Best of Hanoi – Ninh Binh – Ha Long Bay- 5 days

Arrive in Hanoi. Greeted by your driver at the airport. Transfer to your hotel in the city centre for check-in and at leisure in the rest of the day.

Hoan Kiem Lake

Meal: n/a

Accommodation: Hotel in Hanoi

In the morning, pick up at your hotel for a full-day city tour in Hanoi.

8.30 am: Tran Quoc Pagoda & West Lake

The bus and tour guide will pick you up from hotel in old quarter about 8 AM, driving to Tran Quoc Pagoda is located on an island east of West Lake (Tay Ho District), with 1500-year history, which is considered to be the oldest in Thang Long-Hanoi. It was the Buddhist center of Thang Long citadel in the Ly and Tran dynasties. With its historical and architectural values, Tran Quoc pagoda is famous for its sacred Buddha land, which attracts many Buddhists and visitors to Vietnam.

9.30 am: Ho Chi Minh complex

Visitor to Ho Chi Minh complex ( Ho Chi Minh mausoleum, the presidential palace, house on stilts
the final resting place of Uncle Ho,where He lived and worked from 1954- 1969).

11h00: Vietnam Museum of Ethnology

This is the most recent yet probably the largest and undoubtedly the most interesting Museums in Ha Noi and Viet Nam. There are both indoors and outdoors section, while the in – housed exhibition is particularly infomative, the outdoors display and activities make the museum stand out from the rest. There are a number of houses modeling after the traditional architecture of ethnic minorities, especially those who live in Northern and Central highlands.

12.30 pm: Lunch Time

2.00 pm: The temple of literature ( The first university in Vietnam)

Being an ancient school of Thang Long and the first university in Vietnam, Temple of Literature is acknowledged as an ancient historical-cultural heritage which gives tourists deeper understanding about Hanoi’s years of culture and tradition.

03.00 pm: Hoa Lo prison

It were built in 1899. The French kept mainly political prisoners here along with those awaiting sentencing at the nearby Court of Justice,also where American pilots who had been shot down and captured were kept as prisoners of war. The pilots called it, sarcastically, the “Hanoi Hilton.” John McCain was held here at various times during his five and a half years as a POW.

Tran Quoc Pagoda

Note*:
– On Monday and Friday morning Ho Chi Minh mausoleum and museum are closed, instead by Vietnamese women museum.

– Before departure suggest all clients not wearing sort clothing to come in mausoleum and temple.
– Special request (diet, vegetarian…) should be informed before your departure days.

Meal: Breakfast/ Lunch
Accommodation: Hotel in Hanoi

07:30 – 08:00 –  Meet your guide and driver at the hotel and start 110km to Ninh Binh.

10:00 – Arrive Glimmering Bai Dinh pagoda complexes, the largest pagoda, not only in Vietnam but also in Southeast of Asia. Scenically set on the foot hill of  Dinh Mountain surrounded by amazing views of the exquisite river valley  below and dotted and the limestone karsts dotted around which will take your breath away.

This pagoda complex is stunningly boasting an array of the most massive and magnificent architecture of Vietnamese tradition refined ever built that it take a full day to explore all. So you will visit some of the highlights that owned the national:500 stone statues of “La Han” (Arhats),2 huge bronze bells, one weighs 27 tons, other weighs 36 tones.Visit The Quan Yin statue with thousands arms and eyes, Visit Gautama Buddha satatue.

With sacred atmospheres and intriguing Buddhism story which presented by your guide, you cannot fail to enchant.

13:00 – Enjoy the lunch at our restaurant with the great local cuisines.

Trang An Grotto

13:30 – Leave for the Trang An Grottoes, an out-standing natural beauty of majestic limestone massif at 20 square kilometer rise dramatically out from rice paddy fields. Deep into the linked chains of towering mountain are pristine places of mystical valleys, numerous fresh water ponds, and jungle.

Embark on a traditional sampan gently roweddown the exquisite river through numerous  caves: Lam Cave, Vạng Cave, Đại Cave, Thánh Trượt Cave,…and Cao Sơn Temple, Suối Tiên Temple, Vũ Lâm Temple…

16:30 – Arrive Mua Cave and start an amazing trek up to the top of Ngoa Long mountain for watching the spectacular rice valley with specious view of the nature.

17:45 – Transfer to hotel in Ninh Binh

Meal: Breakfast/Lunch
Accommodation: Hotel in Ninh Binh

07:00 You will be picked up at your hotel in Ninh Binh and transferred to Ha Long

11:30-12:00    Upon arrival at Tuan Chau International Cruise Port, you will enjoy a warm welcome by our cruise staff in the waiting lounge and complete check-in procedure.

12:30 Upon boarding Le Journey Premium Cruise, our crew welcome you with a refreshing drink and cold towel before checking into your cabin. The vessel leaves Tuan Chau Marina, taking you on an exciting journey to discover the beauty of Ha Long Bay. Along the way, you can enjoy the view of some of the most beautiful spots in Ha Long and admire the grandeur of the Bay with thousands of limestone islands while the vessel heads to Surprising Cave.

Enjoy your lunch at our luxurious restaurant on board while the vessel cruises toward Surprising Cave.

Overview on Halong Bay

14:45 Explore the Surprising Cave – the most beautiful cave in HaLong Bay.

After that, we will take you to visit Titop Island – swimming, climbing up to the Top of the Island – take the best view of Ha Long Bay in the Summer time.

17:30-18:00   Back on board, you will participate in Sunset party & cooking class while the vessel cruises toward the shore. You can enjoy relaxing moments while sipping a cup of traditional Vietnamese tea or coffee on the sundeck amid wonderful scenery and beautiful sunset. Ha Long Bay is calm during the day, but when the sun goes down, the Bay becomes even more tranquil and peaceful.

You will be instructed to make delicious Fresh Spring rolls by our chef and then enjoy the rolls made on your own.

17:30-18:30   Happy hour – BUY 2 DRINK GET 1 FOR FREE (cocktails, mocktails…)

19:00-20:00  Enjoy your dinner on the Sundeck (if the weather is favorable)

After dinner, you will enjoy a peaceful view of the Bay at night on the deck. Enjoying music and some drinks at Sky Bar while admiring the breathtaking view of the Bay at night or squid fishing.

The cruise ship anchors for your peaceful night stay in quiet area 

Meal: Breakfast/Lunch/ Dinner

Accommodation: Hotel in Hoi An

06:45-07:30   Have breakfast on board while the boat starts cruising to the Natural Preservation Area.

07:45-09:00   Kayaking to explore Luon Cave. If you are lucky, you can catch great photos with mischievous monkeys jigging up and down around the cliffs

09.30  Check-out time. Please put your luggage outside your cabin and leave the room key at the reception desk. Our staff will transfer your luggage to the waiting area. While waiting, you can shop for some products of  the Cruise.

10.00   Enjoy an early lunch at the restaurant on the 2nd floor and settle the bills if any.

11.00  Arrival at Tuan Chau Marina and transfer to airport for flight departure. Trip ends! Thank you for choosing Indochina Treks Travel J

Kayaking on Halong Bay

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodation: n/a