DAY 2: HANOI CITY TOUR – WATER PUPPET SHOW – NIGHT AT HANOI

Breakfast at hotel

8.00 – 8.30: Get pick up at your hotel (at area of Hanoi Old Quarter and Hoan Kiem Lake) to start for Hanoi city tour.

08:45 – visit Tran Quoc Pagoda – Tran Quoc pagoda is located on the east of the West Lake, built from the reign of King Ly Nam De.

09:30 – visit Ho Chi Minh Complex which features the life of Ho Chi Minh and the nation’s founder and resume visit Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, the colonial Presidential Palace, originally the French Governor Office, the rural style Ho Chi Minh’s house on stilts and Presidential Palace where Ho Chi Minh lived and worked. Stop by one of Hanoi’s icons, the One Pillar Pagoda, built in the 11th Century.

11:15 – visit Vietnam Museum of Ethnology – The museum has become an attractive destination for domestic and foreign visitors due to the simple exhibits which displays both the aspects of tangible and intangible culture, lifestyle and creativity of Vietnamese ethnic groups.

(Vietnamese Woman Museum will be the alternative on Monday hence Vietnam Museum of Ethnology is closed)

12:30 –  Have lunch at our restaurant

13:45 – visit Temple of Literature is the first university in Vietnam, built in 1070. Today, Temple of literature has become a popular destination of Travel Hanoi, the place of awarding merit to students who have excellent study achievement.

15:30 visit Hoa Lo Prison (Hanoi Hilton) – French colonists built the prison in 1896 to detain those who fought against the French colonial regime, which was called the Maison Centrale.

16:30 – drop off at your hotel

Optional with extra charge: Attending a Water puppet show, The puppet performs on the water and is controlled by artisans behind the curtain. The stories in the water puppet show clearly the life and culture of the Vietnamese.

Dinner on your own

Overnight at hotel in Hanoi – End of Day 2: Hanoi Halong Bay Tour 5 Days

DAY 3: HANOI – HALONG BAY CRUISE – NIGHT ON CRUISE

Have breakfast at the hotel – Check out hotel

8.15 – 8.30 AM: You will be picked up at your hotel (around Hanoi Old Quarter) and transferred to the pier in Ha Long

12:00 – 12:30 PM: Arriving at Halong Bay, you’ll be welcomed to embark on the cruise. It’s time to learn about the cruise briefing and safety instructions while sipping a welcome drink.

1:00–2:00 PM: While cruising through the karst rock formations into the world of natural heritage, you will have lunch at the luxury restaurant on the cruise.

3:00–4:30 PM: In the afternoon, the itinerary will continue with the exploration of limestone caves. Depending on each cruise, tourists will have chances to visit different caves (Sung Sot Cave / Thien Canh Son Cave / Dark Light Cave).

6:30–7:00 PM: At twilight, almost all Halong Bay cruises offer a Cooking Class or Fruit And Vegetable Carving lesson. The head chef will show you how to make and decorate some traditional Vietnamese dishes.

7:00–11:30 PM: It’s time for a special dinner fraught with appetizing Western dishes and Vietnamese traditional food, depending on the set menu of each cruise.

Overnight on cruise – End of Day 3: Hanoi Halong Bay Tour 5 Days

DAY 4: HALONG BAY CRUISE – BACK TO HANOI – NIGHT AT HANOI

6:30 – 7:00 AM: Enjoy coffee, tea, and breakfast served in the dining room. You can wake up earlier to catch the sunset moment from the cruise which gives more stunning views than on land.

After breakfast, join the Tai Chi lessons, the traditional Chinese material art, to refresh your second day on Halong Bay cruise trip. Upon completing breakfast continue the journey and head out to explore the bay.

7:45–9:00 AM: The next destination will be a fishing village where you can meet up with the hospitable and rustic people, as well as get a glimpse of the local life and traditional cultures of the native people. The best way to explore floating village is by bamboo boat or kayak tour.

Sliding through the water in a nifty kayak gives travelers more independence, and allows them to reach places that cannot be reached in cruise ships. But if you cannot take on a Halong Bay cruise kayak, do not worry as bamboo boat is here for you. You will be taken on a graceful glide to explore the beauty of this UNESCO Natural Heritage Site.

10:00 am: It’s time to return the boat for packing and check-out procedures. Simultaneously, the brunch is served whilst the boat cruises back to the pier.

12:00 am: Get pick up at the pier for 3 hours drive back to Hanoi

15.00: Drop off at your hotel – check in hotel

Free at your leisure

Dinner on your own

Overnight at hotel in Hanoi – End of Day 4: Hanoi Halong Bay Tour 5 Days

Note: The cruise itinerary can be slightly changed upon selected cruise

DAY 5: HANOI – FREE TIME – DEPARTURE

Breakfast at hotel

Hanoi is a capital of thousand years of civilization with ancient relics, peaceful life. If you have been traveling to Hanoi, you can certainly not forget the typical atmosphere here, with Sword Lake, West Lake, cafes, small streets and street vendors. The people are elegant and civilized. Hanoi is not only famous for its beautiful landscapes and delicious foods, the Hanoi people also have their own distinctive characters, which are charm, elegance and sophistication in every speech and gesture. That is why you should Travel Hanoi at least once in your lifetime

Today is your last day in Hanoi, we will arrange free time you to stroll around the Hanoi Old Quarter and Dong Xuan Market. Take this chance to experience our beautiful capital city and buy some small souvenirs for your family and friends.

3 hours before your departure flight, you will be picked up for transfer to Noi Bai International Airport for your flight back home. Say goodbye to Vietnam and Hanoi Tours Expert – Ends of  The Hanoi Halong Bay Tour 5 Days