Hanoi & The North

Begin at the surreal Train Street, navigate Bia Hoi corner, then escape to...

Begin at the surreal Train Street, navigate Bia Hoi corner, then escape to the mountains for Sapa treks and the legendary Ha Giang Loop.

A Wine Memories curated trail · winememories.fi

7 experiences 🇻🇳 Vietnam moderate 3 days

Map

Loading map...

Stops

Curated by Wine Memories

  1. 1
    ⛰️

    Hanoi Train Street Wine Toast

    Sit at a tiny cafe inches from active train tracks. When the train squeezes through at 19:00, press against the wall with wine in hand - the most surreal happy hour on Earth.

    adventure $
  2. 2
    🍷

    Bia Hoi Corner Wine Rebellion

    At the legendary 25-cent beer intersection, rebel against tradition. Order wine instead while sitting on tiny plastic stools as Hanoi swirls chaotically around you.

    wine_bar $
  3. 3
    ⛰️

    Sapa Rice Terrace Wine Sunrise

    Trek through the UNESCO-worthy rice terraces of the Hoang Lien Son mountains. As the sun rises over Muong Hoa Valley, toast with wine from your homestay.

    adventure $
  4. 4
    ⛰️

    Ha Giang Loop Wine Victory

    The most epic motorbike loop in Southeast Asia. 350km through the most dramatic mountain scenery in Vietnam. Toast at Ma Pi Leng Pass after surviving the "Heaven's Gate."

    adventure $
  5. 5
    ⛰️

    Ba Be Lake Kayak Wine

    Vietnam's largest natural lake, surrounded by limestone peaks and ethnic minority villages. Kayak across the mirror-still water and toast in a hidden cave accessible only by boat.

    adventure $
  6. 6
    🗺️

    Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum Reflection

    See "Uncle Ho" embalmed in his granite mausoleum. A sobering, fascinating experience that defines modern Vietnam. Reflect afterward with wine and thoughts on history.

    tour $
  7. 7
    ⛰️

    Pho Bo Morning Wine

    The perfect bowl of Hanoi pho at 6am when locals eat breakfast. Pair your beef noodle soup with wine because you're on vacation and rules don't apply.

    adventure $

Plan the trip

Getting there and around

Car required
No
Nearest airport
Noi Bai International Airport (HAN) - 25 km from Hanoi Old Quarter, 45-60 min taxi/Grab
Drinking and driving
Hanoi is walkable when drinking. For Ha Giang Loop, pace your wine for evenings at homestays - never drink and ride. Easy Riders let you drink while they drive. Sapa homestays expect evening drinking - rice wine (ruou) is the local tradition.
Other airports
  • None practical - Noi Bai is the only option for Northern Vietnam
Without a car
Grab app works everywhere in Hanoi. Night trains to Sapa are the classic backpacker experience. Motorbike rental for Ha Giang requires confidence - Easy Riders are the sensible option for non-riders. Local buses connect everything but are slow. Mai Linh and Vinasun are reputable taxi companies.

Where to stay

Base yourself in
Hanoi Old Quarter (Days 1-2), Sapa town (Day 3-4), Ha Giang Loop homestays (Days 6-9)
Why there
Old Quarter puts you walking distance from Train Street and Bia Hoi. Sapa town is the trekking hub. Ha Giang Loop has excellent homestays along the route.
Booking tip
Hanoi hostels walk-in OK. Sapa book 3-5 days ahead Sep-Nov (harvest). Ha Giang homestays: popular ones (Yen Minh, Du Gia) book 2-3 days ahead or call ahead same-day.
Nightly range
$8-80/night
Peak season
September-November is peak for rice terraces AND Ha Giang. Christmas/New Year sees Hanoi prices double. Book 2 weeks ahead for peak.

Recommended stays

Shoestring
Hanoi: Central Backpackers Hostel ($8/dorm, legendary party vibe, Old Quarter). Sapa: Sapa Backpackers ($7/dorm, meets trekking groups). Ha Giang: Loop homestays ($10-15/night including dinner)
Wanderer
Hanoi: Hanoi La Siesta Hotel & Spa ($45/night, Old Quarter, breakfast included). Sapa: Sapa Charm Hotel ($40/night, valley views). Ha Giang: Auberge de Meovac ($35/night, best hotel on loop)
Flashpacker
Hanoi: Sofitel Legend Metropole ($180/night, colonial grandeur, THE historic hotel). Sapa: Topas Ecolodge ($120/night, eco-bungalows with rice terrace views). Ha Giang: Du Gia Homestay ($25/night, upscale homestay experience)

