Itinerary

1. Day 1: Arrive Hanoi – Hanoi City tour [L]

   • 7:30 - 8:00 Our driver will pick you up from the airport/station and then transfer you to the city center to join the group tour. We will start our city day trip. Head to Uncle Ho’s final resting place standing in Ba Dinh Square, where Vietnamese cultural and political events usually take place. 
   • Visit Ho Chi Minh stilt house, where Ho Chi Minh used to live intermittently during the Vietnam War, and One Pillar Pagoda – a Buddhist temple featuring a particular architecture inside and a peaceful lotus lake outside. 
   • Visit Tran Quoc Pagoda, visit the Bodhi tree, which was offered by Indian Prime Minister Rajendra Prasad as a gift when he visited Vietnam in 1959. 
   • 12:30: Have Lunch in a restaurant in the old quarter. 
   • Continue to Hoa Lo prison, the ancient temple named Ngoc Son Temple, and Hoan Kiem Lake (Sword Lake). 
   • Go to see the first Vietnam University - Literature Temple (Quoc Tu Giam), founded in 1070 based on the teachings of Confucian. 
   • 16:15:  Enjoy the Water Puppet show - a kind of well-known traditional Vietnamese art which is preserved through generations and is more than 800 years old. Note (excluded water puppet show)
   • Free time Dinner for yourself 

   Stay overnight in Ha Noi.

   Please note: - The Program will be adjusted to suit the arrival flights. The Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum is closed on Monday and Friday and all other museums are closed on Monday. Alternatives will be recommended accordingly.

2. Day 2: Hanoi – Pu Luong retreat Trekking (B/L/D)

   • 7.30 – 8.15: Tour guide of Vietnam Travel Advisor. Pick-up at Hotel in Hanoi Old Quarter to go to Pu Luong Nature Reserve by bus.
   • 09:00: Short break in Luong Son (Outside of Hanoi).
   • 11:00: Visit local market of the Muong Ethnic Minority to learn about their daily life and customs; enjoy the beautiful scenery of Thung Khe Pass (One of the 10 most beautiful passes in Vietnam).
   • 13:00: Arrive in Pu Luong Nature Reserve. Have lunch and check-in.
   • 14:30 – 17:30: Board the van to the starting point. Following the small road through the terraced rice and sugar cane fields, cross the Hanging Bridges to visit other remote rural villages of Thai Ethnic. Stop at the giant waterwheels, ducks farm to learn about agriculture before trekking time.
   • 17:30: Pick up the van to go to the Mountain Retreat. Enjoy swimming in the Infinity Pool.
   • 19:00: Have dinner at the lodge and enjoy some local rice wine. Have a quiet night in the middle of the Reserve.

   Accommodation: Dorm Room/ Bungalow

3. Day 3: Pu Luong – Kho Muong Village trekking – Hanoi (B/L)

   • 07:30 – 08:30: Have breakfast in the lodge. Enjoying the breathtaking view from the lodge.
   • 09:00 – 12:00: Trek following the small roads through the terrace rice fields and cross the stream to visit remote rural villages of Black Thai Minorities to learn about the local people in Pu Luong. (6 km) 
   • Explore Doi Cave (Bat cave) of Kho Muong village, this is the largest cave in Pu Luong. (Depending on the weather condition)
   • 12:00: Back to the Eco Garden – Mountain Retreat, check out.
   • 13:00: Have lunch and have free time to relax in the Infinity pool or walk around the village.
   • 14:00: Board the van to go to Mai Chau and catch the limousine bus to go to Hanoi.
   • 17:00: Soft break on the way.
   • 19:30: Arrive in Hanoi Old Quarter and drop off at your hotel.

