Halong Bay Cruise & Ninh Binh Tour from Hanoi

Day 1: Hanoi

Welcome to Hanoi, Vietnam!

Our driver will be welcoming you at Noi Bai airport; it takes us 35 minutes driving to the centre of Hanoi then check-in at hotel.

After having some time to relax your tour guide will pick you at your hotel to begin our sightseeing tour of Hanoi.

First, we'll travel by cylco to Hoan Kiem Lake, one of the major scenic spots in the city and serves as a focal point for its public life to visit Ngoc Son temple and the Huc bridge. Then we will stop at Hanoi Opera House, erected by the French colonial administration between 1901 and 1911.

On our way to the Water Puppet Show, we will see Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi Hotel - A Grand Dame of Southeast Asia that welcomes guests to experience her colonial grandeur and timeless elegance. Located steps away from the Opera House in Hanoï's French Quarter, this legendary property brings guests into intimate contact with the opulence of another era.

Finally, we'll enjoy the Water Puppet Show, a stage art invented by the Vietnamese peasants hundred years ago, with nearly 20 stories of Vietnam traditions and daily scenes.

Lastly we will take a walk on the streets of the old quarter and enjoy the Vietnamese traditional food: Beef noodles.

Day 2: Hanoi - Ninh Binh - Hanoi

A 90km drive south of Hanoi will lead you to Ninh Binh, the site of the one capital city of ancient Vietnam before Hanoi took its leading role in 11th century. The area is featured by lots of well-known scenery, which include Tam Coc Caves and Hoa Lu ancient capital with the old temples dedicated to King Dinh & King Le reigned in 10th century.

The visit in Ninh Binh starts with a boat trip in Tam Coc where spectacular limestone karsts jut out from the green paddy fields similar to Guilin (China) and Halong Bay, which gives this scenery the name “Halong-bay-on-land.”

Our tour will continue to a site that used to be the kings’ palace in 10th century and now famous for the wooden relieves of the shady Dinh and Le temples.

We'll arrive back in Hanoi by the late afternoon.

Day 3: Hanoi - Halong Bay Cruise - Hanoi

We'll have an early departure for Halong Bay, a World Heritage as designated by UNESCO in 1994 with nearly 3,000 rocky islets.

The drive may take you more than three to four hours utmost depending on the high or low seasons’ traffic, and wee will pass through the Red River Delta, one of the two granaries of Vietnam.

Upon arriving in Halong, we will sail our boat round its natural rocky gardens whilst a tasty seafood lunch is waiting on board. Most of the islets here are not for living due to the lack of fresh water, but are excellent for cruising to contemplate their miraculous draws on the horizon. Many of them have great names from their inspirational shapes, including the Surprising cave, Pelican Grotto, Chopstick rock, Butterfly rock, Turtle rock, the island of Fishman’s Head, the Fighting Cocks, the Sail, the Urn, or the Sea Dog! We can wander to visit grottos, so swimming, or just lazily relax on the sundeck with our drinks.

The boat will return to the Wharf in the late afternoon where we take our car or coach to return to Hanoi.

Day 4: Hanoi

Your morning will be free until checkout and your transfer to the airport.