What it costs

Includes
Accommodation, transport, meals, experiences. Ha Giang bike rental adds $10-15/day or Easy Rider $50-70/day.
Wine prices
Vietnam has surprisingly decent wine. Dalat wine (look for Ladofoods or Vang Dalat) is $5-10/bottle at supermarkets and drinkable. Import wine at restaurants is 3-4x markup. Stock up at Hanoi Gourmet or Intimex before leaving Hanoi - wine selection disappears upcountry. Bia hoi is 25 cents but you're here to rebel.
Meals
Street food pho: $1.50. Banh mi: $1. Bia hoi: $0.25. Restaurant meal: $5-10. Wine at restaurant: $15-30/bottle.
Per person
$30-80/day
Ways to spend less
  • Buy wine at Hanoi Gourmet (48 Xuan Dieu) or Intimex supermarket before heading north - prices triple in Sapa
  • Night train to Sapa saves a hotel night - book sleeper cabins (4-berth is more social, 2-berth is private)
  • Ha Giang homestays include dinner AND breakfast - incredible value at $10-15/night
  • Street food is not just cheap but better - bun cha and pho on plastic stools is the real Vietnam
  • Grab bikes (Grabbike) are 1/3 the price of cars and faster in Hanoi traffic
Transport
Grab across Hanoi: $2-4. Night train to Sapa: $25-45. Bus to Ha Giang: $15. Ha Giang bike rental: $10-15/day.

Booking and timing

Lead time
Train Street: check same day. Bia Hoi: none needed. Sapa train: 1-2 weeks. Sapa trek: 3-5 days. Ha Giang Easy Rider: 3-5 days.
Visas
E-visa available online ($25, 30 days, single entry) - apply 3-5 days before. Visa on arrival possible but requires pre-arranged approval letter. UK/Germany/France/others get 15-day visa-free. Ha Giang is a border zone - register at checkpoint (your hotel handles this).
Walk-ins accepted
Yes
Peak season
September-November is golden rice AND clear mountain weather - busiest period. Tet (Vietnamese New Year, Jan/Feb) sees EVERYTHING close for a week. Avoid traveling during Tet unless you want empty streets.
Rainy season
May-September has heavy rains in the north. Ha Giang roads can be dangerous in rain - mud slides happen. Sapa can be socked in with fog for days. Stick to September-November or March-April.

Where to eat

Wine bars
  • Hanoi Gourmet (48 Xuan Dieu) - best wine shop in Hanoi, French imports + Dalat local
  • Sommelier Wine Bar (28 Tong Duy Tan) - serious wine bar, French owner, $8-15/glass
  • Train Street cafes - Dalat wine available at most, ask for it
Street food
  • Pho Thin (13 Lo Duc, Hanoi) - legendary beef pho with sizzling oil, $2
  • Bun Cha Huong Lien "Obama Bun Cha" (24 Le Van Huu) - Obama ate here, still great, $3
  • Banh Cuon Ba Hanh (66 To Hien Thanh) - delicate rice rolls, arrive before 9 AM
  • Sapa: Black Hmong street food at night market - thang co (horse meat soup) if you're brave
Restaurants
  • Hanoi Social Club (6 Hoi Vu) - wine list, Western brunch, expat scene, $10-20
  • Highway4 (5 Hang Tre) - Vietnamese tapas and rice wine flights, $15-25
  • Sapa: Hill Station Signature Restaurant - upscale Hmong cuisine with wine, $20-35

If your time is short

Do not miss
  • Ha Giang Loop - THE highlight of Northern Vietnam, skip nothing else but do this
  • Train Street if open - check status, worth rearranging plans for
  • Sapa sunrise over rice terraces - set alarm, don't miss it
If you only have one day
Train Street evening train (19:00) -> Bia Hoi corner chaos -> street food crawl in Old Quarter
If it rains
Vietnam Museum of Ethnology (Hanoi) - genuinely excellent. Or cooking class at Hanoi Cooking Centre. In Sapa, homestay day drinking is the rainy day plan.
Skip if time is short
  • Bia Hoi corner (fun but replaceable - you can drink on plastic stools anywhere)
  • Second night in Hanoi - head to mountains faster

Mistakes to avoid

  • Don't ride Ha Giang Loop without experience - the roads kill people every year. Book an Easy Rider if you're not confident.
  • Don't skip wine shopping in Hanoi - there's nothing worth drinking in Sapa or Ha Giang
  • Don't go to Train Street without checking status - it gets shut down periodically. Check "Hanoi Massive" Facebook group same day.
  • Don't underestimate Ha Giang weather - it can be 35C in valleys and 10C on passes in the same day. Layer up.
  • Don't book a Sapa group tour from Hanoi - they're cattle-call tourism. Book directly with local guides in Sapa.
  • Don't travel during Tet (Vietnamese New Year) unless you want ghost towns - everything closes for a week
  • Don't accept "free" rides from motorbike drivers near tourist sites - it's always a scam
  • Don't drink the ice in small towns (Hanoi is fine, rural areas risky)

Worth stopping for

  • Train Street: Position yourself at table height, wine glass in foreground, train filling the frame. Use burst mode as it passes. The 19:00 train has better light.
  • Bia Hoi corner: Wide angle from across the intersection captures the chaos. Include the traffic weaving through drinkers.
  • Sapa rice terraces: Muong Hoa Valley viewpoint at sunrise. Fog often clears by 7:30 AM for golden light. Include a Hmong guide in traditional dress if they consent.
  • Ha Giang: Ma Pi Leng Pass has the iconic viewpoint - the "Sky Path" cafe terrace is the spot. Tham Ma Pass (Heaven's Gate) is equally dramatic at sunrise.
  • Lung Cu Flag Tower - Vietnam's northernmost point. Photograph the flag with mountains behind at golden hour.