5 days from Hanoi

IMPORTANT NOTICES: Tourist seasons in Vietnam

• May to September: low season
• November to April : High season
• December to March : Super peak season
• COST PER PERSON – see at the page end

This trip will take you to see the 3 most popular destinations in the northern part of Vietnam : Hanoi capital, Ninh Binh, HaLong Bay

BRIEFING: WE CAN ALWAYS CUSTOMIZE YOUR TRIP – Please contact us directly 

• Day 1 : Hanoi arrival midday – highlighted city tour – welcome dinner
• Day 2: Hanoi – Ninh Binh (UNESCO natural heritage) – Hanoi
• Day 3: Hanoi to HaLong Bay overnight cruise
• Day 4: HaLong Bay back to Hanoi
• Day 5 : Hanoi departure

DETAILED ITINERARY :

Day 1 : Hanoi arrival midday – highlighted city tour – welcome dinner

INCLUSIONS: Private car  – Private guide – entrance fees – one hour 3 wheel pushing bike ride- set menu welcome dinner – hotel rooms in Hanoi 

****OPTION 1: If you arrive morning or mid day 

• Arrive Hanoi – guide and car pick up – transfer to Hanoi old quarters 
• Visit Hanoi highlighted sites : Hoan Kiem central Lake, Tran Quoc Pagoda, Temple of Literature, Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, one hour 3 wheel pushing bike
• Enjoy a light lunch with traditional Pho noodle soup or Bun Cha noodle soup or a random dish in a local restaurant. 
• Enjoy a welcome dinner set menu at a nice restaurant.
• Check in hotel and rest. During the tour you can check in the hotel first after 2.00 PM and  continue the tour or fisinish the tour, check in hotel and dinner. 

****OPTION 2 :  If you arrive late afternoon (4-5 PM) 

• Arrive Hanoi – guide and car pick up – transfer to Hanoi old quarters for check in the hotel and take your rest
• 7.00 PM: we will pick you up to enjoy a welcome dinner and a light walk around the old quarters
• 10.00 PM: get back to the hotel and rest on your own.

HOTEL CHOICES

• Acoustic hotel 4 star 
• Thang Long Opera 4 star 
• Q hotel 4 star 
• Hong Ngoc hotel 4 star 
• Grand Peridot 5 star
• Meritel 5 star 
• Apricot 5 star 

 Day 2 – Hanoi – Trang An Ninh Binh – back to Hanoi 

INCLUSIONS: Private car  – Private guide – entrance fees – boat trip – lunch – dinner

Ninh Binh is where Vietnam’s Former Dinh Dynasty was based (968-980). It’s famous for Trang An natural complex that is regconized as a WORLD NATURAL HERITAGE by UNESCO.

• 8.00 AM : get on car, drive to Ninh Binh in 2 hours
• 10.00 AM : Enjoy a 2 hour boat trip on Trang A lakes – UNESCO natural site. You can get on and off to visit caves and temples during the boat ride. 
• 12.00 PM: get back to the boat station and have lunch at a local restaurant. Lunch can be buffet or set menu. 
• 13.00 : Visit Hang Mua cave, walk up 500 steps on top of the cave to enjoy the best view of the area. This is a great way to digest your food after lunch. Beside the spectacular step way to the top of the mountain, Hang Mua also has a beautiful lotus flower lake where you can capture your best photos with lotus flowers. 

• 14.30: Enjoy a bike ride around the area if you like and pay extra 50.000 VND per person. 
• 15.30 : Get back in to car and drive back to Hanoi 
• 17:30: Arrive Hanoi and rest
• Evening is on your own  

Day 3: Hanoi to HaLong Bay overnight cruise 

Inclusions: shared bus from Hanoi to HaLong Bay, lunch and dinner on cruise, sightseeing fees, guide on cruise, evening activities of the cruise. 

Halong Bay and Lan Ha Bay are 2 different areas. While Halong Bay is a UNESCO natural heritage and always crowded, Lan Ha Bay is more quiet, further distance and has quite similar landscapes.

Please click on the following links for cruise itineraries:

4 star cruise 2 days 

5 star cruise 2 days

Please note that different cruises have different itineraries. Some visit Halong Bay only and others visit Lan Ha Bay.

DAY 4: SUNG SOT CAVE – HALONG BAY – HANOI 

INCLUSIONS: breakfast and lunch on board, English speaking tour guide on cruise, entrance fees and all activities on board, shared bus from Halong Bay to Hanoi, hotel rooms in Hanoi

Please refer to day 2 from the previous link above

DAY 5: HANOI DEPARTURE (defaulting that your flight is afternoon)

INCLUSIONS: Guide and bus

Morning : enjoy your free time until we pick you up to Hanoi airport. 

The trip ends!

THE OVERALL TRIP IS ENDED. 

*** AGREEMENTS AND COMMITMENTS: 

• The cost is based on the hotel suggestions, all of which have windows of random views and breakfast. The hotels can be replaced and the cost might increase/decrease if guests require to change

• In case the suggested hotel is sold out by the date guests request, a similar hotel with the same cost will be replaced. 

• Included lunches will be local speciality/set menu/buffet stated clearly in each day. 

• SIMPLE LUNCH means it’s where the locals eat/not designed for tourists but meet all the hygiene standards (one dish one drink)

• Some days have buffet lunch as it’s a must, no other choices.

• The timing and order in the daily plan for private tours is just suggestion, please feel free to change/adjust as long as it doesn’t cause extra costs. 

• For group tours, the timing is fixed, guests cannot change. 

• Tipping is customary in Vietnam and it’s suggested 20 USD for guide per day and 10 USD for driver per day (for the whole group)
•  Tipping is a MUST in Cambodia (at least 5 USD/person/day) 

***TRIP INCLUSIONS CLARIFICATION:

• 4 nights in 4- star hotels/ 5 star cruise cabin in all cities with buffet breakfast included
• Hotel rooms are defaulted for 2 persons ( 1 or 2 beds) with specific room type. 
• Entrance fees to all sites mentioned above
• 2 bottles of water per guest per day
• Travel insurance valued at 3.000 USD
• Private/group English speaking tour guide for daily tours – not for airport pickup/dropoff/transfer and not for daily group tours.
• Private/shared bus mentioned specifically in each’s day

TRIP EXCLUSIONS: 

• International air tickets

• Visa to Vietnam and Cambodia 

• Tips for guides and drivers – It’s customary to TIP 10USD/day/group for driver and 20 USD/day for guides. For big groups from 10 people up, TIP will be a MUST : 3USD per person per day (for both drivers and guides) 

• Ordering drinks during included meals 

HOTEL REGULATIONS

Check in / check out time: 2.00 PM – 12.00 PM for all hotels

Early check in and late check out are not Promised by the hotels. This can ONLY be discussed upon arrival with the hotel staff and additional costs MUST be paid if the rooms are available.

FOR CRUISES: check in/out time: 12.00 PM – 9.30 AM

TOUR COST per person depends on: Please contact us directly for specific cost for bigger groups

• The total number of travelers
• Specific hotel choices and room type
• The months of your travel

DETAILED TERMS AND CONDTIONS 

Please click on the link above