A Perfect Blend of Culture, Nature & Cruise Experience in Vietnam
Overview
This thoughtfully designed itinerary takes you through Vietnam’s most iconic destinations—blending culture, history, food, and natural beauty across Hanoi, Ninh Binh, and Ha Long Bay. 🗓️ Day 1: Arrival in Hanoi – Street Food & Nightlife 6 Your journey begins with arrival at Noi Bai International Airport, followed by a comfortable transfer to your hotel in Hanoi’s city center. After settling in, you dive straight into Vietnam’s vibrant culinary culture. In the evening, a guided street food tour introduces you to the bustling Old Quarter—famous for its narrow streets and local life. You’ll sample authentic dishes like Banh Cuon (steamed rice rolls), Bun Cha (grilled pork with noodles), refreshing fruit desserts, and the iconic Vietnamese egg coffee. The night continues at Ta Hien Street, often called Hanoi’s “Beer Corner,” where locals and travelers gather for a lively atmosphere. After the tour, return to your hotel for an overnight stay. 🏛️ Day 2: Hanoi City Tour – Culture & Heritage 5 After breakfast, you explore the cultural heart of Hanoi. The day begins with a visit to the Ho Chi Minh Complex, where you’ll view the mausoleum (from outside), Presidential Palace, and the traditional stilt house. Next, visit the Temple of Literature, Vietnam’s first university dating back to the 11th century—an important symbol of education and Confucian values. Following lunch at a local restaurant, the tour continues to Hoan Kiem Lake and Ngoc Son Temple, located on a small island connected by the iconic red bridge. You’ll then enjoy a relaxing cyclo ride through the Old Quarter, offering a unique perspective of daily life. The day ends with a traditional water puppet show, showcasing Vietnam’s cultural storytelling. Overnight in Hanoi. 🌿 Day 3: Hanoi → Ninh Binh – Ancient Capital & Nature 6 After breakfast, depart for Ninh Binh, a peaceful province known for its natural beauty and historical importance. Your first stop is Hoa Lu, the ancient capital of Vietnam in the 10th century. Here, you’ll visit temples dedicated to King Dinh and King Le, gaining insight into Vietnam’s early dynastic history. After lunch, experience one of the tour’s highlights—a serene boat ride through Trang An. This UNESCO-listed area features limestone karst mountains, winding rivers, and a network of caves. As you glide through the water, you’ll pass through natural tunnels and lush valleys, surrounded by untouched beauty. Check into your hotel and enjoy a relaxing evening in Ninh Binh. 🚢 Day 4: Ninh Binh → Ha Long Bay – Overnight Cruise 5 After breakfast, travel to the world-famous Ha Long Bay, a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its emerald waters and thousands of limestone islands. Upon arrival, board your cruise जहाज (ship) and enjoy a welcome drink. Lunch is served as the cruise sails deeper into the bay, offering stunning views of the seascape. In the afternoon, participate in activities such as: Kayaking through calm waters Swimming Exploring caves with impressive stalactites and stalagmites As evening approaches, relax on the deck and enjoy a beautiful sunset. Dinner is served onboard, followed by an overnight stay in your private cruise cabin. 🌅 Day 5: Ha Long Bay – Return & Departure 7 Start your day early with a peaceful sunrise over Ha Long Bay—one of the most memorable moments of the trip. Enjoy tea or coffee while soaking in the tranquil scenery. After breakfast, the cruise continues exploring quieter parts of the bay before heading back. A light brunch is served onboard as you return to the port. Your driver will then transfer you back to Noi Bai International Airport for your departure flight, marking the end of a memorable Vietnam journey. 🌟 Overall Journey Experience This itinerary offers a perfect balance of: Cultural immersion in Hanoi Historical exploration in Ninh Binh Natural wonders & relaxation in Ha Long Bay Children Policy Children under 4 years old: Free of charge (excluding flight tickets) Children 4 – 7 years old (no extra bed): 50% of adult rate Children 8 – 10 years old (no extra bed): 75% of adult rate Children 11 years and above: Charged as adult rate Policy applies to one child sharing room with two adults 🏨 Guest Hotel Rate (Per Person in USD) Group Size 3★ Hotel 4★ Hotel 5★ Hotel 2 Pax $561 $586 $673 3–4 Pax $571 $596 $683 5–10 Pax $442 $470 $557 10–15 Pax $372 $401 $488 15–20 Pax $355 $385 $472 ✔ Prices are per person based on private group size ✔ Hotel category can be selected (3★ / 4★ / 5★) ❌ Cancellation Policy 60+ days before departure: Free of charge 30 – 59 days before: 10% of total cost 15 – 29 days before: 30% of total cost 7 – 14 days before: 50% of total cost Less than 7 days / No-show: 100% charge
Highlights
Detailed Itinerary
Hanoi Arrival – Street Food Tour & Old Quarter Night Experience
HANOI ARRIVAL – FOOD TOUR ( MEALS: D) Upon arrival at Noi Bai airport, our guide and driver will meet you at the airport and transfer to your hotel in city center. In the afternoon, you’ll join food tour and discover every corners of the Hanoi Old Quarter. You’ll enjoy amazing local food including: Banh Cuon: Vietnamese steamed rice rolls Bun Cha: rice noodles with barbecue pork. Hoa Qua Dam: fruit beams - one of the most popular cooling dishes for young people on hot summer days. In the sweltering weather, enjoying a cup of sweet, refreshing, and cool beams of fruit is a wonderful thing that everyone loves. Egg – coffee: a Vietnamese drink traditionally prepared with egg yolks, sugar, condensed milk and robusta coffee Finnally, we are heading to Ta Hien street. It’s known as “ beer corner of the Hanoi Old Quarter”. Our guide’ll take you back your hotel. Overnight in Hanoi.
