Day 01
Yen Tu Mountain and Truc Lam Monastery from Halong Port
- Pick up at your cruise port gate (Halong International Cruise Ship Port) and drive for 1.5 hours to Yen Tu Mountain.
- Pass through Halong's picturesque countryside, with villages lined by bamboo fences and limestone walls.
- Upon arrival, board the cable car for a breathtaking ride up Yen Tu Mountain.
- Admire the landscape of ancient pagodas and temples set within pristine forests.
- Explore Yen Tu's pagodas, temples, and towers in a 2,800-hectare reserve.
- Capture stunning views of the limestone mountains.
- Hike 500 metres uphill (250 steps), shaded by green pine trees, to Hue Quang Tower Garden, where you will see the statue of Buddhist King Tran Nhan Tong.
- Ascend 150 steps to Hoa Yen Pagoda, which dates back to the 11th-century Ly Dynasty.
- Return to the foothill by cable car.
- Visit Truc Lam Monastery, the headquarters of the Truc Lam Zen Buddhism sect, established by King Tran Nhan Tong after the victory over the Mongol invasions.
- Stroll through the village, passing houses, temples, barbershops, and coffee shops.
- Engage with locals for cultural insights and experience the essence of the northern Vietnamese community.
- Drive back to the pier, ending your memorable trip.
