Package overview
This itinerary keeps clients in a single Hanoi hotel for all four nights, reaching both Ninh Binh and Ha Long Bay as day excursions rather than requiring an overnight cruise stay. It's the same core content as the more common overnight-cruise version of this routing — Hoa Lu, Tam Coc, the Hanoi city tour and the bay itself — just restructured for travellers who prefer not to pack an overnight bag for a boat.
The Ha Long Bay day includes a roughly four-hour cruise among the bay's limestone islands with a seafood lunch served on board, returning to Hanoi the same evening. This suits agents booking older clients, families with young children, or anyone uneasy about a cruise-cabin stay, and runs most comfortably from October to April.
Trip highlights
- Rowing-boat excursion through Tam Coc's limestone karsts near Hoa Lu
- Full-day Hanoi city tour covering Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum and the Old Quarter
- A single day cruise on Ha Long Bay with lunch served aboard
- One Hanoi hotel base throughout, with no overnight cruise cabin required
Day-by-day itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Hanoi (about a 45-minute, 25 km transfer from the airport)
Hanoi's French colonial streets, lakeside temples and centuries-old Old Quarter set the tone for the days ahead. Arrival afternoons are usually left free for an easy first walk through the Old Quarter's narrow trading lanes.
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, with a short walk to the remaining dynastic temples. At Tam Coc, a small rowing boat carries guests through three limestone grottoes, Hang Ca, Hang Hai and Hang Ba, before the drive back to the Hanoi hotel.
Day 3: Hanoi city tour
The full-day tour covers Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum and stilt house, the One Pillar Pagoda and the Temple of Literature, then Quan Thanh Temple and Tran Quoc Pagoda beside West Lake. After lunch the group visits the Museum of Ethnology, ending at Hoan Kiem Lake with a walk through the surrounding Old Quarter.
Day 4: Ha Long Bay day cruise (about 3 hours / 170 km one way)
An early departure covers the drive through the Red River Delta's rice fields to Ha Long Bay, where the group boards a private junk for a roughly four-hour cruise among the bay's 3,000 limestone islands. A seafood lunch is served on board before the return drive, with the group back at the same Hanoi hotel by evening.
Day 5: Departure from Hanoi (about a 45-minute, 25 km transfer to the airport)
The final morning is free until transfer to Noi Bai International Airport for the onward or homeward flight, closing an itinerary that covered Ninh Binh, Hanoi and Ha Long Bay without a single overnight cruise stay.
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.