Xin Chao! Welcome to Hanoi, Vietnam.
Upon arrival at Noi Bai Airport, your tour guide and private driver will greet you with a sign and take you straight to your hotel in the Old Quarter.
After checking in, you will have time to relax and adapt to the pace of life in Hanoi.
Overnight in Hanoi
Meals: (_/_/D)
You will experience Hanoi and visit local markets and enjoy street food.
Note: If you are not keen on the motorcycle, there is an alternative option for your family to take an open-air war-time Jeep car.
The guide (who is also the driver) will pick you up at your hotel at the appointed time. During the drive, you will be introduced to some beautiful sights and the guide will explain about the city.
The first stop is the black market, and you will walk through the small alleys. Meet and interact with the friendly locals. Stop at the food court at the back of the market and enjoy street food.
The bus takes you to the train tracks, your guide has timed it so you can see a Reunification Express train pass by! for you to take pictures.
Return to the City you are driven through the French colonial architecture of the precinct known as the French Quater. You will pass the French-style villas, the Vietnam History Museum, the heritage Metropole Legend Hotel, and the Opera House, name to a few.
Head to Hanoi Old Quarter (as opposed to the French Quarter) and explore the narrow alleys. You will be safe from the traffic. Stop at various AUTHENTIC eateries and food stalls to sample the best of Hanoi with traditional dishes and local specialties.
Head out of the city towards Long Bien Bridge, a magnificent structure built by the French across the Red River.
From the bridge, you will reach Bai Giua, a 24ha strip of land in the middle of the Red River, covered with lush green banana, papaya and guava trees, interspersed with the pure white flowers of wild reeds. This is a world away from the hustle and bustle of the bustling city you have left behind.
You can chat with the locals, you will return to the City, and stop for a coffee. Then the guide will take you back to the hotel, where you will say goodbye to them affectionately.
Overnight in Hanoi
Meals: (B/L/_)
Morning
After breakfast, you will be picked up by your private guide and transferred in a private vehicle for two hours to the picturesque village of Ngoc Hoa in Hai Duong, another province in the Red River Delta.
Upon arrival, you will be warmly welcomed by your host family with a cup of tea, you will change into traditional Vietnamese farmer clothes, bring your working tools, including a shovel and rake, and walk with the water buffalo to the rice fields. Here, you will learn how to perform some agricultural activities.
Afterwards, return to the local family home to prepare lunch. You will pick fresh vegetables from the garden, prepare all the ingredients and cook lunch under the guidance of your host. You will be amazed at your own achievements after enjoying the food you have prepared for lunch.
Afternoon
Take a leisurely bike ride along the village roads, see the village from up close and interact with the friendly villagers. You will fall in love with this beautiful village and its warm people. You will also visit the Great Temple, an ancient temple that symbolizes the history and spirit of Ngoc Hoa Village.
Note: if you don’t like bicycle, we can replace it with motorbike, you can sit in the back to visit the countryside scenery.
You will take a bamboo rowing boat to experience daily life with the locals here with fishing on the river, with breakwaters…
Go to Stork Island, in Thanh Mien commune, located in the middle of a large natural lake and home to storks, herons and many other birds such as pelicans and teals. You can experience rowing a boat to see the scenery.
Finish the tour and return to the homestay for your leisure time. Take a nice and hot shower and get ready to join the meal with the family.
Evening
Enjoy a barbecue dinner and get to know your host family and experience their lifestyle and culture. You will have a private air-conditioned room for the night.
Overnight at the local homestay
Meals: (B/L/D)
Morning
You wake up early to visit the local market and return to the homestay for breakfast. Then, say goodbye to your family and go sightseeing in Ninh Binh.
Upon arrival, you will begin exploring the Trang An Ecotourism Complex (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) and its stunning karst landscape, visiting the tranquil caves. Take a boat trip to explore Trang An, and its caves including Sang Cave, Toi Cave, Ba Tia Cave and Sinh Cave.
Afternoon
After lunch, you will visit Hoa Lu, the former capital of Vietnam dating back to the 11th century, where the spectacular landscape creates a mystical atmosphere.
Once there, immerse yourself in history at the two remaining temples of King Dinh and King Le. Restored in the 17th century, these temples were built on the original foundations of the old palaces from the 11th and 12th centuries.
Take a leisurely bike ride and take in the scenery. Reach Hang Mua Mountain where you can take a short hike to a stunning viewpoint with breathtaking views of the Ngo Dong River below cutting through the towering mountains.
Transfer to Tam Coc Garden Resort for an overnight stay. Surrounded by stunning rice paddies and limestone karsts, Tam Coc Garden Resort is an oasis that will take you away from the hustle and bustle of city life amidst the most stunning landscapes.
