NORTHERN HIGHLIGHT OF VIETNAM

Arrive at Noi Bai International Airport, welcome by our guide and transfer to your hotel. The transfer distance is approximately 40 munites.

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 of Asia.

Late afternoon, visit Hoan Kiem Lake and Ngoc Son Temple located on an islet in the lake. Hoan Kiem Lake is the center point of Hanoi and 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. Discover special Vietnamese traditional art of water puppetry as well as Vietnamese folklore through a compelling puppet show at Thang Long Theatre. Shop or walk at leisure in the Old Quarter of 36 ancient streets.

Meals: None

Accommodation: A hotel used in Hanoi

Morning, start a city tour beginning with 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. Lunch at a Vietnamese restaurant

Afternoon, transfer to Ha Long Bay which is about 160 km or 3.5 hour drive away. Moving through the countryside on the way will bring you a clear perspective of a country’s whose 80% of population live on farming. Have a quick rest stop en route before reaching Ha Long City. Check in hotel then spend time at leisure.

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: A hotel used in Ha Long

Morning, breakfast at 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 holly dragon landed down here from 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 13th Century was a depot to store pointed wooden stakes, which later were used by Vietnamese great military commander Tran Hung Dao to trap and puncture Mongolian naval boats in famous battles of Bach Dang. Continue cruising while fresh seafood lunch is served on board. Return to the dock, disembark and travel back to Hanoi.

Afternoon, drive back Hanoi and shopping in Hanoi Old Quarter. Evening at leisure.

Option1: Full – day Tam Coc & Bich Dong

Morning, transfer to Ninhbinh province – located 110km from Hanoi to the South. Tam Coc – Bich Dong is a popular tourist destination near the city of Ninhbinh 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 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.

Option2: 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 statutes 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, 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. Have lunch at Anh Dung restaurant with local specialties such as goat meat, pork and crunchy rice crust.

Afternoon, transfer back to Hanoi.

Overnight at hotel in Hanoi

Free at leisure until transfer to airport for departure flight.