5-Day Halong Bay Cruise & Ninh Binh Tour from Hanoi

Welcome to Hanoi - Vietnam!

The tour guide & driver will be welcoming you at Noi Bai airport; it takes us 35 minutes driving to the centre of Hanoi then check-in at hotel. Let's start our city tour from Temple of Literature, the 1st university in Vietnam then continue to Ba Dinh Square - the biggest square in Hanoi where all biggest cultural, political events of the cities for taking photos of Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum.

Later have an overall view of the capital by a "cyclo" visit, which will start around the Old Quarter of Hanoi, stop at Ngoc Son Temple located on the Hoan Kiem Lake (the "Sword" Lake). Overnight in Hanoi.

A 90km drive south of Hanoi will lead you to Ninh Binh, the site of the one capital city of ancient Vietnam before Hanoi took its leading role in 11th century. The area is featured by lots of well-known sceneries, which include Tam Coc Caves and Hoa Lu ancient capital with the old temples dedicated to King Dinh & King Le reigned in 10th century.

The visit in Ninh Binh starts by a boat trip in Tam Coc where spectacular limestone karsts jut out from the green paddy fields reminding about Guilin (China) and Halong Bay of Vietnam, which gives this scenery the name "Halong-bay-on-land". Further discovery in Ninh Binh will be continued in the site that used to be the kings' palace in 10th century and now famous for the wooden relieves of the shady Dinh and Le temples.

Late afternoon back to Hanoi. Overnight in Hanoi.

From Hanoi, at 8:00 am, head East for more than 3 hours to Halong Bay, the pride of the Gulf of Tonkin, a Natural World Heritage as designated by UNESCO in 1994. The road will pass by the Red River delta with green paddyfields and rural villages, where hard-work farmers are busy with their farming jobs, ploughing buffaloes or planting seedling.

Upon arrival in Halong, we'll take a big boat to cruise the Bay to discover the magnificent beauty of this "Descending-dragon" bay, created by thousands odd-shaped limestone rocks and karst grottoes.

After a lunch of fresh seafood on board, we can visit the Surprising Grotto, stop for swimming or kayaking, passing floating villages and approach islets to enjoy their beauty in close distance. Back to the boat for dinner late afternoon.

Evening attend activities on the boat or relax at your own leisure. Overnight on the boat near Titov Beach. 

After breakfast, visit by boat to Luon Cave, a ring-shaped pool inside an island in Halong with absolutely tranquil landscape and emerald water.

Back to the Wharf of Halong passing the most densely area with many islands that have been named like the Cock-Fighting Rock, Sail Island, Incense burner rock or Sea Dog Rock.

Arrive at Halong Wharf around 11:00 am. Return to Hanoi around 4:00 pm. Free at your own leisure. Overnight in Hanoi.

You are free until transfer to the airport for departure flight. End of service!