movie Avatar).

This trip is the ideal balance of urban discovery, jaw-dropping nature, local cuisine, and time to simply be. You will feel totally immersed without being overwhelmed and come back home with a year's worth of stories.

If you'd like to extend your tour - join us in Southern Vietnam from March 10th-14th with this 5 day 4 night pre-trip add-on! https://sidequeststravel.wetravel.com/trips/southern-vietnam-pre-tour-extension-lgbtq-group-trip-sidequests-travel-3787350708

At SideQuests, we believe the most meaningful travel happens when you stop rushing and start paying attention: to the place you're in, the people around you, and the version of yourself that shows up when you finally slow down. This North Vietnam journey is built around that idea: creating space for connection, reflection, laughter, and those unplanned moments that often become the most memorable.

We're excited to have Ryan leading this experience. A North Carolina native who left a decade-long tech sales career to become a full-time digital nomad, Ryan has spent the last four years traveling to 35 countries with one guiding belief: the people make the experience more than the place does. He brings a natural ability to build community and create spaces where connection happens easily. Whether he's leading a deep conversation over dinner or keeping things light and ridiculous on a long bus ride, Ryan's grounded energy helps everyone feel welcomed, seen, and ready to be fully present for the journey ahead.

What Airport Do I Fly Into?

For this tour, we recommend flying into and out of Hanoi’s Noi Bai International Airport (HAN).

All included airport transfers are coordinated around arrivals and departures at HAN, making travel logistics simple and seamless from start to finish.

When Does the Tour Begin and End?

The first official activity of the tour begins in Hanoi on March 14th, 2027 at approximately 5:30pm. We recommend arriving in Hanoi earlier that day (or the day before) to allow time to settle in and adjust after travel. The tour concludes in Hanoi following your included breakfast at the hotel. Airport transfers to Noi Bai International Airport (HAN) will be provided based on your departure time. From there, continue onward home or to your next destination.

• Historic Hanoi – Experience Vietnam’s vibrant capital through its old quarters, bustling markets, and café culture. From egg coffee and street food to temples and rickshaw rides, Hanoi offers a layered mix of history, daily life, and modern energy.

• Ninh Binh’s Rice Fields & River Valleys – Journey into the heart of rural North Vietnam, cycling past canals and rice farms, drifting through limestone landscapes by sampan, and discovering why this region is often called “Ha Long Bay on land.”

• Hands-On Village & Farm Life – Step into everyday rural life with immersive experiences alongside local farmers, including rice planting, buffalo care, and home-cooked meals that offer an intimate look at traditions passed down for generations.

• Thung Nham Bird Sanctuary – Explore a peaceful natural sanctuary by boat and on foot, surrounded by lush greenery and dramatic cliffs, and witness flocks of birds returning to roost at sunset — a truly grounding, cinematic moment.

• Ha Long Bay Overnight Cruise – Sail through one of the world’s most iconic seascapes on an overnight cruise among towering limestone karsts. Enjoy kayaking, swimming, cave exploration, sunset views, and a peaceful morning on the water.

• Cultural Depth, Thoughtfully Guided – Discover Vietnam through private, English-speaking local guides who share the stories, beliefs, and traditions behind each place, bringing deeper context to everything you see and experience.

• Intimate Group Travel – Travel alongside a small group of like-minded LGBTQ+ travelers (12–24 guests), creating space for connection, shared adventure, and the kind of memories that are best made together.

• What Airport Do I Fly Into?
  For this tour, we recommend flying into and out of Hanoi’s Noi Bai International Airport (HAN). All included airport transfers are coordinated around arrivals and departures at HAN, making travel logistics simple and seamless from start to finish.

• When Does the Tour Begin and End?

  The first official activity of the tour begins in Hanoi on March 14th, 2027 at approximately 5:30pm. We recommend arriving in Hanoi earlier that day (or the day before) to allow time to settle in and adjust after travel. The tour concludes in Hanoi following your included breakfast at the hotel. Airport transfers to Noi Bai International Airport (HAN) will be provided based on your departure time. From there, continue onward home or to your next destination.

• What Is The Cancellation Policy?
  If your booking is still pending (meaning the trip has not been confirmed yet), you’re eligible for a full refund — including your 25% deposit.

  Once the trip is confirmed (after 10 travelers have booked), we will send you a confirmation notification and your deposit becomes non-refundable. If you need to cancel after confirmation, you’ll receive a Credit Voucher to be applied to a future trip within 1 year of cancellation, for the 25% deposit amount paid (minus a $100 cancellation fee). Optional Add-ons can be added and are fully refundable up to 60-days pre-trip.

