From the Ancient Capital of Hoa Lu to Thang Long: Ha Noi – Ninh Binh – Quang Ninh

Tour Itinerary

DAY 1: HA NOI – DAO THUC VILLAGE – VIETNAMESE CRAFT VILLAGE CENTRE (Lunch, dinner)

The coach and guide meet guests at Vietravel Ha Noi (03 Hai Ba Trung, Cua Nam ward, Ha Noi) and depart for Dao Thuc Village, an ancient village on the Ca Lo River that has preserved and developed traditional water puppetry for more than 300 years.

• Stroll village lanes shaded by green bamboo and hear the story of the Nguyen Dang family, who founded the water-puppet craft.
• Watch a special water-puppet performance at the water pavilion in the village pond – witty, intimate yet refined folk acts reflecting the daily life and spiritual beliefs of the Vietnamese of old.
• Meet the artisans and go behind the scenes to learn how puppets are controlled and made, and how the craft is preserved.

After lunch at a restaurant, continue to the Centre for Vietnamese Craft Village Essence, a unique destination recreating a traditional craft-village setting.

• Ride an electric car around Bat Trang Ancient Village, whose small lanes bear the marks of more than 1,000 years, where every piece carries the breath of earth and water and the skilled hands of its artisans.
• Visit Turntable Square and the exhibition of Bat Trang pottery past and present, discovering the fine craftsmanship of the village's 19 pottery clans.
• Join the "I Am an Artisan" experience and create your own personalised pottery piece.

Check in at the hotel and enjoy Ha Noi's specialty cha ca, a refined dish made to a family recipe and served with Ba Hanh shrimp paste and Mach Trang rice noodles – famous for more than 2,000 years and once offered to King An Duong Vuong. Evening: free time to stroll around Hoan Kiem Lake and sip a beer on Ta Hien "backpacker" street.

Overnight in Ha Noi.

Suggested programs (held on fixed days each week; transport and costs at own expense).

Journey 1: "Decoding Thang Long Imperial Citadel" (Friday, Saturday)

• Experience the Citadel at night with many activities: an incense ceremony, photos with palace maids and guards in ancient costume, performances on the glass floor over the Doan Mon archaeological site, and a puzzle game with impressive laser effects and meaningful gifts.

Journey 2: "Temple of Literature by Night" (Wednesday, Saturday)

• Experience modern projection technology that vividly recreates history and culture, immersing visitors in the magical, shimmering atmosphere of the Temple of Literature at night.

Journey 3: "Sacred Night" at Hoa Lo Prison (Friday, Saturday, Sunday)

• A journey back in time to relive the nation's heroic years and feel the indomitable spirit of revolutionary soldiers through moving stories.

On other days, guests may choose:

• Ngoc Son Temple night tour – discover the mystical beauty of the sacred temple in the middle of Hoan Kiem Lake.
• Double-decker bus tour – enjoy the night air and Ha Noi's streets lit up in lights.
• Ha Noi specialties such as cold snail noodles, cha ruoi (sea-worm omelette) and Trang Tien ice cream…

DAY 2: HA NOI – NINH BINH: BACK TO THE ANCIENT CAPITAL'S LANDSCAPES (Breakfast, lunch, dinner)

The Vietravel coach and guide meet guests at the meeting point and depart for Ninh Binh, known as "the place to dream of and long to return to", famous for majestic natural scenery and distinctive cultural sites.

• 6:30: Pick-up at pick-up point 1 – Vietravel Ha Noi (03 Hai Ba Trung).
• 7:15: Pick-up at pick-up point 2 – hotel.
• In Ninh Binh, pick-up at pick-up point 3 – Ninh Binh Station.

The group begins sightseeing:

• At the Sinh Duoc Cooperative, enjoy Kim Ngan tea and learn about the local tradition of using Southern herbal medicine for wellbeing and healing. See the handmade production of fragrant herbal soap and herbal salt (ground floor) and handicrafts (first floor): bodhi-leaf paintings and traditional costume accessories… Guests can also make their own herbal soap, and print a souvenir image on a Bodhi leaf (at own expense).
• Pay respects at Bai Dinh Pagoda, a magnificent Buddhist complex of solemnity and serenity. It holds many Vietnamese records, such as an 80-tonne bronze Maitreya Buddha; walk the long Arhat corridor with 500 lifelike statues and gaze up at the 99 m stupa towering into the blue sky.
• At Trang An, enjoy a wonderful boat ride along the blue Ngo Dong River, gliding through mysterious caves past soaring limestone peaks and vast water valleys. In the stillness, ancient moss-covered communal houses, temples and shrines nestle at the foot of the mountains, creating a picture-perfect scene.

Check in at the hotel and enjoy the famous goat feast of the ancient capital, with dishes such as lime-cured goat, roasted goat, goat hotpot with fermented rice, goat spring rolls… (menu may vary).

