TOUR SUMMARY
Day 1: Arrive in Hanoi - City tour (-/-/-)
Day 2: Hanoi - Ninh Binh - Hanoi (B/L/-)
Day 3: Hanoi - Halong Bay Day Cruise - Hanoi (B/L/-)
Day 4: Hanoi - departure flight (B/-/-)
ITINERARY DETAILS
Day 1: Arrive in Hanoi - City tour (-/-/-)
Explore Vietnam’s northern jewels. Take a glance at Hanoi, stepping back in time at Ngoc Son Temple and get a dose of local culture with a little walk wandering the vibrant maze of streets in the Old Quarter and catch a brilliant performance of traditional water puppetry.
After landing, get transfer to the city center. Standard hotel check-in time: 14:00 PM.
In the late afternoon, follow your guide to embark on a walking tour through Hanoi’s bustling Old Quarter. This area of 36 narrow streets is a lively place to walk around while seeing and learning about Vietnam’s traditional ways of life. Continue through the busy Hang Be Market and around Hoan Kiem Lake. Snap photos and chat with the locals on the way.
Finish the day at the water puppet theatre. Watch an entertaining live performance of this unique northern Vietnamese art form, a great way to end the tour of Hanoi.
Overnight stay at hotel in Hanoi.
Day 2: Hanoi - Ninh Binh - Hanoi (B/L/-)
Delve deeper into Vietnam's past with this picturesque Ninh Binh day tour. Explore the atmospheric ruins of Hoa Lu, Vietnam’s ancient capital, before taking a scenic sampan journey past 'Halong Bay on Land'. Admire stunning limestone karsts and enjoy the tranquility of the countryside before returning to Hanoi.
Your tour today will begin at 8:30. Escape from Hanoi this morning after breakfast, leaving the busy streets of the capital behind and entering the quieter countryside.
After around 2.5 hours of driving, reach Hoa Lu. Join the guide for an in-depth exploration of the ruins of Vietnam’s first capital. Learn about the Dinh (968-980) and Le (980-1009) Dynasties and about the history of the site. See ancient tombs and the ruins of the once-imposing Citadel.
If feeling fit, there is an option to climb into the limestone karst hills. The half-hour walk is rewarded with spectacular views over Hoa Lu and its surroundings.
For an alternative experience to visiting Hoa Lu ancient capital, an optional tour involves a scenic bike ride around the village, alongside rice fields nestled amidst limestone mountains. A visit to Bich Dong Pagoda awaits, where an ascent of 200 steps leads to Ngu Nhac Mountain. This path unveils three cave pagodas dating back to 1428, revealing captivating views over the countryside.
Return to the vehicle and drive to Tam Coc, crossing through local villages and stunning landscapes. Enjoy your lunch before continuing to the Tam Coc River. Board a private sampan for a journey through ‘Halong Bay on Land’. Admire the views of enormous limestone karsts jutting out of the green rice fields while the boat cruises along the calm waters.
After the boat journey, drive back to Hanoi arriving late this afternoon.
Overnight stay at hotel in Hanoi.
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Please note: there are other optional tours that can be done in place of the Tam Coc sampan trip. Please see below: Option 1: Trang An Situated near Tam Coc, Trang An is a nature reserve similar to Tam Coc, however far less visited. Limestone hills surround a peaceful river which passes through a series of caves (one which takes 15-minutes to pass through in darkness). An ‘eco-tourism’ area, the only interruptions here are the sound of birds and the gentle paddle of the oar upon the crystal-clear river.
Option 2: Thung Nang Similar to Tam Coc though not as spectacular, Thung Nang is off the tourist trail and a pleasant alternative. Pass through a cave, fields of lotus flowers (in summer) and reach a quaint pagoda before returning on the same route.
Option 3: Bai Dinh Pagoda Join this tour to visit Bai Dinh pagoda with the total area of 2000ha, the Bai Dinh complex is the biggest Buddhism center of South east Asia with hundreds of statues of different sizes. Travelers will be attracted by the architecture which is so marvelous, majestic but still preserve traditional features. Leaving Bai Dinh, you will head to Trang An ecological tourist site where you take a boat trip to visit many caves of different sizes in a scenic landscape of Trang An. |
Day 3: Hanoi - Halong Bay Day Cruise - Hanoi (B/L/-)
Explore the exotic landscapes of Halong Bay on an exclusive day cruise. Sail across the Bay’s emerald green waters, admiring the endless views of remarkable limestone karsts as they pass by. Feast on delicious seafood and enjoy personalized attention from the crew while cruising Vietnam’s most spectacular waterway.
Today’s tour will begin at 8:30. Discover one of Vietnam’s most spectacular northern. Depart from the buzzing streets of Hanoi in the early morning, leaving the city buildings behind in exchange for the beauty of the Red River Delta. Pass by smaller towns and farmlands, enjoying views of typical Vietnamese countryside.
Arriving in Halong City late this morning and board a private junk-style boat. Cast off and cruise across the emerald green waters of UNESCO-listed Halong Bay. Sit in the dining area or on the open-air top deck to admire the scenery and the refreshing sea breeze. Boat’s navigated around the Bay’s 1,500 limestone islands, providing an opportunity to see these remarkable, geologic wonders both up-close and from afar.
Around midday, lunch will be served on board. Enjoy attentive, personalized service by the ship’s crew while feasting on delicious, fresh seafood and a selection of Vietnamese dishes.
After dining the ship will begin circling back to port, following a different route along the way for more breath-taking views. Say farewell to the ship’s crew and climb back into the vehicle for the return journey to Hanoi. Arrive at the hotel in time for a chance to freshen up before dinner.
Overnight stay at hotel in Hanoi.
Day 4: Hanoi - departure flight (B)
You are at leisure or shopping until transfer to Hanoi’s Noi Bai International airport for your onward flight.
Tour ends. Thank you for choosing us and wish to see you again soon on our next tours.
PACKAGE EXCLUSIONS
- Accommodation based on double or twin sharing with open buffet breakfast
- 3-night hotel accommodation in Hanoi.
- Half day guided city tour in Hanoi with water puppet show
- One day guided tour to visit Ninh Binh (Dinh & Le temples), with 1,5hr boat sampan included
- One day guided tour to visit Halong Bay on a 4- to 5-hour cruise with sea food lunch included
- Meals as mentioned (B= Breakfast, L= Lunch, D= Dinner)
- Professional English-speaking guide
- Private tour and return airport transfers in luxury non-smoking vehicle
- All entrance fees as indicated in the tour program.
- Daily mineral water during tour day (2x500ml)
- 01 FOC for a group of minimum 18 paying pax
- 02 FOC for a group of minimum 30 paying pax
- FOC on twin sharing basis
- Tips
- Government tax & service charge
HOTEL PROPOSALS
|
Cities (no of nights) |
3-star hotel |
4-star hotel |
5-star hotel |
|
Hanoi (3) |
De La Seine/ Larosa Hotel/ Sen Hotel/ similar |
Thang Long Opera/ Nesta Grand/ A25 Luxury/ Thang Loi Westlake Hotel |
Daewoo Hotel/ similar |
PACKAGE EXCLUSIONS
- Other meals than mentioned
- Other services than mentioned
- International and Domestic Flights
- Laundry, telephone calls and expenditure of a personal nature
- Travel insurance
- Visa
