North of Vietnam Explorer

Northern Vietnam packs a great deal into a short distance, and this five-day, four-night trip covers it from one base. You stay four nights in Hanoi and travel out by private air-conditioned vehicle to the World Heritage waters of Ha Long Bay and the limestone country of Ninh Binh. It suits first-time visitors who want the north's headline sights without long overland stages, and it is one of our inquiry-only Vietnam holiday packages.

WHAT TO EXPECT

A Full Day In The Capital

Day two belongs to Hanoi. It opens at the Ho Chi Minh Complex: the mausoleum of the nation's founder — closed on Mondays, Fridays and throughout November — the Presidential Palace and his house on stilts. Close by stand the One Pillar Pagoda, whose origins date to the founding of the city, and the Temple of Literature, Vietnam's first university. Lunch is taken at a local restaurant. The afternoon turns to the Ethnology Museum, dedicated to the country's 54 ethnic groups and closed on Mondays, then a cyclo tour circles the Old Quarter and the evening ends with a water puppet performance.

A Join-In Day Cruise On Ha Long Bay

Day three starts with a three-hour drive through the Red River Delta, boarding at Tuan Chau harbour at about 10:00. This is a join-in cruise shared with other passengers, not a private charter. The boat passes limestone islets such as Dog Rock, Duck Rock and Thumb Rock, with a buffet lunch of seafood and Vietnamese dishes at midday. Ashore on Bo Hon Island, some 200 steps under forest canopy lead up to Sung Sot Cave, the largest in the bay, explored in about 45 minutes; anyone who prefers not to walk far can stay aboard. Half an hour of kayaking near Luon Cave follows, then the climb halfway up Titov Island and a sunset gathering on the sundeck before port at 17:30 to 18:00.

Ninh Binh, Tam Coc And The Climb To Mua Cave

Day four drives south to Ninh Binh, the site of a capital of ancient Vietnam before Hanoi took the leading role in the 11th century. A boat trip through Tam Coc passes limestone karsts that jut out of green paddy fields, the scenery that earned the area its name, the Halong Bay on land. At Hoa Lu is the site of the 10th-century royal palace, known for the wooden reliefs of the shady temples raised to King Dinh and King Le. Mua Cave closes the day, with 500 stone steps climbing to a viewpoint over Tam Coc and the Ngo Dong river. The drive back reaches Hanoi late, at about 19:30.

Arrival, Departure And How You Travel

You are met at Noi Bai International Airport and driven to your hotel; standard check-in is from 14:00 and a surcharge for earlier check-in is not included. The final morning is free until the departure transfer, with check-out at 12:00. All transfers use a private air-conditioned vehicle, and an English-speaking guide is provided as guided time rather than for the whole stay. All entrance fees and government taxes are included. With more time, consider our six-day North & Central Vietnam itinerary, the nine-day Panorama of Vietnam or the seven-day South Vietnam beach holiday.

GOOD TO KNOW

Accommodation is twin or double sharing. Only the listed meals are covered — breakfast daily and lunch on the cruise — so the Hanoi lunch stop and dinners are at your own expense. Flights, travel insurance and the Vietnam visa are excluded; see our visa assistance page. Tipping for the local guide and van driver is compulsory at fixed per-person daily rates that vary with group size; tips for boat and sampan crews are at your discretion. Gala dinners on 24 and 31 December and festive or Tet surcharges are extra; cruise programmes may change for weather or operations.