6-Day Northern Vietnam Experience with Halong Bay Cruise

Itinerary

Day 1: Hanoi Arrival (Street Food Tastings)

Stop At: Old Quarter, Hanoi 100000 Vietnam
A driver will meet you in the arrivals hall of the airport, then transfer you to your hotel for check-in. Come 5:00pm, a local tour guide will pick you up and take you on a walking tour to learn more about Hanoi culture, history and cuisine. Enjoy a street food tour where you will get to taste and sample many side dishes of Hanoi including spring rolls, noodles, grilled meat balls, and BBQ bread.

Overnight: Hanoi hotel
Duration: 3 hours

Meals included:
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Hotel in Hanoi

Day 2: Tam Coc Sightseeing

Stop At: Hoa Lu Temple, Ninh Binh Vietnam
Have breakfast

8.00-8.30 am: Tour guide will pick you up from your hotel in Old Quarter to depart to Ninh Binh city

10.30-11.00 am: Visit Hoa Lu Ancient Capital, a chance to know more about part of feudal dynasties and historical periods in Vietnamese history.

At noon, you will enjoy lunch at local restaurant in Tam Coc.
Duration: 4 hours

Stop At: Tam Coc, Ninh Binh 430000 Vietnam
After lunch, you will be taking the rowing boat at Tam Coc Harbour. Arranged by local people here, the boat is rowed by both hand and legs. The boat will take you to 3 specular caves with hundreds of limestones on the way. If you travel during harvest season, you will see many terrace rice fields in golden colors. The boat rowing will be in around 2 hours.

4:00pm leave Tam Coc and drive back to Hanoi
Duration: 4 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
Accommodation included: Hotel in Hanoi

Day 3: Hanoi - Mai Chau

Stop At: Mai Châu Hòa Bình, ĐT439, Piềng Vế, Mai Châu, Hòa Bình, Vietnam
After breakfast, enjoy an exciting trip to the northwest of Vietnam to visit Mai Chau. Upon your arrival, you will have chance to see the homes on stilts of the ethnic minorities living here. Enjoy a warm and cozy lunch prepared by the women in the local homestay. After that, ride a bike to visit remote villages in the valley and learn more about the daily life of residents. Have dinner, then join a dancing show with the locals as you drink Can wine.

Overnight: Mai Chau homestay or bungalow
Duration: 8 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Dormitory/ Bungalow in Mai Chau

Day 4: Mai Chau - Hanoi

Stop At: Mai Châu Hòa Bình, ĐT439, Piềng Vế, Mai Châu, Hòa Bình, Vietnam
Enjoy breakfast at the homestay before partaking in a group for a hiking trip. Explore the 1,000 step cave and a local market in Mai Chau. Take part in free time before heading back to Hanoi.

Overnight: Hanoi
Duration: 7 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
Accommodation included: Hotel in Hanoi

Day 5: Hanoi - Halong Bay

Stop At: Halong Bay Vietnam
Have breakfast

7.30 - 8.30am Our tour guide will pick you up at your hotel in Hanoi Old Quarter

Upon arrival, welcome on board, check in your cabin and have delicious lunch at the restaurant. Afternoon activities might include a visit to one of the most beautiful cave in Halong bay, a floating village for bamboo boat riding, an island for relaxing/swimming and a lagoon for kayaking. Back to the boat, you will be able to join a cooking class or a sunset cocktail party before dinner time. Evening is free at your leisure or you can join a squid fishing trip with the crew. Overnight in private cabin on a sharing cruise.
Duration: 8 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Private cabin on Halong Bay

Day 6: Halong Bay - Hanoi

Stop At: Sung Sot Cave, Halong Bay Vietnam
Morning tea and coffer will be served early. Optional to join a Tai Chi Class on the sundeck or photo hunting in the early morning.

After breakfast, other activities might include (if not arranged on the first day): visiting the cave, cooking class or climbing to the top of an island for panoramic view of Halong Bay. Then check out and enjoy a fantastic view on the bay, passing many islands and islets (karst formation) on the way back to habor.

Tender will take you back to the mainland, bus trip back to Hanoi and drop off at your hotel around 16.30 - 17.00. End of tour.
Duration: 8 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
No accommodation included on this day.