Hanoi Ha Long Bay
5
Day Itinerary •
Vietnam
Five days in Hanoi and Ha Long Bay gives you the complete extraordinary range of northern Vietnam, from the ancient streets and temples of the capital to the most iconic seascape in Southeast Asia and the remarkable Ninh Binh region, the extraordinary inland Ha Long Bay of rice paddy karst that few visitors reach. This route covers the full northern Vietnam experience. Two days in Hanoi's extraordinary Old Quarter, temples and street food, a two-day Ha Long Bay overnight cruise through the finest limestone karst bay in the world, and a day in the extraordinary Ninh Binh with its boat rides through the Tam Coc rice paddy karst gorges and the ancient capital of Hoa Lu.
Best Time To Visit
October to April
Getting There
Fly into Hanoi (HAN), 45 min to city
Getting Around
Walk, Grab and bus transfers
Budget Per Day
Approx 55 to 110 USD per person per day
Difficulity
Easy
DAY 1
HANOI DAY ONE
MORNING
HOAN KIEM LAKE AT DAWN AND THE OLD QUARTER
Hoan Kiem Lake at dawn is the finest version of Hanoi, the extraordinary red Huc Bridge to Ngoc Son Temple reflected in the still water while the city exercises on the shore. The 36 Streets Old Quarter surrounding the lake is the finest historic urban neighbourhood in Vietnam, each street retaining its traditional trade. The Bach Ma Temple, the Chinese Assembly Hall and the extraordinary Quan De Temple give the finest ancient religious circuit in the neighbourhood. Entry 30,000 VND. Transfer: 15 min walk
MIDDAY
VIETNAMESE COFFEE CULTURE AND STREET FOOD EXPLORATION
The Vietnamese street food of Hanoi is the finest in the country, the northern style defined by extraordinary pho, bun cha grilled pork, banh mi, nem ran spring rolls and the remarkable cha ca turmeric fish. The extraordinary Vietnamese coffee culture, with its ca phe trung egg coffee and ca phe sua da iced coffee, is the finest in Southeast Asia. A street food walk through the Old Quarter costs almost nothing and gives the finest culinary experience in northern Vietnam. Transfer: 20 min walk
AFTERNOON
HOA LO PRISON AND FRENCH QUARTER
The Hoa Lo Prison, known to American POWs as the Hanoi Hilton, is the finest historical museum in Hanoi, its extraordinary exhibits covering both the French colonial prison conditions of the 1940s and the Vietnam War American POW experience. The surrounding French Quarter with its extraordinary tree-lined boulevards and colonial opera house is the finest architectural neighbourhood in Hanoi. Hoa Lo entry approx 30,000 VND.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The extraordinary Hanoi egg coffee, invented at Cafe Giang in the 1940s when milk was scarce, is a remarkably thick and sweet drink made by whipping egg yolk with condensed milk over hot coffee. Cafe Giang at 39 Nguyen Huu Huan is the original and still the finest. Costs 30,000 VND and is one of the most extraordinary drinks in Vietnam.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Old Quarter cafe Banh mi and ca phe trung egg coffee. Under 50,000 VND. Extraordinary. | Lunch: Bun Cha Huong Lien The Obama bun cha restaurant. Extraordinary broth with rice noodles and pork. | Dinner: Cha Ca La Vong The finest turmeric fish in Vietnam. Book the night before.
