Splendid Northern Vietnam with Halong Bay

Welcome to Hanoi, a city steeped in legend and history, founded in the year 1010. Known as the quintessence of the rice civilization in the Red River Delta, Hanoi is sure to leave a lasting impression on you. We'll take care of your transfer and ensure you arrive comfortably at your hotel in Hanoi. Get ready to experience the charm and excitement of one of Asia's most captivating cities!

• Enjoy your breakfast at the hotel before we start our full-day city tour in Hanoi. Today’s trip starts with a ride to the Tran Quoc Pagoda, which is the oldest Buddhist temple in Hanoi built on small island in the West Lake. Also acts as a small museum, the pagoda stores many centuries-old artifacts while the temple itself is believed to be built in the 6th century.
• Within the vicinity of the pagoda is the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum Complex, the final resting place for the revolutionary leader and President Ho Chi Minh, who earned the country its independence. Visitors can also view his modest residence on stilts from the outside. Once we’re done with viewing, we’ll have a lunch break before continuing the tour.
• We’ll head over to the One Pillar Pagoda, a landmark with a deep meaning for the people of Hanoi. It is a Buddhist temple with significant historical value. The One Pillar Pagoda is actually a complex that was constructed in the shape of a lotus flower by Emperor Ly Thai Thong who dreamed of a Buddhist goddess. The current pagoda is a rebuilt on top of the original pillar after the pagoda was destroyed in 1954 during the French colonization.
• The Museum of Ethnology is next on the list, a special Vietnamese museum devoted to the documentation and preservation of 54 recognized ethnic groups in Vietnam. Here, people are educated on the culture of the indigenous people that reside within this land and their history. If the museum is closed on Mondays, we can visit the Women’s Museum instead where it’s a place to learn everything about women’s culture and way of living in Vietnam.
• Enjoy your lunch after this, a traditional Vietnamese meal served with 8 mouth-watering dishes.
• Then to the Temple of Literature (Quoc Tu Giam). It is the location of Vietnam’s first national university’s Imperial Academy and was built in 1070. This thousand-year-old heritage marks the beginning of advance education in Hanoi and was dedicate to major figures in education, particularly Confucius. It’s a tranquil place that just soothes the soul and calms the mind.
• We’re going to head over to the Hoa Lo Prison Museum as the final destination of the day, a memorial dedicated to the prisoners and lives lost since it was built by the French colonists first and then North Vietnam later. Hoa Lo means “Hell’s hole” and is the name from which the street name pho Hoa lo was derived from.
• The tour finishes after the prison and your driver will bring you back to your hotel for your overnight stay in Hanoi.
• (Breakfast and Lunch)

• Enjoy your breakfast at the hotel. Your ride will be waiting to pick you up from your hotel in Ha Noi Old Quarter to take you to Ha Long Bay. Enjoy the view of the Red River Delta while we’re headed there. Overlooking the Gulf of Tonkin, the bay became a designated Natural World Heritage by UNESCO in 1994 and 2006. Enjoy an authentic sight of Vietnam on your scenic ride as we pass by the Red River delta and green paddy fields on which farmers are working. Rural villages are signs of barely touched wilderness with the occasional buffaloes employed to plough the fields.
• The ride will take you to the lobby of Tuan Chau Marina port where you can rest while the staff takes care of your registration before boarding. Welcome aboard the Le Journey Ha Long Bay Cruise!
• The cruise is headed for Ha Long Bay, one of the New Seven Nature Wonders of the World with lunch served aboard. We’ll be going through several impressive limestone karst formations that juts out of the sea. At one point, we’ll stop at Sung Sot Cave, Ha Long Bay’s biggest cave that was found in 1901 and one of the most beautiful to explore in Ha Long Bay. Once we’re done exploring this gorgeous cave, return to the ship to continue the cruise.
• The next stop is the Ti Top Island which is about 7km from Tuan Chau port. This small, picturesque island is one of the most favorite stops among tourists. The view, the quiet atmosphere, just turn this into the best place to get your holiday snaps for Instagram. Over at the sundeck, drinks and snacks are served as refreshments for you.
• In the evening, dinner will be served consisting of traditional dishes made of local ingredients. Guests can also indulge in entertaining activities like karaoke and squid fishing here. Relax and enjoy yourself for the rest of the ride before spending the night on the cruise.
• (Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner)

• Our day starts early today at Halong Bay because you don’t want to miss the view of the sunrise from the horizon. Dawn breaks and bring out colors of the East Sea, that’ll certainly put you in awe at the beauty of this country, as sunlight slowly falls onto the islets around you. After the sun is up, we head to the dining room for your breakfast before the cruise begins its journey.
• The cruise will be heading towards the Natural Preservation Area where we’ll stop at Luon Cave. Located on the Bo Hon Island, this exquisite cave is just one of the many magnificent things to see and explore here. It is called Halong’s smallest cave with the Con Rua islet located just across the cave and the Sky Gate is just to the right.
• Hop back on the cruise that’s headed back to Tuan Chao Marina port. Prepare for check-out while we’re cruising back and enjoy a delightful lunch served onboard. Upon arrival at the port, ride the shuttle bus for Ha Noi. Return to our hotel in Ha Noi Old Quarter for overnight stay.
• (Breakfast and Lunch)

• Start your day off right with a scrumptious breakfast at the hotel before enjoying some free time at your leisure. Whether you want to soak up some last-minute sun, do some souvenir shopping or explore the city one last time, the choice is yours.
• After a relaxing morning, it's time to say goodbye to this amazing destination. Check out of your hotel and let us take care of your transfer to the airport for your departure flight. With memories to last a lifetime, you can sit back and reflect on the incredible experiences you've had during your stay. We hope to see you again soon!
• (Breakfast)