- Airport Transfer
- Guided Food Tour
- Banh Cuon & Bun Cha Tasting
- Egg Coffee
- Ta Hien Beer Street
Hanoi City Tour – Cultural Heritage, Cyclo Ride & Water Puppet Show
HANOI CITY TOUR ( MEALS: B,L) After breakfast, our tour guide will meet you in the hotel lobby. We will visit Hanoi with Ho Chi Minh Complex that completed in 1975. We visit outside Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum. The complex includes the Presidential Palace, House-on-Stilts, the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and One Pillar pagoda. 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 of Vietnamese society for education. Have lunch at a nice restaurant in city center. After lunch, we continue our trip 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. After that, we take 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 - a tradictional performance of Vietnamese. Overnight in Hanoi.
- Ho Chi Minh Complex (Outside Visit)
- Temple of Literature
- Lunch
- Hoan Kiem Lake & Ngoc Son Temple
- Cyclo Ride
- Water Puppet Show
Hanoi – Ninh Binh – Hoa Lu Ancient Capital & Trang An Boat Trip
HANOI – NINH BINH ( MEALS: B,L) After your breakfast, our driver and tour-guide’ll pick you up at your hotel. Then, we’ll head to Ninh Binh – known as the first capital of Vietnam during 10th-century. The first visit will be Hoa Lu, the picturesque site of a 10th-century capital of an ancient Vietnamese Kingdom called Dai Co Viet for 41 years (968-1009). You will visit to the 2 promient temples called King Dinh Temple & King Le Temple. Lunch will be served at a local restaurant. In the afternoon, we take the amazing boat trip to visit Trang An grottoes which is a gathering of 31 valleys, 50 cross-water caves, and home to 600 kinds of flora and over 200 kinds of fauna, many of them in the Red Book of Vietnam. While rowing through Trang An grotto in the quiet, fresh air of the highlands, with only the sound of birds and the oars stirring the clear water and surrounded by magnificent forested mountains upon which graze white goats, visitors enjoy a heaven on earth. Overnight in Ninh Binh.
- Transfer to Ninh Binh
- Hoa Lu Temples (King Dinh & King Le)
- • Lunch
- Trang An Scenic Boat Ride
Ninh Binh – Ha Long Bay – Cruise, Activities & Overnight Stay
NINH BINH – HA LONG BAY ( MEALS: B,L,D) After your breakfast, we leave Ninh Binh for Halong Bay in 3 hours drive. Ha Long Bay is known as the most famous World Heritage Site in Vietnam for its beautiful seascape, thousands of spectacular islands and islets jutting out from the sea, amazing caves with marvelous stalagmites and stalactites in different sizes and shapes. Upon arrival, you'll be welcomed on board. Lunch will be served while the boat is sailing to Halong Bay. In the afternoon, we’ll join some activities: sightseeing, kayaking, swimming, visit cave...(depending on each cruise’s itinerary). Stay overnight on the cruise
- Transfer to Ha Long Bay
- Cruise Boarding
- Lunch Onboard
- Kayaking
- Swimming
- Cave Exploration
- Dinner & Overnight Cruise
Ha Long Bay – Morning Cruise, Brunch & Airport Transfer
: HA LONG BAY – NOI BAI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT ( B,L) Enjoy the morning view of the beautiful landscape with a cup of coffee or tea then have breakfast. After breakfast, the cruise will bring you on a trip to explore deeper inside the bay. The brunch will be served on the way sailing back to the port and our driver will pick you up and transfer to Noi Bai International Airport. Our tour-guide & driver say goodbye to you!
- Sunrise View
- • Breakfast
- Bay Exploration
- Brunch Onboard
- Return Transfer to Airport
Inclusions
- Accommodation in selected 3★ / 4★ / 5★ hotels (twin/double sharing)
- Daily breakfast at hotel
- Meals as mentioned in itinerary (B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner)
- Private air-conditioned transportation throughout the tour
- English-speaking guide as per itinerary
- Ha Long Bay cruise with onboard stay & activities
- Boat trip in Trang An (Ninh Binh)
- Drinking water during transfers
Exclusions
- International & domestic flight tickets
- Vietnam visa fees
- Personal travel insurance (highly recommended)
- Personal expenses (shopping, minibar, laundry, etc.
- Tips for guide & driver
- Peak season / holiday surcharges (if applicable)