7-day private tour Highlights of North Vietnam

Day 1 | Individual arrival in Hanoi

Upon arrival at the international terminal, look for our local agency representative holding a sign with your name on it. The representative will meet you directly in front of the aircraft.

He will accompany you through passport control and to the baggage carousel via the fast track. He will also assist you at customs.

This welcome service is available to all our customers arriving from abroad.

Your tour guide will then meet you after you leave the customs area and accompany you to your hotel.

The transfer from Noi Bai Airport to hotels in Hanoi takes approximately 45 minutes.

No meals included today.

The fast-track service includes:

• Welcome by an airport employee
• Assistance with entry formalities (approx. 5-10 minutes)
• visa sponsorship
• Assistance at the baggage bank. Continue to help customers collect their baggage and place it on the baggage trolley. Customers must push the baggage trolley through security themselves (this is a mandatory requirement).

Day 2 | Vibrant Hanoi

Get a glimpse into the historical and cultural wonders of Hanoi. Visit the beautiful Temple of Literature, the iconic One Pillar Pagoda, and much more. Immerse yourself in the local culture by strolling through the lively Old Quarter and enjoying a street food tour.

Today's tour begins at 9:00 a.m. Embark on a half-day guided tour of Hanoi's highlights. Start with a visit to the Temple of Literature. Explore the impressive grounds, which were built in 1076. Hear legends about the history of the buildings and take a look back at the past when it served as a university and temple.

Next, continue to the Ho Chi Minh Complex, just a short drive away. See how locals pay their respects to this historic leader and "father" of modern Vietnam. Take a short walk to his stilt house, where he lived from 1958 to 1969. Stroll through the tranquil gardens and learn more about Ho Chi Minh's life and legacy. Visit the One Pillar Pagoda, built in 1049 and one of Vietnam's most iconic temples. Take photos to capture this unique structure.

Time: 9:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

Embark on a walking tour through Hanoi's bustling Old Quarter to sample the best food Hanoi has to offer. Start with a visit to a "wet market" and browse the aisles filled with fresh produce and exotic goods such as live frogs. The market is always bustling with shoppers buying ingredients for the day's meals.

Leave the market and return to the streets to sample some local snacks sold along the roadsides. Stop to taste a fresh spring roll or crispy pancake before strolling through the narrow alleys to a corner filled with the rich aroma of bun cha, fresh rice noodles with grilled pork. Continue enjoying Vietnamese desserts with traditional sweet cakes made from local herbs or a small cup of fresh fruit mixed with creamy coconut milk.

Then stroll through the bustling old town district, find a street café, and enjoy a cup of traditional Vietnamese coffee, especially coffee with egg, while watching the people go by.

With a better understanding of Vietnamese cuisine and unforgettable impressions of Hanoi's street food, you return to the hotel.

Time: 4:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.

Meals: Breakfast included.

Day 3 | Hanoi – Ninh Binh – Boat tour – Cycling

Day 4 | Ninh Binh – Day trip to Cuc Phuong National Park

Breakfast at the hotel.

At 8:30 a.m., you will drive 1.5 hours to Cuc Phuong National Park. Upon arrival, you will visit a bear sanctuary founded by Four Paws, the global animal welfare organization. The sanctuary not only provides a new home for bears rescued from bile production and the illegal wildlife trade in Vietnam, but also offers an unforgettable experience to learn and explore in a natural environment.

Follow the center's tour guide to visit the bear kitchen, the veterinary clinic, and the bear houses, where the bears' rehabilitation processes and health care take place. The tour guide will tell bear stories and provide you with interesting information about the bears.

After the visit, enjoy lunch in the city center.

Next, we continue to Cuc Phuong National Park to visit a second protected area. At the Endangered Primate Rescue Center, you will find some of Asia's rarest primate species, including langurs and gibbons (the primates are not always active during the hottest parts of the day).

Discover more wildlife at the Carnivore and Pangolin Education Center. Current permanent residents include pangolins, binturongs, masked palm civets, leopard cats, Owston's civets, and common palm civets. Hear their rescue stories and learn why they are unfortunately unable to return to the wild.

Continue on to Cuc Phuong National Park and visit the "Cave of Primitive Man," where human skeletons and stone tools dating back approximately 7,500 years have been found.

End the day with the return trip to your hotel.

Meals: Breakfast and lunch included

Day 5: Ninh Binh – Halong – Lan Ha Bay 

At 8:00 a.m., after breakfast, you will be transferred to Halong City (approx. 3.5 hours).

Mysterious waters and countless islets and limestone formations create the spectacular seascapes of this UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Halong, which means "descending dragon," refers to legendary creatures sent from heaven to protect against invaders approaching from the sea. To protect the Vietnamese people, the dragons spat out jewels that formed an impenetrable barrier, which over time has transformed into over 2,000 beautiful limestone islands that now dot the bay.

Embark on an enchanting journey through Halong Bay as you familiarize yourself with the amenities aboard our ship. Enjoy the breathtaking scenery from the sun deck as we cruise through the bay for the first few hours. Our first destination is Cua Van, a floating fishing village in Halong Bay that is still used by some fishermen as a base for their fishing and aquaculture activities. Glide through this peaceful area in a small bamboo boat rowed by locals and take a look at the village to understand how entire families once lived here on the water. For the more active, a kayak is available to explore the floating village in your own way (free of charge).

We then take a tender boat to Tien Ong Cave, which provides evidence of human civilization from 10,000 to 8,000 BC. This small cave offers fascinating insights into the geological history of Halong Bay. Back on board, we sail to our overnight anchorage, where the "blue hour" reveals the magical beauty of Halong Bay. Relax on the sun deck with your favorite drink and enjoy the peaceful moment. Take part in a cooking class with our chef and practice classic Vietnamese recipes to impress your loved ones at home later.

As night falls, a multi-course à la carte dinner will be served. If you wish, you can later attend a presentation on board about the unique features and secrets of the bay. Alternatively, try your hand at squid fishing with our staff for a fun and entertaining experience. Spend the rest of the evening enjoying the magical landscapes in the heart of Halong Bay, where sparkling jewels once fell from heavenly dragons.

Meals: Lunch and dinner included

Day 6 | Halong Bay – Hanoi

For early risers, tea, coffee, and pastries are available in the dining room, and a Tai Chi class is offered on the sun deck to invigorate the mind and muscles.

We set sail for the small "Ti Top Island." The island, originally called Cat Nang, was given its new name after former President Ho Chi Minh and the second person to orbit the Earth, Russian astronaut Gherman Titov, visited Halong Bay together in 1962. As the cosmonaut was so fascinated by this picturesque island, Uncle Ho renamed it to honor Mr. Titov and as a sign of friendship between their two countries.

Upon arrival at Ti Top, you can enjoy a refreshing morning swim on a sandy beach or, if you prefer to be more active, climb 400 steps (approx. 20 minutes) to the top of the island, where you can enjoy breathtaking panoramic views of the bay.

Back on board, you can shower and freshen up. Enjoy the last moments of the trip as we sail back to the harbor and breakfast is served. Relax on the sun deck and enjoy the last views of this iconic destination.

Return to Tuan Chau Marina, where your tour guide and driver will be waiting for you, and drive back to Hanoi to check in at the hotel. The rest of the day is yours to spend at your leisure.

Meals: Breakfast included

Day 7 | Departure 

Breakfast at the hotel.

After checking out of the hotel, your tour guide will pick you up and take you to the airport to catch your connecting flight.

Late check-out until 9:00 PM possible upon request

Upon arrival at the airport, you will meet our airport representative, who will accompany you to the check-in counter and passport control.

Meals: Breakfast included