This 5-day Vietnam itinerary begins with an immersive arrival in Hanoi, exploring its rich thousand-year-old heritage through iconic landmarks like Hoan Kiem Lake and the bustling Old Quarter. The journey continues with a deep dive into Vietnam’s culture, from the Ho Chi Minh Complex and Temple of Literature to the stunning seascapes of Ha Long Bay, where travelers cruise among limestone karsts and visit historic caves. After returning to Hanoi, the adventure shifts south to Ninh Binh, offering scenic boat rides through either the serene caves of Tam Coc or the dramatic landscapes of Trang An, often dubbed "inland Ha Long Bay." The trip concludes with time to relax in Hanoi before departing, leaving travelers with a rich impression of northern Vietnam’s natural beauty, history, and charm.
Arrive at Noi Bai International Airport, welcome by our guide and transfer to your hotel. The transfer distance is approximately 40 minutes.
Hanoi, or “River-bound City” as its name literally means, is Vietnam’s capital with a thousand-year-old history dating back to 1010. The city’s fascinating beauty, which is characterized by unique cultural relics, ancient streets of antique houses, elegant French colonial buildings, tree-lined boulevards, and romantic lakes, has made it one of the most charming cities in Asia.
Late afternoon, visit Hoan Kiem Lake. Hoan Kiem Lake is the center of Hanoi and is home to a rare endangered giant turtle species. Its name, “Returned Sword,” comes from a legend of a sacred sword being lent to an ancient Vietnamese King by a holy turtle from the lake and later returned to the turtle. Shop or walk at leisure in the Old Quarter of 36 ancient streets. After completing the day, return to your hotel and enjoy an overnight stay.
Morning, start a city tour beginning with the Ho Chi Minh Complex, which features the life of Ho Chi Minh, the nation’s founder. At the complex, visit Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum where the nation’s founder’s body is preserved (closed on Monday, Friday and through October - November), the colonial Presidential Palace, originally the French Governor Office and a fine example of French architecture in Hanoi, and the rural style Ho Chi Minh’s house on stilts where Ho Chi Minh lived and worked. Stop by one of Hanoi’s icons, the One Pillar Pagoda, built in the 11th Century in dedication to Avalokiteshvara or Buddha of Compassion and reminiscent of a lotus blossom rising from a pond. Continue to the Temple of Literature, known as the first university of Vietnam, built in 1070 by the Ly Dynasty to honor Confucius, sages, and outstanding Vietnamese scholars.
Afternoon, transfer to Ha Long Bay, which is about 160 km or a 3.5-hour drive away. Moving through the countryside on the way will bring you a clear perspective of a country where 80% of the population lives on farming. Have a quick rest stop en route before reaching Ha Long City. Check in the hotel, then spend time at leisure. Overnight stay in Ha Long Bay.
For Group 1- 9 Pax: Sharing a boat and Lunch at a local restaurant
Morning, breakfast at the hotel between 6-7 AM, transfer to the dock for boarding a shared boat to explore the legendary Ha Long Bay. Ha Long means Descending Dragon in Vietnamese, as legend has it that a holy dragon landed here from the sky. The bay, famous as one of the world’s wonders and heritage sites, whose formation dates back 500 million years, consists of around 2,000 karst islands and islets scattered over an area of 1,553 km2. The boat will stop at Dau Go Island for you to visit Thien Cung Cave (Heaven Palace) and Dau Go Cave (Wooden Stakes). Dau Go Cave in the 13th Century was a depot to store pointed wooden stakes, which later were used by the great Vietnamese military commander Tran Hung Dao to trap and puncture Mongolian naval boats in the famous battles of Bach Dang. Return to the dock, disembark. Lunch at a local restaurant. After lunch, travel back to Hanoi.
Afternoon, drive back to Hanoi and shop in the Hanoi Old Quarter. Evening at leisure. Overnight stay in Hanoi.
For Group 10 Pax up: Private boat and lunch on cruise
Morning, breakfast at the hotel between 6-7 AM, transfer to the dock for boarding a cruise boat to explore the legendary Ha Long Bay. Ha Long means Descending Dragon in Vietnamese, as legend has it that a holy dragon landed here from the sky. The bay, famous as one of the world’s wonders and heritage sites, whose formation dates back 500 million years, consists of around 2,000 karst islands and islets scattered over an area of 1,553 km2. The boat will stop at Dau Go Island for you to visit Thien Cung Cave (Heaven Palace) and Dau Go Cave (Wooden Stakes). Dau Go Cave in the 13th Century was a depot to store pointed wooden stakes, which later were used by the great Vietnamese military commander Tran Hung Dao to trap and puncture Mongolian naval boats in the famous battles of Bach Dang. Continue cruising while a fresh seafood lunch is served on board. Return to the dock, disembark, and travel back to Hanoi.
Afternoon, drive back to Hanoi and shop in the Hanoi Old Quarter. Evening at leisure. Overnight stay in Hanoi.
Option 1: Full – day Tam Coc & Bich Dong
Morning, transfer to Ninh Binh province, located 110km from Hanoi to the South. Tam Coc - Bich Dong is a popular tourist destination near the city of Ninh Binh in northern Vietnam. Along Hoang Long River, vast limestone cliffs rising out of the rice paddies make Tam Coc somehow similar to Halong Bay, or on-land Halong Bay as described. A river trip to Tam Coc and through the three caves of Tam Coc is so wonderful for photo hunters, especially when ripping rice season is coming. Next to Tam Coc is Hoa Lu, the relics of the ancient capital of Vietnam during the 10th century. Remains of this capital town are temples dedicated to the two heroes: Dinh King and Le King, who were the founders of Hoa Lu as the citadel. Later, transfer back to Hanoi. Overnight at the hotel in Hanoi.
Option 2: Full–day Trang An
Morning, depart from your hotel for Ninh Binh province, 98 kilometers South of Hanoi. You will call in a Buddhist complex called Bai Dinh, the largest of its kind in Vietnam, which consists of an original old pagoda and a series of newly built pagodas in Gia Vien District. It boasts hundreds of statues and a variety of architectural works.
Proceed to visit Trang An Eco-tourism Complex, where a boat trip will take you through a scenic landscape of mountains, fields, and rivers to a series of caves, including Sang Cave, Toi Cave, Ba Giot Cave, and Nau Ruou. Trang An is also called “an inland Ha Long” for its strikingly similar terrain of rugged Rocky Mountains rising up from the lush wetland and constituting a magnificent maze. Afternoon, transfer back to Hanoi. Overnight at the hotel in Hanoi.
Breakfast at the hotel. After breakfast, enjoy the morning at leisure, visit your favorite nearby cafes, streets, shops, etc. Later, complete the check-out process and enjoy your transfer from your hotel to the Vietnam International Airport for your departure flight to your homeland/next destination.
General:
Hotel:
Sightseeing:
Self-Drive:
Cruise:
Cancellation Policy | |
Days (Prior to Departure) | Percentage of Invoice |
91 or before | 10% or booking amount (whichever is higher) |
61 to 90 | 30% |
46 to 60 | 40% |
31 to 45 | 50% |
19 to 30 | 100% |
0 to 18 | 100% |
Cities
Hanoi, HA LONG, Ho Chi Minh City
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