Package overview
This itinerary takes the familiar Hanoi and Ha Long Bay short break and adds a Ninh Binh day in between, reached from the same Hanoi hotel base over three nights before continuing to an overnight cruise. Ninh Binh's Hoa Lu and Tam Coc give clients a rural, karst-landscape contrast to Hanoi's city streets and the bay's open water — a combination many shorter Hanoi itineraries skip entirely.
The overnight cruise still delivers the core Ha Long Bay experience, including Surprise Cave and the sunset stop at Ti Top Island, with the return transfer straight to Hanoi's airport for departure. It suits agents whose clients have a spare day to give the north more depth without extending into a full Sapa or central Vietnam add-on, and runs best from October to April.
Trip highlights
- Rowing-boat excursion through Tam Coc's limestone karsts and grottoes near Hoa Lu
- Full-day Hanoi city tour covering Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum and the Old Quarter
- Overnight cruise on Ha Long Bay with Surprise Cave the following morning
- Swim stop and sunset views from Ti Top Island
Day-by-day itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Hanoi (about a 45-minute, 25 km transfer from the airport)
Hanoi's tree-lined boulevards, French colonial buildings and lakeside pagodas make for an easy first stop on a north Vietnam itinerary. Arrival afternoons are often spent close to the hotel, with an optional walk through the Old Quarter's narrow trading streets before the busier days ahead.
Day 2: Ninh Binh, Hoa Lu and Tam Coc excursion
The day travels to Hoa Lu, capital of Vietnam under the Dinh and early Le dynasties from 968 until the early 11th century, reached by a short walk to the remaining dynastic temples. At Tam Coc, a small rowing boat — paddled by local boatmen using their hands and feet — carries guests through three limestone grottoes, Hang Ca, Hang Hai and Hang Ba, before the drive back to Hanoi.
Day 3: Hanoi city tour
The itinerary covers Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum and stilt house, the One Pillar Pagoda, the Temple of Literature, Quan Thanh Temple and Tran Quoc Pagoda on West Lake's edge. After lunch the group visits the Museum of Ethnology, then closes the day at Hoan Kiem Lake with a walking tour of the surrounding Old Quarter.
Day 4: Hanoi to Ha Long Bay, board overnight cruise (about 3 hours / 170 km one way)
An 8am hotel pickup starts the drive to Ha Long Bay through the farmland and villages of the Red River Delta. Once aboard the traditional junk, the cruise passes Dinh Huong, Ga Choi, Dog and Sail Islands, stops at a pearl-farming site and paddles into Luon Cave, with time to swim before sunset from Ti Top Island and dinner served on board.
Day 5: Ha Long Bay to Hanoi Airport, departure (about 3½ hours / 190 km one way)
A Tai Chi session on the sundeck opens the morning before a visit to Surprise Cave, entered via around 100 steps and explored on foot. After brunch and a final pass by Ga Choi Island, Binh Phong Mountain and Tortoise Island, the group disembarks at Tuan Chau port for the road transfer to Noi Bai Airport for the onward or homeward flight.
What's included
- INCLUSIONS
- EXCLUSIONS
- ACCOMMODATION
- VISA
- PAYMENT TERMS
- CANCELLATION POLICY
- DO'S IN VIETNAM
- DON'TS IN VIETNAM
- Accommodation with twin/ double/ triple sharing room basis with daily breakfast in the category chosen or similar (subject to availability).
- Meals as mentioned in the Tour Itinerary.
- Sightseeing & Transfers according to the above Tour Itinerary Details only.
- Transportation by vehicle with A/C
- Local English-speaking guide’s assistance.
- All Entrance fees for attractions included in the program
- All activities and cruises clearly mentioned in the program
- Government taxes & service charge
- Air Fare / Train fare.
- Personal Expenses such as Laundry, telephone calls, tips & gratuity, mineral water, soft & hard drinks, porterage, water sports.
- Early check-in, late check-out
- Additional sightseeing or extra usage of vehicle, other than mentioned in the itinerary.
- Room Up gradation Charges.
- Any cost arising due to natural calamities like, landslides, road blockage, political disturbances (strikes), etc (to be borne by the client, which is directly payable on the spot).
- Travel Insurance.
- Bank Charges
- Tip to Driver & Guide (Compulsory)
- Airport Taxes
- Visa and Visa arrangement
- Anything which is not included in the inclusion.
Not included
- Air Fare / Train fare.
- Personal Expenses such as Laundry, telephone calls, tips & gratuity, mineral water, soft & hard drinks, porterage, water sports.
- Early check-in, late check-out
- Additional sightseeing or extra usage of vehicle, other than mentioned in the itinerary.
- Room Up gradation Charges.
- Any cost arising due to natural calamities like, landslides, road blockage, political disturbances (strikes), etc (to be borne by the client, which is directly payable on the spot).
- Travel Insurance.
- Bank Charges
- Tip to Driver & Guide (Compulsory)
- Airport Taxes
- Visa and Visa arrangement
- Anything which is not included in the inclusion.
Book this package
Visa requirements, payment terms and cancellation rules for this destination are set out on our [Vietnam travel information page](vietnam/travel-information).
Rates are quoted on request for your dates, party size and hotel category. Send us the itinerary reference and we will come back with a net B2B quotation.