Classic Northern Vietnam Discovery 5D4N

Depending on your flight schedule, our driver waits for you at the airport then takes you from the airport to your hotel.

8:00: Begin your tour with the Temple of Literature, the first university of Vietnam which was built in the 10th century under the Ly Dynasty and greatly influenced by Confucianism.

Next, visit Ho Chi Minh Complex, an important place for many Vietnamese pilgrims. A traffic-free area of botanical gardens, monuments, memorials and pagodas. Stop outside the Ba Dinh Square and take a look outside the mausoleum, then continue to explore the One Pillar Pagoda. 

Next stop is Tran Quoc Pagoda, one of the oldest pagodas in Hanoi, before stopping at St. Joseph’s Cathedral to learn about religion in Vietnam. The church was one of the first structures built by the French colonial government in Indochina when it opened in December 1886. You will enjoy a cup of egg coffee/drink at the end of the tour!

12:00:  Get dropped off at your hotel. Have lunch on your own!

17:00: Take a 3-hour guided walk through Hanoi's old quarter with a local guide. Get an insight into the traditions of Vietnam’s food culture.

Stop at a local restaurant to try banh my (a Vietnamese sandwich) and watch as skilled chefs demonstrate how this tasty dish is created. Next, enjoy phở  or bún chả (grilled pork with vermicelli), which are Vietnam’s most famous dish. 

Other food specialties you’ll sample include crab rolls, pillow cakes, fried rice balls, and fresh rolls – served with a dish of raw vegetables and a special sauce.

Taste che (sweet soup) and the famous Vietnamese egg coffee. 

Overnight in Hanoi.

07:30 - 8:00: Our tour guide and driver will pick you up from the hotel in Hanoi Old Quarter for transfer to Ninh Binh. 

09:15: You will have a short break of 15 - 20 minutes to stretch your legs, use the facilities or have a quick snack. 

10:30: Visiting Hoa Lu, the ancient capital of Vietnam from years 968 to 1010. Then you will visit the Temple of Dinh King and Le King to learn more about Vietnamese history under the Dinh, Le, and Ly Dynasties.

11:15 - 11:45: It’s time to join our 30 minutes cycling activity to discover the life of the local people. Or stay behind and either relax in the restaurant for sightseeing and capture the views around lake, waterfall and valleys.

12:00: You will have a buffet lunch with local specialties in the private area of our Trang An Heritage Garden. The vegetarian option is also available.

13:15 - 13:30: Option 1: Tam Coc, known as “Halong Bay on the land”, where you will spend 1.5 hours on the boat to explore this area. On this excursion down the Ngo Dong River, you will pass through the beautiful paddy fields, limestone karst formation, and a stunning cave system including Hang Ca, Hang Hai, and Hang Ba caves for a unique experience. 

Option 2: Trang An, a World Heritage Site recognized by UNESCO in 2014. There, you can spend 1.5 hours on the boat ride to enjoy the beauty of this place, which owns a beautiful tunnel cave system and appears in the New Version of Kong in 2016 - “Skull Island”.

15:30: We continue to visit Mua Cave and climb 500 steps to reach the peak of Ngoa Long Mountain, overlooking the amazing view of the city and Tam Coc below.

16:30 - 17:00: Transfer back to Hanoi.

19:00 - 19:30: Drop you off at your hotel in Hanoi Old Quarter.

Overnight in Hanoi.

08:15 – 08:45: Hotel or private address pick up with our shuttle bus. Short break half way.11:45 – 12:00: Arriving Tuan Chau marina, transferred by tender of La Pandora cruises. 

12:45 – 13:00: Welcome aboard the cruise. Refresh with our welcome drink. Meet the captain, crew in the cruise briefing, safety instruction. 

13:00 – 13:15: A special lunch in Vietnamese cuisine of fresh seafood and an assortment of appetizing favorites are served while sailing through Islets of Con Vit. 16:00: The Cruise sails through Lan Ha Bay. The area is surrounding of extraordinary limestone karsts landscapes. We progress to Ong Cam Area of Lan Ha Bay- a separate part of Ha Long Bay. This is a quiet tourist paradise in Vietnam, enjoy kayaking and/or enjoy swimming in the crystal-clear waters of the Bay.17:30: Back to the Cruise, drop anchor for staying overnight. Enjoy cooking demonstration (teaching you how to make our speciality, Spring rolls) and the complimentary Sunset Party on the sundeck with local wine and fresh fruit.

19:00: Dinner is served in the restaurant. Enjoy delicious local food prepared and served for you by our wonderful onboard catering staff. After dinner, retiring to your cabin or join the fishing excursion, watch a movie, have a drink at the bar, wifi access or play exciting games.

Overnight on board.

06:00: Enjoy sunrise and admire the never-ending miraculous scenery of the Bay. Practice an invigorating Tai Chi session on the sundeck.

06:30: Light breakfast, coffee and tea served.

07:00: Visit Dark & Bright Cave and islets by local rowing boats which is a wild and mysterious beauty in the middle of the World Heritage.

09:15: Back to our La Pandora Cruise, relax before checking out.

10:00: Lunch is served on board.

12:00: Disembark at the Tuan Chau marina by tender. Take our shuttle bus to return to Hanoi

15:00 – 15:30: Arrival back at your hotel.

After reaching Old Quarter, get transferred to the airport by a another private car/van.