Day 1: Hanoi Arrival – Street Food Safari (L)
Upon arrival at Noi Bai International Airport, be welcomed by Andy Travels representative and transfer to hotel for check in (Proceed to Arrival Hall A1 for pick up. Check in time is 14:00 – early check in subject to hotel to confirm upon arrival). Drop your luggage and relax at your hotel to refresh after your flight.
At around 4 pm, you’ll leave the car and embark on a walking street-food tour of the Old Quarter. It’s an eat-as-you-go excursion, with your guide leading you around the historic streets as you try seasonal fruit from produce stalls and tasty French-inspired snacks from street carts. Famous dishes you’ll sample on this tour include bún chả (a grilled pork and noodle dish) and bánh cuốn (rice noodles filled with ground pork). The next stops are at outdoor BBQ stalls where you’ll sit down with locals and sample various flame-grilled meat dishes. After so much savory goodness, it will be time for something sweet. Your guide will take you to a restaurant hidden away on a side street where you can enjoy a famous Vietnamese egg coffee, which is made with egg yolks, sugar, and condensed milk. You can also sample some local rice wine. Afterward, having tasted some of the most delicious food in the country, you can return to your hotel and relax.
Day 2: Hanoi City Sightseeing Tour (B,L)
In the morning, you’ll spend the day on a guided tour of Hanoi. The first stop is the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, the final resting place of Vietnam’s revolutionary leader. Looming over Ba Dinh Square and featuring a block design and stone collonades, it’s an impressive (and imposing) example of brutalist architecture.
You’ll then visit One-Pillar Pagoda, a historic Buddhist temple dating to the 11th century, followed by the Temple of Literature, also dating to the 11th century. This temple was the first university in Vietnam and a place where students even today burn incense and pray at altars for academic success.
After a short rest and break for lunch, you’ll take a drive to north Hanoi and the Museum Of Ethnology. This massive museum complex preserves cultural heritage by offering information on the 54 different ethnic groups in Vietnam. Some highlight exhibits include full-scale replicas of village homes plus ancient artifacts like traditional jewelry and wedding/funeral clothing. You will also stop by Tran Quoc pagoda – the oldest Buddhist pagoda in Hanoi. at the end of the day, attend the traditional water puppet show.
Day 3: Hanoi – Halong Bay – Lan Ha Bay cruise (B,LD)
After breakfast, you’ll hop in a limousine van that will depart Hanoi for the coastal retreat and fishing community of Hạ Long Bay, arriving around noon.
This UNESCO World Heritage Site is one of the true natural wonders of the world. In this sweet spot where the land meets the Gulf of Tonkin, nearly 2000 karst islets rise above emerald waters. Legend has it that these islands originated as precious jewels that were sprayed into the water by a great dragon who was doing battle with invaders in Hạ Long Bay centuries ago. Mythology aside, you can’t deny the otherworldly beauty of the seascape here.
Upon arrival, you’ll board a cruiser that will depart from the port for an unforgettable tour of the bay. Not only will you enjoy fresh seafood for lunch and dinner, but you’ll overnight aboard the ship as well. This will give you an opportunity to see the sunset over the water.
Day 4: Halong Bay – Hanoi (Brunch)
Wake up early and enjoy one of Hạ Long Bay’s famously beautiful sunrises. After breakfast, the boat will cruise amid the emerald islets on its way back to the harbor. From here you’ll hop on a shuttle bus for the 2-hour trip back to Hanoi. Upon arrival, you’ll check into your hotel and will have the remainder of the day free. Perhaps enjoy dinner out in the Old Quarter followed by indulging in a bit of Hanoi’s convivial bar scene.
Day 5: Hanoi Departure
After breakfast at the hotel, you’ll transfer to the airport in Hanoi to catch your flight home. This concludes your Hanoi 5 days itinerary with overnight cruise Halong Bay. See you soon!
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