Resplendent Vietnam

We will pick you up in the hotel in the central Old Quarter. Then visit Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum. Learn more about Ho Chi Minh's biography and his very important role of forming this country nowadays. Visit Quan Thanh Temple and Tran Quoc Pagoda (one of the oldest pagoda in Vietnam). Visit Bat Trang pottery village (applied on Mon, Wed & Fri) or equivalent program. Later we visit Ethnology Museum (applied on Tue, Thus, Sat & Sun) or equivalent program to have an overview of Vietnamese Ethnology and its differences. Stop by the first university in Vietnam, Temple of Literature. Back to Old Quarter to go through short and tiny 36 main streets and learn about its unique name origin. You can feel what makes Hanoi different; as it combines between the past and the present. Tour ends around 5.00pm.

A 90km drive south of Hanoi will lead you to Ninh Binh, the site of the one capital city of ancient Vietnam before Hanoi took its leading role in 11th century. The area is featured by lots of well-known sceneries, which include Tam Coc Caves and Hoa Lu ancient capital with the old temples dedicated to King Dinh & King Le reigned in 10th century. The visit in Ninh Binh starts by a boat trip in Tam Coc where spectacular limestone karsts jut out from the green paddy fields reminding about Guilin (China) and Halong Bay of Vietnam, which gives this scenery the name “Halong-bay-on-land”. Further discovery in Ninh Binh will be continued in the site that used to be the kings‟ palace in 10th century and now famous for the wooden relieves of the shady Dinh and Le temples. Late afternoon back to Hanoi.

Early departure for Halong Bay, a World Heritage as designated by Unesco in 1994 with nearly 3,000 rocky islets. The drive may take you more than three to four hours utmost depending on the high or low seasons‟ traffic, and will pass the Red River Delta, one of the two granaries of Vietnam. Upon arriving in Halong, we will sail our boat round its natural rocky gardens whilst a tasty seafood lunch is waiting on board. Most of the islets here are not for living due to the lack of fresh water, but are excellent for cruising to contemplate their miraculous draws on the horizon. Many of them have great names from their inspirational shapes, including the Surprising cave, Pelican Grotto, Chopstick rock, Butterfly rock, Turtle rock, the island of Fishman‟s Head, the Fighting Cocks, the Sail, the Urn, or the Sea Dog! We can wander to visit grottos, so swimming, or just lazily relax on the sundeck with our drinks. The boat will be back to the Wharf late afternoon where we take our car or coach to return to Hanoi. Trip finished at your hotel in Hanoi.

After breakfast, check-out from your hotel. Later in the day you will be transferred to the airport to catch your return flight back home.