Evening: free time to see Hoa Lu Old Town by night, shimmering and magical, where visitors can immerse themselves in colourful traditional culture: folk games and performing arts such as water puppetry, Tac Xinh dance and Xam singing… or take a boat on Ky Lan Lake, enjoy tea and release flower lanterns while admiring the glittering old town (at own expense).

Overnight in Ninh Binh

DAY 3: NINH BINH – HA LONG: A JOURNEY LINKING TWO WORLD HERITAGE SITES (Breakfast, lunch, dinner)

Breakfast and hotel check-out.

07:30: the coach departs for Ha Long via the CT06–CT04 expressways, with views of the majestic Bach Dang River along the way. At Ha Long International Cruise Port, guests board the boat to cruise Ha Long Bay, recognised by UNESCO as a World Natural Heritage Site in 1994.

• Sung Sot Cave: explore one of the bay's largest caves, where magical stalactites create a shimmering, mysterious space.
• Tung Sau Pearl Village: learn about the painstaking process of pearl farming, admire glittering pearls and try extracting a pearl yourself.
• Ti Top Island: enjoy clear, cool water at one of Ha Long Bay's most beautiful beaches (ideal swimming season May–August).
• Cruising the bay: admire unique natural wonders such as Bo Nau Cave, Soi Sim Island, Me Cung Cave, Human Head Islet, Turtle Islet, Horse Islet and Luon Cave…

After the cruise, explore Ngoc Rong Cave, a unique adventure inside a 150-million-year-old cave where live performance meets top-class dining:

• Watch the new show "Searching for the Pearl", the first performance staged inside the cave, bringing to life the legend of the sacred dragon and Ha Long's culture.
• Enjoy a fine-dining feast in the heart of the cave, showcasing the best of Quang Ninh cuisine: sea crab, lobster poached in wine, sweet Tien Yen chicken from the highlands and gold-leaf Ngoc Rong jelly, a symbol of prosperity – a peak dining experience in a mysterious heritage setting.

Overnight in Quang Ninh.

DAY 4: SACRED YEN TU – THE CHARM OF AN ANCIENT VILLAGE (Breakfast, lunch)

Free time to browse and buy fresh seafood and local products at Cai Dam market. Then breakfast and hotel check-out.

07:30: the coach and guide take guests to the sacred land of Yen Tu, known as "the land that created a heritage".

• Visit Lang Nuong village and immerse yourself in its serene setting among the mountains.
• Enjoy rich local dishes at Com Que restaurant, a rustic yet refined dining experience.
• Ride the cable car (at own expense) across endless ranges, taking in majestic natural scenery. In spring, the ancient golden apricot trees bloom brilliantly on the summit. Pay respects at Mot Mai Pagoda and Hoa Yen Pagoda, sacred places of stillness and peace where Buddha-King Tran Nhan Tong, founder of the Truc Lam Zen school, once practised.

The coach returns to Ha Noi. Farewell to guests at the original meeting point.

END OF TOUR – FAREWELL!

Notes:

• The order of destinations may change depending on actual conditions.
• Sightseeing (swimming, flower viewing, experiences…) is easily affected by the weather. This is force majeure and we appreciate your understanding.
• Hotels may be located away from the city centre in peak seasons.
• Due to objective factors, attractions may close and be replaced with suitable alternatives.

Pricing for Children

- Children under 5: no service charge; parents take care of the child and pay any extra costs (e.g. height-based charges). Two adults may bring only 1 child under 5; a second child pays the rate for ages 5 to under 12 plus the single-room supplement. Air, rail and public transport tickets follow the carriers' rules
- Children from 5 to under 12: 50% of the adult tour price (no separate bed). Two adults may bring only 1 child aged 5 to under 12; any additional child must buy a single bed.
- Children 12 and over: 100% of the adult price.

Tour Change and Cancellation Policy

After payment, if you wish to cancel the tour, please bring your ID card and payment receipt to the Vietravel office to complete the cancellation procedure. Cancellations by phone are not accepted.
- Cancellation time is counted in working days, excluding Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays/Tet.
- Arriving late for the flight is treated as a cancellation 1 day before departure.
Refund and cancellation terms follow the Travel Ticket Sales Conditions attached to the contract. - Cancellation after registration – cancellation fee 10% of the tour price
- Cancellation 15 days before departure: cancellation fee 50% of the tour price
- Cancellation 5 days before departure: cancellation fee 70% of the tour price
- Cancellation 2 days before departure: cancellation fee 100% of the tour price.

Cancellation Policy for Public Holidays and Tet

- Cancellation after registration – cancellation fee 10% of the tour price
- Cancellation 30 days before departure: cancellation fee 50% of the tour price
- Cancellation 20 days before departure: cancellation fee 70% of the tour price.
- Cancellation 10 days before departure: cancellation fee 100% of the tour price.