Itinerary
- Day 1
Hanoi
You'll land at Noi Bai International Airport and get transferred to your hotel in Hanoi. The rest of your day is open, so you can either rest up from the flight or wander around the neighborhood on your own. If your flight arrives early enough, there's an optional tour in the afternoon that covers the Temple of Literature, a walk through the Old Quarter (with traditional egg coffee included), time around Hoan Kiem Lake, and a water puppet show performance in the evening.
- Start point
- Hanoi, Vietnam (Noi Bai International airport, 09:00 - 17:00)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Le Chateau or similar), Hotel (Harmonia or similar), Hotel (Sono Hanoi or similar)
Included Activities
- Airport transfer from Noi Bai International Airport to hotel
Optional Activities
- Visit Temple of Literature (Vietnam's first university)
- Explore Hanoi Old Quarter with English-speaking guide
- Traditional Egg Coffee tasting
- Leisurely walk around Hoan Kiem Lake
- Water Puppet Show performance (traditional music and folk tales performed on water)
Landmarks Temple of Literature Hanoi Old Quarter Hoan Kiem Lake 
- Day 2
Hanoi
This day takes you to three traditional craft villages outside Hanoi. You'll start at Ha Thai Lacquer Village to learn about lacquer painting techniques passed down through centuries and make your own piece. From there, head to Chuong Conical Hat Village where local artisans show you their work, you'll walk around the quiet village, and then sit down for an authentic home-cooked lunch. You also get to try making a conical hat yourself. Last stop is Quang Phu Cau Incense Village to see how incense is made traditionally, photograph the colorful bundles, and tour the area's largest incense factory. You'll head back to Hanoi and arrive by early evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Authentic home-cooked Vietnamese lunch with fresh local ingredients at a local artisan's home in Chuong Village (vegetarian options available))
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Le Chateau or similar), Hotel (Harmonia or similar), Hotel (Sono Hanoi or similar)
Included Activities
- Ha Thai Lacquer Village visit and guided tour
- Create your own lacquer artwork using natural materials (bamboo, eggshell, wood, mother of pearl)
- Chuong Conical Hat Village visit and guided tour
- Meet local artisans and war veterans
- Experience conical hat making and personalize your own hat
- Quang Phu Cau Incense Village visit and guided tour
- Tour of the largest incense factory
- Photography of colorful incense bundles
- Hotel pick-up and drop-off from Hanoi Old Quarter
- English-speaking guide
Optional Activities
- Drop-off at Train Street (alternative drop-off location)
Landmarks Ha Thai Lacquer Village Chuong Conical Hat Village Quang Phu Cau Incense Village - Day 3
Hanoi to Ninh Binh
An early pickup from your Hanoi hotel gets you on the road to Ninh Binh. After a quick break, you'll check out Hoa Lu Ancient Capital and explore temples from the Dinh and Le dynasties. Lunch is a buffet with local specialties, then you'll boat through Trang An UNESCO World Heritage site, which is the same location used for Kong: Skull Island filming. Next comes a 45-minute bike ride through village roads, followed by climbing Mua Cave's 500 steps to get panoramic views of the surrounding area. You should be back at your Hanoi hotel by 7 PM.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Buffet lunch with local specialties (vegetarian options available))
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Le Chateau or similar), Hotel (Harmonia or similar), Hotel (Sono Hanoi or similar)
Included Activities
- Visit Hoa Lu Ancient Capital (Dinh and Le dynasties temples)
- Trang An boat exploration (UNESCO World Heritage site)
- 45-minute cycling through peaceful villages
- Mua Cave climb (500 steps) with panoramic views
- Hotel pick-up and drop-off from Hanoi
- English-speaking guide
Landmarks Hoa Lu Ancient Capital Trang An Mua Cave 
- Day 4
Hanoi to Halong Bay
After breakfast, you're headed to Halong Bay, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where you'll board an overnight cruise. You'll spend the day taking in the natural landscape with options for kayaking, swimming, or diving. Along the way you might visit Cua Van Fishing Village, Vung Vieng Fishing Village, Me Cung Caves, Virgin Cave, and Surprise Cave, plus pass by scenic rock formations like Flight Cock Islet, Human Head Islet, and Toad Islet. Depending on the cruise, there could be a cooking class in the evening and a tai chi session in the morning. You'll relax on board overnight as the cruise continues through Halong Bay.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Accommodation
- Berth / Cabin (Amanda cruise or similar), Berth / Cabin (Le Journey cruise or similar)
Included Activities
- Halong Bay UNESCO World Heritage Site exploration by cruise
- Possible visits to Cua Van Fishing Village
- Possible visits to Vung Vieng Fishing Village
- Possible visits to Me Cung Caves
- Possible visits to Virgin Cave
- Possible visits to Surprise Cave
- Scenic cruising past Flight Cock Islet, Human Head Islet, and Toad Islet
Optional Activities
- Kayaking
- Swimming
- Diving
- Evening cooking class (subject to cruise itinerary)
- Morning tai chi lesson (subject to cruise itinerary)
Landmarks Halong Bay Cua Van Fishing Village Vung Vieng Fishing Village Me Cung Caves Virgin Cave Surprise Cave Flight Cock Islet Human Head Islet Toad Islet 
- Day 5
Halong Bay to Hanoi
You'll catch the sunrise from the cruise and do morning activities on deck before leaving the boat. An early lunch or brunch gets served aboard, then you'll be transferred back to Hanoi where your tour services finish up.
- End point
- Hanoi, Vietnam (Old Quarter, 12:00 - 15:00)
- Meals
- Brunch (Early lunch/brunch on board before disembarkation)
Included Activities
- Sunrise viewing and morning activities on cruise
- Transfer back to Hanoi from Halong Bay