  After the 90-day mark before the trip, all payments become non-refundable, since hotels, transportation, and activities have already been paid for. Any exceptions at that point are at the discretion of our local partners.

  We strongly recommend purchasing travel insurance — it really is worth it.
  
  > For more FAQ, find your answers here.

Overview

Welcome to Hanoi! Upon arrival at Noi Bai International Airport (HAN), you’ll be met by our local SideQuests team holding welcome signage and transferred by private bus to our hotel in the lively city center, Le Chenvre. After check-in, you’ll have time to refresh and settle in after your journey.

In the evening, we’ll come together for an included welcome dinner, where the group can finally meet, connect, and officially kick off our incredible North Vietnam SideQuest. This is where the excitement begins! Exact meeting times and details will be shared on our group WhatsApp chat and the official timed-guide released closer to the trip date.

Welcome Dinner – Included Meal

Our first evening together includes a group dinner at a local restaurant, offering a relaxed introduction to Vietnamese cuisine and a chance to get to know your fellow travelers. Dinner includes a set menu of starters, main course, desert and unlimited waters, soft drinks and Vietnam beers.

Overnight Accommodation at Le Chenvre

We’ll spend the night at Le Chenvre, a centrally located 4-star boutique hotel in Hanoi and a super comfortable home base as our journey begins.

Overview

After breakfast, we’ll head out to explore Hanoi through its flavors, daily rhythms and beats of the streets, and its iconic historic landmarks. We’ll start the morning like the locals do, seated at a neighborhood café enjoying traditional Vietnamese coffee (YUMMY!), followed by a classic (and perhaps spicy) banh mi stop to understand why this simple sandwich is known around the world. If you think you've had good banh mi before... just wait!

From there, we’ll visit some of the city's most prized landmarks and architectural wonders, like the Temple of Literature, Vietnam’s first national university, where our guide will share insight into the country’s philosophies, beliefs, and architectural traditions. We’ll continue on foot through the Old Quarter toward Dong Xuan Market, experiencing the city’s sights, sounds, and everyday life up close and personal. This is truly one of the best ways to experience local life in Hanoi! Your included lunch will be enjoyed at a local restaurant before ending the afternoon with an unforgettable rickshaw ride through Hanoi’s bustling streets.

Hanoi City Walking Tour, Food & Local Life

Today is all about getting oriented: not just geographically, but culturally too. Through coffee shops, markets, historic sites, and vibrant neighborhood streets, we’ll experience Hanoi as it’s lived in day to day, gaining context and comfort in the city we’ll soon feel at home exploring. This is all about taking in the sights, sounds and flavors of local Vietnamese life!
This guided excursion begins with a coffee at a quintessential neighborhood cafe, followed by banh mi at a local shop. Next we'll tour historic sites like the Temple of Literature and Hanoi's Old Quarter. Then, we continue onward to explore the Dong Xuan Market. The tour ends with an included lunch at a favorite local restaurant. Lunch includes a set menu of Vietnamese courses with starters, main course, vegetables, rice and desert.

Rickshaw Ride Through the Old Quarter

After lunch, we’ll sit back and take in Hanoi from a different perspective on a guided rickshaw ride through the Old Quarter. This gentle ride winds through lively streets and narrow lanes, offering a thrilling and memorable look at the city’s energy and charm.

Overnight Accommodation at Le Chenvre

We’ll return to Le Chenvre for the evening, with dinner on our own and time to relax or explore nearby at our own pace. If you'd like to join some from the group for dinner, your guide and host will provide some options!

Overview

This morning, we’ll check out from our hotel and depart Hanoi for a scenic drive on private coach south to the town of Ninh Binh, often referred to as “Ha Long Bay on land” - meaning, this place is unbelievably gorgeous. Upon arrival in Ninh Binh, we’ll hop on bicycles and begin a leisurely ride along idyllic village trails, canals, and rice farms, crossing small bridges and stopping as often as we’d like for photos and sightseeing. Midday, we’ll visit the historic and beautiful Thai Vi Temple before enjoying lunch on our own at a local restaurant.

In the afternoon, we’ll board traditional sampan boats for a peaceful guided ride through Tam Coc. This stunning UNESCO World Heritage area in Vietnam's Ninh Binh province is famous for its dramatic limestone mountains, lush rice paddies, and serene river. Drifting along narrow canals, we’ll glide beneath natural caves, and take in the quiet beauty of this iconic landscape. This is a photographer's paradise! Afterward, we’ll check-in at our countryside resort and enjoy a relaxed evening at leisure.

