Day 1 Arrival and Welcome to Hanoi
Arriving
at Noi Bai airport in Hanoi, you'll be met and driven to
your hotel. You’ll then be free until be picked up to watch
the Water Puppet show, an art form unique to northern
Vietnam, as well as a good, light-hearted introduction to
its rural culture. Later on, your driver will take you to
the local restaurant for your Welcome Dinner with one of our
representatives. You'll spend the night in Hanoi. Inclusive
dinner and guide.
Day 2 Full Day Hanoi
After breakfast at your hotel,
you'll be picked up to start a Hanoi city tour. You’ll visit
Ba Dinh Square, where silent sentries guard the marble and
Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum where Ho Chi Chi lies in state
(closed on every Monday & Friday and October & November) and
see the simple cottage where Uncle Ho lived and worked.
You’ll continue to visit the One Pillar Pagoda and hear the
legend of its construction, born from the love of an emperor
in the 11th Century. You’ll drive to visit the serene Tran
Quoc Pagoda, the oldest in Hanoi, on the banks of Hanoi’s
West Lake. You’ll also call the Temple of Literature, built
in 1070 and the dedicated to Confucius; it is a serene
retreat from the busy streets outside and later become
Vietnam’s first university.
After lunch at a local restaurant, our driver and guide will take
you to visit the Ethnology Museum for an overview of
Vietnam’s 54 distinct ethnic and enjoy an orientation of the
tree-lined streets of Hanoi, resplendent with French
colonial architecture, including the recently restored Opera
House. Pass by Hoan Kiem Lake, also known as Lake of
Restored Sword from the legend that surrounds it en-route to
one of the city’s fascinating museums.
In the afternoon, you’ll take to the streets by walking tour
of the Ancient Quarter of 36 streets District. This densely
populated corner of the city was once a centre of commerce
where goods were sold under the street name of a particular
guild. Still a thriving community of sellers today, you’ll
see streets name such as Sugar Street, Tin Street and Paper
Street. Ancient homes and temples are interspersed with
stores in this souvenir hunter’s paradise.
Day 3 Hanoi - Ha Long Bay
- Hanoi
You’ll leave for Ha Long Bay,
which is often called Vietnam's eighth wonder of the world
and once visited, it is hard to dispute that claim. 4000
Spectacular limestone outcroppings, cliffs, arches and coves
compete for space in an area that is without doubt the most
outstandingly naturally beautiful in the country - an
incomparable coastal scenery.
Hire a traditional Chinese
style sailing junk and meander through the area whose name
translates as "Where the Dragon Descends into the Sea", stop
off at an islet and climb though a series of breathtaking
caves and grottoes, marveling at some of the most impressive
stalactite and stalagmite formations anywhere in the world.
When you arrive in Ha Long
Bay, you’ll board a traditional-style boat for a five-hour
cruise on the bay to visit some of the caves and making a
stop at a secluded beach, where you can enjoy cruising at
the cave dotted island and see the small fishing boats which
are always a feature of this lovely bay. Your lunch will be
served with seafood on the boat. You’ll return to Hanoi for
your overnight accommodation.
Day 4 Hanoi Departure
After breakfast, you’ll be free until your driver arrives to
take you to Noi Bai airport for your departure flight.
Documents required:
* Passport
valid for minimum 6 months.
* Visa for Vietnam.
*
Outbound air ticket to show Thai immigration officers on
return into Thailand.
Inclusive:
*
Return flight Bangkok-Hanoi
with Air France.
* Accommodation sharing a twin or double room with a single
supplement of 1,990 THB.
* Upgrade to 4-star hotel: surcharge 3,640 THB pp or 6,880 THB
for single occupancy.
* Upgrade to 5-star hotel: supplement 8,120 THB pp or 12,200 THB in single occupancy.
* Pick-ups and transfers by private air-conditioned vehicle
as specified in the itinerary above.
* Travel by private, air-conditioned vehicle with an
experienced, safe driver.
* Boat cruise as in the programme.
* The services of experienced English-speaking guides as
indicated in the itinerary.
* Where necessary, entry fees for all visits as mentioned in
the program.
* Lunches and dinners, as specified, in the best local
restaurants.
* VAT and other taxes.
Exclusive:
* Visas.
* Dinners, except as specified above.
* Drinks, gratuities and personal expenses.
* Insurance.
* Entry
costs back into Thailand.
