Charming Northern Vietnam

 Charming Northern Vietnam: Hanoi, Halong, Ninh Binh

Duration: 6 days 5 nights
Period: 01 Jul – 31 Dec 2023

♦♦♦ ITINERARY ♦♦♦

♦ DAY 01: HANOI ARRIVAL

- Upon your arrival at the esteemed Noi Bai International Airport, you will be graciously welcomed by our skilled and professional driver, who will attend to your needs with utmost care and attention. With no tour guide accompanying you, you will embark on a smooth and comfortable transfer to your hotel, where a seamless check-in process awaits.

- Please note that the check-in time commences after the distinguished hour of 2:00 PM, ensuring that you have ample opportunity to settle in and rejuvenate before commencing your memorable journey.

- Meals: NA

- Overnight at hotel in Hanoi

♦ DAY 02: HANOI FULLDAY CITY TOUR

AM:

- 8.00- 8.30: Get picked up by our friendly guide and start to explore Hanoi City

- 08.45: Arrive at Tran Quoc Pagoda located in the West Lake. It is the oldest pagoda in Ha Noi built in the 6th century.

- 09.30: Visit Ho Chi Minh complex, you have a chance to see the embalmed body of  Ho Chi Minh then walk around the garden to see 2 houses where he lived & worked from 1954 to 1969. Then visit One Pillar Pagoda where worships the Godess of Mercy – It is the most unique pagoda in the world

• Should dress modestly by covering from shoulders to knees when visiting Ho Chi Minh mausoleum, temples, pagodas, and so on.
• Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum is closed on Mondays and Fridays.
• Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum is closed for at least 2 months (15th June -15th August) for annual maintenance but still can take pictures Mausoleum and visit that area
  

- 11.15: Visit Vietnam Ethnology Museum to learn about the culture of 54 ethnic groups living in the whole country of Vietnam

Special Note: we will visit the Womens Museum instead of the Ethnology Museum closed on Mondays

- 12.45: Have lunch at our restaurant. You have an opportunity to enjoy Vietnamese cuisine with 8 delicious dishes.

PM: 

- 14.00-14.15: Continue to visit the Temple of Literature – the first university of Vietnam, established in the 11 century

- 15.15: Leave for Hoa Lo Prison Museum which was originally used by the French colonists in Indochina for political prisoners, and later by North Vietnam for U.S. prisoners of war during the Vietnam War. During this later period, it was known to American POWs as the "Hanoi Hilton"

- 16.15 -16.30: Tour finishes. Back to the hotel.

- Meals: Breakfast, lunch.

- Overnight at hotel in Hanoi.

♦ DAY 03: HANOI – HALONG – BY SHUTTLE BUS (B/L/D)

- 07.45 – 08.30: You will be picked up from your hotel in Ha Noi Old Quarter. Then we will head to Ha Long Bay. You may enjoy the landscape of the Red River Delta along the way

- 11.30: Upon arriving in our lobby in Tuan Chau Marina, you may take a short stretch while our staff arranges all registration with the local government.

- 12.00 – 12.30: The cruise captain and staff will welcome you onboard LE JOURNEY CRUISE after a short tender transfer. While enjoying a refreshing welcome drink, a short cruise briefing and safety instructions will be given.

- 12.30 – 13.00: LE JOURNEY CRUISE voyages to Ha Long Bay – one of the New Seven Nature Wonders of the World. Lunch is served on board while the cruise passes via amazing limestone karst formations that rise up out of the sea in an impressive manner.

- 14.00 – 14.30: You will leave the cruise to explore Sung Sot Cave (also known as Surprise/ Amazing Cave), one of the biggest and most beautiful caves in Ha Long Bay.

- 15.00: Returning to LE JOURNEY CRUISE, the trip will continue to Ti Top Island. Here, you can watch the magnificent view over either the Gulf of Tonkin or swim in the emerald green and cool water.

- 17.00: After a long day, this is the ideal time to enjoy energizing drinks and snacks by joining ‘Happy Hour’ or Cooking Class on the sundeck

- 19.30: Sumptuous Dinner is served. Enjoy delicious local food prepared and served for you by our wonderful onboard catering staff.

- 20.30: After dinner, various activities including karaoke, and squid fishing are organized. Or you can just laze around with exhilarating drinks from our bar. The rest of the day is spent at your leisure.

- Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner.

- Overnight on cruise.

♦ DAY 04: HALONG – HANOI –  BY SHUTTLE BUS  (B/L)

- 06.15 – 07.00: Breakfast is served. It can be a great idea to enjoy the meal with the magnificent view of the sunrise in Ha Long Bay.

- 8.00 -9.30: The cruise gets closer to the center of the Natural Preservation Area. Join our guide on a short trip to Luon Cave. This magic work of nature shows you the formation of karst mountains. You can discover this time masterpiece by kayaking on your own. If you are lucky, you can catch great photos with mischievous monkeys jigging up and down around the cliffs.

- 9.30: LE JOURNEY Cruise welcomes you back on board and it is time for checking out.

- 10.00: Whilst cruising back, delightful lunch will be served.

