ITINERARY:
DAY 01: HANOI – HALONG 5 STAR DAY CRUISE – NINH BÌNH (Lunch, Dinner)
7:00-7:15: The bus and tour guide will pick you up at your hotel, then depart for Ha Long Bay via the new expressway.
11:45: Arrive at Tuan Chau Island and enter the private waiting lounge to board the Halong Sonata Cruise. Begin your enchanting 6 hours’ journey through the scenic 2-day sleeper boat cruise route, renowned for its stunning, uninhabited islets and rock formations. A buffet-style lunch will be served on board.
14:00 – 16:30: Explore the Bo Hon archipelago, starting with a visit to the Surprising Cave, famous for its impressive stalagmites and stalactites.
Next stop is Luon Cave, where you can choose to kayak or take a bamboo boat, immersing yourself in the beauty of the serene lagoon. Then visit Titov Island, where you can swim on the sandy beach or climb to the peak for a panoramic view. Titov Island boasts pristine, beautiful natural scenery and a remarkably tranquil atmosphere. It features a long, exceptionally clean sandy beach, kept fresh by the regular ebb and flow of the tides.
16:30: Return to the ship for a Sunset Party, enjoying live traditional music as the ship cruises back to Tuan Chau Harbor. Spend ample time on the upper deck sunbathing, and revel in the camaraderie of fellow travelers amidst the world-renowned natural scenery.
18:00: Disembark from the boat and transfer to Ninh Binh. Enjoy dinner at a rest stop along the way.
21:00: Arrive in Ninh Binh, check in at the bungalow, and have a good night.
DAY 2: BAI DINH or HOA LU – TRANG AN or TAM COC – MUA CAVE (Breakfast, Lunch)
7:00 – 9:00: In the morning, enjoy breakfast and relax at the hotel.
9:30: The bus will pick you up for sightseeing.
Option 1: Visit Bai Dinh Pagoda
10:00 – Arrive at the Glimmering Bai Dinh pagoda complex, the largest pagoda not only in Vietnam but also in Southeast of Asia. Scenically set on the foot hill of Dinh Mountain, surrounded by amazing views of the exquisite river valley below and the limestone karsts dotted around, which will take your breath away.
You will visit some of the highlights that are nationally renowned: 500 stone statues of ‘La Han’ (Arhats), 2 huge bronze bells, one weighing 27 tons and the other weighing 36 tons. Visit the Quan Yin statue with thousands of arms and eyes, as well as the Gautama Buddha statue.
Option 2: Visit Hoa lư Ancient Citadel
10:00 – Visit Hoa Lu Ancient Citadel, home to Dinh King Temple and Le King Temple, dating back to the 17th Century.
12:00 – Enjoy lunch at our restaurant with a selection of great local cuisines.
In the afternoon:
Option 1: Trang An boat trip
13:30 – Leave for the Trang An Grottoes, an outstanding natural beauty of majestic limestone massifs covering an area of 20 square kilometers, rising dramatically from rice paddy fields. Deep within the interconnected chains of towering mountains lie pristine areas of mystical valleys, numerous freshwater ponds, and jungle.
Embark on a traditional sampan gently rowed down the exquisite river, passing through numerous caves including Lam Cave, Vang Cave, Dai Cave, Thanh Truot Cave, and Cao Sơn Temple, Suoi Tien Temple, Vu Lam Temple…
Option 2: Tam Coc boat trip
13:30 – Board a small sampan to visit Tam Coc, which literally means ‘three caves’ (a 1.5-hour boat trip). With views reminiscent of Halong Bay, featuring majestic limestone cliffs and mysterious caves, as well as countryside landscapes with peaceful streams, rice paddies, and deserted green fields, Tam Coc truly offers a diverse range of sights. You will experience the fresh air and peaceful moments, providing excellent opportunities for photography enthusiasts to capture special moments and stunning scenery.
16:00 – Visit Mua Cave and embark on an amazing trek up to the top of Ngoa Long mountain to witness the spectacular rice valley with spacious view of the nature.
17:00: The bus will transfer you back to Hanoi.
19:00: The tour guide will drop you off at the original meeting point, concluding the memorable 2-day-1-night Ha Long – Ninh Binh journey.
