HANOI – BAT TRANG – CHUONG CONICAL HAT VILLAGE – QUANG PHU CAU – HA LONG – NINH BINH

Useful information

The 6 Days 5 Nights HANOI – BAT TRANG – CHUONG CONICAL HAT VILLAGE – QUANG PHU CAU – HA LONG – NINH BINH package is perfect for travelers who want to explore both Vietnam’s famous landscapes and its traditional craft villages at a relaxed pace.

Start in Hanoi with a half-day city tour, visiting Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum, Tran Quoc Pagoda, the iconic Train Street and enjoying a traditional water puppet show. Then discover three of the Red River Delta’s most unique villages in one day: Bat Trang Ceramic Village (handmade pottery and a fun hands-on experience at the wheel), Chuong Conical Hat Village (learn to cook with a local family and make your own “nón lá”), and Quang Phu Cau Incense Village, where thousands of colorful incense sticks create dreamlike photo spots.

You’ll then cruise the UNESCO World Heritage site of Ha Long Bay on an overnight cruise, with kayaking, caves and sunset on deck, before heading to Ninh Binh – often called “Ha Long Bay on land” – to explore Hoa Lu Ancient Capital, the peaceful boat trip through Trang An cave system, and the panoramic viewpoint at Mua Cave.

Tour Itinerary

Day 1: Welcome to Hanoi – Half Day City Tour

Upon arrival at Noi Bai Airport, our representative will meet and transfer you to your hotel for check-in and rest.

In the afternoon, your guide will pick you up for a 4-hour Hanoi city tour:

• Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum (outside) – admire the solemn grey-granite building and the large parade square planted with trees and flowers from all regions of Vietnam.

• Tran Quoc Pagoda – the oldest pagoda in Hanoi, located on a small island on West Lake. Discover its 1,500-year history as a Buddhist center of the ancient Thang Long citadel and enjoy the tranquil lakeside setting.

• Train Street – feel the unique atmosphere of this narrow residential street where the train passes just meters from the houses.

• Water Puppet Show – enjoy a traditional Vietnamese art form performed on water with live music, sound effects and colorful lighting (45–60 minutes).

After the tour, you will receive a complimentary Vietnamese hair washing experience or body massage package.

Day 2: Hanoi – Ha Long Bay Overnight Cruise

Breakfast at the hotel.

• The guide picks you up at the hotel lobby and you transfer by SIC bus to Ha Long Bay.

• 11:30 – 12:00: Arrive at Tuan Chau Harbor, check in at the waiting lounge.

• 12:00 – 12:10: Board the tender to your cruise, enjoy a welcome drink, meet the captain and crew, and receive a safety and itinerary briefing. Check in to your cabin.

• 13:00 – 13:15: Enjoy a Vietnamese seafood & vegetarian lunch while cruising among the magnificent limestone karsts of Lan Ha – Ha Long Bay.

• 15:00: Relax on the sundeck or explore the Ba Trai Dao / Tra Bau area and natural lagoon of Lan Ha Bay with kayaking.

• 17:30 – 18:00: Return to the cruise for a sunset party – take photos and relax.

• 19:00: Dinner on board. After dinner, you can try squid fishing, relax on the sundeck or enjoy a drink at the bar.

Overnight on the cruise.

Day 3: Ha Long Bay – Hanoi

• 06:00 – 06:15: Join a Tai Chi session on the sundeck.

• 06:15 – 07:00: Light breakfast with tea/coffee while enjoying the morning scenery.

• 07:00: Visit Dark & Light Cave by bamboo boat to explore the tranquil lagoon and limestone formations, or swim in the clear water (depending on weather and tide).

• 08:10: Return to your cabin, relax and pack your luggage.

• 10:00: Check out of the cabin. Enjoy an early lunch while the cruise heads back to the harbor.

• 11:00: Take a high-speed canoe back to Tuan Chau Port and return to Hanoi by SIC bus.

Check in to your hotel and enjoy free time.

Day 4: Bat Trang – Chuong Conical Hat Village – Quang Phu Cau Incense Village

08:00: Your guide and driver pick you up from the Old Quarter or Hanoi Opera House.

Bat Trang Ceramic Village

• Drive to Bat Trang, the most famous ceramic village in Vietnam (since the 11th century).

• Visit the village temple, dedicated to the tutelary god who helped reclaim the land and develop the pottery craft, located beside the Red River.

• Stroll through narrow alleys in the old quarter of Bat Trang, see ancient houses and talk with elderly artisans about the village history and pottery traditions.

• Visit a ceramic workshop and learn step-by-step how to make pottery. You can create your own piece using traditional methods.

  • If you’d like to bring your product home, inform the guide; it will need about 3 days to dry and be fired before being delivered to your hotel.

• If time permits, walk through the local market and visit another family workshop to see how traditional and modern techniques are combined.

Chuong Conical Hat Village

• 11:30: Depart for Chuong Village, famous for over 300 years of conical hat making.

• Visit a family with a long tradition in the craft, in one of the few remaining wooden houses built in traditional Northern Delta style – a vivid picture of rural Vietnam decades ago.

• Join a cooking class with the host, enjoy a home-cooked lunch, green tea and relaxation.

• After lunch, learn about and practice making the iconic Vietnamese conical hat (nón lá) with local artisans.

Quang Phu Cau Incense Village

• 14:30: Continue to Quang Phu Cau Village, renowned for its centuries-old incense-making craft.

• Visit the largest family-run workshop, see workers preparing incense at different stages of production.

• Outside, the yard is covered with thousands of colorful incense bundles – perfect for photography.

• Talk with friendly locals and try making incense yourself.

16:00: Finish the tour and drive back to Hanoi.

Day 5: Ninh Binh – Hoa Lu – Trang An – Mua Cave

• 07:00: Pick-up from the Old Quarter or Hanoi Opera House and depart for Ninh Binh.

• 10:00: Visit Hoa Lu Ancient Citadel, Vietnam’s capital in the 11th century. Explore the atmospheric ruins surrounded by dramatic karst scenery and visit the temples of Kings Dinh and Le, rebuilt in the 17th century on the original palace foundations.

• After local lunch (around 13:30), continue to Trang An – a UNESCO-listed eco-tourism complex famous for its limestone mountains, flooded forests and cave systems.

  • Take a boat trip through caves and along tranquil rivers, surrounded by towering cliffs and lush greenery.

• 15:30: Visit Mua Cave. Climb nearly 500 stone steps to the summit and the tower with traditional Vietnamese design. From the top, enjoy a panoramic view of Tam Coc, rice fields and karst mountains – one of the most spectacular viewpoints in Ninh Binh.

Return to Hanoi and drop off at your hotel.

Day 6: Departure from Hanoi

Breakfast at the hotel. Free time until your driver picks you up for the airport transfer for your flight home.

Net Tour Rates (USD per person)

Based on twin/double/triple sharing

Traveling Period: 01 April – 31 August

Traveling Period: 01 September – 31 March

Inclusions

• 5 nights’ accommodation with daily breakfast

• Meals as specified in the program

• All entrance fees as mentioned

• Professional & friendly English-speaking guide

• Private ground transfers and shared (SIC) transfers as per itinerary

• Daily mineral water: 1–2 bottles per person per day

• Complimentary Vietnamese hair-washing experience or body-massage package in Hanoi

Exclusions

• Tips for guide and driver

• Vietnam visa

• International and domestic air tickets

• Bank charges for payment

• Personal travel insurance

• Personal expenses and drinks

• Any services not clearly mentioned in the “Inclusions” section