This trip offers you the chance to explore Hanoi, see daily life of the local and learn about its culture and history. You will be amazed at the wide array of shops you’ll visit in the Old Quarter and treated to a sumptuous dinner at one of the old French villas which have been converted into gourmet restaurants. You’ll also spend a few days cruising through Halong Bay and journeying through the Red River Delta. There, you will take a boat past some of the magnificent natural wonders in the area, including the world-famous limestone cliffs. This is a just a taste of what you will be able to experience on your luxury vacation.
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive Hanoi (D)
Upon arrival at Hanoi’s Noi Bai International airport, you will be greeted by your guide and transferred to your hotel. After freshening up, you will have dinner at one of the old French colonial villas which have been converted into gourmet restaurants. Then you can experience a performance at the Thang Long Water Puppet Theater before retiring for an overnight stay in Hanoi.
Day 2: Hanoi City Tour (B, L)
On day two, you’ll be able to explore the fascinating Old Quarter and its hundreds of specialty shops, selling silk clothing, lacquer ware, embroidered linens, furniture, bamboo, cooking utensils, ceremonial objects and more. You can take a stroll around Hoan Kiem Lake, enjoy people-watching at one of the numerous stylish cafes or shop for modern art in the city's myriad galleries. You’ll also have the chance to visit Hanoi’s main cultural attractions, including the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, his House on Stilts, the One Pillar Pagoda, the Fine Arts Museum and the Temple of Literature.
Day 3: Hanoi - Ha Long Bay with night on Emotion shared boat (B, L,D)
You will be picked up with a private car at 8:30 a.m. and transferred to Halong city where you will arrive at approximately 12:30 p.m. You will board Emotion boat and set sail through the bay while lunch is served. As you cruise the magical bay, you will notice thousands of sculpted limestone islands rising from the waves like dragons' teeth. After lunch, you’ll continue on, passing by and visiting Dinh, Ga Choi and Dog islands, Binh Phong Mountain, Sung Sot Cave and Titov Beach. You may want to enjoy the sunset on the mountain top, or you can choose to take a bamboo row boat to discover the tunnels and many coral reefs in a nearby scenic lagoon. You’ll then be treated to dinner and an overnight stay aboard the junk.
Day 4: Halong Bay - Hanoi (B)
After rising to the sound of the ocean coming to life, you’ll enjoy breakfast and watch the sunrise over the bay (if you choose to get up that early!) After breakfast, you’ll be taken to Bai Tho Mountain in nearby Bai Tu Long Bay before heading back to the Halong dock in Hanoi. Finally, you’ll enjoy dinner one of Hanoi’s finest restaurants which your guide will recommend to you. You’ll then have a restful overnight stay and a satisfied stomach.
Day 5: Hoa Lu & Van Long in Red River Delta Excursion (B, L)
Just 100 km from Hanoi, Van Long is an area of astounding natural beauty, whose splendor is often said to surpass that of Ha Long Bay. You will leave Hanoi at 8:30 a.m. and head south for a 2-hour drive along Highway One, also known as Road Mandarin. You will spend one hour visiting the Dinh and Le temples of the Ancient Capital Hoa Lu and then go on to Van Long for lunch. You may choose to enjoy an optional cow cart ride to Van Long Wharf for a 2-hour boat trip along the Van Long River and marvel at its limestone peaks. Along the way, you will also see caves, green rice fields, and the rural life of the locals before returning to Hanoi. After a 6:00 p.m. drop-off at your hotel in Hanoi, you will have free time until you settle in for a relaxing overnight stay.
Day 6: Hanoi Departure (B)
There are no activities planned for your final day, so you can unwind and plan for the next leg of your journey or opt to take in even more of the city’s offerings before being escorted to the airport for your onward flight.
(B: Breakfast ; L: Lunch ; D: Dinner)
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