Day 01
Halong Bay Cruise and Thien Cung Cave Exploration
- 08:00 - 08:30: Pick-up from hotels in the Old Quarter or at the meeting point. Travel by luxury modern private car or van, depending on the size of the group. The round-trip journey from Hanoi via the National Expressway through the Red River Delta is a great opportunity to see what daily life is like for Vietnamese farmers, with rice fields and water buffalo flanking both sides of the road.
- Take a rest stop at the halfway point before continuing to Halong Bay. The most interesting glimpses into rural life come during February and June, when whole families are busy transplanting young rice plants into the growing fields.
- 12:00: Arrive at Halong City Tourist Wharf and board the cruise to head into the bay. A fresh seafood lunch is served on the way out, with a vegetarian option available on request.
- The limestone bedrock and sheer cliffs of the countless islets have inspired local people to give them equally fanciful names, such as Stone Dogs Island, Duck Island, Finger Island, Incense Burner Island, and Fighting Cocks Island, the symbol of Halong Bay.
- You will then head to Thien Cung Cave (Heavenly Palace Grotto), a magnificent and otherworldly cave. Explore its huge chambers adorned with stalactites and stalagmites of all kinds. Particularly impressive are the formations resembling the 4 holy animals: Dragon, Unicorn, Turtle, and Phoenix, as well as a magic heaven gate.
- Enjoy 45 minutes of kayaking or a bamboo boat ride around the islands and water tunnels, and bask in the charm of this natural paradise.
- 16:30: Return to the Halong tourist wharf, where your vehicle will be waiting to take you back to Hanoi.
- 19:30: The trip ends at your hotel or drop-off address.