   Accommodation: N/A

4. Day 4: Ninh Binh full day (Hoa Lu - Mua cave – Trang An ) (B/L)

   • 7:30 - 8:00 AM - Depart from Hanoi. Your tour guide will pick you up from your hotel in Hanoi and begin the journey towards Ninh Binh province. It takes approximately two hours to reach the first destination of the day, Hoa Lu Ancient Capital.
   • 10:00 - 10h30 AM - Visit Hoa Lu Ancient Capital. Hoa Lu was the capital of Vietnam during the Dinh and Le dynasties in the 10th and 11th centuries. Here, you will visit the temples of the two kings, Dinh Tien Hoang and Le Dai Hanh. The temples are located in a scenic area surrounded by limestone mountains and green rice fields.
   • 11:30 AM - Explore Mua Cave.
   • After visiting Hoa Lu, the tour continues to Mua Cave, located nearby. Mua Cave is a popular tourist spot due to its stunning panoramic view of the Tam Coc area. To reach the top of the mountain, you need to climb 500 steps, but the effort is worth it.
   • 1:00 PM - Lunch break. You will have lunch at a local restaurant in Ninh Binh, where you can try traditional Vietnamese cuisine.
   • 2:00 PM - Boat tour in Trang An. After lunch, it's time for a boat tour in Trang An, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Trang An is known for its scenic landscapes of karst mountains, caves, and rivers. During the boat tour, you will explore the caves and enjoy the peaceful surroundings.
   • 4:30 PM - Return to Hanoi. After the boat tour, you will be driven back to your hotel in Hanoi, where you will arrive around 6:30 PM, depending on traffic.

5. Day 5: Halong bay - Hanoi overnight on cruise [B/L/D]

   • 07.45 – 08.30: You will be picked up from your hotel in Ha Noi Old Quarter. Then, we will head to Ha Long Bay. You may enjoy the landscape of the Red River Delta along the way.
   • 11.30: Upon arriving in our lobby in Tuan Chau Marina, you may take a short stretch while our staff arranges all registration with the local government.
   • 12.00 – 12.30: The cruise captain and staff will welcome you onboard CRUISE after a short tender transfer. While enjoying a refreshing welcome drink, a short cruise briefing and safety instructions will be given.
   • 12.30 – 13.00: CRUISE voyages to Ha Long Bay – one of the New Seven Nature Wonders of the World. Lunch is served on board while the cruise passes via amazing limestone karst formations that rise up out of the sea in an impressive manner. 
   • 14.00 – 14.30: You will leave the cruise to explore Sung Sot Cave (also known as Surprise/ Amazing Cave), one of the biggest and most beautiful caves in Ha Long Bay. 
   • 15.00: Returning to CRUISE, the trip will continue to Ti Top Island. Here, you can watch the magnificent view over either the Gulf of Tonkin or swim in the emerald green and cool water.
   • 17.00: After a long day, this is the ideal time to enjoy energizing drinks and snacks by joining ‘Happy Hour’ or Cooking Class on the sundeck.
   • 19.30: Sumptuous Dinner is served. Enjoy delicious local food prepared and served for you by our wonderful onboard catering staff. 
   • 20.30: After dinner, various activities, including karaoke and squid fishing, are organized. Or you can just laze around with exhilarating drinks from our bar. The rest of the day is spent at your leisure.

6. Day 6: Halong Bay – Luon Cave – Kayaking - Hanoi [B/L]

   • 06.15 – 07.00: Breakfast is served. It can be a great idea to enjoy the meal with the magnificent view of the sunrise in Ha Long Bay.
   • 8.00 -9.30: The cruise gets closer to the center of the Natural Preservation Area. Join our guide on a short trip to Luon Cave. This magic work of nature shows you the formation of karst mountains. You can discover this time masterpiece by kayaking on your own. If you are lucky, you can catch great photos of mischievous monkeys jigging up and down around the cliffs.
   • 9.30: Cruise welcomes you back on board, and it is time to check out.
   • 10.00: Whilst cruising back, a delightful lunch will be served.
   • 11.35: We return to the quayside in the south of the bay, where our visitors disembark in Tuan Chau Marina. And leave for Ha Noi on our shuttle.
   • 15.30 – 16.00: You will get back to your hotel in Ha Noi Old Quarter.
   • During the evening, you will be transferred to the airport for your departure flight.