North Vietnam is home to the country’s most beautiful landscapes: dragon-inspired limestone cliffs towering over the blue-green waters and caves of Halong Bay, the 'Halong Bay of the rice fields’ at Tam Coc in the Red River Delta near Ninh Binh.

Today we commence our exploration of Hanoi by visiting the Ho Chi Minh complex, starting at the President Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum. We continue to his humble “house on stilts”, his musuem and the 11th century One-Pillar Pagoda. Afterwards we go to the Museum of Ethnology, which is an excellent museum containing the ethnic costumes of the various minorities of Vietnam, as well as relics, tools and even full size replicas of their homes and buildings. After lunch in a great local restaurant, we continue to visit the Temple of Literature which was the first Vietnam University dating to 1070. You will take short time to visit the Hoa Lo Prison Musuem before head to the Old Quarter. You will have one hours for shopping & walk around Hoan Kiem Lake in the middle of the city and visit Ngoc Son Temple. Overnight in Hanoi. 

Breakfast at hotel then check out - Transfer to Halong. for a magical 4 hours boat cruising around the bay. Considered Vietnam’s greatest natural wonder, Halong Bay boasts over 3, 000 islands that just out of the sea to provide a spectacular natural environment. We admire its beauty and scale before stopping at one of the many secluded bays for a refreshing swim (Weather permitting ). We also take the opportunity to enjoy a fresh seafood lunch on our boat. Back to the mainland. Transfer back to Hanoi. Overnight at hotel in Hanoi.

Drive to Ninh Binh (100km from Hanoi). Visit the Dinh & Le dynasty temples in Hoa Lu, an ancient capital of Vietnam (968 – 1009). Continue with a sampan ride to Tam Coc, known as Vietnam’s “inland Halong Bay”. Paddle through three enormous caves and view local fisher folk, village life along the river and, of course, the striking limestone karst formations. Move onwards to the Bich Dong cave pagodas dating from the 17th century. Lunch served at local restaurant. Return to and Stay overnight in Hanoi.