• Welcome to Vietnam.
• Your journey begins with a welcome meeting at 6 pm.
Please look for a note in the hotel lobby or ask the reception where it will take place.
This morning we make a tour of the main sights of Hanoi. Architecturally styled like a French provincial town with tree-lined boulevards and substantial low-built houses the city is wonderfully nostalgic. Among the interesting sights are the charming One-Pillar Pagoda, Confucius Temple and the Presidential Palace. Ho Chi Minh himself, a Spartan-living and scholarly man, chose not to live in the Presidential Palace, he preferred instead a simple teak stilt-house specially built for him in the grounds. This walk through the narrow lanes of the fascinating Old Quarter, where the streets are named after various crafts or specialties: Paper Street, Silk Street, Basket Street and so on. The shops themselves have very narrow frontages but are actually quite deep; they are known locally as tube shops. On the pavement food sellers sell noodles, snacks and stir-fries from shoulder panniers. The smell of food mixes with the smell of incense from small temples dotted around.
Optional tour:
End your day with a world-class performance of Vietnam: The Quintessence of Tonkin. Opened just late last year, driving about 40 minutes from Hanoi, Quintessence of Tonkin has all the makings of a world-class performance. Born from an artistic vision to showcase the cultural highlights of northern Vietnam, The Quintessence of Tonkin blends skillful performers, a mesmerizing set, delightful water puppetry, a stunning light show, an evocative soundtrack and the Thay Mountain into a breathtaking open-air spectacle that is both emotive and uplifting.
The Quintessence of Tonkin performers comprise two troupes: the farmers and their families from the local village who have trained for two years, and junior and senior dance students from Vietnam Dance College. The farmers are passionate performers and have an inherent artistic ability that translates into an authentic artistic expression. The dancers from Vietnam Dance College have been professionally trained and bring youth, vitality and vibrance to the show — the perfect vehicle to hone their skill as performers. Together, the farmers and dance students bring the show to life in a compelling visual performance.
Overnight in Ha Noi.
Breakfast at hotel. Then transfer in a private coach about 100 km South of Hanoi. The driving time is approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes to Hoa Lu District, Ninh Binh Province.
Arrive in Hoa Lu, discover the first capital of Vietnam, which was founded in the 10th Century by the Dinh Dynasty as a stronghold against the Northern invaders and shortly later was inherited by the Le Dynasty. You’ll visit the two old temples one dedicated to Dinh Tien Hoang, the only king of the Dinh Dynasty and also Vietnam’s first emperor and the other to the succeeding kings of the Le Dynasty. Lunch at local restaurant with traditional food.
Afternoon, continue to visit Trang An tourist attraction has over 310 species of higher plants, many algae and fungi. In particular, there have some rare woods and various valuable trees using for food, medicine. In addition, there has about 30 species of mammals, 50 species of birds, dozens of species of reptiles and some rare animals such as: chamois, leopard, phoenix… Sit on a small sampan to visit cave complex: Sang Cave, Toi Cave, Ba Giot Cave, Nau Ruou in mystery and wildness, see scenery of mountain and rivers Ha Long on land of Ninh Binh
Then back to Hanoi. Overnight in Hanoi.
Breakfast at hotel. Depart for Halong Bay, a World Heritage as designated by Unesco in 1994 with nearly 3,000 rocky islets. The drive may take you more than three to four hours utmost depending on the high or low seasons’ traffic, and will pass the Red River Delta, one of the two granaries of Vietnam. Upon arriving in Halong, we will sail our boat round its natural rocky gardens whilst a tasty seafood lunch is waiting on board. Most of the islets here are not for living due to the lack of fresh water, but are excellent for cruising to contemplate their miraculous draws on the horizon. Many of them have great names from their inspirational shapes, including the Surprising cave, Pelican Grotto, Chopstick rock, Butterfly rock, Turtle rock, the island of Fishman’s Head, the Fighting Cocks, the Sail, the Urn, or the Sea Dog! We can visit a grotto, or just lazily relax on the sundeck. The boat will be back to the Wharf late afternoon where we take our car or coach to return to Hanoi.
Overnight in Hanoi.
Your Trip comes to an end this morning, with no further activities planned. If you are spending more time in Hanoi, please contact your sales agent or your tour guide, we will help you to book additional nights accommodation. You might also like to take a tour on Central and Southern part of Vietnam, which will be depart on the same day (subject to availability).