Hanoi Trip Overview
1. The top sightseeing attractions start from Hanoi to visit ancient history and stunning landscapes collide.
2.Travel from the modern capital in old quarter with narrow streets to Hoa Lu ancient capital and admire ancient relics built and created hundreds of years ago.
3. Explore the limestone karsts and rice paddies of ‘Halong on Land’ before boarding a boat to cruise the the Halong Bay natural heritage.
4.This trip offers great value as it introduces the region’s main sights and suitable for short trips in northern Vietnam.
Additional Info
Duration: 6 days
Starts: Hanoi, Vietnam
Trip Category: Multi-day & Extended Tours >> Multi-day Cruises
Explore Hanoi Promoted Experiences
What to Expect When Visiting Hanoi, Vietnam, Vietnam
1. The top sightseeing attractions start from Hanoi to visit ancient history and stunning landscapes collide.
2.Travel from the modern capital in old quarter with narrow streets to Hoa Lu ancient capital and admire ancient relics built and created hundreds of years ago.
3. Explore the limestone karsts and rice paddies of ‘Halong on Land’ before boarding a boat to cruise the the Halong Bay natural heritage.
4.This trip offers great value as it introduces the region’s main sights and suitable for short trips in northern Vietnam.
Itinerary
Day 1: Hanoi Arrival
Pass By: Nội Bài, Sóc Sơn, Hà Nội, Vietnam
Welcome to Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam! You will be greeted by our tour guide and transfer directly to hotel in Hanoi. The hotel room will be available at 2:00 pm, and in case that you would like to secure an early-check in, an additional charge will be applied.
No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: 3 Star hotel in Hanoi
Day 2: Hanoi city tour
Pass By: Old Quarter, Hanoi 100000 Vietnam
8:00 am Tour guide and car from Paradise Indochina Travel come to pick you up at your hotels around Hanoi Old Quarter for the trip.
Stop At: Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, 2 Hung Vuong Ba Dinh Square, Hanoi 100000 Vietnam
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.
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: Presidential Palace Historical Site, 1 Bach Thao Ba Dinh, Hanoi 100000 Vietnam
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.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: One Pillar Pagoda, Ong Ich Khiem St, Ngoc Ha, Ba Dinh District Ngoc Ha, Ba Dinh District, Hanoi 100000 Vietnam
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.
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: Chua Tran Quoc, Thanh Nien, Hanoi 10000 Vietnam
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.
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: Temple of Literature & National University, Quoc Tu Giam Street Dong Da District, Hanoi 100000 Vietnam
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 which can be found on top of the stone turtles.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Ngoc Son Temple, Dinh Tien Hoang St. Old Quarter – Hoàn Kiêm Lake, Hanoi 100000 Vietnam
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.
Homage is also paid to scholar Van Xuong and Confucian master Nguyen Van Sieu. 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. The pagoda is also guarded by two towering posts decorated with Chinese writing. The lake and temple are probably the most famous places in Hanoi city in which to rest and enjoy the view and are a great place to sit back and watch the locals.
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 ‘Turtle Tower’ stands close to the lake in memory of this legend. There are also endangered large soft-shell turtles swimming in the lake, and to see one of these gentle giants is considered very auspicious. 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.
Also inside the temple are a large bronze bust and other deities. There are altars dedicated to Tran Hung Dao, some ancient artefacts including ceramics and a preserved specimen of a giant turtle found in the lake weighing 250kg.
Duration: 30 minutes
Pass By: Old Quarter, Hanoi 100000 Vietnam
Drop you off hotel. End of today trip.
Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
Accommodation included: 3 Star Hotel in Hanoi
Day 3: Hanoi – Hoa Lu – Tam Coc – Hanoi
Pass By: Old Quarter, Hanoi 100000 Vietnam
8:00 am Tour guide and car from Paradise Indochina Travel come to pick you up at your hotels around Hanoi Old Quarter for the trip. Enjoying the beautiful scenery of the rural areas on the way.
