Stunning Northern Vietnam 6 Days 5 Nights

After breakfast, your day kicks off with a visit to the square in front of the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, honoring the nation's founder. Your guide will narrate the country's independence history before you capture memories in photos.

Next, head to the Defense Pagoda (Tran Quoc) by West Lake, ending your morning with an insightful trip to the Hanoi Ethnography Museum, showcasing Vietnam's diverse ethnic cultures.

Lunch awaits at a local eatery.

In the afternoon, a fascinating stroll through the Hanoi Old Quarter awaits you. Start with the Long Bien Bridge - Paul Doumer Bridge (Trần Nhật Duật Street side) and continue to Cao Thắng Street, famous for its traditional spices. Then, explore the Đồng Xuân Market, the largest market in Hanoi, and soak in the lively atmosphere of Hàng Mã Street, known for its decorative items, Chinese toys, and colorful lanterns.

Continue your exploration through Lương Văn Can, Lãn Ông, and Hang Buồm streets, taking the time to visit the Bạch Mã Temple (76 Hang Buồm Street), the oldest temple in Hanoi. Take a well-deserved break at Café Market (Hanoi Coffee Culture, 45 Nguyen Huu Huan or another café boutique) to enjoy a complimentary coffee.

Capture the vibrant atmosphere by Hoan Kiem Lake before attending a mesmerizing Hanoi water puppet show in the evening.

Dinner is on your own, followed by an overnight stay at the hotel in Hanoi.

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Around 8:00 AM, we head towards Van Long, a former marshland turned nature reserve. We embark on a bamboo boat excursion for two people, gliding through a vast valley of reeds surrounded by mountains and inhabited by herons and white-bottomed monkeys. Following that, we explore a low limestone cave adorned with sparkling stalagmites and stalactites.

Continuing our journey, we make our way to Hoa Lu, the capital of Vietnam's early independent dynasties. Here, we visit the temples dedicated to the country's first kings, Dinh and Le.

By around 1:00 PM, we meet a local Vietnamese family and savor a traditional meal in a magnificent setting overlooking the rice fields and mountains.

After lunch, we proceed to Tam Coc, where we embark on a scenic bicycle ride through picturesque karst landscapes. We visit the splendid Thai Vi Temple, dedicated to the Tran kings of the 13th century, located at the end of a long pathway lined with rice fields. We are warmly welcomed by the temple's guardian, a venerable bearded man named Ong Tu, who plays the Đàn bầu, a monochord instrument.

Overnight in Tam Coc.

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Departure for Halong Bay, a UNESCO World Heritage site. On the way, we pass through the provinces of Nam Dinh and Thai Binh, significant rice granaries of the Red River Delta.

Around noon: Arrival at Hon Gai for boarding a beautiful wooden junk boat, embarking on an exceptional discovery of Halong Bay (the bay where the Mother Dragon descended) and Bai Tu Long Bay (the bay where the Dragon's children descended). The junk boat sails amidst thousands of stunning rock formations, clustered into islands and islets of breathtaking beauty. Several activities are planned for the afternoon, including a visit to Thien Canh Son Cave, offering a panoramic view of the bay (a jade sea adorned with sailing junks), free swimming on a white sandy beach, or an hour of kayaking to explore the bay's hidden corners.

The junk boat then continues its journey in the bay towards more secluded areas before anchoring in an authorized zone for the night. In the late afternoon, while waiting for dinner, you can relax and enjoy cocktails on the upper deck (offering a 360° view), where you can admire the charming landscapes.

All meals served on board feature delicious seafood dishes.

Overnight stay on board.

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Breakfast in the calm and freshness of the morning, followed by a rowboat tour of the floating houses. These houses are currently uninhabited due to the violent typhoons in the bay during certain seasons. They are primarily used for fish farming (hatcheries) and pearl cultivation.

Continuing in this dreamlike setting, enjoy a final lunch before leaving the boat and its crew.

We return to Hanoi by road. Along the way, we visit But Thap Pagoda, also known as the "Brush Pagoda" due to its tower shaped like a calligraphy brush. This 13th-century monastic complex, located in Dinh To village, Bac Ninh province, approximately 30 km from Hanoi, showcases remarkable beauty, originality, and richness.

Then, transfer to Hanoi and rest.

Overnight at the hotel in Hanoi.

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You have a free day for rest or shopping in the city center. Transfer to Hanoi airport for your return flight.

The check-out time is 12:00 PM.

End of North Vietnam itinerary tour 6 days.