Experience this short stopover tour to Vietnam that takes you through the marvels of Hanoi and Halong Bay in the most luxurious way to offer the best glimpses of Vietnam’s natural beauty and cultural richness.
A slow yet exciting cyclo ride around the Old Quarter, dinner at one of the French colonial villas which have been converted into gourmet restaurants gives a great start to this short Vietnam trip. The evening becomes colorful if you wish to enjoy a traditional water puppet performance. The elegance of Hanoi’s cultural heritage is well complemented by an overnight cruise experience amidst the UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site, Halong Bay. In this Vietnam stopover tour, discover the best of Hanoi and Halong in style.
Upon arrival at Hanoi's Noi Bai International airport, you will be greeted by your guide and transferred to your hotel. Then, you’ll have the option of taking a cyclo ride to dinner at one of the French colonial villas which have been converted into gourmet restaurants. Also, you may wish to attend a traditional water puppet performance before retiring for the evening.
On day two, you’ll be able to explore the fascinating Old Quarter and its hundreds of specialty shops, selling silk clothing, lacquerware, embroidered linens, furniture, bamboo, cooking utensils, ceremonial objects and more. You can take a stroll around Hoan Kiem Lake, enjoy people-watching at one of the numerous stylish cafes or shop for modern art in the city's myriad galleries. You’ll also have the chance to visit Hanoi’s main cultural attractions, including the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, his House on Stilts, the One Pillar Pagoda, the Fine Arts Museum and the Temple of Literature.
Situated in the Tonkin Golf, Halong bay is one of the world's natural wonders - a bay with more than 3,000 islands, which time, wind and waves have sculpted into fantastic shapes. The best way to appreciate this magical scene is from a boat, cruising between these karst cliffs, which look like fairy-tale castles, complete with rocky spires and hidden caves. The bay is dotted with tiny islands, pristine sandbanks on the turquoise water providing an excellent backdrop for swimming or just lazing about on the boat deck. Greeting at your hotel at 7:30 am. We drive to Halong city, approximately 3 hours away. Once at Halong City, you will board our private boat for a four-hour cruise of this stunning area, stopping along the way to visit one of the limestone caves in the area. As we cruise our boat staff will serve you a sumptuous local seafood lunch on the boat. After 4 hour navigation, we sail back to the harbor and drive back to your hotel in Hanoi. Overnight in Hanoi.
After a morning cyclo ride from your hotel, you’ll be treated to a hands-on cooking class where you will learn about the art of traditional Vietnamese cuisine from the locals in the Old Quarter. You’ll visit the lively Hang Be Market before donning a chef's uniform for the demonstration. You will learn how to make a number of regional delicacies, which may include everything from Banana Flower Salad to spring rolls to Com Rang, and more. After a half-day morning session, you’ll enjoy a delicious feast that YOU created! You’ll get to take a copy of the recipes home with you and take another cyclo tour of the city on your way to a restful night’s sleep with a satisfied stomach.
There are no activities planned for your final day, so you can unwind and plan for the next leg of your journey or opt to take in even more of the city’s offerings before being escorted to the airport for your onward flight.
Cam on va chao tam biet!
