Hanoi Halong where Inspirations meet - 5 days / 4 nights

Day 1: Hanoi arrival (D)
Hanoi is the oldest capital city in Southeast Asia. Up to now, Hanoi has been one of the few cities in Asia left entirely void of the western-style boxy business architecture. We Hanoi people regard our capital city as heart of Vietnam. Hanoi has always been a symbol of culture and a source of pride throughout the history. We would love to show you city tour with famous landscape.

Arriving at Noi Bai airport in Hanoi, you will be met and driven to your hotel. You will have time to relax after your journey. In the evening, after having Welcome Dinner at authentic local restaurant, you will have tickets for a performance of traditional Water Puppetry (an art form unique to northern Vietnam, and an interesting, light-hearted introduction to its rural culture). Your overnight stay will be in Hanoi.

Transfer: Private AC coach
Guide: English speaking
Meal: Welcome Dinner
Activity: Water Puppet show
Accommodation: Asian Ruby – Deluxe room or similar
 
Day 2: Hanoi Images (B,L):
Experience the essential things to do in Hanoi, see all the historical and modern sights of the city with full commentary provided. Hop-on hop-off at major attractions including Tran Quoc Pagoda, Ho Chi Minh Complex, Temple of Literature, and walking along streets of the Old Quarter – a magnet for visitors.

Am:     Be picked up at your hotel from 8h00 then drive to following sites:

o    Tran Quoc Pagoda (means “Stabilizing the Nation”), the oldest pagoda constructed in the sixth century during the reign of Emperor Ly Nam De.

o    Ho Chi Minh Complex, where the body lies in a glass case with dim lights in the mausoleum, simple open wooden house on stilts surrounded by gardens with towering trees and a small lake, presidential palace built between 1900 and 1906 to house the French Governor-General of Indochina.

o    One pillar pagoda – a wooden pagoda on a single stone pillar, and it is designed to resemble a lotus blossom, which is a Buddhist symbol of purity, since a lotus blossoms in a muddy pond.

o    Temple of Literature (Van Mieu), which originally built as a Confucius Temple, then became Vietnam’s first university dating back to 1070. The temple highlights the importance influence that Vietnamese society has placed on education.

Pm:     Lunch at a traditional Vietnamese restaurant. Our walking journey starts from a historic temple of the ancient Thang Long Kingdom (Den Bach Ma), it would be a bit noisy and hectic, but the walking route will show you all best thing the Old Quarter has to offer. You will explore a maze of hustle and bustle streets with a hotchpotch of architecture - traditional tube houses, religious buildings, artisans’ workshops, colonial houses and modern concrete edifices. Finally, treat yourself a coffee at traditional house in 11 Hang Gai Street for a panoramic view of the famous Hoan Kiem Lake before walking back to your hotel. Overnight at hotel in Hanoi.

Transfer: AC shuttle bus
Guide: English speaking
Meal: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Asian Ruby – Deluxe room or similar


Day 3: Hanoi – Halong Bay (L, D)
Am: Be picked up at your hotel from 8h00 a.m for 3.5 hour bus ride through the country side of the Red River Delta to Ha Long City. Upon arrival, aboard Halong Phoenix Cruiser, fresh seafood lunch (vegetable menu available) would be served while the boat is gliding out.

Pm: A short tender ride from the middle of the bay to an island for the famous Sung Sot Cave, followed by fun kayaking around the area. As the sun sets over the bay, you are free to swim from the boat or just relax on sundeck with your favorite drink. Dinner is served with typically local seafood. Overnight on board.

Transfer: AC shuttle bus
Guide: English speaking
Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Activity: Kayaking
Accommodation: Phoenix Cruiser – Deluxe room

Day 4: Halong Bay – Hanoi (B, L)
Am: Rise up for a breath taking on sundeck, be ready with your camera for a stunning vista in the serene bay. We visit an island and relax on its beach, or walk up to the top for the panoramic view of the anchorage area. You learn recipes and techniques that go into the most popular dish of the Vietnamese food on sundeck just before lunch time. Lunch would be served when cruising back to the harbor.

Pm: Our bus is waiting on the harbor to take you back to Hanoi. Trip ends at your hotel around 16h00. Overnight at hotel in Hanoi.

Transfer: AC shuttle bus
Guide: English/ Chinese speaking
Meal: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Asian Ruby – Deluxe room or similar


Day 5: Hanoi departure (B)
After breakfast you will be relax until our driver come and transfer you to the airport for your homebound flight. Trip ends.

Transfer: Private AC coach
Guide: English speaking guide
Meal: Breakfast