Journey Highlights

Hanoi, Ninh Binh and Halong Bay are a triangle of destinations in Vietnam’s ancient Red River Delta, where culture and landscapes have historically bloomed forth and found a beautiful existence together. On Taste of North Vietnam 5 Day, we will show you three of the best destinations of northern Vietnam, ones that capture the enchanting essence of the region in its best traditional and natural attractions.

This Northern Vietnam Tour gives guests a cultural grounding in Hanoi, from where we will base ourselves for our explorations outside.

Vietnamese culture and tradition are strong in Hanoi, matched by the majesty of the countryside in Ninh Binh province to the south, where we will spend a day. A highlight on any tour of Vietnam is our last destination, Lan Ha Bay, forming the much less touristic southern part of world-famous Halong Bay. Here, we will embark on an overnight cruise, finding the same kind of incredible seascape that turned Halong Bay into a UNESCO World Heritage Site, but avoiding other cruise ships as we relax on our own.

Schedule
Day 1: Hanoi Arrival (N/A)

Activities: Arrive in Hanoi and take the transfer into Hanoi Old Quarter, check in hotel

Once you have landed in Hanoi’s Noi Bai airport and proceeded through customs, you will find our driver waiting outside with your name card. Take the drive into the Old Quarter of Hanoi after this, where your hotel will be awaiting your check-in.

Enjoy free time in Hanoi Old Quarter for discovering Hanoi in your way. Hoan Kiem Lake and Hanoi Old Quarter with a lot of shops and restaurants, busy streets and local people where you can drink a bottle of beer in a corner of Hanoi Old Quarter streets.

Notes: 

Check-in at the hotel is available from any time after 2:00 pm

Day 2: Hanoi City Tour (B, L)

 Activities: Discover the Hanoi City with many interesting places

 

You will have breakfast at your hotel before our guide and bus come to pick you up for discover the Hanoi City today.

07h45 – 08h30: Our guide and driver will pick you up from your hotel in Hanoi Old Quarter.

08h30: Arrive Tran Quoc Pagoda –  the oldest pagoda in Ha Noi built in the 6th century. The pagoda is next to Ho Tay (West Lake) with beautiful scenery where you will learn more about Buddhism in North Vietnam.

09h00 – 9h15: Visit Ho Chi Minh Complex, you have a chance to see the embalmed body of  Ho Chi Minh in Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum then walk around the garden to see 2 houses where he lived & worked from 1954 to 1969. Then visit One Pillar Pagoda where worships the Godess of Mercy – It is the most unique padoga in the world

11h00: Visit one of these

+ Vietnam Museum of Ethnology to learn about the culture of 54 ethnic groups living in Vietnam  (Tuesdays – Thursdays – Saturdays & Sundays)

+ Bat Trang ceramic village to explore the daily life of the local & learn about the process how to make a perfect product  (Mondays – Wednesdays  – Fridays)

12h30: Have lunch at our restaurant. You have an opportunity to enjoy Vietnamese cuisine with different dishes.

13h30 – 13h45: Continue visit Temple of Literature – the first university of Vietnam, established in the 11 century

15h45: Leave for Hoan Kiem Lake to visit Ngoc Son Temple, which honors General Tran Hung Dao in 13th certury.

16h15: Tour finishes. Back to hotel

 Meals:  Breakfast, Lunch

 Notes: 

Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum is closed on Monday and Friday and one period of the year

Day 3: Hanoi - Hoa Lu – Tam Coc – Hanoi (B, L)

 Activities: Take in the sights of Hoa Lu’s architecture and Tam Coc’s nature on this day trip from Hanoi to Ninh Binh

07h30 – 8h00: Our Limousine bus and tour guide  will arrive at your hotel in the morning time after you have enjoyed breakfast. We start the 2-hour drive to the south of Hanoi after this, marveling at the sights of verdant scenery on the way.

10h30: We arrive in Hoa Lu, a small enclave lying in the shadows of the mountains. Despite its small size, Hoa Lu was designated as the perfect place to act as the capital of Vietnam for 42 years. We take a walk around to see the fabulous architecture that has survived from then, mostly featuring in the gates and walls on all sides. The two temples here are also spectacular examples of ornate and ancient architecture, both of which stand in memory to the two kings who ruled Hoa Lu between 968AD and 1010AD.

11h45: We will have a delicious buffet lunch in a local restaurant. Vegetarian foods are always available in the buffet lunch.

After lunch, we follow this with the drive to Tam Coc, a beautiful village of green hues splashed across tree-topped mountains and fields of rice crop. Here, as we cruise along the waterway on a sampan boat, the limestone mountains and river-based rice fields sprout up on both sides, creating a scene that is often described as ‘Halong Bay on land’.