Cycling Through Villages & Rice Fields

Our guided bike ride tour offers an up-close look at rural life in northern Vietnam... winding past farms, waterways, and small picturesque villages, with plenty of opportunities to pause, take photos, and soak in the scenery at an easy, unhurried pace. This is an experience of the good life!

Visit Thai Vi Temple

Following our guided bike ride, we'll make a stop at Thai Vi Temple to take in this historic and iconic site. Then, we'll have time to enjoy lunch on our own. Your tour guide will be available to provide recommendations!

Sampan Ride Through Tam Coc

This tranquil guided boat journey is a highlight of the trip, showcasing Ninh Binh’s dramatic natural beauty from the water. With a local rower guiding us through caves and canals, it’s a peaceful, cinematic experience that perfectly captures the magic of the region. Sit back, relax, and take it all in.

Overnight Accommodation at Emeralda Ninh Bình Resort

We’ll spend the night at the prized Emeralda Ninh Bình Resort, a serene five-star retreat surrounded by nature. This is the perfect place for us to unwind after a full and memorable day exploring the beauty of Ninh Binh! We are free to enjoy dinner at leisure. Our guide will provide some recommendations, and of course there will be opportunity to dine in groups around the area.

Overview

Today is all about slowing down and immersing ourselves in the natural rhythms of Ninh Binh. Following a delicious included breakfast at our resort, we'll head out for a full day of exploring. We start with a short private drive from our hotel, and we'll spend the morning experiencing rural life alongside local farmers. One of the best and most authentic ways to experience a destination is to see what life is like outside the city, where the true elements of culture coalesce. We’ll visit a buffalo cave and learn about the essential role water buffalo play in rice farming. And of course, we'll have time to feed, bathe, and even ride the buffalo before heading into the rice fields to try planting rice ourselves! Yes, we're getting real down and dirty here, if you'd like!

The morning wraps up with a hands-on cooking experience, where we’ll prepare simple local dishes together with a local farmer, followed by a home-style included lunch.

In the afternoon, we’ll head to Thung Nham Bird Sanctuary, where we’ll explore the sanctuary by boat and on foot. As the day winds down, we’ll enjoy a peaceful sunset as flocks of birds return to their nests, a quiet, memorable close to the day. Return to our resort for dinner on our own and a relaxing evening.

Farming Experience & Buffalo Cave Visit

This immersive morning offers a rare look into daily agricultural life in rural Vietnam. We'll learn about the ins and outs of rural life in this picturesque region of Vietnam, followed by visiting a buffalo cave. There we will have the opportunity to feed, bathe, and even ride the buffalow before heading int o the rice fields to try planting rice ourselves! As working in the rice fields is an essential part of life in rural Vietnam, during this memorable experience you can get your hands dirty if you so choose!

Hands-On Cooking Experience & Home-Cooked Lunch (Included Meal)

Following our experience on the farm, we'll take part in a cooking demonstration where we'll learn all about combining local flavors to create a traditional Vietnamese meal. Then, we'll share the meal we all prepared together. This is a meaningful way to connect with local traditions and slow the pace of travel. Lunch includes a typical local Vietnamese spread.

Thung Nham Bird Sanctuary Visit

In the afternoon, we’ll explore the lush landscapes of Thung Nham, combining gentle hiking and a scenic boat ride through the sanctuary. The highlight comes at sunset, when birds return in great numbers — a serene, almost cinematic moment to end the day.

Overnight Accommodation at Emeralda Ninh Bình Resort

We’ll return to Emeralda Ninh Bình Resort for another restful evening surrounded by nature. We're free for dinner on our own, and our guide will be available to recommend options where we can dine separately or together in groups.

Overview

This morning, we'll have a delicious included breakfast at the resort. Then we'll check out and say goodbye to Ninh Binh for a scenic private drive east toward Ha Long Bay (approximately 3.5 hours). Along the way, we’ll pass through the fertile farmlands of the Red River Delta, with views of rice fields, water buffalo, and everyday village life, stopping briefly en route to stretch our legs and grab some great photos!

Upon arrival, we’ll board the Halong Heritage Cruise, check into our private cabins, and enjoy an included lunch onboard as we begin cruising through this world-renowned natural landscape. From the upper deck, we’ll take in stunning panoramic views of towering limestone karsts rising from emerald waters and pass floating fishing villages, offering a unique look at life lived entirely on the bay. This otherworldly location is mind-blowing and one of the top sites recommended to visit in all of Vietnam!

In the afternoon, we’ll anchor near a small islet to explore a limestone cave filled with dramatic stalactites and stalagmites, or take the opportunity to relax onboard and enjoy the scenery. There will also be time for swimming in the bay, followed by a fun onboard surprise activity before the evening.

