Combine two nights in Hanoi with an overnight cruise in World Heritage-listed Halong Bay. Your journey kicks off with a tour of the capital, delving into Vietnam’s rich history at the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, One Pillar Pagoda and the Temple of Literature. Continue sightseeing with a cyclo ride to the Old Quarter, a walk around Hoan Kiem Lake’s Ngoc Son Temple, and a water puppet show. The following day, take a mesmerizing trip aboard a traditional junk boat to see Halong Bay's limestone caves, cliffs and emerald-colored waters. Accommodations, transport and most meals included.
Inclusions & Exclusions
✔ Professional guide
✔ 3-nights accommodation
✔ Transport by air-conditioned vehicle
✔ Overnight cruise on Halong Bay
✔ Lunch
✔ Airport pickup and drop-off (upon request)
✔ Dinner
✔ Breakfast
✖ Food and drinks, unless specified
✖ Gratuities
✖ Optional activity fees
Pickup Locations
1. Vietnam Trade Union Hotel
2. TQT Hotel
3. Hotel OCD
4. Splendid Jupiter Hotel
5. Pearl Suites Hanoi Hotel
6. Nha Nghi Diem Quynh
7. Vietnam Bravo Hotel
8. Serenity Villa Hotel
9. Rising Dragon Cathedral Hotel
10. Pearl Suites Hotel
11. Movenpick Hotel Hanoi Centre
12. 7S Hotel Merci Hanoi
13. A25 Hotel & Spa - 684 Minh Khai
14. Nam Hai 1 Hotel
15. The Queen Hotel & Spa
16. Viet Fun Hotel
17. TQT 2 Hotel
18. Zenith Hotel Hanoi
19. Quang Hiep Hotel
20. Sky Hotel & Suites
Itinerary
Hanoi
1
Hanoi
Meet your guide upon hotel pickup or arrival at Noi Bai International Airport, and transfer to your Hanoi hotel for check-in. The rest of your day is free for you to spend at your leisure. Perhaps head to the city center or explore Hanoi Old Quarter on foot, or simply relax in your fully equipped superior room.
Hanoi (B, L)
1
Hanoi
After breakfast at the hotel, embark on a city sightseeing tour of Hanoi with your guide. Start with a visit to Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum, located in the center of Ba Dinh Square, where the former leader's embalmed body is on display in a glass sarcophagus. Afterward, learn more about Ho Chi Minh's life and career on a tour of his former residence.
Next, head to the historical One Pillar Pagoda, originally constructed in 1049. Your guide can point out the architectural elements that make this one of Vietnam's most iconic temples.
After a Vietnamese lunch at a local restaurant, continue on to the Temple of Literature, the country’s first university that dates back to 1070. Stroll different paths among five courtyards to find treasures such as a statue of Confucius guarded by two bronze storks standing on turtles.
Then hop in a cyclo for a panoramic tour of the Old Quarter in the afternoon, followed by a visit to Hoan Kiem Lake (Sword Lake). Stop to admire Ngoc Son Temple (Temple of the Jade Mountain), located on a small islet, and take in the natural surroundings while enjoying a hot brew of fresh coffee (own expense) from one of the many cafés near the beautiful lake.
End your day at the Thang Long Theater to watch a Vietnamese water puppet show. This unique, traditional art form originates from rural festivals. Both men and women stand waist-deep in the water to manipulate the puppets, making them move about, talk, laugh and even dance on the surface as the story takes place.
Overnight: 3-star Le Carnot Hotel or Sunway Hotel in Hanoi
2
Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum
Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum in Ba Dinh Square is one of the most visited attractions in Hanoi. It is the final resting place of Ho Chi Minh, the most iconic and popular leader of Vietnam, known to his people as ‘Uncle Ho’. His body is preserved here in a glass case at the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum in central Hanoi (albeit against his wishes).
Duration: 30 minutes
3
Ba Dinh Square
Ba Dinh Square is the solemn place where president Ho Chi Minh read the Proclamation of Independence on September 2, 1945, giving birth to the People’s Democratic Republic of Vietnam. From that sacred moment, now we still defend, conserve and bring into play the Socialist Republic of Vietnam's traditions.
4
One Pillar Pagoda
Rising from one pillar in the centre of an elegantly square shaped lotus pond, The One Pillar Pagoda is said to represent a lotus flower growing up out of the water.
Duration: 30 minutes
5
Temple of Literature & National University
The Temple of Literature is often cited as one of Hanoi’s most picturesque tourist attractions. Originally built as a university in 1070 dedicated to Confucius, scholars and sages, the building is extremely well preserved and is a superb example of traditional-style Vietnamese architecture.
Read more at: http://www.vietnam-guide.com/hanoi/temple-of-literature.htm?cid=ch:OTH:001
Duration: 30 minutes
6
Hoan Kiem Lake Walking Street
Hoan Kiem Lake in Hanoi attracts tourists and locals looking to get away from the noise and frenetic pace of the city. Peaceful and quiet, the lake surrounds Ngoc Son Temple, a pagoda sitting in the centre on a small island.
7
Dền Ngọc Son
Hoan Kiem Lake in Hanoi attracts tourists and locals looking to get away from the noise and frenetic pace of the city. Peaceful and quiet, the lake surrounds Ngoc Son Temple, a pagoda sitting in the centre on a small island.
Duration: 30 minutes
8
Thang Long Water Puppet
The world-famous Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre in Hanoi has its roots in an art form that dates back to the 11th century. The tradition of water puppet theatre stems from a time when rice paddy fields were flooded and villagers would make entertainment by standing in the waist-deep water with the puppets performing over the water.
Duration: 60 minutes
Hanoi – Halong Bay (B, L, D)
1
Halong Bay
Following breakfast at your hotel, you’re driven to the Gulf of Tonkin and Halong Bay, located approx. 112 miles (180 km) east of Hanoi. By midday you’ll board a traditional junk for check-in.
Enjoy a seafood lunch on board and a delightful cruise that delivers you to some of the islands and caves in picturesque Halong Bay, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site for its outstanding natural beauty.
“Dragon descending to the sea,“ as the bay is known in Vietnamese, features more than 3,000 limestone islets rising from the clear emerald water, many of them containing beautiful grottoes — a mesmerizing sight.
You’ll visit a cave with your guide and have the opportunity to swim alongside the golden sands of Titov beach (depending on weather conditions and water temperature) before dinner and an overnight stay in your superior cabin.
Overnight: Huong Hai or Bai Tho traditional junk, or upgrade to deluxe Indochina Sails
Halong Bay – Hanoi (B, L)
1
Hanoi
Enjoy breakfast on board and continue cruising the bay until it’s time to disembark and drive back to Hanoi, where you’re dropped off at your hotel or the airport.
Additional info
• Public transportation options are available nearby
• Not recommended for pregnant travelers
• Suitable for all physical fitness levels
• A moderate amount of hiking is involved
• Sunscreen, a hat and comfortable shoes are recommended
• A minimum of 2 people per booking is required
• Please advise any specific dietary requirements at time of booking
• Rates are based on twin-share accommodations
• Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum is closed on Mondays and Fridays
• Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum will be closed during October and November 2014 for maintenance
