Day 01: Welcome to Vietnam – Arrive in Hanoi | (-, -, D) |
Welcome at the airport and transfer to hotel for check-in, tour-briefing and free at leisure to acclimate yourself. Enjoy Welcome Dinner hosted by VNR Travel at one of the most traditional restaurant.
Overnight in Hanoi.
Day 02: Hanoi Full Day City Tour | (B, -, -) |
Meet your guide at hotel and start a full day city tour of Vietnam’s capital. Hanoi is a unique city with tree-lined boulevards, French colonial architecture, peaceful lakes and oriental temples. We’ll see the city’s outstanding historical and cultural sites: President Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum, Ba Dinh Square, the Presidential homes, the National Assembly area, and an opportunity to learn more about the country’s constitution. We’ll continue to the One Pillar Pagoda and the Temple of Literature, and become acquainted with Viet Nam’s two major religions, Buddhism and Confucianism. We top off the morning by touring the Fine Arts Museum then enjoy lunch at a nice restaurant. We restart in the afternoon with the Museum of Ethnology where cultures of Vietnam’s 54 ethnic groups are depicted. We get back to the very heart of Hanoi for a walk around the Lake of the Restored Sword then explore the famous Old Quarter of 36 guild streets by rickshaw. Evening highlight is a performance of the internationally renowned water puppetry theater. Return to hotel and finish the memorable trip.
Overnight in Hanoi.
Day 03: Hanoi – Handicraft Villages | (B, -, -) |
Meet your guide & driver at hotel then head 10 km northeast to Bat Trang Village. The 500 year-old village is famous for producing the best pottery in Vietnam and art produced here is shipped all over the world. We’ll see the village’s Temple first then walk down the narrow roads to the house/workshop where we will have a chance to meet one of the famous artists of Bat Trang and see his artworks in all their stages. Following a class on throwing a pot on a potter’s wheel we will head to the market to see all of the different beautiful ceramics by the village’s crafmanship. We return to the city for lunch.
This afternoon we proceed to But Thap pagoda that dates back 1258. The site is well-known for its rare woodcarvings and sculptures, including the statue of Buddha with thousand hands and thousand eyes. Our final visit is to Dong Ho. The village is famous for its folk paintings drawn on Dzo paper. The colors are completely natural, taken from half-baked bricks, tree leaves, powder of grinded burned tree – roots and back- ground made from a mixture of lime and resin. Themes are purely folkloric: Chicken family, frog teacher, pig family, wrestling festival, and so on. So no doubt the village’s trade is unique and well worth our one or two hours. Afterwards we return to Hanoi.
Overnight in Hanoi.
Day 04: Hanoi – Mai Chau | (B, L, D) |
Departing Hanoi with a hour drive, we cross a region of spectacular scenery before reaching Mai Chau. The town is situated in valley of green rice paddies and consists of rows houses on stilts, reflecting the typical way of hill tribe living. We spend a day exploring local villages and experiencing the wonderful hospitality of the Thai people. Most interesting of all is the overnight stay in a villager's house, attending the traditional dance performed by the Thai people, a truly remarkable and unforgettable event.
Overnight in Mai Chau.
Day 05: Mai Chau – Ninh Binh | (B, -, -) |
Wake to the tranquility of the valley rolling green mountains and valleys all around. After breakfast there are some more organized activities to join. After lunch we drive back to Ninh Binh. Our first stop is at Hoa Lu - the first royal capital of Vietnam’s centralized feudal state from 968 – 1010 led by three dynasties of Dinh, Early Le and Ly. In the afternoon take a sampan on a river through the rice paddies to the grottoes of the sacred Tam Coc Caves. Enormous limestone karsts jut out from the green rice fields giving rise to this place’s other name, “ Inland Halong”.
Overnight in Ninh Binh.
Day 06: Ninh Binh – Halong Bay Overnight Cruise | (B, L, D) |
Morning drive to Halong Bay, we board our cruise and set sail for an extraordinary cruise of Halong Bay. Declared as the World Heritage Site twice for its nature beauty and geological by UNESCO, we’ll cruise through its three-thousand islands and rich rock-formations and stop at Ga Choi Island, Dinh Huong Island, Dog Island, Sail Island… You’ll be able to sample the rich seafood served on-board while viewing the islands. Late afternoon we have chance to explore the bay on our kayaks. We’ll close out the day by a romantic dinner and overnight on board.
Day 07: Halong Bay - Hanoi | (B, L, -) |
Wake-up for sun shine and morning coffee then we take a bamboo boat to visit Sung Cot Cave – one of the largest in Halong Bay. We then continue our exploration by the cruise pass-by the city’s market – Hon Gai and enjoy our last seafood lunch on-board before get back to Halong City. Our car will take us back to Hanoi in the afternoon.
Overnight in Hanoi.
Day 08: Departure from Hanoi | (B, -, -) |
Rest and relax before departure from Hanoi, or explore the city on your own. Transfer and departure assistance provided.
TOUR PACKAGE
List of hotels recommended by VNR Travel:
Location | ACCOMMODATION | ||
Luxury | Deluxe | Superior | |
HANOI | De L’Opera | Silk Path | Church Boutique |
MAI CHAU | Mai Chau EcoLodge | House on Stilt | House on stilt |
NINH BINH | Emeralda | Ninh Binh Legend | Yen Nhi |
HALONG BAY | Bhaya Cruises | Victory Cruise | Huong Hai Junks |
VNR Travel Co., LTD
Address: #762, Truong Dinh Str., Hoang Mai Dist, Hanoi
Tel: 84.24 3715 3538 - 84.24 3715 3558
Fax: 84.24 3715 3560
Email: info@vnrtravel.com
Website: http://www.vnrtravel.com
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