This is a meeting point for customers who do not need hotel pickup. Around 7:40am - 8:00 am The tour guide and vehicle from Paradise Indochina Travel come to pick you up at your hotels located in Hanoi Old Quarter for the trip.

Begin Hanoi city tour to visit Ho Chi Minh mausoleum and hear about the man who led Vietnam’s campaign for independence from French colonial rule. Started in 1973, the construction of the mausoleum was modeled on Lenin's mausoleum in Russia and was first open to the public in 1975. The granite building meant a great deal for many locals as it ensures that their beloved leader ‘lives on forever’. Security is tight and visitors should dress with respect (no shorts, sleeveless shirts and miniskirts) and everyone has to deposit their bags and cameras before getting in. Visitors are not allowed to stop and hold the constant queue up as the place is constantly busy. Uncle Ho’s remains are sent yearly to Russia for maintenance therefore the mausoleum is closed usually from October onwards.

Presidential Palace Hanoi, constructed in 1900 by French architect Auguste Henri Vildieu, was intended to be Ho Chi Minh’s official residence but the Vietnamese leader had opted for a traditional Vietnamese stilt-house instead. The three-storey, mustard yellow building features 30 rooms built in colonial French architectural style, an orchard, carp pond, and a 91-metre long boulevard surrounded by lush gardens. As political gatherings are still held at Presidential Palace Hanoi, visitors are only allowed to explore the gardens and Ho Chi Minh’s stilt home. The peaceful grounds surrounding the palace are home to well-kept botanical gardens and lush fruit groves, making it an ideal place for those looking to escape the bustling Old Quarter during their holiday. (You are allowe to visit outside of the house only)

Then wander the grounds to see the One Pillar Pagoda. Legend claims that The One Pillar Pagoda was built following a dream by the fatherless emperor in which the enlightened being Avalokiteshvara gave him a baby son resting on a lotus flower. Emperor Ly Thai Tong commissioned the pagoda to be created in resemblance of this lotus flower which is also the Buddhist symbol of enlightenment. The Emperor remained in gratitude to the bodhisattva and subsequently to to Quan Am, the Goddess of Mercy following the birth of his son. Inside the temple a richly gilded statue of Quan Am takes centre place at the main altar. After the temple was completed loyal followers flocked daily to give thanks and support to the emperor, praying to Quan Am for a long and successful sovereignty. Today, the concrete pillar that supports the tiny wooden pagoda is a replacement for the original one which was blown up by the departing French, it remains unclear how much of the wooden temple is the original one.

Tran Quoc Pagoda is the oldest of its kind in Hanoi, dating back to the 6th century during the reign of Emperor Ly Nam De Dynasty (544 - 548). The Buddhist shrine has undergone several changes throughout the years, particularly its renaming from An Quoc to Tran Quoc (protecting the country) by Emperor Le Huy Tong in the 17th century. Although it’s now set on an islet within West Lake, the pagoda was originally located on banks of Red River before it’s relocated in 1615due to the river’s encroachment. Surrounded by lush greenery, Tran Quoc Pagoda was a favourite amongst the kings and royal families for festivals, full moons, and Tet Festival. Standing at 15 metres, the main pagoda is made up of eleven levels, while its surrounding buildings include an incense burning house and a museum housing historic relics.You can also see intricately carved statues dating to 1639, each of which bear unique facial feature.

In the afternoon, a visit to Temple of Literature. The Temple of Literature is often cited as one of Hanoi’s most picturesque tourist attractions. Originally built as a university in 1070 dedicated to Confucius, scholars and sages, the building is extremely well preserved and is a superb example of traditional-style Vietnamese architecture. This ancient site offers a lake of literature, the Well of Heavenly Clarity, turtle steles, pavilions, courtyards and passageways that were once used by royalty. Visiting the Temple of Literature you will discover historic buildings from the Ly and Tran dynasties in a revered place that has seen thousands of doctors’ graduate in what has now become a memorial to education and literature. Originally the university only accepted aristocrats, the elite and royal family members as students before eventually opening its doors to brighter ‘commoners’. Successful graduates had their names engraved on a stone stele putting op of the stone turtles.

