Day 1: Hanoi Arrival – City Sightseeing
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. Have lunch at a local restaurant. Recommend the Obama restaurant to try Bun Cha for your lunch.
In the PM we start for Hanoi city tour – Visit the Ho Chi Minh Complex which features the life of Ho Chi Minh and the nation’s founder and resumes visit Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, the colonial Presidential Palace, originally the French Governor Office, the rural style Ho Chi Minh’s simple cottage where Ho Chi Minh lived and worked. Stop by one of Hanoi’s icons, the One Pillar Pagoda, built in the 11th Century.
Visit Imperial citadel of Thang Long. The area is a cultural complex, firstly built by the Le Dynasty in the 11th century, expanded by the Tran, Le and the Nguyen Dynasty until the 20th century. The royal palaces and most of the structures had changed over the centuries and were heavily destroyed by the French invasion in the late 19th century, by the end of the 20th century, many of the remaining structures were torn down.
Take a one-hour cyclo tour / electric car through charming Ha Noi’s Old Quarter also known as the “36 streets of Thang Long” and Dong Xuan Market and around Hoan Kiem Lake. This bustling area of narrow streets and alleys is home to literally thousands of small businesses and shopkeepers. It’s a great place to discover with plenty of photo opportunities all around.
Attending a Water puppet show, The puppet performs on the water and is controlled by artisans behind the curtain. The stories in the water puppet show clearly the life and culture of the Vietnamese. The water puppet show is highly recommended. The show is about 1 hour long.
Day 2: Hanoi – Hoa Lu – Tam Coc
Star your Hoa Lu – Tam Coc day trip at 8:00 AM from your hotel and head out for Ninh Binh province. It is 100 km from South of Hanoi and takes 2.5 hour drive. Upon arrival in the Hoa Lu village, we visit Hoa Lu – the ancient Capital of Vietnam date back to the tenth century. We visit the two temples of King Dinh and King Le, admire the unique architecture from ancient times.
Continue your drive through the so called “Halong Bay on land”, Trang An UNESCO heritage site to Tam Coc river and have lunch at a nice restaurant with many local delicacies. Then board a small sampan to visit Tam Coc which means literally three caves. With Halong bay type views of majestic limestone cliffs and mysterious caves, as well as countryside landscape like peaceful streams, rice paddies and deserted green fields, Tam Coc really has it all. You will feel the fresh air and peaceful moments, a very good opportunity for photo hunters, freezing the special moments and scenery. The boat trip takes roughly 2 hours.
You can also visit Bich Dong pagoda nearby and climb up the mountain to have a wonderful perspective view of the Bich Dong and Tam Coc if time allows. Return to Hanoi late afternoon.
Day 3: Hanoi – Halong Bay – Trinh Nu cave – Overnight onboard
07.30-08.00: You will be picked up at your hotel in Hanoi Old Quarter and transferred to Ha Long (For guests booking Limousine Bus or shuttle bus only).
11:30-12:00 Upon arrival at Tuan Chau International Cruise Port, you will enjoy a warm welcome by our cruise staff in the waiting lounge and complete check-in procedure.
12:00 Upon boarding Amanda Cruise, our crew welcome you with a refreshing drink and cold towel before checking into your cabin. The vessel leaves Tuan Chau Marina, taking you on an exciting journey to discover the beauty of Ha Long Bay. Along the way, you can enjoy the view of some of the most beautiful spots in Ha Long and admire the grandeur of the Bay with thousands of limestone islands while the vessel heads to Trinh Nu Cave.
Enjoy your lunch at our luxurious restaurant on board while the vessel cruises toward Trinh Nu cave.
14.00: You return to your cabin for a short rest and prepare for kayaking activities in Trinh Nu Cave area.
15.00: You will be transferred to Trinh Nu Cave by tender.
Arriving at Trinh Nu Cave area, you will take part in kayaking activitie here. To get to Trinh Nu beach, you need to kayak around thousand-year-old limestone formations and then walk for 5 minutes through Trinh Nu cave. Trinh Nu beach will amaze you with its white sand, emerald water and mild pleasant weather condition.
17.30-18.00 Back on board, you will participate in Sunset party & cooking class while the vessel cruises toward the shore. You can enjoy relaxing moments while sipping a cup of traditional Vietnamese tea or coffee on the sundeck amid wonderful scenery and beautiful sunset. Ha Long Bay is calm during the day, but when the sun goes down, the Bay becomes even more tranquil and peaceful.
You will be instructed to make delicious traditional Vietnamese steamed rice rolls by our chef and then enjoy the rolls made on your own.
17.30-18.30 Happy hour – BUY 2 DRINK GET 1 FOR FREE
19.30 Gala Dinner. Enjoy your dinner on the Sundeck (if the weather is favorable)
20.30 After dinner, you will enjoy a peaceful view of the Bay at night on the deck. You can also participate in evening activities such as massage (subject to additional charge), herbal wood foot bath in your room (free of charge 01 herbal bag for each cabin) or enjoying music and some drinks at Sky Bar while admiring breathtaking view of the Bay at night and squid fishing.
The cruise ship anchors for your peaceful night stay in quiet area
Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Overnight: on Halong cruise
Cruise itinerary is subject to change without prior notice
Day 4: Halong Bay – Hanoi Departure
06.15: Start your day with Tai Chi class on the sundeck.
06.30-07.00 Enjoy a light breakfast with coffee, tea, cake and fruit.
07.30 Exploring Sung Sot cave. This is one of the largest and most beautiful caves in Ha Long Bay. The cave has some unique rock formations which couldn’t be found anywhere else. The path to the mouth of Sung Sot Cave is under a canopy of leaves. Walking through steep stone steps, tourists may have the feeling of climbing on mountains and experience the excitement as if they are stepping to the sky.
08.30-09.30 Back on board, you can rest in your room, enjoy the herbal foot bath prepared by our crew, sunbathe on the sundeck, take pictures of Ha Long Bay or shop for souvenirs on the boat.
09.30 Check-out time.
Please put your luggage outside your cabin and leave the room key at the reception desk. Our staff will transfer your luggage to the waiting area. While waiting, you can shop for some products of Amanda cruise.
10.00 Enjoy early lunch buffet at the restaurant on the 2nd floor and settle the bills if any.
11.00 Arrival at Tuan Chau Marina. Re-gjoin your driver and drive back to Hanoi for your next destination or you can fly back Manila.
Meals: breakfast, lunch onboard
