Legendary Hanoi & Halong (4 days)

• DAY 1 Hanoi Meeting and greeting upon arrival and transfer to the hotel for check-in and tour briefing. Time allowing, we take an orientation tour around the Lake of Restored Sword before Vietnamese dinner at a decent restaurant.
• DAY 2 Hanoi We begin the full day tour of Hanoi with a visit to the memorial complex to Ho Chi Minh to know his amazing life. Continue to the Single Pillar Pagoda and the Temple of Literature to gain understanding of the two driving forces in Vietnam culture- Buddhism and Confucianism. Visit the Museum of Ethnology to see a large collection of artifacts about the cultures of the 54 ethnic groups and full size replicas of traditional buildings found across Vietnam. In the afternoon we enjoy a rickshaw ride through the lively Old Quarter, a series of 36 ancient streets where peddlers still trade the way they have done for centuries. We then walk to the water puppet theatre and enjoy a performance of the famed traditional art form created by village farmers around the Red River Delta region. Unique but recognized internationally. <br/><br/><strong>Chilling out at “bia hoi” (beer) corner</strong><br/><br/>This is probably the most exciting and culturally fun thing to experience in Hanoi. Ta Hien Street is a popular spot for locals as well as tourists. Many of the shops brew the beer daily on their premises, so if they run out, that’s it for the day. And don’t expect any award-winning quality here either. The spot comes alive at night, and even more packed on weekends. There are other great little restaurants and bars spilling onto the side streets around it.
• DAY 3 Halong oday we journey east to Halong Bay, Vietnam’s greatest natural wonder. Arrival at around 12:00 we’ll board a nice junk and set sails to explore the incredible seascape honored as one of the seven new wonders of the world. Here many hundreds of limestone islands and islets and the emerald waters blend fabulously. Wonderful setting for relaxation! There are opportunities to visit a floating village and a cave filled with astonishing rock formations, to challenge kayaking and swimming. Enjoy overnight on our luxury boat.
• DAY 4 Hanoi Wake up to fresh coffee before cruising back to the shore. En route the junk weaves through strange-shaped rock formations that invite comparisons from fighting cocks to dragons and even further! Enjoy a wholesome breakfast before disembarkation. Back ashore around 11:00 AM we return to Hanoi for departure flight.