DAY 2
HANOI DAY TWO
MORNING
HO CHI MINH MAUSOLEUM AND COMPLEX
The Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum in Ba Dinh Square is the most significant monument in Vietnam, the granite tomb containing Ho Chi Minh's preserved body. The One Pillar Pagoda, Ho Chi Minh's stilt house in the grounds and the extraordinary Presidential Palace give the finest morning at the most important historical complex in northern Vietnam. Arrive before 8am to avoid queues. The mausoleum closes Tuesday and Thursday afternoons. Entry free. Transfer: 20 min walk
MIDDAY
VIETNAM MUSEUM OF ETHNOLOGY
The Vietnam Museum of Ethnology is the finest museum in Hanoi, an extraordinary collection of traditional objects, clothing and ceremonial items from all 54 ethnic groups in Vietnam. The outdoor section contains full-scale reconstructions of traditional houses from different ethnic groups including the extraordinary longhouse of the Ede people and the communal house of the Ba Na. Entry approx 40,000 VND. Transfer: 15 min Grab
AFTERNOON
WEST LAKE PAGODAS AND SUNSET
The West Lake neighbourhood north of the Old Quarter has the finest concentration of ancient pagodas in Hanoi, including the extraordinary Tran Quoc Pagoda on its island in the lake, the oldest pagoda in Hanoi dating from the 6th century, and the Quan Thanh Temple with its remarkable black bronze statue. The West Lake sunset from the extraordinary promenade cafes is the finest evening experience in Hanoi.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The extraordinary Dong Xuan market at dawn before 6am is the finest food market experience in Hanoi, when the wholesale flower, vegetable and meat sellers fill the surrounding streets before the retail day begins. The pho stalls around the market at 5am serve the finest and cheapest pho in Hanoi.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Hotel in Hanoi Vietnamese breakfast spread. Pho, banh mi, fresh fruit and Vietnamese coffee. | Lunch: Quan An Ngon, Hanoi The finest collection of Vietnamese street food stalls in a single restaurant. | Dinner: La Badiane, Hanoi The finest French-Vietnamese fusion restaurant in Hanoi. Book ahead.
DAY 3
HA LONG BAY
MORNING
DRIVE TO HA LONG BAY AND BOARDING
The drive from Hanoi to Ha Long Bay takes 3.5 hours through the extraordinary Red River Delta, passing rice paddies and limestone karst outcrops that preview the extraordinary bay ahead. The cruise boats depart from the Ha Long harbour around noon. The first sight of the bay with its extraordinary 1,969 limestone islands rising from the emerald water is one of the most extraordinary moments in Vietnam travel. Cruise costs vary from 80 to 300 USD per person for overnight trips. Transfer: On boat
MIDDAY
SUNG SOT CAVE AND KAYAKING
The Sung Sot Cave, known as Surprise Cave, is the finest cave in Ha Long Bay, an extraordinary two-chamber cavern of remarkable stalactite and stalagmite formations accessible by a short climb from the water. The kayaking through the extraordinary floating fishing villages and the narrow passages between limestone islands is the finest activity in the bay, giving access to hidden lagoons and sea caves invisible from the cruise boat. Kayaking included in most cruise packages. Transfer: On boat
AFTERNOON
SUNSET OVER THE KARST ISLANDS
The Ha Long Bay sunset over the extraordinary limestone karst islands is one of the finest natural spectacles in Vietnam, the extraordinary shapes of the islands silhouetted against the sky as the light turns the emerald water shades of gold and orange. The cruise boat evening with fresh seafood dinner, local bia hoi beer and the extraordinary silence of the bay at night with no light pollution visible is one of the finest overnight travel experiences in Southeast Asia.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The Bai Tu Long Bay adjacent to Ha Long Bay has the finest and least visited karst islands in the region, significantly fewer boats and the extraordinary natural environment more intact. The premium cruise companies operate in Bai Tu Long rather than the main Ha Long Bay and the experience is significantly more extraordinary.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Hanoi hotel Early breakfast before the Ha Long transfer. Pack sun protection. | Lunch: Ha Long cruise boat Fresh seafood lunch on the boat as the extraordinary bay appears. | Dinner: Ha Long cruise boat dinner Fresh squid, fish and clams from Ha Long Bay cooked on board. Extraordinary.
DAY 4
HA LONG RETURN
MORNING
HA LONG BAY DAWN AND SECOND CAVE
The Ha Long Bay at dawn before the day boats arrive is the finest natural spectacle in northern Vietnam, the extraordinary limestone karsts emerging from the mist with the fishing boats beginning their day between the islands. The second cave visit included in the 2-day cruise gives access to a different cave system and the extraordinary kayaking through the floating village at Cua Van, the largest floating village in Ha Long Bay with 600 residents living entirely on the water. Transfer: On boat
MIDDAY
RETURN CRUISE AND HARBOUR
The return cruise to the Ha Long harbour in the late morning gives the finest extended view of the extraordinary bay, passing the most photogenic karst formations in the full daylight. The lunch on board during the return is the finest meal of the cruise, the seafood at its freshest in the morning catch. The final view of the bay from the harbour before the bus transfer gives the most extraordinary panorama. Transfer: 3.5 hour bus
AFTERNOON
RETURN TO HANOI AND EVENING
The return to Hanoi arrives in the late afternoon, leaving the finest time to explore the Hanoi Night Market in the Old Quarter, which operates on Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings and fills the streets with extraordinary local craft, street food and the finest Vietnamese market atmosphere. The Bia Hoi Junction on Dinh Liet Street is the finest street beer experience in Vietnam at 10,000 VND per glass.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The extraordinary Ha Long Bay 3-day 2-night cruise gives significantly more time in the bay than the standard overnight trip and reaches the more remote sections of Bai Tu Long Bay. The additional night in the extraordinary bay, watching the stars from the boat deck with no other boats visible, is one of the finest experiences in Vietnam.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Ha Long cruise boat Final bay breakfast with the extraordinary karst view. | Lunch: Ha Long cruise boat Seafood lunch during the return cruise. Freshest of the trip. | Dinner: Bia Hoi Junction, Hanoi Street beer and street food at the famous corner. Under 100,000 VND total.
