Hanoi, Ninh Binh & Ha Long Bay Tour Highlights

Landing at the Noi Bai airport, you are welcomed by professional tour guide and driver at the pickup lobby. Enjoy 45-minute driving to the city center (Hanoi Old Quarter) with city's briefing information about the most visited spots, culture, traffic and cuisine....Arrive in your hotel, check in and have a rest.

Note: Hotel check in time at 14.00

Continue to Go where no other tours will take you on this Mekong Delta day tour. Go beyond the concrete jungle of Saigon and onto the back roads and red dirt trails of the countryside.

You will cross dozens of bridges over many river tributaries, ride on a river ferryboat, and cruise through a vibrant bustling riverside market. Zoom through the bright green rice paddies while stopping to tour local cottage industries such as incense making & rice wine production, and sample some Vietnamese specialty food and drinks.

Feel a world away from the city on this off-road ride. This tour requires an adventurous spirit and a strong backside. Experienced and skilled riders can drive their own Vespa on this Mekong Delta day tour, or you sit back & relax on the back of a restored vintage Vespa while we take you through the beautiful scenery. The tour comes to an end with lunch at a restaurant where you can cast a line and catch a fish while you enjoy a cold beer in the shade.

After lunch, transfer to the French Quarter – a “little Paris” in Hanoi with tree-lined boulevards, government head offices and a big square. Visit (outside) the mausoleum, worshipping Ho Chi Minh who got Vietnam Independence back from the French. Enjoy a leisurely walk in the botanical garden to visit the Presidential Palace - Ho Chi Minh’s house on stilts where he used to live and work.

Continue the trip to Hoan Kiem Lake to visit the Pen Tower then cross the Sunlight Bridge to Ngoc Son temple which is located on the Jade islet since the 19th century and is dedicated to Confucian and Taoist philosophers and the national hero Tran Hung Dao.

After that, we will go to the Old Quarter which is always considered a live city museum. The unique tube houses, small alleys, temples, open door markets and street vendor foods come together in a beautiful harmony. At last we come to the very historical Long Bien Bridge, enjoy different city views and enjoy the sunset on the Red River. Get back to your hotel in the late afternoon.

In the morning, explore the Tran Quoc Buddhism pagoda. It dates back to the 6th century during the reign of Emperor Ly Nam De Dynasty. Take a leisurely walk on a romantic road, crossing West Lake before heading to the Temple of Literature which is best known as the first National University and a World Heritage site.

Continue to the Hoa Lo Prison museum (Hanoi Hilton) which presents Vietnam’s history while the French ruled and the war between Vietnam and the USA.

Ninh Binh is an awesome site with giant limestone karst formations jutting out of the rice paddies. This ancient land is enriched with historical, cultural and geographic wonders. Visit Trang An Nature Reserve and Bai Dinh pagoda is the fantastic experience for a day tour from Hanoi.
- Discover the World' First Mixed Heritage Trang An by boat
- Excursion Giant Bai Dinh pagoda

Bai Dinh pagoda which is one of the most impressive of Buddhism centers in Vietnam. On arrival at pagoda, walk along a path with 500 stone arhats alongside it, lining the route to the main pagodas. Each of the large pagodas and huge statues is an example of artistic architecture.

Take a lift to the viewpoint, a 13-storey tower that is believed to keep a part of Buddha’s ashes. Experience a panoramic view of the largest pagoda in Southeast Asia, surrounded by an exquisite river valley that is dotted with limestone karsts which will take your breath away.

Trang An, the world's first mixed heritage zone, recognized by UNESCO in 2014. On arrival at the pier, you will board a private traditional sampan boat which is gently rowed by a local. Cruise across a poetic river through a series of caves, some of them being 300-400m long. Every section offers you a new hidden world inside isolated valleys of tranquility.

Step off the boat for a walk through peaceful pagodas and temples worshipping the most famous Tran Dynasty’s mandarins. Hike up to get better views then continue down to a movie set island where the latest iteration of the King Kong movie series “Kong: Skull Island” was filmed. Get back on the sampan boat, immersing yourselves in the beauty of the nature while heading back to the pier.

Private driver will pick you up at the hotel lobby (Hanoi Old Quarter) for about 45 minutes to Noi Bai airport (international or domestic hall according to your request). Thanks for the visit to our city.

Note: International flights require you to be at the airport 3 hours and domestic is 2 hours before departure time.

8.30 get a pick up from hotel to Halong Bay 12:30: Checks in boat with cruise briefing and safety instructions. Start cruising and explore Halong Bay - one of the New Seven Wonders of Nature.

Enjoy buffet lunch with Vietnamese dishes served while cruising through the bay, passing the most beautiful and quiet areas, such as Incense Burner, Dog Stone Islet, Fighting Cock, Soi Sim beach, Coconut Three Islands In the afternoon, visit Tung Sau area, covered by the leaping rocks, cultured pearl fishery. You can wit yourself the process of the jewel, from culturing to harvesting and sculpting. Moreover, you have a chance to do kayaking based on your preference. Enjoy busy space with pearl maker, you can experience the completion of pearl. Visiting the beautiful Titov beach for swimming (if the weather permits), Titov Beach is especially famous for its fresh atmosphere, clean water, and smooth white sand that create a great ambiance for tourists to relax or passengers can take steps to reach on the top of  Titov island to have a whole panorama view of Halong Bay. Back to the boat and free time while sailing to Luon Bo area, and anchor for overnight.

Option: Massage service available. Please book with Cruise Manager directly (please see massage menu)

18:30: Attend the Cooking class on sundeck – How to make Vietnamese spring rolls - traditional Vietnamese food. Then enjoy Happy Hour (Buy one drink-get one free). It is time for chit chat and relaxing. Watch the magnificent sunset over Halong Bay. 

Dinner – Deluxe Vietnamese BBQ Set Menu Dinner

Evening activities include: Leisure time to enjoy a chat around the bar, watching movies and many sort of Vietnam cultural films, relaxing and spending a romantic night on Pelican Halong Cruise’s music, playing cards, chess are available, reading magazines in room and dining room. You may also try your luck at squid fishing & fishing from the boat.

06:30: The day starts early onboard with Tai Chi session on the sundeck. Tai chi also called Tai chi chuan, combines deep breathing and relaxation with slow and gentle movements.

Coffee, tea and pastries for breakfast are served in the dining room with morning view of bay’s landscape.

Transfer by tender to Sung Sot Cave. Walk up about 100 steps to the cave entrance. It takes approximately 45 minutes to visit Sung Sot Cave, one of the biggest caves in Halong bay with beautiful stalactites and stalagmites. Return to the cruise by tender. Check out and settle your bill at reception.

Have a buffet brunch and enjoy the bay scenery while cruising back to the Tuan Chau Wharf.

11h30-12h00: Disembark