HANOI STOPOVER

Welcome to Hanoi!

The tourguide of JOYFULVIETNAM TRAVEL will be welcoming you at Noi Bai airport. It takes you 35 minutes to drive to the centre of Hanoi. Let’s start our city tour from Ba Dinh Square – the biggest square in Hanoi where all biggest cultural, political events of the cities, especially demonstrations, take place. Visit the Complex of Ho Chi Minh located by this square. Have a visit to Ho Chi Minh’s house-on-stilts, his fish pond and the One-Pillar Pagoda before strolling around the Old Quarter of Hanoi by pedicabs. Check-in hotel. Lunch at your own arrangement for flexibility. Afternoon continue to visit the city with stops at Ngoc Son Temple, the Sword Lake, which is considered the centre and the soul of the city. Visit the Temple of Literature, the very first High School of Vietnam, and Fine Arts Museum. Evening enjoy a show of Water Puppetry, a unique stage art created by the Vietnamese peasants. Dinner and overnight in Hanoi.

Please note! The Mausoleum closed on Monday and Friday. All museums closed on Monday. Alternatives will be recommended accordingly.

Early departure for Halong Bay, a World Heritage with thousands of limestone and dolomite island and islets. Stop on the way to visit Hai Duong “Green bean cake town”, or the Ceramic town at Dong Trieu. Upon arrival in Halong, take a boat to cruise the bay to visit its breathtaking seascape created by rocky islands and emerald serene water, with stopovers to discover grottoes inside islands and swim. A Lunch of fresh seafood will be arranged onboard. Late afternoon back to Hanoi and if your time is not limited, have a break at the Hong Ngoc Charity Centre where children present their plenty pretty products of stone and embroidery. Overnights in Hanoi. Dinner at your own arrangement for flexibility.

A 90km drive south of Hanoi will lead you to Ninh Binh, the site of the one capital city of ancient Vietnam before Hanoi took its leading role in 11th century. The area is featured by lots of well-known sceneries, which include Tam Coc Caves and Hoa Lu ancient capital with the old temples dedicated to King Dinh & King Le reigned in 10thcentury. The visit in Ninh Binh starts by a boat trip in Tam Coc where spectacular limestone karsts jut out from the green paddy fields reminding about Guilin (China) and Halong Bay of Vietnam, which gives this scenery the name “Halong-bay-on-land”. After lunch, we will cycle from Tam Coc to Hoa Lu thru tranquil villages to enjoy the daily life of people in Ninh Binh until reaching the shady temples with many dedicated wood relieves of King Dinh and King Le, which have been built on the foundation of their former palace. Late afternoon our car will pick up us at Hoa Lu to be back to Hanoi to overnight. Dinner at your own arrangement for flexibility.

It is your own time today. At leisure for relaxation or shopping until your guide come and transfer you to the Noi Bai airport for your onward flight.