5 Days Ha Noi – Ha Long – Hai Phong

CHÀO MU’NG! Welcome to Vietnam and Hanoi!
You will meet us on arrival at the Noi Bai airport (Ha Noi), and be transferred to Halong Bay, a renowned UNESCO World Heritage Site. Stop for lunch en route, then arrive at your hotel in the afternoon.
Overnight in Hanoi.

Halong Bay is a 1500 km2 water body with picturesque islands shrouded in mist, floating villages and pearl fisheries. Today, enjoy a relaxing full day private boat excursion aboard a traditional Chinese-style wooden ship. You will cruise on the emerald waters among dolomite islets and some of the 3,000 craggy limestone cliffs dotted with breathtaking caves and grottos. You will sail by rock formations with such names as Stone Dog and Incense Burner (Dinh Huong), and stop to explore the Thien Cung or Sungsot Cave to view the beauty of the surreal and subterranean world of stalagmites and stalactites. Anchor at Titop Beach to relax in the sun or enjoy a swim. A wonderful seafood lunch is included during your cruise of this mystical bay. Overnight in Halong.

This morning, depart for a drive to the harbor city of Haiphong. Enjoy a short tour this city – see the variety of Buddha statues in the Du Hang Temple, view the Grand Catholic Cathedral, and explore the large fish and colorful flower markets. Continue the drive to Hanoi with lunch en route at a local restaurant, then arrive at your Hanoi hotel in the afternoon with the rest of the day at leisure to explore this vibrant metropolis, teeming with energy and activity. This evening, laugh with the local children as you watch the delightful water puppet show. This unique art form created in the 10th century and came from the Red River Delta region of northern Vietnam. Using the water’s surface as a stage, puppeteers stand behind a curtain and control the puppets using long bamboo rods and a string mechanism hidden beneath the water surface. A Cheo (a form of opera) is sung to tell the story acted out. Overnight in Ha Noi.

Blending the modern with the mystery and charm of past centuries, Hanoi offers an air of elegance and harmony with nature. This morning’s sightseeing begins with a visit to the Van Mieu or Temple of Literature. The temple dates back to 1070 and is dedicated to the cult of Confucius. Note the peaceful series of walled courtyards and graceful gateways which is a typical example of traditional Vietnamese architecture. Next, continue to the Ho Chi Minh Memorial Complex which contains a museum and Ho Chi Minh’s final resting place. See the Ho Chi Minh’s Stilt House, the simple two-room dwelling where he lived from 1958 until his final days in 1969. View the miniature One Pillar Pagoda, or Chua Mot Cot sitting in a lotus pond nearby. Made out of a single large tree trunk, it was originally constructed in 1040 and then rebuilt after being destroyed by the French in 1954. Then you will be driven to West Lake in the center of the city to see the beautiful Tran Quoc Temple built since the 6th century. At midday, take a break for a light and local lunch featuring “Pho” (noodle soup) – a savory Hanoi specialty. In the afternoon, we pay a somber visit to the infamous Hoa Lo prison which is built by the French colonists to host Vietnamese political prisoners. During the Vietnamese War, it was used by the North Vietnam government and dubbed the “Hanoi Hilton” by American prisoners. Today, only part of the prison still remains as a history museum. Next, enjoy a walking tour through Hanoi’s Old Quarter, the oldest continuously inhabited area of Vietnam, highlighting more than 1000 years of history. Explore a network of narrow alleyways known as ‘The 36 Streets.” This is a wonderful place to watch the local life and purchase items from fabrics to crafts, to exotic medicines. Each street was named following its specialized trade, such as silk trading, comb trading, etc. Take a break at a local coffee shop and watch life in the neighborhood. Your tour ends with a visit to the charming Buddhist Ngoc Son Temple, or Temple of the Jade Mountain. Walk across the red-painted wood bridge to explore this center of peace and harmony. Overnight in Hanoi.

Your tour ends today with your transfer to the Hanoi airport for your departing flight.