Day 1: Hanoi arrival - Evening cruise on the Red River

On your arrival at Noi Bai airport, you are met and greeted by your local guide and driver. You transfer to your hotel in the Old Quarter and refresh.  

At 5pm we leave Hanoi. We will set out to meet our boat the Jewel of the Delta on the banks of the Red River. We begin our cruise along the Red River as our crew serves a traditional mouth-watering Vietnamese dinner. A traditional Vietnamese musical ensemble will play as the sun sets over this timeless landscape. Our route takes us in the direction of the Thang Long Bridge and as night falls – discover Hanoi by night. We return to Hanoi by 10pm

Accommodation: Overnight at your proposed Hotel from our list
Transit: 30 minutes from the airport by car or minivan/ 4 hours by boat/ 1 hour return to Hanoi
Meal plan: D

Day 2: Ha Noi City Tour

Today we spend a full day exploring the capital city and our first visit is to the Ho Chi Minh Complex.  We first visit Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum - the number one place of pilgrimage of Vietnam to pay respect to Uncle Ho. We continue to the Residential Palace - a beautifully restored colonial building constructed as the residence of the Governor General Indochina and now used for official receptions that is not open to public yet.  We then spend time at Ho Chi Minh's house on stilts where he lived on and off from 1958 to 1969.  The house is built in the style of Vietnam’s ethnic minorities, sitting in a well-tended garden next to carp-filled pond.  We then continue to One Pillar Pagoda, Hanoi’s most famous pagoda is designed to resemble a lotus blossom, a symbol of purity rising out of a sea of sorrow.  Our last visit before lunch is the Temple of Literature, Vietnam's first university and an excellent example of well-preserved traditional Vietnamese architecture.

We break for lunch at a local restaurant and in the afternoon visit the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology.  The museum features an excellent collection of art and everyday objects gathered from Vietnam and its diverse tribal people.  The museum is several kilometers from central Hanoi, but it shouldn’t be missed.  On the way back to town, we’ll visit Tran Quoc Pagoda, one of the oldest temple of Vietnam and Quan Thanh Temple, a temple dedicated to the guardian Gods of the old capital, Thang Long as well as one of the 4 compass point temples of Hanoi

Accommodation: Overnight at your proposed Hotel from our list
Transit: 1.5 hours from location to location by car or minivan
Walking time: 3 - 4 hours
Walking difficulty: Easy
Meal plan: B/L

Day 3: Hanoi - Ha Long Bay

We have breakfast and an early start today, we are off to Ha Long Bay and our journey will take us through the Red River Delta with its scenery of rice fields, water buffalo and everyday life in the villages. Upon arrival in Ha Long, you board a Traditional Style Junk and enjoying a well-prepared lunch of local fresh seafood while the junk cruises among thousand of odd shaped limestone islands. You will have opportunity to visit Surprise Grotto and have a swim at Titop beach or follow the steps all the way up to the top for a view over the Bay below.  Dinner tonight is complimented by sunset.  Should you feel like taking another swim, there will plenty of time.
 
Accommodation: Overnight at your proposed Junk from our list
Transit: 2 hours by car or minivan
Meal plan: B/L/D

Day 4: Ha Long - Hanoi

As you enjoy breakfast in the fresh morning air and serenity of the bay, the junk will continue its way among thousands of islets.  You cruise past several beautiful views, Teapot Island, Chopstick Island, Horse Saddle and Charles De Gaulle Island.  You may wish for a swim before your lunch is served.  The Junk will disembark Halong wharf at noon, where your bus is waiting to transfer you back to Hanoi with an estimated arrival in Hanoi of 16:00.

On arrival in Hanoi, you return to the hotel and the evening is yours. 

Accommodation: Overnight at your proposed Hotel from our list
Transit: 2 hours by car or minivan
Meal plan: B/L

Day 5: Hanoi - Departure

Breakfast at your hotel and depending on your flight or transfer out of Hanoi, we suggest last minute shopping for clothes, music or maybe a few DVD’s!

Transit: 15 minutes from the airport by car or minivan

Meal plan: B

Our trip includes

• English speaking guide
• Accommodation as indicated
• Meals as indicated
• Transfer and pickup airport by car or minivan
• Transportation by car or minivan with air condition
• Tour as indicated
• Entrance fee

Our trip excludes

• Domestic and international flights
• Visa & visa arrangement
• Meals not indicated
• Drinking water, soft drink and alcohol
• Tips & personal expenses

Prices contact info@remoteasia.com