Tour n.1 : Quy Nhon – Hoi An – Danang – Hue – Halong Bay – Hanoi
The 10-day tour begins in Quy Nhon and ends in Hanoi. We first travel north, by road from Quy Nhon to Hoi An, a well-preserved coastal city of considerable historical interest; UNESCO has designated it as a World Heritage Site. After spending the night at Hoi An, we continue north by bus to Hue, travelling through Danang and other interesting sites, to which we make a brief visit. Hue was the imperial capital under the Nguyen Dynasty, which reigned in Southern Vietnam from the 17th to the 19th century. It is also a World Heritage site.
From Hue, we continue to the beautiful and unique Halong Bay; we first fly to Hanoi, and from there go directly to Halong by road. We visit the bay on a cruiseboat, where we spend the night; in this way, we can experience the unforgettable sight of sunset and sunrise over the limestone islands scattered over the whole bay. The next stop is Ninh Binh, known as the “celestial Halong”. We finish our tour in the city of Hanoi, the current capital of Vietnam, spending some time exploring its interesting monuments and also participating in its life.
Day 1
12:00 am : Meeting at the lobby of the hotel in Quy Nhon.
We leave for Hoi An – the UNESCO world heritage site – about 350 km away. Arrival at the Hotel at around 7pm. Check in, Dinner at the hotel.
Day 2: Hoi An
Park View hotel****
After breakfast, we leave on the coach, and with your tour guide we explore Hoi An’s many unique attractions related to the town’s legacy as a commercial cross-roads in South East Asia: these attractions include a Japanese bridge, Chinese temples, the Old House, the Hoi An museum, the Hoi An market etc.
Return to the hotel at about 1:00. Check out. Lunch at a local restaurant in Danang. After lunch we visit the Cham museum, which houses many relics of the ancient Cham civilization. The distance from Danang to Hue is about 110 km, which we cover in about 3 hours. We pass through one of the longest tunnels in Vietnam, which connects the provinces of Danang and Thua Thien Hue. We stop at Lang Co beach, one of the best beaches in Vietnam: we can enjoy a cup of coffee (or indeed anything else!) in full view of the Pacific Ocean. At about 6:00 PM we check in at the Park View Hotel in Hue. At 7:00 pm a coach takes us for dinner in Hue.
Day 3
After breakfast, we take a private boat to visit the Thien Mu (Heavenly Lady) temple. We then continue our tour on the “Perfumed river” to visit the Minh Mang tomb. At about 12:00 the coach takes us for lunch at a local restaurant. After lunch we visit the Tu Duc tomb and the Thuy Xuan Street Children’s Centre. Return to the hotel at about 6:00 pm.
7:00 PM pick up for dinner at a local restaurant.
Day 4: Visit of the old Hue
After breakfast at the hotel, visit to the Inner Citadel of Hue followed by the Dong Ba market.
Lunch at a local restaurant.
Check out and transfer to Hue Airport.
Flight to Hanoi. Pick up at Hanoi – Noi Bai air port. Check in at Hotel 11:00 pm.
Day 5: Halong Bay with Bai Tho cruise
Early morning call, transfer to Halong Bay – the UNESCO World Heritage Site – one of the 7 modern Wonders of the World.
At the quay in Halong, a tender picks us up and transfer us to the Bai Tho boat. Lunch (based on local sea food) is served as the boat sails into the bay. We visit the Luon cave, which is reached on small boats. The cave is remarkable: it is surrounded by mountains, it is full of stalactites, and the water is surprisingly calm.
Dinner is served on the boat.
Day 6: Ninh Binh and the inland Halong
Early morning wake up call to photograph the sun rising over the water, have breakfast and then explore the amazing cave; it takes about one hour to visit, and your imagination is not disappointed as you pass from stalactite to stalacmite, whose shapes call up visions of animals, both real and fabulous. Lunch on board.
After lunch, overland trip to Ninh Binh, about 250 kmaway. We cross the Quang Ninh, Hai Phong, Hai Duong, Thai Binh, Ninh Binh provinces. The road passes through beautiful agricultural terrain.
In Ninh Binh, before the checking in, we pay a visit to the Non Nuoc mountain and a Buddhist temple close to the Thuy Van River. At about 6:00 pm check in at the Legend hotel; dinner at the hotel at 7:30 PM.
Day 7: Ninh Binh and Hanoi
Breakfast at the hotel, check out and transfer to the Tam Coc caves in small bamboo boats piloted by the local people. A large variety of stalactites in three caves; often referred to as the inland Halong Bay. Lunch at 12:00 at a restaurant on the quayside.
At 1:30 pm trip to Dinh and the Le temples .
At about 5:00 PM, return to Hanoi for check in at the Hoa Binh hotel***.
Dinner at a local restaurant.
Day 8: Visit of the old Hanoi
After breakfast , visits to the Van Mieu temple, the Ho Tay lake (the West lake), the old part of Hanoi, the Dong Xuan market and the Ngoc Son temple.
Lunch at a local restaurant at 12:00
In the afternoon, we visit the old Hanoi or the Minorities Museum, and … leisure time.
Dinner at a local restaurant.
Day 9: Last visit of Hanoi and end of the tour
Breakfast at the hotel . Leisure, shopping, souvenir hunting.
End of the tour.