OVERVIEW

The tour program is the combination of the mystical scenery of Halong Bay and the ancient culture of Hanoi. Within a day, you can not only take a visit to a thousands of limestone islands jut out of the emerald sea, sculpted into bizarre shapes and surrounded by colorful floating villages is a truly a breathtaking destination but also an interesting cultural and historic monuments having more than thousand years of history.

Highlights
  • Weave between the limestone karsts and islands of Halong Bay: Tortoise Island, Man’s Head Island…
  • Visit floating fishing villages and a beautiful limestone caves: Sung Sot Cave, Bo Nau Cave…
  • Relax aboard amid breath-taking scenery
  • Hanoi's history, culture, religion and tradition
  • Hanoi's food (specialties)
  • Exploring every single corners of Hanoi by motorbike
 
Enquire Now Add to short list

Itinerary Details

Day 1: Halong Bay port - Hanoi

08h00 Ship dock at port (Halong international cruise port – new port to replace tendered port)

Pick up at port gate - Ship arrange free shuttle to port gate (transfer 5 minutes)

Depart for Hanoi - the heart of Vietnamese nation, transfer takes 2.5 hrs.(using the new highway Halong - Hanoi)

Part 1: Hanoi Classical Romance & City’s highlights
 
Arrival Hanoi, Drive through bustling streets lined with French colonial style structures on your way to Ba Dinh Square to visit Ho chi minh complex where you’ll witness the impressive marble and granite tomb of the nation’s founding father – Ho chi minh final resting-place.. 
 
From there, take leisurely walk through tranquil carp-filled ponds and well-tended gardens leading to the humble stilt house, where "Uncle Ho" once lived & one Pillar Pagoda, which was founded by King Ly Thai To in 1049 - the structure is small but has become an important symbol for the people of Hanoi. 
 
Next, visit to a Confucius temple -Temple of Literature founded in 1070 to honor Vietnam’s finest scholars. This place is considered Vietnam's first university, also referred to as Van Mieu, to educate Vietnam's royalty, mandarins and members of the elite. 
 
Lunch: Take walking tour that will introduce to you some of Vietnam’s finest authentic street foods. Our guide take you wandering to some typical places, market to get overview Vietnamese food, talking with artisan foodstuffs, street food vendors, stall holders, hear stories of the ingredients and history of Hanoi’s food culture and sample Northern Vietnamese cuisine. Tasting Hanoi “Pho” or “Bún chả” - one of the oldest favorites of north Vietnam cuisine … and finish the food tour at a nice coffee shop famous with the “egg coffee” in the Old Quarter. 
 
After that, visit Hoa Lo Prison - Known widely by the nickname ‘Hanoi Hilton’ given to it by the Americans during the Second Indochina War, Hoa Lo Prison was originally established by the French colonial government in 1896 for the purpose of detaining political prisoners and formed part of a northern network of ‘unjust and cruel prisons’. Many leading Vietnamese revolutionaries were incarcerated here during the French colonial period, Between 1964 and 1973 the prison’s inmates included several captured American pilots, notably Senator John McCain and Douglas 'Pete' Peterson, America’s first Ambassador to the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. 
 
Stroll around the Old Quarter discovering a number of Vietnamese handcrafts & shopping 
 
Part 2: Parts Unknown & Backstreet Adventures

Riding through the maze of zigzagging backstreet and narrow alleyways & markets Diving into the rivers of motorbikes and Hanoi street symphony.

Travelling with all your senses heightened: Watching, Hearing, Touching, Tasting, Smelling…

Experiencing the GOOD, the BAD, the WEIRD and even the UGLY of the city as it is what it is.

Experiencing different slides of life behind the scene, the hidden part of the iceberg, the parts unknown & train tracks.

Meeting people where they live, work, learn and pray.

Part 3: Happy Hours & Hanoi Food Culture

Eating at random street-side eateries & authentic local restaurants

Experiencing Family’s heirloom food and special delicacies

Stroll through hidden alleyways and bustling markets of Hanoi’s charming old quarter

Learn more about Hanoi’s unique food culture

Try local specialties with influences from French and Chinese cuisine

Enjoying Hanoi egg coffee and taking in a spectacular night view of Hoan Kiem lake from a hidden café.

