Hanoi - SaPa - Hue
 

Hi All

I'm helping my brother in law plan a trip to Vietnam. He will be going in Mar/Apr 2017 and for approx 3-4 weeks.

The rough itinerary is (I've put it in this order from the places he would like to see):

- Hanoi
- Halong Bay
- SaPa
- Hue
- Da Nang
- Hoi An
- Nha Trang
- HCM

I've only just started researching but I can see SaPa is the out of the way destination so I'm trying to figure out the best way to arrive and depart from there. My BIL is not fussy how he gets there.

I'd appreciate any suggestions on the SaPa to Hue leg (and any other feedback) as that seems to be a really long trip. Perhaps there's another stop people can recommend that is half way (other than Hanoi).

Thanks in advance.
Rellie.

Sapa is a round trip from Hanoi, usually by train or, more recently, a new highway has opened up. It is more or less necessary to return to Hanoi before travelling on to hue. A nice side trip would be to Ninh Binh which can be done by a tour or alternatively it is on the train route.

Some info and photos of our time in these places on our blog @ https://accidentalnomads.com/category/vietnam/

To get to Hue, an overnight train makes a nice trip ( possibly with a side trip to Ninh Binh). From Hue to Danang can be done by car or train. Although there is little to do in Da Nang and it would not be high on my list of places to visit. The Marble mountains are nearby and are worth a stop en route to Hoi An if going by car.

Actually, your itinerary sounds good. You should need worry about the way to transfer to Sapa. You can catch bus or train to transfer to Sapa but I recommend that you should book night train to transfer which will safer than thebus. Furthermore, reading the article for tips and destination when visit Sapa: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/...b0a1917a6e6c25

From Hanoi, you can take a train to go to Sapa. To move to Hue from Sapa, you come back Hanoi and then take a train to Hue. Another way is booking a ticket of Vietnam Airline.

YOur itinerary is quite nice. I think from HCMC, you can take a boat to have a cruise on Mekong Delta and see the local life. From Hanoi to Halong bay, you can take a private car or have a short flight with aviation. Booking a train ticket to transfer from Hanoi to Sapa and Hue. Train is slower than vehicle but it's safer and you will see the beautiful sights.

Except for Crellston, the responses you have gotten are from travel agents in VN. Some of the local agents have good info, but most of them want you to cram in as many destinations as possible, meaning that you will spend as much time in transit as you do doing/seeing/experiencing. As you plan this trip, the greatest hazard is trying to cram in too much. Remember that each time you change locations you will use up at least half a day, and often most of a day.

To travel from Sapa to Hoian, you have to come back Hanoi from Sapa and take a train, coach to Hue or take an airplane to Da Nang airport and then, take a coach to Hue.