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Hanoi, Hoa Lư & Hạ Long Bay

5 Days 4 Nights Private Tour

Price: Contact us for pricing

Indochine Tours
Panoramic view of Hạ Long Bay — thousands of limestone karst islands rising from the emerald waters of the Gulf of Tonkin

Tour Map

  • Day 1 – Hanoi Arrival
  • Day 2 – Hanoi City Tour
  • Day 3 – Tam Coc & Hoa Lư
  • Day 4 – Halong Bay Cruise
  • Day 5 – Departure

Tour Itinerary Overview

DayDestinations / ActivitiesHotelMeal
Day 1Arrival – Hanoi Old QuarterHanoi Old Quarter Hotel
  • B: –
  • L: –
  • D: TBA
Day 2Hanoi City TourHanoi Old Quarter Hotel
  • B: Hotel
  • L: TBA
  • D: –
Day 3Tam Coc & Hoa Lư Ancient CapitalHanoi Old Quarter Hotel
  • B: Hotel
  • L: TBA
  • D: –
Day 4Hạ Long Bay Overnight CruiseOvernight Cruise Cabin
  • B: Hotel
  • L: On cruise
  • D: On cruise
Day 5Hạ Long Bay – Hanoi – DepartureNo Service
  • B: Brunch on cruise
  • L: –
  • D: –

Itinerary Details

  1. Day 1: Hanoi Arrival
    • Arrive at Nội Bài Airport; guide meets you with a welcome board
    • Transfer ~30 km into the Hanoi Old Quarter
    • Hotel check-in (available from 2:00 pm)
    • Explore the 36 ancient streets of the Old Quarter — a colourful mix of colonial buildings, street food, and living history
    • Dinner and first night in Hanoi
  2. Day 2: Hanoi City Tour
    • Breakfast at hotel; guide arrives at 08:00
    • Ba Đình Square — where Hồ Chí Minh declared Vietnamese independence in 1945
    • Hồ Chí Minh Mausoleum, stilt house, and Presidential Palace
    • One-Pillar Pagoda — the iconic 11th-century wooden pagoda
    • Choice of museum: Vietnam Military History Museum, Fine Arts Museum, Ethnology Museum, or Hỏa Lò Prison
    • Lunch at a local restaurant
    • Temple of Literature — Vietnam's first university, founded 1070
    • Evening stroll at Hoàn Kiếm Lake; optional Water Puppet Show at Thăng Long Theatre
  3. Day 3: Tam Coc & Hoa Lư Ancient Capital
    • Breakfast at hotel; depart Hanoi at 08:00
    • ~2 hours drive to Tam Coc (Ninh Bình Province)
    • Private sampan cruise through "Hạ Long Bay on Land" — three river caves amid towering limestone karsts
    • Lunch with Vietnamese dishes
    • Hoa Lư Ancient Capital — ruins of the Đinh (968–980) and Lê (980–1009) dynasty citadel, Vietnam's first capital
    • Optional: climb 265 steps into the limestone karst hills for panoramic views, or scenic bike ride to Thái Vi Temple and Bích Động Pagoda
    • Return to Hanoi in the late afternoon
  4. Day 4: Hạ Long Bay Overnight Cruise
    • Breakfast at hotel; depart Hanoi at 09:00
    • ~2.5 hours drive to Hạ Long City pier; check-in and welcome aboard
    • Lunch served while cruising through UNESCO World Heritage waters
    • Afternoon activities per the boat's itinerary — cave visits, kayaking, or swimming
    • Boat anchors at dusk among karst formations; sunset cocktails on deck
    • Dinner on board; overnight in cruise cabin
  5. Day 5: Hạ Long Bay – Hanoi – Departure
    • Wake to sunrise among the islands; brunch served on board
    • Check out mid-morning as the boat returns to port
    • ~2.5 hours transfer to Nội Bài Airport
    • Note: departure flight should ideally be in the afternoon

Photo Gallery

Aerial bird's-eye view of Hạ Long Bay's limestone islands and turquoise waters
Hạ Long Bay from above — Day 4
Hồ Chí Minh Mausoleum and museum complex at Ba Đình Square, Hanoi
Hồ Chí Minh Mausoleum — Day 2
Temple of Literature in Hanoi — Vietnam's first university, founded in 1070
Temple of Literature — Day 2
Hoàn Kiếm Lake (Guom Lake) in the heart of Hanoi Old Quarter
Hoàn Kiếm Lake — Hanoi Old Quarter
The Huc Bridge — the red wooden bridge leading to Ngoc Son Temple on Hoan Kiem Lake
The Hục Bridge, Hoàn Kiếm Lake
Traditional Vietnamese water puppet show — performed on a water stage with live traditional music
Water Puppet Show — optional Day 2

Tour Inclusions & Exclusions

  • Includes: Accommodation at 4-star Hanoi hotel (3 nights) + overnight cruise cabin (1 night), English-speaking guide, private transport, meals as listed, admission fees (Ho Chi Minh Complex, Temple of Literature, Tam Coc boat cruise, Hoa Lư, Hạ Long Bay cruise), travel insurance, recommended tips for guide & driver
  • Excludes: International flights, personal expenses, drinks, optional museum entries, optional Water Puppet Show, others not mentioned

Children's Policy

  • Under 4 years: Free (must share seat/table with parents)
  • 4–9 years: 75% of adult price
  • 10+ years: 100% adult price
  • Two adults can bring one child free/at reduced rate. Second child charged as adult.

Cancellation Policy

  • 3–5 days before departure: 75% fee charged
  • 2 days before departure: 100% fee charged
  • Cancellations must be received and confirmed by Indochine Tours

Responsible Tourism at Hạ Long Bay

Hạ Long Bay is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that has faced increasing environmental pressures in recent years, including pollution, overfishing, and habitat degradation. We encourage all guests to enjoy the bay's breathtaking beauty while travelling responsibly — minimising waste, respecting wildlife, and supporting local conservation efforts — so that future generations can experience it too.

Dietary requirements: Please provide any food restrictions or preferences at least 7 days prior to arrival. Last-minute changes on the cruise may not be feasible and could incur additional costs.