Vietnam Best of North

Welcome to Hanoi, the capital city of Vietnam. Upon arrival, you will be greeted by the local tour guide and transferred to downtown.

Hanoi is the capital city of Vietnam, located in the northern part of the country. It has a rich history that dates back over a thousand years and serves as the political, cultural, and economic center of the country. Recently, Hanoi has experienced rapid development and modernization. Skyscrapers, shopping malls, and luxury hotels have emerged alongside traditional markets and historic landmarks. The city's vibrant nightlife scene, with its trendy bars, clubs, and live music venues, has also grown in popularity.

Start your day with a visit to the Ho Chi Minh Memorial Complex, including the mausoleum, presidential palace, and his old house on stilts. Nearby is the One Pillar Pagoda, a charming symbol of Hanoi that has witnessed the city's thousand-year history.

Continue to the picturesque West Lake and the sixth-century Tran Quoc Buddhist Temple. From here, transfer or stroll along the lakeside – 700 meters to the nearby Taoist Temple of Quan Thanh, dedicated to Tran Vu, one of the principal deities in Taoism.

In the afternoon, enjoy a tour around Hoan Kiem Lake, visiting the monuments and statues of Kings Le Thai To and Ly Thai To, who left their prominent marks on the founding and development of the capital city. You'll also visit the Huc Bridge, where a legendary turtle is preserved.

Later, take a leisurely walking tour of the Hanoi Old Quarter, a maze of streets offering thousands of photo opportunities. Along the way, you'll see local street life, traditional guilds, food markets, shopping areas, food venues, ancient houses, and temples.

Overnight at a hotel in Hanoi.

After breakfast, leave Hanoi for a 1.5-hour drive to Ninh Binh province, famous for its spectacular karst landscapes and rustic countryside.

Visit Hoa Lu, an ancient capital dating back to the 10th century, surrounded by high limestone mountains. Here, you'll visit temples dedicated to National heroes and Kings of the Dinh and Early Le Dynasties. From here, take a 1-hour bicycle ride along a country path, passing fascinating rice paddies and villages to explore rural life.

In the afternoon, take a leisurely 2-hour rowing boat ride along a peaceful stream amidst jutting mountains and undulating water rice paddies, passing through three natural caves of Tam Coc. The scenery along the gentle row is stunning and is one of the highlight activities of the day.

Later, visit Ngu Nhac Mountain with Bich Dong Pagoda, consisting of three temples built on cliffs and in the cave of the mountains. Drive back to Hanoi, and the evening is at your leisure.

07:00: Breakfast at hotel, then check out.

08:30: Head East for a 3-hour drive to Halong Bay, the pride of the Gulf of Tonkin, a Natural World Heritage site designated by UNESCO in 1994 and 2006. The road will pass by the Red River delta with green paddy fields and rural villages, where hardworking farmers are busy with their farming jobs, plowing buffaloes, or planting seedlings.

Upon arrival in Halong, check in to 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 lunch on board, visit the Grottos, stop for swimming or kayaking, pass floating houses, and approach islets to enjoy their beauty up close.

Back on the cruise, enjoy a cooking demonstration before having dinner. Evening activities on the boat or relax at your leisure. Overnight on the cruise.

Wake up early to enjoy the dawn on the sea. The Vietnamese call the "East Sea" by a point-oriented name, "Eastern Sea," so you can imagine how miraculous it is to see the sunrise over the islets of the Bay.

After breakfast, the boat will continue to cruise in marvelous areas where almost each islet has its own name, adopting its shape or reminiscent like Sail Island, Fisherman’s head rock, Butterfly rock, or Turtle islet, etc.

Check out your room and have brunch on board while the cruise returns to the pier.

Transfer back to Hanoi for dinner, then check into the hotel. Your time is at leisure. Overnight in Hanoi.

Breakfast at the hotel and check out. You are free until the transfer to the airport (no guide) for departure flight. End of service!