Hanoi - Ha Long Bay - Connecting Heritages

Upon arrival in Hanoi, you will be warmly welcomed by Vietmountain Travel’s guide and driver and be transferred to the hotel for check-in. Spend the rest of the day at leisure.

Overnight in Hanoi.

Meals: Dinner
Accommodation: hotel

Notes: The itinerary can be flexible based on the arrival flight schedule; some sites can be visited today to have more time at sites or add some other sites the next day (with a small surcharge).
 

Firstly, take a visit to Presidential Palace, Ho Chi Minh’s mausoleum and its complex with its beautiful garden where Stilt House and One Pillar Pagoda are built-in.

View the outside of the Presidential Palace and Ho Chi Minh’s mausoleum then stroll through the garden to the Ho Chi Minh Stilt House where Ho Chi Minh lived from 1958 until he passed away in 1969. This simple two-room dwelling has been preserved in the same condition as during his life and can be viewed through the windows. Continue to the special architecture 11th century One Pillar Pagoda which was rebuilt after being destroyed by the French in 1954.

Secondly, visit the Temple of Literature – The first royal academy in the country.

The Temple of Literature has a peaceful series of walled courtyards and graceful gateways, and this monument is one of the best-preserved examples of traditional Vietnamese architecture. Founded in 1070 and dedicated to Confucius, this was also the site of Vietnam’s first university. In one courtyard, giant stone tortoises bear steles on their backs, listing the accomplishments of graduating scholars.

Thirdly, visit the Museum of Ethnology – one of the 25 most attractive museums in Asia.

The museum was opened in 1997 to preserve and introduce most of the richest cultures, and traditions of 54 ethnic groups in Vietnam. It is a place which is combined with a very green and tranquil garden behind where you can really see and learn more about some of the very popular architectures as King people’s traditional house, Ede tribe’s longhouse, Bana tribe’s communal house, Stilt house of Tay tribe…

Hanoi is a blend of long-established traditions and modern imprints of Western colonization. Tree-lined boulevards and colonial buildings give the city a touch of Western elegance, while crowded blocks of tiny old houses and narrow lanes full of daily life bear the charms of the past centuries. Take a 60-minute ride on an electric car or a tricycle through Quan Su Pagoda, Silk Road, Hanoi Railway and Hoa Lo Prison then Hanoi Opera House.

Then, lunch or dinner or both are waiting for you to enjoy at local restaurants.

You can enjoy an hour of UNESCO intangible heritage in Vietnam: Water Puppet.

Overnight in Hanoi.

Meals: Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: hotel

Depart for a 2.5-hour journey to Ha Long Bay. Make a stop en route for some refreshments (around 15-20 minutes).

Our guide will explain more about the destinations and all over the places, we drive through on the way. On arrival in Ha Long Bay, board your cruise, check into your cabin and prepare your appetite for an enjoyable seafood lunch in the restaurant while cruising into magical Ha Long Bay- the bay of descending dragon. In the afternoon, enjoy some visits and/or activities (depending on each boat’s itinerary) or just spend some time relaxing on the sundeck. Towards the end of the day, the boat sets anchor for the night among the karst formations.

Dinner is served on board. In the evening, you have free time again for relaxing or joining in some games or night squid fishing.

Overnight in Ha Long Bay.

Meals: Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: On cruise

Rise early and greet the day with a refreshing Tai Chi demonstration on the top deck. The sun rises on Halong in the morning and breakfast is served while the cruise slowly moves through the magnificent rock formations and back towards the pier. You will check out your cabin and have free time to relax in the restaurant or on the sundeck till brunch time. Arrive back to the harbour at noon, disembark and transfer back to Hanoi via 5B highway for your next flight.

Trip ends. Vietmountain Travel goodbye and see you again.

Included meals: Breakfast/ Lunch
Accommodation: Not available