Hanoi Quintessence of Tonkin package 8D7N

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

8.00- 8.30: Get picked up by our friendly guide and start to explore Hanoi City

08.45: Arrive at Tran Quoc Pagoda located on Golden Fish IsLand in West Lake

It is the oldest pagoda in Ha Noi built in the 6th century.

09.30: Visit Ho Chi Minh complex, you have a chance to see the embalmed body of  Ho Chi Minh then walk around the garden to see 2 houses where he lived & worked from 1954 to 1969. Then visit One Pillar Pagoda where worships the Godess of Mercy – It is the most unique padoga in the world

- Should dress modestly by covering from shoulders to knees when visiting Ho Chi Minh mausoleum, temples, pagodas…

- Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum is closed on Mondays and Fridays.

- Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum is closed at least 2 months (15thJune -15thAugust) for the annual maintaining but still can take picture Mausoleum and visit around that area

11.15: Visit Vietnam Ethnology Museum to learn about the culture of 54 ethnic groups living in the whole country of Vietnam

Special Note : we will visit Women Museum instead of Ethnology Museum closed on Mondays

12.45: Have lunch at our restaurant. You have an opportunity to enjoy Vietnamese cuisine with delicious dishes.

14.00-14.15 : Continue to visit Temple of Literature – the first university of Vietnam, established in the 11 century

15.15: Leave for Hoa Lo Prison Museum which originally used by the French colonists in Indochina for political prisoners, and later by North Vietnam for U.S. prisoners of war during the Vietnam War. During this later period, it was known to American POWs as the "Hanoi Hilton

16.15 -16.30: Tour finishes. Back to hotel.

Overnight in Hanoi

8:30: Drive about 50km from Hanoi to visit Duong Lam ancient village in Son Tay province. Duong Lam, a purely agricultural village of the Northern Red River Delta.

10:00: Arrive Duong Lam Villages, on arrival we take a walk on the village path to visit the central of the villages, experience a fascinating walking tour.

10:30 – 12:00: Stop at Doai Community, take some great photoshoot outsides here. Then, you will pass by the local family to learn more about the traditional method of making the peanut candy, the traditional “Ban” soya sauce…

Next, get to Mong Phu Temple - Explore over 1,000 historical houses, each telling its own story through intricate designs and fascinating details.

12:30 – 13:30: Enjoy special Vietnamese lunch prepared by the host. While you are in the house you can also join the local people in producing local specialties such as soft green-lentil cake and rice cake filled with brown onion and enjoy these dishes (depend on the season of the year).

14:00: Walk back the entrance, transfer back to Hanoi

15:15 – 15:30: Drop off to the hotel in Hanoi Old Quarter.

07.45 – 8:30: Our luxury limousine or shuttle bus will pick you up from your hotel in Hanoi and start your trip to explore the most amazing bay in the North of Vietnam. On the way, we will have a quick stop in the middle of the way to rest.

12.30: Arrive at our waiting lounge at Ha Long international cruise port, you will have a bit of time to relax and enjoy a cup of tea/coffee. Wait for our captain to finish the registration and transfer by tender to our boat.

12.45: Enjoy a welcome drink and spend a couple of minutes briefing about safety on the boat and activities included then we check in our cabin.

13.30: A delicious Vietnamese set menu will be served while leisurely cruising further into Bai Tu Long Bay.

15.00: Arrive in the kayaking area – that is Cap La Island. Enjoy kayaking through the karst and breathtaking nature, swimming, and relaxing.

17.30: Get back to the boat and enjoy our Sunset party while our cruise sails to the overnight anchorage.

19.00: Sumptuous set dinner on board.

20.30: Free time to challenge yourself in Vietnamese puzzle games, or gather your group/family for a board game; try your luck with squid fishing or simply enjoy the quiet night on the bay.

06.00: Start your day with a Tai Chi routine on sundeck or catch a morning view of the stunning bay’s landscape with a cup of tea or coffee.

07.00: Breakfast will be served in Western style, familiar to you to fulfill your strength, and ready for another exploring day.

08.00: Explore the well-hidden Thien Canh Son Cave and enjoy a white sandy beach at Hon Co Island.

09.00: Upon return to the boat you will have about 30 minutes to freshen up and finish packing.

10.00: Attend a Vietnamese cooking demonstration. You can quickly learn a simple but delicious Vietnamese dish that Gordon Ramsey (a 2 Michelin Star Chef) used to guide – Nem Cuon or challenge yourself in fruit and vegetable carving.

10.15: Enjoy a traditional Vietnamese lunch on the boat.

11.40: Back to the harbor and disembark at Ha Long cruise port

12.30: Our shuttle bus or limousine will take you back to Hanoi.

15.00: Arrive in Hanoi. Trip ends.

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. 

20:00: Watch a Water Puppet Show at Thang Long Water Puppet Theater 

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: Stops on the way for a 15 - 20 minutes short break for you to stretch your legs, use the facilities, or have a quick snack.

10:30: The first destination to explore in Ninh Binh today is Bai Dinh Pagoda, one of the most famous pagodas in Vietnam and well-known for many Asian and Vietnamese records. In the pagoda, you can see 500-stone statues of Arhats, a Belltower with 27 tons and 36 tons of bronze bell, and a Golden statue of the Goddess of Mercy.

12:00: It is time to enjoy Ninh Binh specialties in the private area of our Trang An Heritage Garden. The vegetarian option is available.

13:30:  You continue your trip to 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: Our next destination is Mua Cave. There, you will climb 500 steps to reach the mountain's peak, overlooking the beautiful view of the city and Tam Coc below.

17:00 : Check in Bungalow/Hotel then free time to relax ( can use swimming pool)

19:00 : Have dinner at bungalow/hotel then walk around Tam Coc for awalk

Overnight in Ninh Binh

Morning: Have breakfast at Hotel/ Bungalow then be ready for the trip

08:30: Get picked up by our friendly guide then cycle to visit the Thai Vi temple and Bich Dong pagoda (the second most beautiful cave in Viet Nam)

11:30: Check out and have lunch in the restaurant with a lot of local foods such as goat meat, fish, spring roll, fried rice…

Vegetarian foods are always available at the lunch

13:00: Continue to Thung Nham Bird Valley. Get on a small sampan to discover Hang But (Buddhist Cave), about 500m in length, a magical view of the stalactites and stalagmites, and see a big Buddha-shaped stalactite sitting beside an underground river, as well as visit an orchard of tropical fruits in this area.

The best time for the bird park in the afternoon, sit quietly on a boat and slowly paddle through Thung Chim (Thung Nham), discover the most features of this area with more than 4,000 birds of 40 species flying to inhabit every day. Your best chance to take nice photos and immerse yourself in the wild and nature.

16:00: Get on the bus to return to Hanoi

18:30: Get dropped off at hotel in Hanoi

Overnight in Hanoi.

Depending on your flight schedule, our tour guide will come and pick you up at your hotel 3-4 hours before your flight.