- 11.35: We return to the quayside in the south of the bay, where our visitors disembark in Tuan Chau Marina. And leave for Ha Noi on our shuttle.

- 15.30 – 16.00: You will get back to your hotel in Ha Noi Old Quarter

- Meals: Breakfast, lunch

- Overnight at hotel in Hanoi

♦ DAY 05: HALONG – HOA LU – TAM COC – HANOI   (B/L)

- 07h30 – 8h00: Get picked up by our friendly guide then depart for Ninh Binh province

- 09h15: Have a short break for 15 – 20 minutes to relax

- 10h30: Visit Hoa Lu ancient capital of Vietnam between 968 and 1010. You have a chance to learn about Vietnamese history in the feudal system under Dinh, Le, and Ly Dynasty

- 11h45: Have a buffet lunch in the restaurant with a lot of local foods such as
 goat meat, fish, chicken, and fried rice, and so on. Vegetarian foods are always available in the buffet lunch

- 13h00: Visit Tam Coc by 1.5-hour bamboo boat.  You will be surprised by the charming beauty here with paddy fields, river, water, cloud, sky, and a stunning cave system during the boat trip. All make a masterpiece that the Vietnamese people called “Ha Long Bay on land”

- 15h00: Continue the tour for 45 mins - cycling around the village to discover the life of the local people.

- 16h00: Get on the bus to return to Hanoi

- 18h00: Get ped off at Hotel in Hanoi

- Meals: Breakfast, lunch

- Overnight at hotel in Hanoi

♦ DAY 06: HANOI DEPARTURE

- With utmost attention to detail and a commitment to exceptional service, our esteemed driver, who will be your trusted companion throughout your journey, will collect you from your hotel. This courteous transfer will effortlessly transport you to the airport, ensuring a seamless and comfortable experience as you embark on your departure flight to your next enchanting destination.

- Rest assured, our dedicated team remains at your disposal to assist you with any additional requirements, ensuring your departure is as refined and effortless as your entire journey with us.

- Meals:  Breakfast

OUR PACKAGED COST IS IN USD PER PERSON IN DOUBLE/ TWIN/TRIPLE SHARING ROOM
Price (USD/pax)

Surcharge for public holiday (22 – 31 Dec 2023): On request

♦ Inclusive

- Hotel Accommodation with breakfast and based on twin/double sharing 

- Airport pick up and off (No guide) 

- Shuttle bus Hanoi – Halong – Hanoi 

- 2 days 1 night on sharing cruise in Halong Bay (Private cabin) 

- SIC tours as mentioned in the program

- Meal as mention in program

- Mineral water for every day (1 bottle/pax/day tour)

♦ Exclusive:

- All international airport tax

- International flights & domestic flights

- Early check in or late check out

- Travel insurance (Please make sure that you buy insurance for your clients before they travel oversea)

- All other service not stated in the program

- Drinks and other meals not clearly mentioned

- Tipping for guide and driver (suggestion):

• Group from 2 - 4pax:  USD 7/ pax/ day
• Group from 5 -7pax:   USD 5/ pax/ day
• Group from 8pax up:  USD 3/ pax/ day
  

♦ Child policy: 

- Infant (under 4 years old) : Free of charge (sharing bed with their parents, 01 child maximum in the double/ twin room)

- Child from 04 – 10 years old

- With extra bed : 65% rate of adult

- Without extra bed : 55% rate of adult

- Child in twin  : 90% rate of adult

- Child 11 years old and above  : 100 % rate as adult

♦ GENERAL TERMS & CONDITIONS ♦  

- Rate is quoted in US dollars per adult base on half twin or double room and applied for private package tour.

- The above quotation is based on a group of 2 - 8 pax and should the numbers decrease, we reserve the right to revise the package rate.

- Please be aware that any changes in the itinerary due to unforeseen circumstances might result in increase in pricing.

- The itinerary and schedule are subject to change due to weather, road condition, flight, type of class and operating conditions.

- Meals are fusion on Vietnamese cuisine with daily normal buffet breakfast at hotel. Guests should advise any special food preferences, allergies or dietary requirements at least one (1) week prior to the arrival date.

- Advance registration is required with full name, date of birth, nationality, gender, passport number and visa expiry date for all passengers. A valid passport is required upon check-in. Otherwise, entrance may be denied by customs authority.

- Check in time: after 14h00 - Check out time: before 12h00 at noon

- The itinerary and schedule are subject to change due to local traffic situations, weather conditions or any un-foreseen circumstances or local authority decision. Local tour operator reserves full rights to replace all items with same values for guests

- TRAVEL SAFETY & COMFORTABLE JOURNEY will be priority for tourists.

- NO refund can be made if any of the items included in the package are not utilized either fully or partially.

- Any damage caused to the hotel rooms or coach during the stay shall be payable by the passengers

- 01 pax is granted free of charge (FOC) in twin sharing room for every group with more than 16 passengers

- Advance registration is required with full name, date of birth, nationality, gender, passport number and visa expiry date for all passengers. A valid passport is required upon check-in. Otherwise, entrance may be denied by customs authority. Helios Travel reserves the right to release confirmed services if we don’t receive rooming list prior to arrival date.