Northern Vietnam at a glance

DAY 1: HANOI – ARRIVAL

Arrival in Hanoi. We welcome you at the airport and transfer you to hotel. After check in the hotel, our guide takes you to visit some famous places in Hanoi. You will start the tour by visiting Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and Ho Chi Minh Museum. Enjoy the architectural and historical aspects of Uncle Ho’s final resting-palace. Just next door is Ho Chi Minh’s house on stilts where he used to live in the past. Lying to one side of the Mausoleum is the One Pillar Pagoda, built by King Ly Thai To in 1049 the structure has become an important symbol for the people of Hanoi. Continue to visit the Temple of Literature (Quoc Tu Giam) – Vietnam’s first University constructed in 1070. Its gardens and well-preserved architecture offer a relaxing glimpse into Vietnam’s past. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant. Proceed our visit at the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology which focuses on the 54 officially recognised ethnic groups in Vietnam. This fabulous collection relating to Vietnam's ethnic minorities features well-presented tribal art, artefacts and everyday objects gathered from across the nation, and examples of traditional village houses. After that we will take you to Hoan Kiem Lake, see the peaceful water, and visit Ngoc Son Temple. Meaning 'Temple of the Jade Mountain', Hanoi's most visited temple sits on a small island in the northern part of Hoan Kiem Lake, connected to the lakeshore by an elegant scarlet bridge, constructed in classical Vietnamese style. Take an hour cyclo tour for sightseeing around the bustling old quarter to see the ordinary life in Hanoi. Read more about these attractions / Watch video At 18.00, Back to your hotel. It’s your free time now to have dinner and a short while to explore the streets of Hanoi on your own. Stay overnight at hotel in Hanoi.

DAY 2: HANOI – HOA LU – HANOI (B,L)

08.00 Our guide will pick you up at your hotel and leave for Hoa Lu - Tam Coc. On the way to Hoa Lu, you have a good chance of seeing and enjoying the fresh air of the Vietnam countryside along the way.

10.30 Arrival in the province of Ninh Binh and then the guide will take you to visit Hoa Lu, the ancient royal capital of Vietnam.

11.30 AM Continue to reach Tam Coc by bicycle. On the road, the guide will show you the daily life of the local people and the beauty of the area.

12.10 Lunch at a local restaurant in Tam Coc

13.00 After lunch, take small boats to visit Tam Coc, which is literally known as "three caves". The first Cave is the longest which is considered a true rainbow in the water during the morning time that extends on both sides of the Ngo Dong river. The silent movements of the oars create a sort of musical rhythm inside the cave. As the boat leaves the cave, you can see what appears to be an old man with a white beard, a fairy who flies through the clouds, peasants who collect fuel and a group of white goats that graze on the hills. After that, the guide takes you to the second cave and the third cave.

17.00 Return to Hanoi

19.00 Arrival in Hanoi

DAY 3: HANOI – HALONG BAY (B, L, D)

Around 8.00am, Our guide Pick you up at your hotel and go to Halong bay on a shuttle bus. Take a rest at Humanity center and enjoy local specialties after 2h. Arrival in Halong at 11.45. The captain and crew welcome you aboard. Savor the delicious lunch as boat pass through thousands of Islands and Islets with different shapes. After the lunch, explore the biggest and the most amazing cave in Halong Bay - Surprise Cave. Then Kayaking for an hour around the fishing village and discover the life of community there. Then back to boat for Sunset Party, get to calm, clean water place for swimming. Enjoy delicious and romantic dinner with some barbecue courses. In the evening, free time for entertainment with the funny plays such as squid fishing, karaoke program, stars watching on sundeck… Spend romantic night aboard. Stay overnight on boat in Halong bay.

DAY 4: HALONG BAY – HANOI (B,L)

In the morning, breakfast, fruits, coffee and tea are served on board. Cruise further and stop-over at a pearl farm to sea real peace cultivated by local fisherman. After that, we continue cruising further, go throught many islands and islets to discover the hidden charm of the bay. Join a cooking class opened right on the cruise for all the people are interested in cooking, especially cooking Vietnamese food. Cruise back to the prier while having lunch. Say goodbye to the crew and disembark. Get on bus to go back to Hanoi. Arrival in Hanoi around 04.30pm.