Hanoi - Halong Bay - Ninh Binh 5 Days

Welcome to Hanoi – Vietnam!

Our driver will be welcoming you at Noi Bai airport; it takes us 35 minutes driving to the centre of Hanoi then check-in at the hotel.

Our tour guide will pick you at your hotel in the Old Quarter and then we get a cyclo to Hoan Kiem Lake, one of the major scenic spots in the city and serves as a focal point for its public life to visit Ngoc Son temple and the Huc bridge. And then we will stop at Hanoi Opera House, erected by the French colonial administration between 1901 and 1911.

After that, on the way to Water puppet show, we will see Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi Hotel - A Grand Dame of Southeast Asia that welcomes guests to experience her colonial grandeur and timeless elegance. Located steps from the Opera House in Hanoï's French Quarter, this legendary property brings guests into intimate contact with the opulence of another era.

A stage art invented by the Vietnamese peasants hundred years ago, with nearly 20 stories of Vietnam traditions and daily scenes will be the last activity.

Finally, we will take a walk on the streets of the old quarter and enjoy the Vietnamese traditional food: Beef noodles.

Please note: Standard check-in time is 14:00. Early check-in is subject to availability of the hotel.

Night activities suggestion: enjoy a local beer at Ta Hien Streets, experience the ambience of the sleepless street with live music, the young people of Hanoi and also foreign tourists. Hundred of bars and pubs in the Old Quarter are also at your disposal. Or just simple spend your time at shopping malls or various boutique Shops.

A 90km drive south of Hanoi will lead you to Ninh Binh, the site of the one capital city of ancient Vietnam before Hanoi took its leading role in the 11th century.

The area is featured by lots of well-known sceneries, which include Tam Coc Caves and Hoa Lu ancient capital with the old temples dedicated to King Dinh & King Le reigned in the 10th century. The visit in Ninh Binh starts by a boat trip in Tam Coc where spectacular limestone karsts jut out from the green paddy fields reminding about Guilin (China) and Halong Bay of Vietnam, which gives this scenery the name “Halong-bay-on-land”.

Further discovery in Ninh Binh will be continued in the site that used to be the kings’ palace in the 10th century and now famous for the wooden relieves of the shady Dinh and Le temples. Late afternoon back to Hanoi.

Overnight in Hanoi.

From Hanoi, at 8 AM, head East for more than 3 hours to Halong Bay, the pride of the Gulf of Tonkin, a Natural World Heritage as designated by UNESCO in 1994.

The road will pass by the Red River delta with green paddy fields and rural villages, where hard-work farmers are busy with their farming jobs, ploughing buffaloes or planting seedling. Upon arrival in Halong, we’ll take a big boat to cruise the Bay to discover the magnificent beauty of this “Descending-dragon” bay, created by thousands of odd-shaped limestone rocks and karst grottoes.

After a lunch of fresh seafood on board, we can visit the Surprising Grotto, stop for swimming or kayaking, passing floating villages and approach islets to enjoy their beauty in close distance. Back to the boat for dinner late afternoon.

In the evening,  attend activities on the boat or relax at your own leisure.

Overnight on the boat near Titov Beach.

After breakfast, visit by boat to Luon Cave, a ring-shaped pool inside an island in Halong with absolutely tranquil landscape and emerald water.

Back to the Wharf of Halong passing the densest area with many islands that have been named like the Cock-Fighting Rock, Sail Island, Incense burner rock or Sea Dog Rock.

Arrive at Halong Wharf around 11.00.

Return to Hanoi around 4 PM. Free at your own leisure.

Overnight in Hanoi.

You are free until transfer to the airport for departure flight. End of service!

Please note: Standard check out time is 12:00.