Stop At: Hoa Lu temples of the Dinh & Le Dynasties, Hoa Lu, Ninh Binh 40000 Vietnam
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.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Ninh Binh, Ninh Binh, Ninh Binh Province
Then our driver will transfer you to have lunch in a local restaurant in Tam Coc and enjoy famous specialties of Ancient Capital area.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Tam Coc, Ninh Binh 430000 Vietnam
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. Tam Coc has become relentlessly commercial, with many travelers having a wonderful day spoiled by hard-sell antics at the end of their trip. 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. On the way back, you can ask to stop at Thai Vi Temple, a short walk from the river. Dating from the thirteenth century and dedicated to the founder of the Tran Dynasty, it’s a peaceful, atmospheric spot.
Duration: 2 hours
Stop At: Bich Dong Pagoda, Ngu Nhac Son Mountains, Ninh Binh 430000 Vietnam
The pagoda was built in the style of “三” which is meaning “three” in Chinese word. It includes 3 separate pagodas: Bottom pagoda, Middle pagoda and Top pagoda, leaning on the mountain from the bottom to the top. The Bottom pagoda have 5 rooms with huge wooden and stone pillars. The pagoda worships Buddha and 3 masters: Chi Kien, Chi The, Chi Tam, who had set up and built Bich Dong Pagoda. The two statues outside are Nam Tao – Bac Dau, who manage birth and death book. There is a big stone stele to remember the name of the contributors of building Bich Dong Pagoda.
From Bottom pagoda, you must go up stair 120 steps to reach Middle pagoda and the way to Dark Cave. There is an ancient bell placed in front of the cave with delicate carvings. Tourists also often visit “Giai Oan” bridge, which means clear someone faults to rest their mind.
The Top pagoda is on the top of the mountain, worships Bodhisattva. Seeing from Top pagoda, there are 5 mountains adoration of Bich Dong Pagoda, which looks like 5 lotus petals of Bodhisattva, including: Tam Sang, Gia Dinh, Con Lon, Dau Cau and Hang Dua mountain. Top pagoda has 2 shrines on either side: Tho Dia shrine on the right and Duc Son Than is worshiped on the left. Next to the pagoda is a water tank called: “Cam Lo water tank” of Bodhisattva.
Bich Dong pagoda is famous for not only its beautiful and charming scenery, but also being a place historical relics of Ninh Binh province. If you have a chance to visit Ninh Binh province, you should have Bich Dong Pagoda in your tour list.
Duration: 40 minutes
Pass By: Old Quarter, Hanoi 100000 Vietnam
Around 18:00 Arrive back in Hanoi. Tour End.
Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
Accommodation included: 3 Star hotel in Hanoi
Day 4: Hanoi – Halong Bay Sightseeing – overnight on Cruise
Pass By: Old Quarter, Hanoi 100000 Vietnam
8:00 am Tour guide and car from Paradise Indochina Travel come to pick you up at your hotels around Hanoi Old Quarter for the trip. Enjoying the beautiful scenery of the rural areas on the way.
Stop At: TUAN CHAU MARINA, Vietnam, Quảng Ninh, Thành phố Hạ Long, Tuần Châu, tuan chau
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.
Duration: 3 hours 20 minutes
Stop At: Ti Top Island, Halong Bay Vietnam
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.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Halong Bay, Halong Bay, Quang Ninh Province
This afternoon the tender will take you to a secluded part of the bay where the water is perfect for swimming and kayaking around the limestone Karsts. You’ll return back to Cruise just in time to watch the sunset from the top deck before enjoying the bay’s freshest seafood dinner.
Duration: 10 hours
Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight on 3 Star Cruise in Halong Bay
Day 5: Ha Long Bay sightseeing & back Hanoi (second day)
Stop At: Halong Bay, Halong Bay, Quang Ninh Province
Wake up refreshed, having tea, coffee and breakfast on boat.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Sung Sot Cave, Halong Bay Vietnam
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.
Duration: 2 hours
Pass By: Old Quarter, Hanoi 100000 Vietnam
Then it’s back to the boat and cruise to Ha long Port arriving around noon, where you will continue to Hanoi for overnight.
Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
Accommodation included: 3 Star Hotel in Hanoi
Day 6: Hanoi Departure
Pass By: Nội Bài, Sóc Sơn, Hà Nội, Vietnam
A new day wake up in busy city and have breakfast before transfer to Airport. Say goodbye to tour guide and driver. The end package tour. Good luck!
Meals included:
• Breakfast
No accommodation included on this day.
