Explore Northern Vietnam: 7 Days Scenic Wonders

Morning: Upon your arrival at Noi Bai Airport in Hanoi, your guide will be waiting to meet you and facilitate your transfer to the hotel for check-in. Following your long flight, you are encouraged to rest or, if you feel energized, to explore the vibrant city at your own leisure.

Please note that both the domestic and international gates can be crowded during the day, which may make your guide more difficult to locate. If you arrive and are unable to immediately find our representatives, please contact your travel advisor immediately for assistance. For your convenience, please also be advised that standard hotel check-in is at 14:00, and an early check-in is available for a surcharge.

• Meals: N/A
• Accommodation: Hotel in Hanoi.

Morning: After breakfast, guests will get on the bus to start a trip exploring the culture and daily life of Hanoi, Vietnam’s historic capital. The first stop is the Temple of Literature, which was the first university in Vietnam, built during the Ly Dynasty. This place is not only a symbol of Confucianism but also the starting point for many talented people over the generations.

Next, visitors will go to the One Pillar Pagoda to see its special Buddhist design. It looks like a lotus flower rising from the Linh Chieu Pond, just as King Ly Thai Tong saw in his dream.

Nearby is Ba Dinh Square, where you will visit the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum. As the guide tells the story, you will feel the heroic spirit of the day when President Ho Chi Minh read the Declaration of Independence, creating the Democratic Republic of Vietnam. Please note that the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum is closed on Mondays and Fridays. It is also closed for inside repairs from June to August each year. During this time, visitors cannot join the official ceremony inside, but they can still take photos outside and explore the surrounding area.

Then it will be lunchtime. You can take a break and enjoy Vietnamese food at a traditional restaurant.

Afternoon: After you feel refreshed, the trip continues with a drive to the Museum of Ethnology. This museum holds the remaining cultural treasures of Vietnam’s 54 ethnic groups. Inside, you will see clear and lively objects, films, and photos. These displays show the daily life, traditional clothing, farming tools, and customs of many ethnic minorities across Vietnam.

After a meaningful day that helps you learn many new things, our journey comes to an end. You will arrive back at your hotel at around 4:30 PM, where you will say goodbye to your guide.

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
• Accommodation: Hotel in Hanoi

Morning: After a full breakfast and checking out of your hotel, you will set off for Quang Phu Cau Incense Village. The drive takes about one and a half hours. During this time, you will leave behind the busy city and enjoy the peaceful countryside views of Vietnam. Once you arrive at the quiet village, you will take a walk around and watch how the locals make incense. The process includes cutting bamboo, dipping the sticks into coloured dye, preparing the incense paste, and drying the incense under the sun.

Feel free to talk with the local people. This is a great chance to learn more about the long history of this traditional incense-making craft. Also, don't forget to pose with colourful bunches of incense sticks to take some special photos.

For lunch, you will enjoy simple, traditional Vietnamese food at a local restaurant.

Afternoon: This afternoon, we move to another beautiful countryside area in Vietnam called Ninh Binh. There, you can enjoy the clean and peaceful atmosphere.

We will visit Bich Dong Pagoda, where you will be attracted by the lovely scenery. You will also listen to local folk tales about three special Buddhist temples built on the mountain. If you come during lotus season, from June to July, the view will be truly magical and not to be missed.

Next, we stop at Tam Coc and get on a small boat rowed by local people. The trip lasts about two hours along a wide river, with beautiful natural scenery opening up in front of you.

As you row down the Ngo Dong River, you will be amazed by the lovely rice fields that stretch along the water. If you travel in May or June, you will be lucky enough to take photos of the ripe, golden rice fields.

The boat then goes into three caves, where amazing limestone shapes appear before your eyes. The rock formations here are also very interesting for nature lovers. You will follow the winding river past rice fields and temples on the way to the caves and back. By the end of the trip, you will have collected many wonderful landscape photos.

Evening: After a day of exploring the countryside, the car will take you to your hotel in Ninh Binh. You can relax there and have dinner on your own.

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
• Accommodation: Hotel in Ninh Binh

Morning: Please eat a good breakfast, because this day will require a lot of energy. You will meet our guide and go to Mua Cave, a wonderful place in Ninh Binh that is very popular with photography lovers. It offers amazing views from the top of the mountain.

We will begin a climb to the peak of Ngoa Long Mountain. Once you stand at the top, you can enjoy priceless natural scenery and look down at the stunning rice valley below.

After that, you will recharge with a tasty lunch at a local restaurant.

Afternoon: When you have cooled down and rested, we will go to the final stop: Trang An Boat Pier. You will take a trip on a traditional wooden boat, gently floating along the beautiful Sao Khe River. Along the way, you will see many caves, limestone mountains, and temples. Some examples include Lam Cave, Vang Cave, Dai Cave, Thanh Truot Cave, Vai Gioi Cave, as well as Cao Son Temple, Suoi Tien Temple, and Vu Lam Temple.

When you feel tired and your camera is full of travel photos, we will return to the hotel. You will have a quiet night of rest to prepare for the next day's boat trip adventure.

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
• Accommodation: Hotel in Ninh Binh

Morning: Enjoy your breakfast during a calm morning in Ninh Binh, then check out of the hotel. After that, a luxury bus will take you to Halong Bay, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, to begin your cruise trip.

When you arrive at the cruise waiting lounge in Halong, the cruise staff will warmly welcome you. You will check in quickly, then take a speedboat to reach the main cruise boat. During the speedboat ride, the cruise manager will explain the safety rules and share interesting stories about the bay.

You will board the cruise at around 12:15 PM. The captain and crew will greet you with a welcome drink. After that, you can check into your room, and a delicious lunch will be ready at the restaurant.

You will enjoy a tasty lunch while sailing past thousands of limestone mountains and small islands rising from the sparkling green water.

Afternoon: After a short rest, you will take part in water activities that allow you to get closer to the bay. Depending on your cruise schedule, you may climb to the top of an island, explore caves, or go kayaking among the beautiful ocean scenery.

When you return to the cruise, our chef will hold a cooking class. This is your chance to try your cooking skills. Alternatively, you can enjoy a cocktail as the sun goes down during Happy Hour, which offers a "buy one, get one free" drink promotion from 5:00 to 5:30 PM.

Evening: In the evening, a delicious dinner will be served at the restaurant. To make your night more exciting, you can join fun activities such as squid fishing, watching a movie, playing board games, or visiting the night bar.

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Accommodation: Overnight on cruise

Morning: Your morning starts at around 6:00. A Tai Chi class is offered for early risers who want to exercise or simply relax in the fresh air from their room. After that, you will have a light breakfast and continue the trip.

You will go to further places to learn about daily life in a fishing village, or you can just relax and enjoy the water. Then you return to the cruise to freshen up and recharge with a final brunch. Please complete the check‑out process between 10:00 and 10:30 while the cruise slowly moves toward the port.

You will then take a speedboat to get to the harbour. Say goodbye to the captain and the cruise crew, and arrive at the port around 11:15.

Afternoon: A luxury limousine will pick you up and take you to your hotel in Hanoi. You will arrive at your hotel around 2:45 PM. The rest of the day is free for you to spend as you wish.

• Meals: Breakfast, Brunch
• Accommodation: Hotel in Hanoi

Enjoy your final breakfast in Hanoi and check out of the hotel before 12:00. Our driver will then take you to the airport for your departure flight.

It has been our honour to join you on your six‑day trip to Vietnam. We wish you a safe flight and look forward to seeing you again on your next journey!

• Meals: Breakfast
• Accommodation: NA