8 Days : Hanoi – Ky Son – Ninh Binh – Halong – Hanoi

Tour overview:

Explore the first university of Vietnam, the Temple of Literature, which is imbued with the profound philosophies of Confucianism. Drive to Ky Son Village in the morning. Take a pleasant walk around the village to get a taste of the northern countryside lifestyle of Vietnam. Visit the Dinh Temple and Le Temple, where people pay their respects to former kings of the nation. Take a delightful morning cruise through the limestone cliffs and emerald waters of Ha Long Bay before returning to the dock.

Day 1 - Arrive Hanoi

On arrival in Hanoi you will be met and transferred to your hotel. Overnight in Hanoi. (B)

Day 2 - Hanoi

Take a full day tour to explore Ha Noi’s illustrious history. In the morning, visit the imposing marble edifice housing the Ho Chi Minh mausoleum (CLOSED ON MONDAYS & FRIDAYS) before moving onto his wooden stilt house and the One Pillar Pagoda. You will then explore the first university of Vietnam, the Temple of Literature, which is imbued with the profound philosophies of Confucianism. In the afternoon, visit the Hoan Kiem Lake, the Ngoc Son Temple and an ancient Vietnamese "long house". A one-hour cyclo tour of Ha Noi’s Old Quarter allows you to catch a glimpse of ancient Ha Noi and learn about traditional Vietnamese architecture. Overnight in Hanoi. (B)

Day 3 - Ha Noi – Ky Son (Walking – Cycling)

Drive to Ky Son Village in the morning. Take a pleasant walk around the village to get a taste of the northern countryside lifestyle of Vietnam before joining your host for lunch preparation. Have lunch and learn more about the Vietnamese culture through conversations with locals. In the afternoon, set out on a bike ride along local trails with stops for taking pictures, chatting with children and farmers and shopping at the village market while soaking up the pastoral atmosphere and tranquillity. Return for a relaxing traditional herbal bath before dinnertime. Before bed, soak your feet in a traditional herbal treatment. Overnight in Ky Son Moon Garden (shared house). (BLD)

Day 4 - Ky Son – Ninh Binh

The serene morning will inspire you enjoying breakfast with drink made from fresh picked tea leaves. Leave for Ninh Binh after breakfast. Visit Nguyen Saint Temple before relaxing at your resort in the afternoon. Overnight in Ninh Binh . (B)

Day 5 - Hoa Lu – Van Long

In the morning, you will be transferred to Hoa Lu, a former capital of Vietnam. Visit the Dinh Temple and Le Temple, where people pay their respects to former kings of the nation. Afterward, proceed to Van Long for a delightful scenic bicycle ride through paddy fields, pagodas, small villages, and markets. A visit to a local village will give you the opportunity to interact with the local people and participate in their daily activities. Experience the lifestyle, hospitality, and friendliness of the Northern people as you prepare lunch with a local family. Later, join the farmers in the field and learn about the cultivation of wet rice. Sit back and admire the mesmerizing limestone cliffs as you cruise on the Van Long reservoir. In the late afternoon, you will be picked up and driven back to your resort. Overnight in Ninh Binh. (BL)

Day 6 - Ninh Binh – Ha Long Bay

Drive through rice paddy fields to Ha Long Bay. Board a junk for a cruise among the hundreds of islets of Ha Long Bay while enjoying lunch. Drop anchor in the late evening for an overnight stay among the dramatic limestone peaks rising out of the sea. Overnight on a junk in Ha Long. (BLD)

Day 7 - Ha Long Bay – Boat Cruise – Ha Noi

Take a delightful morning cruise through the limestone cliffs and emerald waters of Ha Long Bay before returning to the dock. Return to Ha Noi.  In the afternoon, meet the water puppet “magician” and enjoy a show at his house in Ha Noi. Enjoy the incredible experience of touching and controlling the puppets under the water. Start your exploration with a short walk through the Ha Noi backstreets alive with daily activities. Meet the artist who was born into a family going back seven generations of water puppeteers. Learn a little about the artist’s family as well as more about this traditional art. Enjoy the mini show and try controlling the puppets yourself. Learn more about how to make the puppets before saying goodbye to the artist. Overnight in Hanoi. (B)

Day 8 - Depart Ha Noi

Your day is at leisure until pick up and transfer to the airport for flight home. (B)