Overnight in Ninh Binh
Meals: (B/L/_)
Morning
After breakfast, you will depart from Ninh Binh and drive 3 hours to Xuan Thuy National Park in Nam Dinh province, located in the southern coastal region of the Red River Delta. Along the way, you will visit the ancient Co Le Pagoda, which dates back to the 10th century.
Visit Vi Khe Bonsai Village, one of the largest bonsai villages in Vietnam with different bonsai trees, such as phoenix, dragon, horse, unicorn… or the symbol of the Temple of Literature.
Visit Xuan Thuy National Park, formerly known as the Regional Nature Reserve and later Vietnam’s first Ramsar site, located near the Red River Biosphere Reserve. This is a rich, biodiverse coastal wetland, home to about 220 species of birds, 110 species of aquatic plants and 500 other species of aquatic life.
At noon, you will arrive at Xuan Giao Commune near the National Park, where you will take a boat to explore the wetlands. Then you will go to the Clam House, where you will enjoy a delicious seafood lunch. Rest and relax in the Clam House, then take a bus back to the mainland.
Afternoon
You go sightseeing and experience the way the people here make salt, you will be able to make salt grains with the people.
Head to the bird station (winter season November to March) to see many species of birds that migrate from East Asia to Australia such as Black-faced Spoonbill, Spoon-billed Sandpiper, Spotted Green Sandpiper, Saunders’ Gull and Asian Yellow-billed Sandpiper…
Evening
You will arrive at a local house in Xuan Giao commune, where you will enjoy dinner and stay overnight with the family. Clean and comfortable bedding is provided for your stay.
Overnight in Xuan Giao Nam Dinh
Meals: (B/L/D)
Morning
You can enjoy a relaxing bike ride (or car ride) around the village, watch the beautiful sunrise over the sea and visit the local Fish Market. Here you can watch the fishermen bring in the fish caught overnight, so it is very fresh.
Return to the local family. On the way back, you will stop to visit a local fish sauce family and learn how to make delicious fish sauce.
After breakfast and check out at the homestay, the tour guide and driver will take you to Thai Binh, you will visit the 400-year-old Keo Pagoda, a peaceful religious site famous for its unique wooden structure, representing the ancient architectural style of Vietnam.
The car takes you to Hai Phong city, then take a ferry to Cai Ba Island, board a private wooden boat, you will rest for two nights in Cat Ba.
You board the Junk boat and start your journey towards Lan Ha Bay, Located in the south and east of Cat Ba Island, about 300 karst islands and limestone outcrops of Lan Ha are as beautiful as Ha Long Bay but isolated and pristine, making it the most ideal spot for kayaking and swimming activities.
You have lunch in the middle of the bay with Vietnamese cuisine and enjoy the view of the bay.
Afternoon
Continue the journey to Ba Trai Dao beaches past the floating fish farms. Later your boat will stop to launch the kayaks into the bay for a leisurely paddle the limestone karsts before swimming and sunbathing on the tiny beach.
Return to your Junk boat for a cooking demonstration with the chef and learn about local ingredients and how to prepare classic Vietnamese dishes.
Evening
After dinner, enjoy some more drinks on deck or go squid fishing with the crew before returning to your cabin and resting on board.
Overnight on board in Lan Ha Bay
Meals: (B/L/D)
Morning
Wake up early to watch the sunrise and have breakfast. The boat weighs anchor and passes by Coconut Beach and Kiem Lam Lake. Kayak around the lake to enjoy the tranquility of this beautiful place.
Afternoon
You will continue to Viet Hai Village where you will admire the pristine natural surroundings up close on a relaxing 5km bike ride along paved roads. Located in a valley within Cat Ba National Park and surrounded by forests and mountains.
You will explore the village school and organic gardens, meet the locals. or hike to the top of Hai Quan Mountain for great views of the park and part of Ha Long Bay.
End of tour and return to boat then go to a location in Lan Ha for the second night.
Thưởng thức bữa tối tối theo cách thực hiện trước đó. Sau đó đi câu mực trước khi nghỉ ngơi trong cabin.
Overnight on board in Lan Ha Bay
Meals: (B/L/D)
Morning
After breakfast, embark on a winding cruise around the steep cliffs of Lan Ha Bay towards Monkey Island, where the beautiful sandy beach, relax on the beach or hike to a mountain viewpoint for a stunning bird’s eye view.
Return to the boat to check out. Then enjoy a set lunch before you sail back to shore.
Afternoon
Get off at the pier, the car will take you back to Hanoi.
After checking into your hotel, relax. Stroll around town or visit Hoan Kiem Lake & Ngoc Son Temple, a short walk from your hotel. It is beautifully lit up at night.
Overnight in Hanoi
Meals: (B/L/_)
A private car will pick you up at your hotel after breakfast and take you to Hanoi International Airport, check in for your flight, ending the tour.
Meals: (B/_/_)
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Handcrafted Travel
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Handcrafted Travel
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