Destination Vietnam
Hanoi & Haiphong Excursions
Half day Ha Noi City tour
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 the Restored Sword from the legend that surrounds it en-route to one of the city&8217;s fascinating museums (Army, History or Fine Arts, depending on your preference).
Continue to the Temple of Literature, built in 1070 and then dedicated to Confucius, it is a serene retreat from the busy streets outside, and later became Vietnam’s first university.
Then take to the streets on foot for a walking tour of the Ancient Quarter or 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 will see street names such as Sugar Street, Tin Street and Paper Street. Ancient homes and temples are interspersed with stores in this souvenir hunter’s paradise!
Half day Hanoi’s Tribute to Uncle Ho
Visit Ba Dinh Square, where silent sentries guard the marble and granite mausoleum where Ho Chi Minh lies in state. (Subject to opening times the interior of the mausoleum can be visited) . See the simple cottage where Uncle Ho lived and worked, Nearby, visit the Ho Chi Minh Museum, an extraordinary tribute in abstract form to the life of the ‘father of the country*#8217; and the evolution of Vietnamese independence.
French architecture is a feature of Hanoi, and the nearby former Governor’s Residence is a fine example. See also the One Pillar Pagoda, and hear the legend of its construction, born from the love of an emperor in the 11th Century.
Evening water puppet performance with cyclo ride and dinner
Your cyclo (pedi-cab) awaits you for transfer to the theatre where the ancient and unique artform of water puppetry is enacted. The ‘stage’ is a pool of water in which the hidden puppeteer must stand (waist deep!) to skilfully manoeuvre dancing puppets attached to bamboo poles on its surface. Each short skit in the performance relates to the daily life of the people, and featured are scenes such as ‘Returning from School after Graduation’ and ‘Rearing Ducks and Chasing Foxes’. Following the performance, transfer by private vehicle to dinner in one of Hanoi’s many superb Vietnamese restaurants.
Half day Hanoi Countryside (Co Loa Citadel and Bat Trang Pottery Village)
Just 16km outside of Hanoi is Co Loa which was the nation’s capital in the 10th Century. Dating back to the 3rd Century BC however are remains of a massive fortified citadel, the first ever recorded in Vietnamese history. Circling around the city, this tour continues to the pottery village of Bat Trang, famous for the excellent ceramics produced from the manual labour of the village’s artisans. An excellent insight into provincial life, and a certainty for an inexpensive souvenir!
Half day Thay and Tay Phuong Pagodas
Rich in Buddhism, the north of Vietnam is home to the country’s most colourful and revered pagodas and temples. Located 40 kilometres southwest of Hanoi lies the Thay Pagoda (Master’s pagoda). Whilst a temple is a place worship the dead, a pagoda is a place to worship the Lord Buddha. Thay Pagoda is widely known for its finely carved statues in lacquer and gold of Buddha in his past and present form and for its colourful Buddhist ceremonies performed here during auspicious dates of the Lunar calendar. Water puppetry is also occasionally performed in the courtyard of the pagoda but this is generally limited to festivals and holiday periods.
Only 6 kilometres further away lies Tay Phuong Pagoda situated at the top of a small hillock. Built in 1794 the pagoda is famous for its vast display of finely carved wooden statues of former monks from the 18th Century.
Full day Hanoi City
In this morning you will visit Ba Dinh Square where silent sentries guard the marble and granite mausoleum where Ho Chi Minh lies in state. (Subject to opening times the interior of the mausoleum can be visited). See the simple cottage where Uncle Ho lived and worked, Nearby, visit the Ho Chi Minh Museum, an extraordinary tribute in abstract form to the life of the ‘father of the country’ and the evolution of Vietnamese independence.
French architecture is a feature of Hanoi, and the nearby former Governor’s Residence is a fine example. See also the One Pillar Pagoda, and hear the legend of its construction, born from the love of an emperor in the 11th Century.
After lunch at a local restaurant, 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 the Restored Sword from the legend that surrounds it en-route to one of the city’s fascinating museums (Army, History or Fine Arts, depending on your preference).
Continue to the Temple of Literature, built in 1070 and then dedicated to Confucius, it is a serene retreat from the busy streets outside, and later became Vietnam’s first university.
Then take to the streets on foot for a walking tour of the Ancient Quarter or 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 will see street names such as Sugar Street, Tin Street and Paper Street. Ancient homes and temples are interspersed with stores in this souvenir hunter’s paradise!
Full day Ancient Hoa Lu
Little remains of the once impressive citadel of Hoa Lu, built when the city was the nation’s capital. Now Hoa Lu and the surrounding province of Ninh Binh are more commonly known for their unusual landscape. Due to the huge rock formations jutting out of the rice paddies, the area is sometimes referred to as ‘Halong Bay on Land’. Enjoy a peaceful tour of the remarkable caves of Tam Coc and Bich Dong, accessible only by relaxing rowboat. The energetic may undertake the climb of some 200 steps for a rewarding view, and exploration of the temples of Dinh Tien Hoang and Dai Hanh.
Full day Perfume Pagoda
Situated some 60km from Hanoi, the Perfume (Huong) Pagoda is one of the most famous sites surrounding the city. Journey first by road where you will see farmers labouring endlessly over their crops, before boarding your simple sampan for the serene ride to the enormous complex of pagodas and shrines built into the cliffs of the Huong Tich Mountain, that are known collectively as the Perfume Pagoda. The walk to the main pagoda on the top of the cliff passes many caves and through spectacular scenery. During the Autumn Festival, which runs for a month from the middle of the second lunar month, the pagoda is visited by hundreds of Buddhist Vietnamese as it is considered a site of great reverence.
