The Northern Gourmet - 05 Days

Landing at the Noi Bai airport, you are welcomed by professional tour guide and driver at the pickup lobby. Enjoy 45-minute driving to the city center (Hanoi Old Quarter) with city's briefing information about the most visited spots, culture, traffic and cuisine....Arrive in your hotel, check in and have a rest.

Note: Hotel check in time at 14.00

8:00 AM: Get Pick up by tour guide to the Tran Quoc Buddhism pagoda. It dates back to the 6th century during the reign of Emperor Ly Nam De Dynasty. Take a leisurely walk on a romantic road, crossing West Lake before heading to the Temple of Literature which is best known as the first National University and a World Heritage site.

Continue to the Hoa Lo Prison museum (Hanoi Hilton) which presents Vietnam’s history while the French ruled and the war between Vietnam and the USA.

Enjoy a walk to the Hoan Kiem Lake – the heart of the city. Turn into a small alley Bao Khanh. Your first experience is Banh Cuon. A thin steamed rice flour pancakes filled with minced pork and cloud ear mushrooms served with nuoc cham (a fish-sauce based dipping sauce), fried shallots and fresh herbs. You have an opportunity to make yourself a cake.

After passing the Hanoi Cathedral, built by the French in 1884, we come to Hang Manh Street. The street is famous for Bun Cha Dac Kim. Minced pork and slices of pork belly are grilled over hot coals and served with fish sauce, tangy vinegar, sugar and lime which, when combined, creates a sort of barbecue soup that is eaten with rice vermicelli and fresh herbs. Accompanied by deep-fried spring rolls, this calorie rich dish is served with garlic and chilies on the side for an extra kick.

Hanoi street food tour is not perfectly complete without having a Banh Mi. It is what local people call a fusion sandwich as it originated from the French colonialism days. There are so many banh mi shops but we stop at Banh Mi 25 that is a very cozy homemade shop.

Next stop is Pho (rice noodle soup). Almost all international tourists coming to Vietnam want a chance to enjoy a bowl of Pho in its birthplace, Hanoi.  A fragrant rice noodle soup served with fresh herbs that have become popular all over the world. There are two popular variations: pho ga (with chicken) and pho bo (with beef). We highly recommend you try Pho Suong, it is located in a small alley where Hanoians often come for beef noodle soup.

Start by eating and ending with a drink. Walk to Hidden Gem Coffee - a unique home where discarded materials are used not only to protect the environment but also be revived in new artistic values. Enjoy local drinks (egg coffee, honey ginger tea, lemongrass tea or a local beer bottle) before coming back to hotel.

8:00 AM: Transfer from Hanoi to Ninh Binh, driving through the picturesque countryside of the Red River Delta, painted by rice and vegetable fields.

Take a 15km bike ride (optional) or walk through the villages. A journey along the dyke will offer you gorgeous landscapes of rice fields, a river and limestone mountains. There are several stops for you to take beautiful photos or encounter the locals then walk to discover Thung La temple, dating back to the 11th century. Meet Mr Tuong, the temple guardian, and enjoy an authentic conversation as well as a 20 minute drum show.

Later, take a sampan boat trip along the stream and among the limestone mountains to discover the beauty of Van Long nature reserve. If lucky, you might get to see white monkeys and egrets on the cliffs. After the boat trip, visit an embroidery village and take part in an embroidery course under the instruction of local craftswoman, Mrs Lam. She will proudly explain the techniques of her traditional craft. This will be a good opportunity for you to practice on fabric like a real craftsman.

9:00 AM: Pick up at your hotel (in the Hanoi Old Quarter). Enjoy two and a half hour drive from Hanoi to Lan Ha Bay on the national highway No5B. Your journey will pass the series of villages and rice fields in the Red River Delta. Have a stop for drink and restroom. Continue driving to the harbor around noon, get warmly welcome at cruise reception.

12:00 PM: The crew members of Peony Cruises will welcome you at Tuan Chau Port, Quang Ninh province.

12:30 PM: You will be taken aboard our support vessel and travel from the wharf via the bay to board our luxurious craft, Peony Cruises. During this time, an itinerary briefing will be provided.

1:00 PM: Welcome aboard with fresh drinks and wet towels, followed by a special lunch featuring fresh food and an assortment of appetizing delicacies. We then set sail for Lan Ha Bay, a member of the World’s Most Beautiful Bays. 

3:30 PM: We'll visit the Tra Bau area, renowned for its unspoiled, poetic natural beauty and attractive seascape of Lan Ha Bay. This is the perfect time for kayaking to discover the true beauty of the limestone islands. Immerse yourself in the emerald green waters of the bay or enjoy the Jacuzzi pool on Peony Cruises.

5:30 PM - 6:30 PM: Join us for a cooking demonstration and learn how to make one of the most famous Vietnamese cuisines, spring rolls. Alternatively, head to the top deck of the cruise to admire the magnificent sunset over the Gulf of Tonkin. Enjoy a Happy Hour - BUY ONE GET ONE FREE at the bar. It's an ideal time for photography enthusiasts to capture the greatest moment of sunset over Lan Ha Bay.

7:30 PM: Indulge in delicious local food prepared and served by our skillful chef. This delightful dinner is served in an intimate romantic setting.

9:00 PM - 10:00 PM: Relax and sip exotic cocktails and drinks at the sky bar (with surcharge). Treat yourself to a spa service (optional) or simply relax on the top deck under the brightly illuminated sky. Alternatively, try your luck at squid fishing on the main deck.  

6:00 AM: Begin the day full of energy with a Tai Chi session and enjoy the sun as it rises beyond the horizon.

6:45 AM - 7:15 AM: Breakfast is served while cruising back to Gia Luan jetty. (Breakfast time may be adjusted to follow the real itinerary).

7:30 AM - 9:00 AM: Join the tour of Cat Ba World Biosphere. It takes 30 minutes to transfer from Gia Luan to Trung Trang cave – one of the most impressive caves in Cat Ba Island, Vietnam. The limestone cave has thousands of stalactites in various shapes, offering geological values with a typical cave ecosystem.

9:30 AM: Return to the main boat from the cave, and you will check out of your cabin. Luggage is to be placed outside of the cabin.

Early Lunch is served at the restaurant. Settle any bar bills at the restaurant's desk (if any).

10:30 AM - 11:00 AM: Disembark from the Peony Cruises and transfer back to Tuan Chau port. 

11:30 AM - 12:00 PM: You should be ready at Tuan Chau port.

Welcome by driver at the harbor then enjoy 2 and a half hour travel back to Hanoi on the new highway No5B crossing the Red River Delta and villages. Drop off at your hotel (in the Hanoi Old Quarter).

Private driver will pick you up at the hotel lobby (Hanoi Old Quarter) for about 45 minutes to Noi Bai airport (international or domestic hall according to your request). Thanks for the visit to our city.

Note: International flights require you to be at the airport 3 hours and domestic is 2 hours before departure time.