As the sun sets, we’ll enjoy an included dinner on board, then unwind with optional squid fishing! A super unique, fun, and super Vietnamese experience on the upper deck under the night sky. Or, retire for some quiet relaxation in your cabin.

Ha Long Bay Cruise & Cave Exploration

This afternoon blends gentle adventure and relaxation, with cave exploration, open-water swimming, and uninterrupted time to take in Ha Long Bay’s extraordinary beauty at an unhurried pace. Our onboard lunch is included. Lunch onboard includes a buffet with a variety of hot stations, salads, desserts, and breads. Drinks are available for purchase additionally. We'll have time to relax on the upper deck, taking in the iconic limestone karsts jutting out of the emerald green waters. Then, after we set anchor, we'll have the opportunity to kayak into a limestone cave to get an up-close and personal look to these unbelievable natural structures. There's also time to take a dip and swim in the warm waters of the bay. Afterwards, there's a fun surprise activity before we settled own for dinner.

Included Dinner & Squid Fishing!

Dinner is served onboard the cruise and included in your itinerary. Dinner includes a set menu with  two starters, two main courses, and one dessert. Drinks are available for purchase additionally. Afterward, enjoy the option at trying your hand at squid fishing! This traditional activity can be quite thrilling and fun! Enjoy fresh air and stargazing from the deck, or take some well-deserved downtime in your private cabin.

Overnight Accommodation on Halong Heritage Cruise (5-Star)

Tonight, we’ll stay in private cabins aboard the 5-star Halong Heritage Cruise, offering comfort, stunning views, and the unforgettable experience of sleeping on the water in Ha Long Bay.

Overview

For those who wish, the day begins early with fresh air and a beautiful sunrise over Ha Long Bay. We’ll gather on the upper deck for a gentle Tai Chi session, taking in the calm morning light before enjoying an included breakfast onboard.

After breakfast, we’ll continue exploring the bay with time for kayaking among the islets, additional swimming stops, or simply relaxing on board and soaking in the scenery at your own pace.

Following an included lunch onboard, we’ll check out of the cruise and begin our journey back to Hanoi. After checking in and some time to refresh at the hotel, we’ll come together in the evening for an included farewell dinner, celebrating the amazing memories and connections we've made throughout our North Vietnam SideQuest!

Morning on the Bay: Sunrise Tai Chi, Kayaking & Swimming

The morning offers a peaceful close to our time on the water, with optional Tai Chi at sunrise (the view is unbelievable)! Take the time to kayak through limestone formations, grab some stunning photos, and take a dip to swim in the emerald waters, or relax before we return to the mainland.

Lunch Onboard (Included Meal)

Enjoy one final included lunch as we cruise through this unbelievable UNESCO World Heritage Site. Take in the views, relax on the deck, and prepare for our journey back to Hanoi. Lunch onboard includes a buffet with a variety of hot stations, salads, desserts, and breads. Drinks are available for purchase additionally.

Journey to Hanoi & Farewell Dinner (Included Meal)

Once we dock, we'll board our private coach to return to Hanoi, making stops for bathroom breaks along the way. Our final evening together features an included farewell dinner in Hanoi — a relaxed and celebratory moment to reflect, share stories, and toast an unforgettable week together in Vietnam. Dinner includes a set menu of starters, main course, dessert and unlimited waters, soft drinks and Vietnam beers.

Overnight Accommodation at Le Chenvre

We’ll return to Le Chenvre, our boutique four-star hotel in central Hanoi for our final overnight stay. Relax, unwind, and take in this lively city by night.

Overview

After an included breakfast in at our boutique hotel, the day is yours to enjoy at your own pace until it’s time for your airport transfer, or continuing your journey to wherever your next destination may be! Whether you choose to take a final stroll, do some last-minute shopping, or simply relax, this is a gentle wrap-up to an incredible week.

Private transfers to Noi Bai International Airport (HAN) will be provided based on flight times to make your departure as smooth as possible. Exact transfer timing will be shared closer to the trip date.

Departures & Onward Travel

All departures are scheduled from Noi Bai International Airport (HAN). If you’re continuing your travels elsewhere in Vietnam or Southeast Asia, we’re happy to help coordinate logistics or provide some recommendations for your next steps.

Your host will be available to assist with timing and travel questions to ensure an easy and stress-free departure. Big hugs as we depart, the goodbye is always the most difficult part of the trip! Cheers to one of the best weeks ever... I'm excited for this and so glad to have you join the group!