Northern Vietnam: Fine Flavours of the Capital – A Love Song of the North – Ha Noi – Ninh Binh – Refined Cuisine

Tour Itinerary

DAY 1: HO CHI MINH CITY – HA NOI: TOUCHING THE LAND – TASTES OF THE ORIGINS (Lunch, dinner)

Main activities: Leaving the city for Ninh Binh's scenic wonders, ancient pagoda architecture, a herbal soak and Hoa Lu by night.

• Pick-up at Noi Bai Airport and travel to Ninh Binh for sightseeing.
• Bai Dinh Pagoda: admire the magnificent pagoda complex and enjoy a refined lunch.
• Thung Ui: relax with a traditional herbal foot soak, with an optional boat ride through the ink-painting valley (boat at own expense).
• Ancient-capital goat: dinner featuring specialties such as roasted goat on a cast-iron plate, goat spring rolls and lime-cured goat.
• Hoa Lu Old Town by night: tea with peanut candy, a boat ride through the glittering night scenery and the spectacular "Reed Flag Hero" show (at own expense).
• Overnight in Ninh Binh.

Note: seating for the "Reed Flag Hero" show is limited and must be booked in advance.

DAY 2: NINH BINH: TOUCHING THE TOWN – TASTES OF DAILY LIFE (Breakfast, lunch, dinner)

Main activities: Gliding through Ninh Binh's natural heritage, returning to the capital and an evening Ha Noi food tour by vintage motorbike.

• Breakfast, then depart for sightseeing.
• Trang An or Tam Coc: a boat ride among rivers and limestone karsts.

Note: depending on the weather, the rice season begins in late May–early June, lotus season is June–July and water-lily season is October–November each year.

• Nhech fish salad: lunch featuring this specialty of fresh fish mixed with roasted rice powder, served with herbs and a rich dipping sauce.
• Ha Noi vintage motorbike food tour: ride restored Honda DD bikes around the Old Quarter, Long Bien Bridge and Mural Street; taste Michelin-listed bun cha, street BBQ with sticky-rice wine, banh mi and coffee on Hang Buom Street.
• Overnight in Ha Noi.

DAY 3: HA NOI: TOUCHING HERITAGE – TASTES OF MEMORY (Breakfast, lunch; dinner at own expense)

Main activities: Sunrise in the capital, a journey back in time to a Northern ancient village and heritage dishes.

• Breakfast, then depart for sightseeing.
• Ha Noi sunrise: watch the flag-raising ceremony at Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and enjoy traditional pho (Pho Ly Quoc Su / Pho Khoi Hoi / Xoi Yen).

Note: The flag-raising ceremony is expected at 06:00. Guests may attend and then freely enjoy Ha Noi pho, or have breakfast at the hotel.

• Duong Lam Ancient Village: see Mong Phu Gate, the 300-year-old banyan tree and the ancient communal house; a herbal foot soak with tea and che lam; shadow puppetry and painting on old roof tiles.
• Heritage cuisine: a "Bep Lang" meal (mia chicken, roast pork) and a Ha Noi cha ca dinner with 2,000-year-old Mach Trang rice noodles.
• Free evening: night tours (Hoa Lo Prison "Sacred Night" / Thang Long Imperial Citadel / Temple of Literature Night Tour), Sen Tai Thu therapies or an Old Quarter food tour (at own expense).
• Overnight in Ha Noi.

DAY 4: HA NOI – NOI BAI – HO CHI MINH CITY: TOUCHING THE ESSENCE (Breakfast, lunch, dinner)

Main activities: Fine dining, traditional crafts and the flight back to Ho Chi Minh City.

• Egg coffee: sip the legendary egg coffee at the Metropole (at own expense).
• Fine-dining lunch: Ha Noi cuisine elevated to Michelin standard at Capella Hanoi.
• Visit Tan My Design: learn about traditional Vietnamese hand embroidery and lacquer art.

Transfer to Noi Bai Airport for the flight to Ho Chi Minh City.

Pricing for Children

● Children under 5: no service charge; parents take care of the child and pay any extras. 2 adults may bring only 1 child under 4; a second child pays the 4-to-under-12 rate plus a single-room supplement. Air, rail and public transport tickets follow the carriers' rules.
● Children from 5 to under 12: 75% of the package price, including transport, meals per the program and entrance tickets by age/height; sharing a bed with parents. 2 adults may bring only 1 child; each additional child must buy a single bed.
● Children 12 and over: charged as adults.

Tour Change and Cancellation Policy

- After payment, if you wish to change or cancel the tour, please bring your Travel Ticket to the office where you registered to complete the change/cancellation procedure and pay the fees set by
Vietravel. Changes or cancellations by phone cannot be processed.
- Cancellation time is counted in working days, excluding Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays/Tet. - Change to another tour more than 20 days before departure: free of charge.
- Cancellation or change 15–19 days before departure: 50% of the tour deposit.
- Cancellation or change 12–14 days before departure: 100% of the tour deposit.
- Cancellation 8–11 days before departure: 50% of the tour price.
- Cancellation 5–7 days before departure: 70% of the tour price.
- Cancellation 2–4 days before departure: 90% of the tour price.
- Cancellation within 1 day of departure: 100% of the tour price.

Cancellation Policy for Public Holidays and Tet

- Change to another tour more than 30 days before departure: free of charge.
- Cancellation or change 25–29 days before departure: 50% of the tour deposit.
- Cancellation or change 20–24 days before departure: 100% of the tour deposit.
- Cancellation 17–19 days before departure: 50% of the tour price.
- Cancellation 8–16 days before departure: 70% of the tour price.
- Cancellation 2–7 days before departure: 90% of the tour price.
- Cancellation within 1 day of departure: 100% of the tour price.