Itinerary

1. Day 1: Hanoi City Tour Full Day

   Morning

   • 8h30: After breakfast at the hotel, you will be picked up and transferred to Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum.

   • Visit an important place of pilgrimage for Vietnamese, Ho Chi Minh's House on Stilts, built in the style of Vietnam's ethnic minorities, surrounded by verdant and peaceful gardens. One Pillar Pagoda, built in the 11th century, of wood on a single stone pillar resembling a lotus blossom, a symbol of purity, rising out of a sea of sorrow. 

   • Then, you will be transferred to visit the Temple of Literature, a Confucius Temple and the very first university of Vietnam under the Feudal system. 

   • Afterwards, your Vietnam guide will lead you to a Vietnamese restaurant to have lunch with the best local foods.

   Afternoon

   • Continue your trip with your local guide to dive into the sights, sounds and local corners of Hanoi in the local area to visit the Museum of Ethnology, where you will have a chance to learn about 54 Ethnic Groups living in Vietnam.

   • Next, transfer to shopping malls with international brands and high-quality Vietnamese brands, shops with Made in Vietnam clothes where local people are regular; lacquer workshops (great traditional Vietnamese handicraft products) and have some coffee in a boutique coffee shop.

   • Then, the local guide will order a cyclo (bicycle with a seat in front with a rider) for you to take a ride around Hanoi Old Quarter and Hanoi Opera house for sightseeing in about 40 minutes.

   • Afterwards, the rider will drop you off at your hotel.

   • End your long day at the hotel.

2. Day 2: Hanoi - Ninh Binh 1-day excursion

   • 8:00: Guide and driver pick you up at your hotel and transfer to Ninh Binh (2.5 hours driving). Please carry all your luggage!

   • 10:30: Arrive at Ninh Binh and take Trang An boat tour for sightseeing the beauty of limestone mountains and karst caves. This boat tour lasts 2.5 hours.

   • 13:00: Have lunch and enjoy special food at a local restaurant.

   • 14:00: Visit Hoa Lu ancient capital (King Dinh and King Le temples).

   • 15:30: Climb to Mua cave (Dancing Dragon cave), a high mountain to take photos with a panoramic view of Tam Coc.

   • 16:30: Return to Hanoi by private car. Say goodbye to your private guide and driver. Tomorrow, you will go to Ha Long bay by shuttle bus for the cruise.

3. Day 3: Hanoi - Ha Long Bay

   • 8:30: Have breakfast in your hotel.

   • 9:00 - 9:30: A shuttle bus and guide of Santa Maria cruise will pick you up at your hotel and transfer you to Ha Long bay by new highway (2.5 hours driving).

   • 12:00: Arrive at the pier. 

   • 12:15: After being taken to Santa Maria Cruise, you will be checked in. While enjoying welcome drinks, you will be introduced to the itinerary and given a safety briefing.

   • 13:00: Savour your delicious lunch and enjoy the stunning views as the boat cruises towards the southeast of Halong Bay, passing Dog Island, Dinh Huong islet (Incense Burner islet); Kissing rocks – The symbol of Halong tourism.

   • Further cruising to the core zone of Halong bay, our first visit of the cruise is the Pearl Farm (which is much deeper inside the Bay and much farther than other cruises typically operate).

   • 14:45:  Your first stop is the visit to the Pearl Farm; take a visit to the place with the work-shop and take an optional 45 minutes of kayaking (inclusive or exclusive depending on different packages).

   • 16.30: You will visit the famous Titov Island, where you can go swimming or hike to the top for another stunning, panoramic view of the Bay.

   • 17:30: Back on board, you can enjoy a sunset party with HAPPY HOUR – buy one get one free on drinks at Sky Leaf Bar or join some games provided at reception.

   • 18:30: If you are interested in Vietnamese cuisines, please join our traditional Vietnamese cooking class on sundeck under the experienced Chef’s guidance (or in the restaurant in case of inclement weather).

   • 19:15: Enjoy dinner.

   • 20:30: Enjoy our Sky Leaf Bar on the top floor. Besides, we provide free squid fishing tools at reception.

   • 22:30: Overnight on board Santa Maria Cruises.

4. Day 4: Ha Long Bay - Ha Noi

   • 06:00: Warm up your day with a Tai Chi lesson on the sundeck with a breathtaking view as the sun rises on Halong Bay. (optional)

   • 06:45: Light breakfast is served at the restaurant. (breakfast is served from 6:45 - 9:00).

   • 08:00: Visit magnificent Sung Sot Cave, one of the most extensive caves in Ha Long Bay with beautiful stalactites. You will be surprised by the breathtaking panoramic view across the Bay once you exit the cave, as well as the stalactites and stalagmites formed over millions of years which have taken on fascinating shapes. 

   • 09:15: Back on board, Set sometimes for last wash up.

   • 09:30: check out and return to Sun World Bai Chay harbour.

   • 10:30: Farewell lunch served on board.

   • 11:15 – 11:30: Clear out your bill, get back to the harbour, and get to the cruise's shuttle bus to return to Hanoi.

   • 14:30-15:00: Get back to your hotels in Hanoi Old Quarter. End of the tour.