Full day Hoa Binh Village Life
From Hanoi, a city primarily built and influenced by an overwhelmingly agrarian society, it isn’t far to travel to the rural heart. The almost chaotic traffic of Hanoi is left behind as Highway 6 fans out towards the western mountain ranges. En-route look for the dividing, though tolerant, influences of religion as the road passes through a community resting under a large white statue of Buddha, whilst across the fields to the west, the protruding spires of a Catholic church dominating the landscape.
Passing through the provincial capital of Hoa Binh, site of Vietnam’s largest hydroelectricity plant, the road veers off towards the communities of the Muong ethnic group (distinguished by their head-scarves and pleated skirts). Inhabiting the lowland areas among the karst formations of Northwestern Vietnam, the Muong live in thatched homes made from bamboo and local timbers. It is only in recent years that children of the Muong have enjoyed the privilege of schooling and are now taught Vietnamese as their first language, though it is their local ethnic language that is spoken at home and throughout the community.
Upon arrival in this area you will enjoy a short stroll through a nearby Muong village. Your guide will introduce and exhibit their simple, though ingenious, forms of farming, irrigation and hunting. You will be welcome into a home as it is customary for the house elder to invite all guests, both foreign and local, to partake in a drink of locally brewed rice wine. The wine is traditionally sucked through thin bamboo pipes from a large communal jar. High in alcoholic substance a ‘sip’ is generally enough for most visitors!
We break for lunch before enjoying a tranquil boat trip on the Song Da Reservoir, the largest in Vietnam. Return to Hanoi in the late afternoon.
Full day tour to Ha Long Bay with boat cruise
Start out early this morning on an overland drive to Halong Bay. Made famous when it was featured in the French film Indochine, Halong Bay is dotted with thousands of limestone islands, their jagged points jutting out of an oceanic area of over 1500 sq. kilometres. Considered Vietnam’s natural wonder, it is also believed to be home to its very own Loch Ness monster!
Upon arrival, enjoy a peaceful cruise onboard a traditional junk on the Bay, stopping at some of the grottoes and caves on the islands to explore on foot. A seafood set lunch will be served onboard.
Disembark the boat in the afternoon then return to Hanoi in the early evening.
Full day tour to Pho Hien & Tho Ha village
Together with Hoi An and Thang Long, Pho Hien is one of the oldest original towns in Vietnam, although far more simple and therefore less visited. The journey is 65 km away from Hanoi and will take about 1.5 hours to get there.
On the way back to Hanoi, you will take different road following the dike along the river. The landscape of the villages along the dikes is peaceful and traditional. It is very typical of Red River delta villages where you can see communal house, pagodas, temples dedicated to the heaven lady (Chinese), and local street markets.
Enjoy lunch at a local house then continue onto Tho Ha village.
Tho Ha is a village island surrounded by water( Cau River). To enter the village the visitor has to take a boat across the river in Bac Ninh province. In Tho Ha village, you will see long and narrow lanes in between the old houses and you will have the opportunity to visit the home of one family who make rice paper for a living. You will also see a pagoda that was built in the 16th Century and is one of the most authentic in Vietnam.
Return to Hanoi in late afternoon.
Full day tour to Duong Lam with lunch at local house
Duong Lam is one of the few heritage protected villages in Vietnam.
On arrival, a short walk brings us to the village communal house the village pagoda – fine examples of Northern Vietnam architecture.
Then we journey an hour on a bicycle through the village and its never ending rice fields. From the small alleys of the old tow to the green of rice paddies surrounding the village, we have chance to appreciate the beauty in the simple life of Vietnamese farmer.
The bike ride also bring you to Mia Pagoda, where tales tell us about a Vietnamese Queen in 17th century and home to 287 Buddhist statues, more than any other pagoda in the country.
After returning from our ride we visit a 300 years old traditional house, where a friendly host will invite you to join in for lunch, returning to Hanoi in the late afternoon.
Full day Ha Bac tour
Bac Ninh used to an ancient trade centre of Vietnam from 2nd to 10th century. Buddhism penetrated early and flourished during the Ly dynasty. Because of its religious importance Bac Ninh has tangible and intangible cultureal heritage. Many pagodas and temples were built here such as Phat Tich, Dau, But Thap pagodas, Dinh Bang Communal House, Do Temple. Bac Ninh is also home to Quan ho folk-song, which has seen a revival recently during important spring festivals. The region also has some traditional handicraft villages such as Dong Ky Wood, Dong Ho Pain, Dai Bai Bronze and Phu Lang Pottery. Lunch will be served at local restaurant during the tour before returning to Hanoi in the late afternoon.
Full day tour to Ninh Binh with kayak
In early morning, depart Ha Noi to Trang An – Ninh Binh. Upon arrival a Trang An, board your kayak and start exploring the many nearby caves and grottoes. Return to the dock area for lunch and then continue paddling to visit the complex of unique caves. Our guide ? well trained with kayak operator Seacanoe, will assist with your paddling to visit some of the more striking areas. Paddle back to the dock and return to Hanoi.
