Overall: This trip starts from the capital city of Hanoi with important sites being introduced on a city tour day. Enjoy a traditional wooden junk boat cruise to explore one of the new seven wonders of nature: Halong Bay with thousands of islets. The next destination is the ancient capital Hoa Lu and Tam Coc in Ninh Binh province called “Halong Bay on land”.
Upon arriving in Hanoi, our tour expert will meet you at the airport and transfer to downtown for check-in and relax at your hotel.
After breakfast at your hotel, Viet Unique Journeys guide and driver will pick you up at hotel lobby for a full day city tour.
Today, we will visit Hanoi with Ho Chi Minh Complex that completed in 1975. The complex includes the Presidential Palace, House-on-Stilts, and the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum. After that we will visit the Temple of Literature that was originally built as a temple to Confucius, this is the site of Vietnam’s first University dating back to 1070. The temple highlights the importance that Vietnamese society place then and now on education. Have lunch at a nice restaurant.
Continue our trip to visit Museum of Ethnology: This museum is widely acknowledged as the best in the country and has an extensive display dedicated to Vietnam’s 54 Ethnic minority peoples. As well as the comprehensive array of exhibits inside, there are also traditional tribal houses reconstructed within the ground. Then, we back to the center of Hanoi to visit Ngoc Son Temple and Hoan Kiem Lake: The Ngoc Son temple is set on a tiny island on the Hoan KiemLake, its history dating back to the 13th century. The temple is reached by crossing the The Huc Bridge which literally means the ‘Place Touched by Morning Sunbeams’. The Hoan Kiem Lake is the local point of the city and the source of many legends. 45 minutes Cyclo Tour through the Old Quarter: Also known as the 36 streets, this bustling area of narrow streets is home to literally thousands of small businesses and shopkeepers. Originally each of the 36 s names’ was related to the products being sold there. It’s a great place to explore on foot with numerous photo opportunities. Before back to your hotel, we will enjoy The water puppet show at Thang Long theatre.
Overnight at hotel in Hanoi.
In the morning, Viet Unique Journeys tour guide and driver pick you up at your hotel to travel to Hoa Lu the capital of Vietnam from 968 to 1009 under Dinh and Le dynasties. Along the way, stop-over for photo and refreshment while enjoying rural stunning scenery.
On arrival, visit King Dinh temple, King Le temple.
Continuing the trip to Tam Coc (literally means three caves). Tam Coc is often promoted as Vietnam’s “Ha long bay on land“. Savour a delicious lunch with goat meat at a popular eatery.
Take a sampan boat trip through the canal, crossing the beautiful rice paddy. The boat trip lasts around 1 hour 45 minutes. Disembark the rowing boat and get back on the car, heading to Bich Dong grotto which is around 5 km from Tam Coc.
Bich Dong is a pagoda located in a huge grotto on Ngu Nhac mountain. The guided tour covers historical points and end with a pleasant view from the top. Leaving Bich Dong, return to Hanoi in the late afternoon.
Overnight at hotel in Hanoi.
After breakfast, Viet Unique Journeys guide and driver pick you up at your hotel lobby to depart for Halong bay. It takes 2.5 hours to drive to there. Arrive at Halong by 12:00. Welcome aboard for a 4 hours cruise to explore the amazing area of the bay.
We have scheduled a special lunch of fresh seafood to be served while cruising to enjoy the bay.
You are cruising pass by a floating village, Urn islet, Fighting Cock islet and the magnificent limestone grotto – Thien Cung grotto that nestled on an island which is one of the most beautiful grottos in Halong bay with great stalactites and stalagmite. Then you get back to the boat, continue exploring the untouched beautiful area of the bay.
After totally 4 hours navigation, we disembark and travel back to Hanoi.
Overnight at hotel in Hanoi.
You are free at your leisure until our guide & driver escort you to Noi Bai airport for the flight back home.