DAY 5
NINH BINH
MORNING
NINH BINH, THE INLAND HA LONG BAY
Ninh Binh province 90 minutes south of Hanoi contains an extraordinary inland karst landscape of rice paddies, limestone mountains and ancient temples that earns it the nickname of the Inland Ha Long Bay. The Tam Coc boat trip rows through the extraordinary rice paddy karst gorges, the limestone mountains rising directly from the paddy fields on both sides of the river. The boat passes through three natural cave tunnels in the limestone. Entry and boat approx 250,000 VND. Transfer: On boat
MIDDAY
TRANG AN LANDSCAPE AND UNESCO GROTTOES
The Trang An Landscape Complex is the finest UNESCO World Heritage site in Ninh Binh, an extraordinary boat circuit through interconnected valleys and cave grottoes in the limestone karst. The ancient temples and pagodas built into the cliff faces are the finest examples of religious architecture integrated into the natural landscape in Vietnam. The 3-hour boat circuit passes through 9 caves and 31 valleys. Entry approx 250,000 VND. Transfer: 30 min drive
AFTERNOON
HOA LU ANCIENT CAPITAL AND RETURN
Hoa Lu was the capital of Vietnam in the 10th and 11th centuries, its extraordinary position between limestone mountains providing natural fortification. The two extraordinary temples of Dinh Tien Hoang and Le Dai Hanh, rebuilt in the 17th century on the original foundations, are the finest ancient temples in northern Vietnam outside Hanoi. The return drive to Hanoi takes 1.5 hours through the extraordinary Red River Delta. Entry approx 20,000 VND.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The Mua Cave viewpoint above Tam Coc requires a climb of 500 steps through the extraordinary limestone landscape to a summit giving the finest panorama over the Ninh Binh karst valley. The extraordinary view over the rice paddies and limestone mountains is the finest in the region. Entry approx 100,000 VND.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Hotel in Hanoi Early breakfast before the Ninh Binh drive. Leave by 7.30am. | Lunch: Restaurant in Ninh Binh Local goat meat and com chay crispy rice, the finest specialities of the region. | Dinner: Old Quarter, Hanoi Final Hanoi dinner. Pho or cha ca and a final Vietnamese coffee.
Where To Stay
Hanoi Old Quarter, Nights 1-2 Heritage line hotels or Silk Path. Approx 30 to 100 USD. Ha Long overnight cruise 2-day 1-night cruise from 80 USD budget to 300 USD luxury. Ninh Binh, Night 5 option Tam Coc Garden Resort or local guesthouses from 20 USD.
Top Tips
1. The best Hanoi experience is walking. The Old Quarter, Hoan Kiem, the French Quarter and the museum district are all within walking distance of each other.
2. Book Ha Long cruise at least 3 days in advance for best selection. The 2-day 1-night cruise is the minimum. A 3-day 2-night reaches Bai Tu Long and is extraordinary.
3. Ninh Binh is the finest day trip from Hanoi and significantly less visited than Ha Long Bay despite being equally extraordinary. The Trang An boat circuit is exceptional.
4. Vietnamese coffee culture is extraordinary. Spend time at Cafe Giang for egg coffee, at a rooftop cafe with the Old Quarter view and at the famous Bia Hoi Junction.
5. The Vietnam Museum of Ethnology is the finest museum in the country and almost always quiet. Allow 2 hours for the remarkable outdoor section with full-scale traditional houses.
6. The Ha Long Bay overnight cruise is one of the finest travel experiences in Asia regardless of budget. The sunset and sunrise over the limestone karsts are extraordinary.
Total Budget
55 to 110 USD/day