15h00: Our final activity in resplendent Ninh Binh is a cycling tour along the quaint village roads cutting through Tam Coc. On each side of us, we will see open plains of rice stretching to the feet of mountains behind, giving Tam Coc the green hues for which it is most well known.

16h00: After this, we head back to Hanoi on the bus, arriving in the late afternoon and giving you the evening to enjoy in the capital.

18h00 -18h30: Arriving at your hotel in Hanoi. End of Day Tour to Hoa Lu Tam Coc. Stay overnight in Hanoi.

 Meals:  Breakfast, Lunch

Day 4: Hanoi – Halong Bay Cruising (B, L, D)

 Activities: Begin the first day of an overnight cruise in the majestic Lan Ha Bay, including kayaking

08h00 – 08h30: After breakfast, cruise bus will pick you up at your hotel for the transfer to Halong City where cruise welcome you with welcome drink.

12h00: Once boarded the boat, we will be treated to a delicious and very fresh lunch, served in the dining room. The beauty of Lan Ha Bay begins scrolling past the window with very few other cruises accompanying the glorious views. We have a few hours to relax into the cruising and take in the outstanding views, which are possible either on the sundeck or in the cabin.

We make our first stop at the beautiful area of Tra Bau, where we can disembark and climb into kayaks. Tra Bau is an incredibly quiet area where cruise ships aren’t allowed, meaning our kayaking and swimming can be done in an atmosphere that comes close to silent. The beauty of the limestone towers soaring high above the shimmering surface is magnified in Tra Bau, so we will spend a while here to absorb as much of the peace as possible.

With spirits high, we return to the boat and start our party on the top deck, accompanied by happy hour, a social atmosphere and views of the amazing sunset. After this, a wonderful dinner will be served in the glistening dining room, just as the stars begin to emerge above us.

Relax for the rest of the evening in any way that suits you.

 Meals:  Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 5: Halong Bay – Hanoi - Departure (B, L)

 Activities: Return to Hanoi on the bus and take the transfer to the airport for flight home

You may get up early for the tai chi session. That is one of the best acitivity in Halong Bay with clean air and atmosphere, beautiful scenery.

We will start cruising to the Dark and Bright Caves. Here, we will board a local sampan boat and head through the wonderful cave system, which leads the way to a hidden lake on the back completely encircled by rock walls and trees.

Our local rower will show us some of the more fascinating areas of this secretive lagoon and give us a wealth of photo opportunities in this beautiful destination.

After we have returned to the cruise after this, it will start making its way back to the harbour. During this time, passengers can enjoy a cooking demonstration by the chef, followed by a filling brunch of many varieties of delicious food.

11h30: Once we have docked at the harbour, we return to Hanoi on the bus.

We arrive back in the capital in the mid-afternoon, giving you the chance to enjoy free time in Hanoi Old Quarter or perhaps some of Hanoi’s other nearby districts, such as the gorgeous French Quarter or the naturally beautiful Tay Ho Lake.

15h00- 15h30: Arriving at your hotel in Hanoi Old Quarter.

3 Hour prior to your departure flight: Our private driver will pick you up from your hotel for the transfer to the Noi Bai International Airport for your flight home. End of 5 days in Hanoi. We thank you so much for joining our Package Tour in Vietnam and we hope to see you again.

 Meals:  Breakfast, Lunch

 Notes: 

3 Hour prior to your departure flight: Our private driver will pick you up from your hotel for the transfer to the Noi Bai International Airport

Services included and excluded

Inclusions

  •   Transport, including airport pick-up and drop-off, by private car with AC
  •   Return bus: Hanoi – Halong Bay – Hanoi
  •   Return bus: Hanoi – Ninh Binh – Hanoi
  •   Hotel in Hanoi (Double/Twin sharing)
  •   All meals mentioned in the itinerary
  •   Overnight cruise with activities in Halong Bay
  •   Tam Coc boat trip
  •   Bicycle in Tam Coc
  •   Entrance fees & permits
  •   English-speaking guide
  •   Bottled water (1 per person per day)

Exclusions

  •   Visa stamp fees for Vietnam
  •   Any accommodation, transport or activities mentioned in suggestions for your free time
  •   Travel insurance
  •   Tips for the guides and drivers
  •   Meals or drinks not mentioned in the itinerary
  •   All other services not mentioned in the itinerary

    LEAVE YOUR PHONE NUMBER AND WE WILL CALL YOU FOR CONSULTATION