Hanoi - Ninh Binh - Halong 6 days

Upon arrival at Noi Bai Airport, you will be picked up and transferred to Hanoi city center. Check in at your hotel and enjoy some free time at your leisure. In the evening, enjoy a special 2-hour street food tour to discover Hanoi’s local cuisine. Overnight at a hotel in Hanoi.

Meals: D

Accommodation: Hotel

Have breakfast at the hotel.

Around 07:15: Your tour guide will pick you up from your hotel and depart for Ninh Binh.

09:00: Take a short break at a stopover in Dong Van, Ha Nam Province.

10:00: Arrive in Tam Coc and begin your first visit with a sampan boat trip rowed by a local boatman, lasting approximately 1.5 hours. Enjoy a pleasant journey along the river, surrounded by peaceful limestone mountains, rice paddies, and temples along the way.

12:00: Enjoy a delicious Vietnamese lunch at the bungalow’s restaurant.

13:30: Check in at your bungalow or hotel.

14:00: Visit a local family in Tam Coc. This traditional Vietnamese family has three generations living together. You will have the opportunity to learn about the architecture of their home, their daily life, and their traditional handicraft of embroidery.

14:30: After leaving the family home, hop on a bicycle and explore the rice fields and limestone mountains along a unique route.

15:00: Explore Hang But (Buddhist Cave). Then, board a small sampan to visit Thung Nham Bird Garden, where more than 50,000 birds of 40 species come to roost every day. This is a wonderful opportunity to take beautiful photos.

17:00: Cycle back to the homestay and enjoy some free time to relax with afternoon tea.

19:00: Enjoy a Vietnamese dinner with a BBQ hosted by the local family. Overnight at the bungalow or hotel.

Meals: B, L, D

Accommodation: Cruise

07:00–07:30: Breakfast at the bungalow or hotel. Guests can choose one of the following two options (please indicate your preference when booking):

Option 1: Local Market – Cooking Class

08:00: With guidance from your tour guide, you will learn some basic Vietnamese phrases to use when shopping at a local market. You will then receive a list of dishes to prepare in the cooking class, along with the necessary ingredients. With a set budget in Vietnamese dong, you will head to a local market to purchase the ingredients. After 30–45 minutes of shopping and exploring the local culture, you will return to the kitchen to begin your cooking class. Our talented chef, with a passion for traditional Vietnamese cuisine and extensive cooking experience, will introduce you to the basic principles of preparing each dish and show you how to make it. You will then have the opportunity to cook for yourself like a real Vietnamese chef.

Option 2: Cycling to Mua Cave

(Recommended for tourists under 40 years old. Not recommended on rainy or gloomy days. Please note that you will need to climb nearly 500 steps each way.)

08:30: Cycle to Mua Cave, one of the most attractive viewpoints in Ninh Binh. Hike to the summit of Ngoa Long Mountain to enjoy breathtaking views of the Tam Coc area and the surrounding landscapes of Ninh Binh.

11:00: Return to the bungalow for lunch.

All guests will share the same activities for the rest of the day:

11:30: Enjoy a delicious Vietnamese lunch at the bungalow’s restaurant.

12:30: Check out of the bungalow or hotel. Relax and enjoy some free time with coffee in the homestay garden.

15:00–15:30: Depart for Hoa Lu, the ancient capital of Vietnam in the 10th century. Visit the Temple of King Dinh and learn more about Vietnamese history through an introduction by your local guide.

16:30: Leave Ninh Binh and drive directly back to Hanoi.

18:30: Arrive in Hanoi and transfer back to your hotel. Enjoy some free time and stay overnight at the hotel in Hanoi.

Meals: B, L

Accommodation: Hotel

After breakfast at the hotel, you will be picked up by shuttle bus between 08:00 and 08:30 and transferred to Halong Bay, with a short break along the way.

Upon arrival, you will be welcomed on board, check in to your cabin, and enjoy a delicious lunch at the restaurant. Afternoon activities may include visiting one of the most beautiful caves in Halong Bay, exploring a floating village by bamboo boat, relaxing or swimming on an island, and kayaking in a lagoon.

Back on board, you can join a cooking class or enjoy a sunset cocktail party before dinner. The evening is free at your leisure, or you can join the crew for a squid fishing trip. Overnight in a private cabin on a shared cruise.

Meals: B, L, D

Accommodation: Cruise

Early morning tea and coffee will be served. You can optionally join a Tai Chi class on the sundeck or enjoy some early-morning photography.

After breakfast, activities may include (if not arranged on the first day) visiting a cave, joining a cooking class, or climbing to the top of an island for panoramic views of Halong Bay. Then, check out and enjoy the magnificent scenery as the cruise passes numerous islands and islets featuring karst formations on the way back to the harbor.

Around 12:30: Transfer back to Hanoi, with drop-off at your hotel at around 17:00. Check in again and enjoy some free time.

Meals: B, L

Accommodation: Hotel

After breakfast, join a free walking tour with a volunteer tour guide to explore Hanoi alongside local residents. This tour offers an opportunity to experience the city from a local perspective, accompanied by friendly volunteers rather than professional tour guides, and learn more about local lifestyles.

After the tour, you will be picked up and transferred to the airport for your departure flight. End of services.

Meals: B

Accommodation: N/A