Hanoi - Halong Bay | Authentic Experience - 04 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

Continue the day with a walking tour. Start with a small pagoda named Ba Da quietly located in a small alley - only few steps from the Hanoi Great Cathedral, built by French colonialism since the 19th century. Your tour guide also takes you to typical streets of Hanoi such as Lan Ong Street selling traditional medicine, Lo Ren Street where metal items are produced ... Stop to visit the Dong Xuan central market - the largest in Hanoi. Continue walking to the famous area for night activities and street food - Ta Hien street, where you can see the vibrant streets with a lot of the amazing local foods and drinks. Trying to taste some for an unforgettable experience.

9:00 AM: Get Pick up by tour guide to the Temple of Literature which was built under the Ly dynasty in 11th century for worshipping Confucius and teaching Royal children. Enjoy a walk in the garden to the city’s symbol Khue Van Cac. You will then visit the World Heritage "stone steles” which shows the name of outstanding students. Continue to explore the Quoc Tu Giam which is considered as the first national university of Vietnam.

Next stop at the Ethnology Museum (closed every Monday) which offers a deep insight into Vietnamese culture through traditional costumes, tools, musical instruments and traditional houses of many ethnic groups. To fully explore this interesting museum, it takes you around two hours. 

In the afternoon you visit the French Quarter – it is a “little Paris” in Hanoi with tree-lined boulevards, government head offices and a big square. Visit (outside) Ho Chi Minh’s mausoleum before having a leisurely walk in the botanical gardens to visit the Presidential Palace, Ho Chi Minh’s house on stilts where he used to live and work. Towards the unique One – pillar pagoda which is one of the city’s symbols. It takes us from 1 to 2 hours to explore this complex, depending on the number of traveler.

Come back to city center and have a rest before enjoying the water puppet shows that is the unique performances, first appeared in the 11th century. In these shows, the daily life, culture and belief of Vietnamese people are described by puppets on water. The show usually integrates a traditional music performance as well.

8:30 – 8:50: Our driver will pick you up at the Shuttle Bus stop (for shared transfers) or directly from your hotel in Hanoi's Old Quarter (for private transfers). From there, we'll make our way to Halong City.

12:00: The Peony Cruises crew will warmly welcome you at their lounge in Tuan Chau. Get ready to board Peony Cruises via their support vessel, and we'll fill you in on the exciting itinerary during this time.

13:00: Welcome aboard with fresh drinks and wet towels, accompanied by a spread of appetizing delicacies. We then set sail for Lan Ha Bay, a member of the World’s Most Beautiful Bays. Relish a delicious lunch of fresh seafood while cruising along Lan Ha Bay with breathtaking scenery.

15:30: Explore the unspoiled and poetic beauty of Tra Bau area, renowned for its attractive seascape. This is the perfect time for kayaking to discover the true beauty of the limestone islands. Take a dip in the emerald green waters or enjoy the Jacuzzi pool on Peony Cruises.

17:30 - 18:30: Join us for a cooking demonstration and master the art of making one of the most famous Vietnamese cuisines, the spring rolls. Alternatively, head to the top deck to admire the magnificent sunset over the Gulf of Tonkin. It’s Happy Hour – BUY ONE GET ONE FREE at the bar, an ideal moment for photography enthusiasts to capture the greatest sunset over Lan Ha Bay.

19:30: Savor delicious local food prepared by our skillful chef.

21:00 – 22:00: Relax and enjoy exotic cocktails and drinks at the sky bar (with a surcharge). Indulge yourself with a spa service (with a surcharge) or simply unwind on the top deck under the brightly illuminated sky. Alternatively, try your luck at squid fishing on the main deck.

6:00: Start the day with a Tai Chi session and enjoy the sun rising up beyond the horizon.

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

7:30 - 9:00: It takes 30 minutes to travel 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: Return to the main boat, check-out, and place your luggage outside the cabin. Early lunch is served at the restaurant. Settle the bar bill at the desk (if any).

10:30 - 11:00: Disembark Peony Cruises and transfer back to Tuan Chau Port. Our driver will pick you up again for the journey back to Hanoi.

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.