DAY 1 – HANOI ARRIVAL
Arrival in Ha Noi and be met by your English speaking guide and transferred to the hotel & check in
Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam, has a unique harmonious blend of old Vietnamese traditions with modern French style; a contradictory place where modern meets very ancient qualities of Asian lifestyle.
Hanoi is a very chaotic city, yet it maintains an elegant and graceful element. It has been growing around the historic old quarter in a positive way, conserving a friendly link with the existing architecture of old times; there is no ugly contrast, on the contrary, the buildings that are considered to be true relics are highlighted and well preserved across town.
Overnight in Ha Noi – Apricot Hotel – Canvas Lake View Room
DAY 2 – HANOI HIGHLIGHTS AND FOOD WALK – Breakfast, food tasting
Breakfast at the hotel and start the half-day tour. Marvel at the grandeur of the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, housing the preserved body of the iconic “Uncle Ho.” Explore Ho Chi Minh’s House, a tranquil wooden abode with a lotus pond view.
Continue to visit One Pillar pagoda, the Ethnology museum and the Temple of Literature.
16:00: Start the private Foodie tour (private tour, 3h30’ duration).
From Cau Go Street in the southern end of the Old Quarter, where there’re tasting choices of Hanoi’s famous egg coffee, green papaya salad, and steamed sticky rice cake, we walk towards the northeast. Passing along a backstreet to Hang Chinh, there comes a chance to sample a mixed broth soften water celery and brown flat noodles.
Traverse a narrow path, which is privately shared among a community within a block, then walk through another community’s “dark tunnel” to reach Nguyen Sieu Street. Therein comes choices of tasting freshwater crab noodle soup and chicken noodle dish. Visit a traditional Vietnamese house nested behind the busy shops on the main street, and during the conversation with our host, learn about the Old Quarter through the eyes of an 80-year-old Hanoian.
Visit Thanh Ha traditional street market to get a view of most common foods and ingredients purchased by locals, watch how they sell and buy food for daily meals. Walk through an unseen passage to reach the northern end of the quarter, there comes a chance to sample carp fish noodle soup.
Start heading south of the old town, passing through Dong Xuan wholesale market and its busy food alley with more tastings, then visit a state-owned shop on medicinal Lan Ong Street and sample the traditional medicinal herbs rice liquor – which is considered as the soul of the Old Quarter.
See how rice noodles are made with an exclusive visit to a place supplying rice noodles to the whole area, and on Bat Dan Street, we may enjoy one of the most loved beef noodle soups in town (available for breakfast & dinner only). Pass through a hidden alley with a chance to sample grilled pork with home-mixed fish sauce, then we end our circular walk where we started.
Overnight in Ha Noi – Apricot Hotel – Canvas Lake View Room
DAY 3 – HANOI VESPA TOUR – Breakfast, Dinner
In the morning, enjoy the Vespa tour from 08:00 to 12:00 (join in)
‘Discover the real Hanoi’ Let our drivers guide you through the iconic narrow streets of this incredible capital city on our vintage Vespas. Explore unique places off the beaten path and soak up the atmosphere as we experience the local lifestyle.
We start off with a welcome drink and enjoy the most spectacular view of the capital. Navigating through the streets of the bustling Old Quarter, we explore the picturesque murals on Art Street. Then heading off to Long Bien Bridge and surrounding areas. Next our journey takes us to a bustling and vibrant open market to shop with the local people from Hanoi. After zooming through narrow alleyways, we reach the crash site of an American B-52 bomber in a city lake and learn of the city’s more recent history before visiting a peaceful Buddhist temple set in the most beautiful gardens. Our last stop is a quiet tea house where we enjoy some tea and learn about the ancient tradition of making tea at the home of a Vietnamese Tea Master.
In the evening, dinner at Quan An Ngon restaurant and after the dinner, enjoy the flag lowering at Ba Dinh square.
Overnight in Ha Noi – Apricot Hotel – Canvas Lake View Room
DAY 4 – HANOI – HAONG AND BAY – Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Breakfast at the hotel.
Transfer to Halong and start the 3 days / 2 nights cruise on board of YLangCruise.
Halong Bay is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a popular tourist destination located in the northern part of Vietnam, near the border with China. It is known for its stunning scenery of thousands of limestone islands and islets that rise from the emerald waters of the Gulf of Tonkin.
The name “Halong” translates to “descending dragon,” which is said to refer to the legend that the bay was formed by a dragon that plunged into the sea, creating the islands with its flailing tail.
The bay is home to over 1,600 limestone islands and islets, many of which are covered in lush vegetation and dotted with caves and grottoes. Some of the most famous islands in Halong Bay include Cat Ba Island, Ti Top Island, and Bo Hon Island. Visitors can explore the islands by boat or kayak and marvel at the breathtaking scenery.
In addition to its natural beauty, Halong Bay is also known for its cultural significance. The area has been inhabited by humans for thousands of years and is home to several indigenous communities. Visitors can learn about the region’s rich history and culture by visiting local villages and museums.
Overnight Halong Bay – Y’lang – Signature suite
DAY 5 – LAN HA – HALONG AND BAY – Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Breakfast and cruise continues through Halong and Lan Ha Bays with lunch & dinner on board.
Overnight Halong Bay – Y’lang – Signature suite
DAY 6 – LAN HA – HALONG AND YEN TU – Breakfast
Breakfast on board and continue cruising throughout the morning before arriving bay to the wharf at around 11.00 am by around 12.30 you will arrive to the resort of Yen Tu. check in into your room and free time. Possibly a swim in the pool or enjoy the spa, massage at the hotel.
Overnight Legacy – Yen Tu – Deluxe mountain room
Yen Tu, two hours east of Hanoi by car, is known as the Buddhist capital of Vietnam, sacred to millions of Buddhists who make a pilgrimage to its lofty-peak bronze pagoda. Over 700 years, Yen Tu still remains the huge system of pagodas, temples and valuable relics. Climbing the four miles to the 1,068-metre summit takes at least four hours, but the two cable car rides offer another choice for visitors to reach the peak and explore its wooded slopes in safety and comfort. A trip to Yen Tu Mountain in Quang Ninh Province offers temples to pilgrims, traditional experience for culture aficionados and scenic views from the top.
DAY 7 – YEN TU – Breakfast
Breakfast a the resort and then the opportunity to take the cable cars up the mountain, you can decide how far up the mountain you go. Not far from the top of the second cable car is a gold Buddha statue with a fabulous view over the valley, The more adventurous can walk further up the mountain to visit the pagoda on top of the mount This afternoon Free time to enjoy the hotel facilities and relax
Overnight Legacy – Yen Tu – Deluxe mountain room
DAY 8 – YEN TU and DEPARTURE – Breakfast
After breakfast free time before check out and transfer to Noi Bai airport for departure flight either home or travel to see more of Vietnam.
CAPITAL EXPLORATION & NORTH VIETNAM Luxury Relaxation – Inclusions
Cost from $ 3138 per person Twin Share (Low Season)
3 nights Apricot Hotel – Canvas Lake view room
Hanoi exploration tour
Hanoi food walk and tasting evening
Vespa Tour of Hanoi
Dinner with Flag Lowering Ceremony
Heritage Line Y’lang Signature suite 2 nights
All meals on Y’lang cruise
Legacy Yen Tu Resort 2 nights
Yen Tu Cable Car Mountain visit
Breakfast daily
All Transfers
Local Guides
Contact Glenn at The Travellers Hut for details on our Exclusive Vietnam Journeys
Telephone: (02) 43 63 1699