The temple attracts many visitors and was built in commemoration of the 13th century military leader Tran Hung Dao who was renowned for his bravery in the battle against the Yuan Dynasty. The island on which the temple is built is known as Jade Island and is accessible by the iconic Huc Bridge or Rising Sun Bridge which is a charming scarlet-painted wooden bridge of classical Vietnamese design. Ngoc Son Temple was built in the 18th century on Jade Island in the centre of the ‘Lake of the Returned Sword’ or Hoan Kiem Lake. Legend describes how an emperor was once given a magical sword which helped him defeat the Chinese Ming Dynasty and in doing so saw the return of the Golden Turtle God to the lake. Today, the name of the temple translates to ‘Temple of the Jade Mountain’ and is predominately dedicated to war hero General Tran Hung Dao who defeated an armed force of 300,000 soldiers sent by Mongolian Emperor Kublai Khan in the 13th century to invade Vietnam.

8:00 am Tour guide and car from Paradise Indochina Travel come to pick you up at your hotels around Hanoi Old Quarter (or at Hanoi Opera House) for the trip. Enjoying the beautiful scenery of the rural areas on the way.

After 2 hour drive, you arrive Hoa Lu Ancient Capital. First and foremost, attractions catching tourists ‘ eyes are temples, where people worship the Emperors and royal people that ruled here more than 1000 years ago: Dinh Tien Hoang Emperor temple, Le Dai Hanh Emperor temple, Phat Kim Princess temple (Phat Kim is a tragic fate daughter of DinhTien Hoang Emperor), Secondly, Hoa Lu still keeps the remaining of ancients fortress built by Dinh dynasty more than 1000 years ago. The Imperial place lays under the ground for 3m and now become a very interesting place to visit. Tourists will have the chance to see the old items used by the royal family in ancient time. The fortress outside is built based on the natural advantages: the mountain provides good background, the deep valley is a basement, and the rivers supply water for people inside the fortress and would become traps to fight against enemy in any case.

Then our driver will transfer you to have lunch in a local restaurant in Tam Coc and enjoy famous specialties of Ancient Capital area.

Then visit Tam Coc with boat trip. It’s hard not to be won over by the mystical, watery beauty of the Tam Coc "three caves" region, which is effectively a miniature landlocked version of Ha Long Bay. Despite the over-zealous - occasionally aggressive - peddling of embroideries and soft drinks by the rowers, the two-hour sampan-ride is a definite highlight, especially as the men and women row with their feet and make it look easy. Boat rides on traditional sampans are the highlight in Tam Coc, meandering through dumpling-shaped karst hills in a flooded landscape where the river and rice paddies merge serenely into one; keep an eye open for mountain goats high on the cliffs, and bright, darting kingfishers. Journey’s end is Tam Coc, three long, dark tunnel-caves (Hang Ca, Hang Giua and Hang Cuoi) eroded through the limestone hills with barely sufficient clearance for the sampan after heavy rains.

8:30 am Tour guide and car from Paradise Indochina Travel come to pick you up at your hotels around Hanoi Old Quarter (or at Hanoi Opera House) for the trip. Enjoying the beautiful scenery of the rural areas on the way.

12:00 Arrive in Tuan Chau. Check in a 3 star boat cruise. Leave the noise of the city behind as you travel about four hours to Ha long Bay by shuttle bus. Get in a Ha long Bay Cruise beautifully and explore the jade green waters of Ha long Bay over lunch.

Ti Top beach is the main highlight of the island. It takes the shape of a crescent moon. Though not as big as other beaches, it wins the visitors’ hearts by its quiet and airy atmosphere and breathtaking landscape. It boasts pristine white sand, clear water, and small waves, which makes it an ideal place for swimming. Swimming at Ti Top beach is really relaxing. Especially when summer comes, it becomes more beautiful and is well worth a visit to cool off. When you spend your day at the beach and want to take a deckchair, you will be asked to buy some food or drink, otherwise, you will have to pay for the seat. After swimming, you can sample fresh seafood specialties under immense sky and sunshine.

Wake up refreshed, having tea, coffee and breakfast on boat.

The cruise going towards Surprise Cave, the biggest in Ha long Bay. Board the tender for a short trip to the cave and be amazed - the entry to the cave is deceptively narrow but once through, the cave opens up to a large chamber with impressive limestone formations. Surprise.

You checkout your cabin before 10:00am and be ready to leave. The Cruise embarks Tuan Chau marina around 11:00am . You say goodbye to crew members and follow the tour guide to the vehicle for a return ride to Hanoi.