Legends of the North: Hanoi, Ninh Binh & Halong Bay

Welcome to Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam, a bustling metropolis with a rich history and culture. We will pick you up at Noi Bai Airport and transfer you to the city center. You will have free time to relax after the long flight. In the afternoon, we will visit Ba Dinh Square, the largest square in Hanoi. This is where all of the city’s biggest cultural and political events take place. We will take some photos of the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum from the outside. Then we continue to the Temple of Literature, Vietnam’s first university. The temple was built in 1070, and the gardens and well-preserved architecture offer a relaxing glimpse into Vietnam’s past. After visiting the temple, we will walk around Hoan Kiem Lake, a picturesque lake in the heart of Hanoi. The lake is home to a number of temples and pagodas, and it is a popular spot for locals and tourists alike. We will then take a leisurely walk around the Old Quarter of Hanoi, a fascinating network of narrow alleys and shophouses. The Old Quarter is also known as “The 36 Streets,” as each street is named after the merchandise that was traditionally sold there. Overnight in Hanoi. Please note: Normal check-in time at hotel is 14:00/15:00. Early check-in is not included.

Stay: Hanoi

Have breakfast at hotel. At 07:30 – 08:00 am, you will be picked up at your hotel in Hanoi Old Quarters. Get on the bus for your journey to Ninh Binh, the ancient capital of Vietnam. The 90-kilometer drive south will take you through stunning countryside, where rice paddies stretch to the horizon and sometimes seeing water buffalo graze in the fields. In Ninh Binh, you’ll visit Hoa Lu, the site of the Dinh and Le temples. These temples were built in the 10th century to honor the Dinh and Le kings of Vietnam. They are famous for their beautiful wooden carvings. Lunch at local restaurant. In the afternoon, you’ll take a boat trip through Tam Coc, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This stunning landscape is home to towering limestone karsts that rise up from the lush green rice paddies. It’s been called the “Halong Bay on Land,” and it’s easy to see why. Leisure cycling on rural roads alongside the extensive canal network and through small villages with backdrop of a maze of limestone mountains. After your boat trip, you’ll drive back to Hanoi. Arrives at your hotel around 18:30-19:00. Overnight in Hanoi. Please note: The guests will self-transfer to the pick-up point if your hotel is outside the Old Quarters.

Meals: Breakfast, LunchStay: Hanoi

Breakfast at the hotel, then check out. At around 8:00 am, you will be picked up at your hotel in Hanoi Old Quarters and transferred to Halong Bay, the pride of the Gulf of Tonkin, a Natural World Heritage as recognized by UNESCO in 1994 and 2006. Upon arrival at the Cruise Port, you will enjoy a warm welcome from cruise staff and complete the check-in procedure for the overnight cruise to discover the magnificent beauty of this “Descending Dragon” bay, created by thousands of odd-shaped limestone rocks and karst grottoes. After a lunch on board, we can visit the Grottos, stop for swimming or kayaking, pass floating houses, and approach islets to enjoy their beauty in close proximity. Later in the afternoon, go back to the cruise and enjoy the cooking demonstration before having dinner. In the evening, attend activities on the boat or relax at your own leisure. Overnight on the cruise. Please note: The guests will self-transfer to the pick-up point if your hotel is outside the Old Quarters. The program may be a little varied depending on the cruise you choose. You will have a stationed English-speaking guide on board. Only local/international food is available on cruise.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, DinnerStay: Halong Bay cruise

You should wake up early to enjoy the dawn on the sea in the early morning. The Vietnamese call the “East Sea” by a point-oriented name “Eastern Sea”, so you may guess how miraculous seeing the sunrise over the islets of the Bay. After breakfast, our boat will continue to cruise in marvelous areas, where almost each islet has its own name, adopting its shape or reminiscent of Sail Island, Fisherman’s head rock, Butterfly rock or Turtle islet etc. Check out your room and have brunch on board while the cruise is coming back to the pier. Disembark from the cruise, transfer back to Hanoi. Check in at your hotel in Hanoi Old Quarters. The rest of the day is at your leisure. Overnight in Hanoi.

Meals: Breakfast, BrunchStay: Hanoi

Breakfast at the hotel. Time at leisure until check-out, and transfer to the airport with a driver only for the departure flight back to your sweet home. Please note: Normal check-out time at hotel is 11:00/12:00. Late check-out is not included.

Meals: Breakfast