A 5-Day Journey Through Hanoi, Ninh Binh, and Halong
Highlights:
Hanoi has a deep history and rich culture with colorful life and is the first destination for tourists to explore North Vietnam.
If you have a short time to explore the capital of Vietnam and are looking for a 5-day-and-4-night itinerary, this perfect program gives you the highlights to see and do in Hanoi, Ninh Binh, and Halong.
A quick look at the itinerary of 5 days in Hanoi:
Day 1: Explore the history and daily life in Hanoi
The Museums of Women & Vietnam Museum of Ethnology
Hoan Kiem Lake & Ngoc Son Temple
The Literature of Temple
Water puppet
Day 2, 3 & 4: Landscapes near Hanoi
Visit Trang An, Bai Dinh in Ninh Binh
Spend one night on the cruise in Halong Bay
Day 5: Taste the local food and shopping in Hanoi
Walking for a food tour
Shopping to get souvenirs
Details of experience:
Day 1: Museums, Lake, Temple and Water Puppet (L)
We start the trip by visiting one of the famous museums, the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology. You will find out the history and culture of 54 different groups of Vietnamese people.
Continue to visit one more museum – the Museum of Women. The museum introduces the different sides of the female life, including the clothes, their roles in the family and society, the circle of the female life (grow up – get married – give birth), and many stories of the women in daily life.
Keep exploring the Literature of Temple, the first national university in Vietnam. The temple was built in 1070. It is the symbol of the educational spirit of the Vietnamese people.
Then, you visit the Hoan Kiem Lake and Ngoc Son Temple in Hanoi Center. You can take pictures to remember your time in Hanoi, because here is a vital place in the history of Hanoi and the local people.
Take a rest, and enjoy the Puppet Performance. This typical traditional art is well-preserved with the unique skills to perform.
Overnight in Hanoi.
Day 2: Visit Trang An and Bai Dinh Pagoda in Ninh Binh from Hanoi (B, L)
Trang An Tourism Complex, recognized as one of the UNESCO World Heritage, is situated in the northern province of Ninh Binh. Bai Dinh Pagoda is famous for its big-scale pagoda and has plenty of statues.
Trang An-Bai Dinh tour is one of the popular tours from Hanoi.
We start from the hotel in Hanoi to Ninh Binh, with around 2 hours to drive. You will visit Bai Dinh Pagoda, which has hundreds of Buddhist statues in different feelings and shapes. Typically, this area has a huge statue of Buddha made in bronze standing 10 meters tall.
You take a break and have lunch at a local restaurant with Ninh Binh traditional dishes. This lunch is optional.
We will continue the excursion to Trang An to enjoy the cave complex. The scenery of Trang An covers the incredible beauty cast by the river, mountains, caves, and blue sky. The boat trip will range from 2 to 3 hours, rowed by local people.
After the boat trip, we transfer to your hotel in Ninh Binh to relax.
Day 3: Transfer to Halong Bay from Ninh Binh to spend a night on the cruise (B, L, D)
In the early morning, The driver (without a guide) will drive (around 4.5 – 5 hours) from Ninh Binh to Halong Bay to explore one of the top beautiful landscapes in Vietnam. Halong Bay has hundreds of islands scattered in the sea. That’s great to spend a night on the cruise on the bay.
Day 4: Welcome morning in Halong Bay and drive back to Hanoi (B, L)
The morning opens in Ha Long Bay with fresh pink rays of sunlight stretching across the sea, stretching on the green islands, creating a magnificent picture.
This is the best time of the day for you to breathe the fresh-air atmosphere of the new day, receiving the endless energy of heaven and earth.
Then, you will continue exploring the beauty of the bay. At noon, come back to the port to start driving back to Hanoi for your relaxation.
Day 5: Walking for food tour & go shopping (B, L)
Vietnamese food is colorful and flavorful. Today is a chance for you to taste the local foods in Hanoi.
There are many ways to taste the local food: Join a cooking class or take a walking food tour. Vietnamdrive introduces you to a walking tour to taste street food in Hanoi.
This is the list that you can taste:
(1) Pho – Vietnamese Noodle Food (choose the best place)
(2) Bun Cha Ca Hanoi – Fish Pie Vermicelli of Hanoi
(3) Banh Cuon – Wet Rice Spring Rolls
(4) Banh Mi – Vietnamese famous bread
(5) Cafe Trung – Egg coffee
The food tour can take from 2 – 3 hours. Then, you can spend the rest of your time to go shopping.
If you want to book or customize anything, Vietnamdrive is happy to support you.
Inclusion:
Accommodations
3 nights at beautiful 4-star hotels (air-conditioner, hot and cold water, mini-bar), including 2 nights in Hanoi and 1 night in Ninh Binh
Standard room type: 2 adult guests/room, if the group has an odd number, the 3-bed rooms will be supplied. If one guest wants to use a single room, the surcharge will be applied.
One night on the 4-star standard of a beautiful cruise in Halong Bay
Please note that all accommodations can be changed but we will keep the same level or higher. We try to keep all accommodations, but in case, a hotel cannot receive the booking, we will change your stay to the same standard or higher one.
Transportation
New modern cars/vans/buses with air-conditioners and safe belts throughout the program (the size of the vehicle depends on the number of the group)
Guide
English-speaking guide to experience throughout the program
Entrance fee
+ Tickets to visit the attractions in the itinerary (admission 1 time)
+ Entrance ticket and the boat trip at Ninh Binh
+ Admission ticket to explore Ha Long Bay
Meals
+ Breakfast at the hotel and on the cruise
+ 4 lunch meals and one dinner on the cruise in Halong Bay
+ One lunch on the food tour in Hanoi
Note: B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner
Travel Insurance
Travel insurance with Vietnamese standards is compulsory. But, this insurance travel has low quality and nearly is not fixed for foreign tourists. Thus, you have to buy your own international insurance before traveling with us.
Additional services
A bottled water 0.5l / person / day
Exclusion:
Flights/Trains
Airfare, train, and car for traveling to Danang to start the tour.
However, we can support you in booking these tickets on your request.
Optional Activities
Hue folk song on the Perfume River (optional activity)
Additional services
* Personal expenses, VAT, extra food, self-ordered drinks during meals
* Transportation outside the program
* The cost of a single room
* Tips for the guide and driver
International travel insurance
International travel insurance is not included in the price. You have to have this insurance when traveling with us. When all guests own international travel insurance with international standards, it is much better to travel to Vietnam.
What to note:
Cancellation policy
Conditions for tour cancellation (weekdays):
* After registering for the tour cancellation, 10% of the price is lost.
* Cancellation of the tour 45 days before departure 30% of the price charged.
* Cancellation of the tour 30 days before departure 50% of the price charged.
* Cancellation of the tour 15- 30 days before departure 75% of the price charged.
* Cancellation of the tour within 14 days before departure 100% of the price charged.
* Flight cancellation fee according to the airline’s regulations.
Change policy
Conditions for change of departure date (only one time):
Change before 45 days compared to the date of departure: transfer fee 0% of the tour.
30 days before the departure date: 20% of the tour cost.
Under 30 days before departure date, the cancellation policy can be applied.
Flight change fee according to the airline regulations.
Notes:
Guests wishing to check out late on the last day will be charged an additional room fee according to the hotel’s regulations.
Check in the hotels from 2:00 pm.
At least, there are 2 adults booked to start the tour.
For children price:
under 5 years old: Free of charge, you take care of them,
from 5 – 8 years old (under 1.2m): 85% of the price,
from 9 years old: 100% of price.