Nature Heritage Tour 6 days

Highlights: The trip is an ideal option for travellers who want to enjoy the heritage of nature in combination with some classic tour. Joining the city tour in Hanoi, enjoying the dreamy seascape on the UNESCO World Heritage Ha Long Bay, then heading for the natural heritage site Phong Nha cave which is famous for its rock formation and the oldest major karst in Asia, that'd promise a delicacy journey waiting for your participation.

Code: B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner, G = Guide

Day 1: Arrival at Hanoi (D, G)

Arriving at Noi Bai airport in Hanoi, you'll be met and driven to your hotel.

17.15: You'll be picked up to watch the Water Puppet show an art form unique to northern Vietnam, and a good, light-hearted introduction to its rural culture.

18.30: Your Welcome Dinner will be served at one of the best local restaurant.

You'll spend the night in Hanoi.

Day 2: Hanoi city tour (B, L, G)

9.30 - 10.30: 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). You’ll 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.

10.30 - 11.00: You’ll drive to visit the serene Tran Quoc pagoda, the oldest in Hanoi, on the banks of Hanoi’s West Lake.

11.00 - 12.00: 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.

12.00 - 13.30: Lunch at local restaurant

13.30 - 15.30: Visit the Ethnology Museum for an overview of Vietnam’s 54 distinct ethnic

15.30 - 16.15: Pass by Ngoc Son Temple and 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.   

16.15 - 17.15: You’ll then take to the streets by cycle ride tour of the Ancient Qurter 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.

You’ll spend the night in Hanoi.

Day 3: Hanoi/Ha Long (B, L, D, G)

10.00: You'll take a short break at Hong Ngoc Embroidery workshop.

10.30 - 12.00: You'll continue driving to Ha Long Bay.

12.00: You’ll board your boat, a wooden junk built from the model of the old Vietnamese court vessels with sails, a wide transom and rectangular superstructure, that will take you first to the busy World Heritage area and then to some of the less well-known grottoes and caves. Weather permitting, you’ll be able to swim, fish, climb a hill for an overview of the Bay’s remarkable seascape. All your meals will be provided on board, usually based on fresh seafood.

You'll spend the night on the boat.

Day 4: Ha Long/Hanoi/Dong Hoi (B, L, G)

7.30: You'll have western breakfast on boat.

8.00 - 8.30: You'll venture into some of the sea level caves in a small sampan.

8.30 - 11.45: You'll spend the morning cruising Ha Long Bay, followed by lunch just before docking to the harbour.

11.45 - 15.00: You'll drive back to Hanoi for your refreshment at your hotel

22.30 - 22.45: You'll drive to the station for your overnight train to Dong Hoi.

You'll spend the night on the train.

Day 5: Dong Hoi/Phong Nha/Dong Hoi (B, L, G)

5.00 - 6.00: Arriving in Dong Hoi station in the morning, you'll be picked up to your hotel for refreshment and have breakfast in the hotel's restaurant.

8.30 - 12.30: You'll travel to visit Phong Nha cave, one of the world heritage site in Vietnam. You'll take a boat trip along the river to see the water cave and dry cave. You'll return to Dong Hoi for your  free time to relax on the beach in the afternoon.

You'll spend the night in Dong Hoi.

Day 6: Dong Hoi/Hanoi (B, L, G)

You'll take a train back to Hanoi. You'll then transfer to the airport for your departure flight.

Prices per person in US$:

Contact Us for more details

Valid until December 31, 2010

Surcharge for peak season of hotels are not inclusive in the prices above.

Hotel list for Five Stars standard

• Hanoi: Sofitel Plaza Hotel (***** overlooking the West Lake, indoor swimming pool) or similar

• Dong Hoi: Saigon Quang Binh (**** international four star hotel with swimming pool) or similar

Hotel list for Four Stars standard

• Hanoi: Sunway Hotel (**** comfortable boutique hotel 15 minute’s walk from the city centre, Superior room) or similar

• Dong Hoi: Saigon Quang Binh (**** international four star hotel with swimming pool) or similar

Hotel list for Three Stars standard

• Hanoi: Flower hotel (*** close the Old Quarter) or similar

• Dong Hoi: Saigon Quang Binh (**** international four star hotel with swimming pool) or similar

Hotel list for Two Stars standard 

• Hanoi: Van Mieu Hotel (** city centre) or similar

• Saigon Phong Nha Hotel (** in the town centre) or similar

 Creating Unique Touring Experiences with Gia Linh Travel
  All the touring itineraries on this website have been carefully crafted by our in-country management teams and represent a series of experiences we can certainly recommend. However, we understand that every travel experience should be as unique and individual as each traveler. Our consultants are waiting to hear from you so that we can tailor or custom design a tour to your individual specifications.