Package overview
This routing reshuffles the standard Hanoi opening to fit in Ninh Binh: arrival on day one, a Tam Coc rowing-boat excursion through Hoa Lu's limestone countryside on day two, then the full Hanoi city tour on day three before boarding the Ha Long Bay cruise. Returning from the bay on day five, the group transfers straight to the airport for a same-day flight to Cam Ranh rather than a further Hanoi overnight.
The two nights that follow in Nha Trang cover Ponagar Champa Temple, the aquarium and Vinpearl Land's cable-car-linked resort island — a straightforward beach-and-family finish rather than the heritage focus of the Da Nang or Ho Chi Minh City versions. It suits clients who want countryside scenery early and resort downtime at the close, without an extra hotel night lost to travel.
Trip highlights
- Ninh Binh countryside day with a Tam Coc rowing boat through three grottoes
- Full-day Hanoi city tour and overnight Ha Long Bay cruise
- Same-day transfer from the Ha Long Bay cruise straight to a Nha Trang flight
- Ponagar Champa Temple and Vinpearl Land's resort 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 set the pace for the days ahead. Arrival afternoons are usually spent close to the hotel, with time for an optional walk through the Old Quarter's narrow lanes of shophouses and street-food stalls.
Day 2: Ninh Binh, Hoa Lu and Tam Coc excursion
Hoa Lu, capital of Vietnam from 968 until the early 11th century, is reached through limestone-studded countryside for a short walk to the temples of the Dinh and Le dynasties. At Tam Coc, a local rowing boat — paddled hands-and-feet style by its operator — passes through three grottoes, Hang Ca, Hang Hai and Hang Ba, before the return drive to Hanoi.
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, finishing at Hoan Kiem Lake with a walk through the Old Quarter.
Day 4: Hanoi to Ha Long Bay, board overnight cruise (about 3 hours / 170 km one way)
An 8am pickup starts the drive through the Red River Delta's rice fields and villages to Ha Long Bay. 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 a swim near Ti Top Island before sunset and dinner served on board.
Day 5: Ha Long Bay to Hanoi airport, fly to Nha Trang (about 3½ hours / 190 km one way)
The morning opens with Tai Chi on the sundeck before the cruise visits Surprise Cave on foot, then continues past Ga Choi Island, Binh Phong Mountain and Tortoise Island on the way back. After disembarking at Tuan Chau port, the group transfers directly to Hanoi's Noi Bai Airport for the domestic flight to Cam Ranh.
Day 5: Arrival in Nha Trang (about a 1½-hour, 70 km transfer from the airport)
A representative meets arriving guests at Cam Ranh International Airport for the drive into Nha Trang, a long curve of coastline that is one of the country's established beach bases rather than a stop added purely for scenery.
Day 6: Explore Nha Trang
The day covers Ponagar Champa Temple, the brick towers built between the 7th and 12th centuries on a hill above the Cai River, followed by the Nha Trang Aquarium and Vinpearl Land, the cable-car-linked resort island with its amusement park and water park.
Day 7: Departure from Nha Trang (about a 1-hour, 50 km transfer to the airport)
The final morning is free until transfer to Cam Ranh International Airport for the onward or homeward flight, closing a routing that traded one Hanoi overnight for extra time on Vietnam's south-central coast.
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.