After your tourguide pick you up at your hotel at 8 AM, begin your day trip around Hanoi with a visit to the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and hear about the man who led Vietnam’s campaign for independence from French colonial rule. After dedicating his life to the liberation of his country from foreign rule, Ho Chi Minh died in 1969 and his body was preserved for posterity. During the year, the mausoleum is closed for a month and Uncle Ho is given a bit of a spruce up! Then wander the grounds to see the One Pillar Pagoda and the Presidential Palace. Next, visit an 11th century relic, the Temple of Literature, which was built in homage to the Chinese scholar Confucius. In the afternoon, pay a visit to Museum of Ethnology to understand about 54 ethnic groups of Vietnam and their culture. After 1.5 hours there, return Ngoc Son temple set on a tiny island in the middle of picturesque Hoan Kiem Lake. You’ll hear how it got its name from a legend of an emperor, a magic sword and a giant turtle! Spend the last 1 hours on a breezy cyclo ride through the Old Quarter’s 36 streets, named after the products that were sold from their shops.

Beside a traditional, antique beauty for a-thousand-year history, splendid and showy at night, we will explore an peculiar aspect of Hanoi. Outside bustle, narrow crowded streets and markets, in front of our eyes, there are spacious paddy fields with serene ambience in Red River Delta, unique architecture of ancient citadel from 250 B.C, and fruit farms where we can pick up fresh tropical fruits from trees. This is a precious opportunity to get off the beaten track of daily Hanoi center and meet local people in the countryside. Get on bike and start your discovery!

After pick-up at your hotel at 8 AM, start your trip to Hoa Lu – Tam Coc in Ninh Binh province. Arrive at Hoa Lu Ancient Capital after 2.5 hour drive. Pay a visit to King Dinh and King Le’s Temples and hear historical stories about this holy land. (In 968, Dinh Bo Linh declared himself as the King. Since then Hoa Lu existed as the capital for the next 41 years (968 – 1009), of which 12 years was under the Dinh dynasty – King Dinh Tien Hoang, the country named Dai Co Viet, and 29 years later was under the Le dynasty – King Le Dai Hanh. In 1010, King Ly Thai To moved the capital from Hoa Lu to Thang Long – at present Hanoi. Hoa Lu became the old citadel. In Hoa Lu there are now 2 temples built on the ground of the old royal palace, one of which is dedicated to King Dinh Tien Hoang, the other to King Le Dai Hanh. This visit offers a chance to know more about part of feudal dynasties and historical periods in Vietnamese history ). 12.00: Enjoy a buffet lunch with traditional Vietnamese cuisine at a local restaurant. 13.00: Get on Sampan boats through Tam Coc grottos (known as Ha long on land) and admire countryside landscape. Arranged by local people here, the boat is rowed by both hand and legs. The boat will take you through 3 specular caves with hundreds of limestone on the way. If harvest season, chance for you to see many terrace rice fields in golden colors. 15:00: Back to Tam Coc Wharf to chill out and start 1 hour biking off the beaten track around the countryside. On the way, chance for you to stop at a local bungalow in the middle of emerald terrace rice field to enjoy some cookies and Vietnamese tea. What a relax!

07.30 – 12.15: Transfer to Bai Tu Long Bay on a 5-hour drive from Ninh Binh province. 13.30 – 15.00: Have lunch while cruising to magnificent Bai Tu Long bay. Admire the fascinating formations on the way. 15.15 – 15.40: Explore the well- hidden Thien Canh Son cave. 15.45 – 18:00: Enjoy relaxing on a white sandy beach at Hon Co island, swimming or kayaking. 18:00 – 19.00: Back to junk for refreshing before having dinner on board. 20.00 – 21.00: Relax, enjoy fresh air & overnight on board.

07.30 – 08.00: Morning view of Bay’s landscape with a cup of tea or coffee. Have breakfast in the fresh air. 08.30 – 09.30: Visit Vung Vieng fishing village by a rustic row-boat. 10.00: Check out of the cabin. Start cruising towards the harbor while lunch is served. 11.45 – 12.00: Disembark. Back to Hanoi on a 4-hour drive