Hanoi surrounding tour and countryside exploring

Arrival at Hanoi’s Noi Bai International Airport, collect your luggage, tour guide and driver will be waiting for you outside the baggage claim/ customs area to transfer you in a private vehicle to the hotel downtown.

In the late afternoon, riding a cycle rickshaw around Old Quarter is the best way to get a real feeling for the town, as well as capture great photographs on your first day in Hanoi. After that, you attend unique water puppet show in the theater. Welcome dinner at a local restaurant.

Enjoy breakfast at your hotel. Today, we will visit The Ho Chi Minh complex, including the One Pillar Pagoda, the former leader’s house on stilts and his Mausoleum (outside).

Thang Long Citadel (the most recent UNESCO World Heritage Site of Vietnam), built in the 11th century by the Ly Viet Dynasty, marking the independence of the Dai Viet (former Vietnam). The peaceful Temple of Literature - the first university of Vietnam. Hanoi City tour full day - street food tour (B+L)

Around 15:00, we visit the Train street, watching the train passes then continue on, visit Dong Xuan market and start our street food tour in Ta Hien – Luong Ngoc Quyen – Hang Giay – Dao Duy Tu streets, where shows many kinds of local and traditional dishes.

Here, you will have a chance to try Bun Cha (a type of noodle soup with pork BBQ).  All of the preparation and content are explained by the guide.

The guide also tells the daily life of the common Vietnamese, experiencing something that the Vietnamese used a lot in cooking, dried foods, spices and fresh herbs. You also have a chance to taste the Hanoi's specialties Banh Cuon – the dish that made from a thin, wide sheet of steamed rice. This is one of the most famous dishes in Ha Noi and has been along with Hanoian for years. The tour ends with a cup of Egg Coffee or Ice Coffee (incase the coffee shops near the train street open, we can have coffee while watching the train), next we walk to Hoan Kiem lake. The rest of time is free at your leisure.

Remark: Street food & coffee are included. Other meals are on your account. Overnight in Hanoi

This morning, you leave Hanoi center and drive about 35 minutes to the west of city. It is about 17 km from old quarter to Song Phuong vegetable village. Upon arrival, you will meet the host at meeting point and she will show you a local market since Le King Dynasty. It is the most famous market in the region where many traditional items for sales. If on market days (two or three times per week, other day market is not too crowded), people from all the surrounding villages would come to trade. People bring dogs, cats, pigs, chickens, ducks, and bamboo baskets to sell. Everyone is excited to meet each other on that day. You will be surprised about bustling and colorful market which is working under the canopy of old tree. You will see the old women chew betel and areca nut and blacksmiths work hard with his bright brazier. Right next to the market place is nice vegetable farms. We take a tour around vegetable fields growing a variety of produce included: bitter melon, corn, cauliflower, cabbage, tomatoes, green peas, snake peas, and corn, as well as fruit gardens with oranges, pomelos, papaya and more (depend on the season to grow different crops)., You will learn more about background of vegetables and you may have a chance to help a farmer working on his field.

Hand-on a cooking class with a local family where you have chance to cook 4 of the best Vietnamese dishes.

In the afternoon, we go to Duong Lam ancient village. On arrival, we take a walk on the village path to visit Mong Phu temple where is dedicated to national heroes, King Ngo Quyen and King Phung Hung temples to exlore local Viet culture. Transfer back to City for overnight stay in Hanoi.

In the morning, we depart from Hanoi to Ninh Binh (100km - 2.5 hours), get into a rowing boat (around 2.5 hours) to explore the picturesque waterways in Trang An ecological tourist site – UNESCO World Heritage Sites since 2014.

Forested limestone mounts contrasting in emerald water, caves, lowland and rivers create a mysterious fairytale-like scene. We then visit a network of 11 caves with beautiful stalactites of all shapes and colors. After having short breaking, transfer to Hoa Lu, one of the oldest capitals in Vietnam dated to 968 – 1009. The remaining vestiges include two temples dedicated to Dinh and Le Kings. These temples are surrounded by beautiful hibiscus gardens, ponds with lotus blossoms and frangipani spreading a delicate perfume.  Take time to relax in its airy and reflective atmosphere then climb up to Mua cave to enjoy the panoramic view of Tam Coc before check in your hotel. Overnight stay in Ninh Binh.

We depart for Ha Long Bay, listed as a World Heritage Area since 1994 of outstanding natural beauty. “Dragon descending to the sea“as it is known in Vietnamese, picturesque Ha Long Bay has more than 1.000 limestone islets rising from the sea, many of them containing beautiful grottoes

Upon arrival at Ha Long Bay we embark on a boat trip to cruise discovering this magnificent UNESCO World Wonder. This is a great journey among surreal islands rising from a tranquil emerald sea. You will visit several key locations.

Visits:

– One of the most stunning caves of Halong Bay

– Stop at a beautiful beach and take a refreshing swim or sunbathe on the sundeck; take a short trek to the nearby summit for a panoramic view of the bay.

Back onboard the junk, you will watch the sunset and be served a sumptuous dinner, with cocktails available for purchase from the bar. You will spend the night onboard the junk, in a cabin with an ensuite bathroom.

Notes: The program may differ slightly based on the junk cruise’s itinerary

Early morning coffee and tea will be served on the sundeck followed by a Tai Chi class. After breakfast, we take a Sampan boat to explore Luon Cave.

We may have a chance to see the wild monkeys that gather around waiting for food from the tourists. After that, we continue to cruise around the bay. Brunch is served on the boat on our way back to the docks then we transfer to Hanoi or Noi Bai airport for the departure flight. End of tour service.