Return to the cruise, drop off at tendered port at around 23h00 pm
 
Day 2: Spectacular Halong Bay with traditional wooden junk boat

06h00: Pick up at Halong international cruise port. Transfer (20 minutes) to sightseeing pier  to board private day junk for Halong bay & briefing

06h30: Start boarding. After sometimes cruising on the bay we quickly get away from most of others tourist to be alone in the middle of the nature among thousands of spectacular limestone islands.

08h00: Take a short hike up to an island for a visit to Sung Sot cave (Surprising cave) – one other largest and most popular caverns in Halong Bay.

After that, The cruise move toward a Lagoon cave (Luon Cave): here we can visit the place by kayak (row your selves) or in a rustic row-boat rowed by the local and try to spot wild monkeys to admit the magnificent scenery of this magical bay where thousands of sculpted limestone islands rise from the waves like dragons’ teeth…

Finally, experience the pleasure of cruising through the bay while our boat takes a different route returning to land, passing floating Pearl farm where, if time permits you can get off the boat & look around.

Take another route cruising back to Halong pier where your vehicle will be waiting for you to take you back to the cruise

11h30: the boat trip ends at  pier, say goodbye to your crew and return to the boa/p>

12h00: Drop off at your cruise

 
Enquire Now Add to short list

IMPORTANT NOTES

Van & Group size:

  • 1 pax: Private 4 or 7 seat van
  • 2 – 3 pax: Private 7 seat van
  • 4 – 8 pax: Private 16 seat van
  • 9 – 15 pax: private 29 seat van
  • 16 – 20 pax: Private 35 seat van
  • 20 – 25 pax: Private 45 seat van

Packing lists:

  • Summer time: Comfortable shoes or sandal, camera, sunglasses, sunscreen
  • Winter time: Warm clothes, Comfortable shoes or sandal, camera

Meals: If requested for drinking & lunch & dinner on day 1, extra 10 USD/person/meal

Pick up & Drop off:

  • Pick up: Pick up at the back ground of the international passenger station where electric car/shuttle drop you. (Ship will dock at New international cruise terminal then by the ship, there are lots of shuttle waiting to take passengers out). Just get in one of them. Shuttle will take you to the shuttle to the back yard of the cruise passenger’s station, guide pick you up at the place shuttle drop you
  • Drop off: Same place as pick up

Travel Insurance: Local travel insurance included on the entrance ticket.

Payment methods: Need a refundable deposit (30%) by either Pay Pal or Credit card, to process your booking. - Balance can be paid in USD cash on arrival to our guide. If the ship skips port(s) due to unforeseen circumstances, no fee charge but requires you to inform us 12 hrs. in advance so that we have enough time in advance to release services reserved for your group

If the ship skips port(s) due to unforeseen circumstances, no fee charge but requires you to inform us 12 hrs. in advance so that we have enough time in advance to release services reserved for your group
 
Enquire Now Add to short list

PRICE & AVAILABILITIES

PRICING IN US DOLLAR PER PERSON

Rates applied from 1 October 2019 to 31 December 2020

Number of Persons 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 - 10 10 - 13 14 - 16
Price Please contact us for best price upon your travel date, number of travelers and specific needs

Inclusions

  • Private van transfer with aircondition
  • Excursion as mentioned with all entrance fee included
  • Lunch at street food tour
  • English Speaking guide through the trip
  • Mineral water (01 bottle/person) & tissue on coach

Exclusion

  • Requested drinking
  • Tip for guide and driver
  • Any other services not mentioned at inclusions portion
 

Enquire this trip

OTHER TOURS YOU MAY LIKE

10 hours/ From US$ 80
12 hours/ From US$ 80

See more

GET ON WITH US

Stay in touch and get interesting updates about travel inspiration, trending destinations and amazing offers