Go back in time on this day tour to the Ninh Binh Providence and explore Hoa Lu, the ancient capital of Vietnam, surrounded by limestone mountains and pristine green fields. Visit the Dinh and Le dynasty temples, palaces, and monuments. Discover the interesting history of the mesmerizing Nhat Tru Pagoda where a princess was sentenced to nunnery and lost her life down a well. Top it all off with a sampan boat ride through three caves! Have your camera ready because these are sites you'll never want to forget.
The capital of Vietnam (or part of it) back in the 10th & 11th centuries in Ninh Binh province, there are really only a few temples or small buildings like those left in this place about an hour and a half's drive south of Hanoi. Didn't see any statue of Buddha in the few temples there, just those of some ancient Vietnamese or Chinese deities and such. But it's really the sceneries along the way to this place and those around this place that you would go to this place for, you start to see these stand-alone mountains as you get to the vicinity of this place instead of mountains as you normally see them elsewhere (connected to one another as part of a mountain range). Tam Coc, called the "inland HaLong Bay is very beautiful. This is a 1.5 - 2 hour row boat tour on the river and through caves. Bring proper attire - it can downpour and it can be extremely hot. Bring water too.
A journey to a beauty landscape and rich culture
- 8:00 a.m: Leave the hotel at Hanoi.
- 10:30 a.m arrive at Hoa Lu Ancient Capital. In 968, Dinh Bo Linh declared himself as the King. Since then Hoa Lu existed as the capital for the next 41 years (968 – 1009), of which 12 years was under the Dinh dynasty – King Dinh Tien Hoang, the country named Dai Co Viet, and 29 years later was under the Le dynasty – King Le Dai Hanh. In 1010, King Ly Thai To moved the capital from Hoa Lu to Thang Long – present day Hanoi. Hoa Lu became the old citadel. In Hoa Lu there are now 2 temples have been built on the ground of the old royal palace, one is dedicated to King Dinh Tien Hoang, the other is to King Le Dai Hanh. The visit offers a chance to know more about part of feudal dynasties and historical periods in Vietnamese history.
- 11:30 a.m: leave Hoa Lu to Tam Coc.
- 12.00 a.m: Arrive Tam Coc and have lunch in a local restaurant with goat meat which is famous as the local specialty.
- 1.00 p.m: 5 minute-walk to the boat station and start the 2hour-boat trip to visit Tam Coc. Known as “Halong Bay on land”, Tam Coc are three limestone caves stretching along Ngo Dong River. The boat trip is a nice journey along the river with peaceful scenery of Limestone Mountains, rice paddy and the site of some temples along the way from Hang Ca (first cave) to Hang Hai (second cave) and Hang Ba (third cave).
- 3.30 p.m: leave Tam Coc and drive back to Hanoi. Arrive Hanoi at 6:30pm. Finish unforgettable full day trip at your hotel in Hanoi!
Vietnam is a country of great natural beauty, delicious and flavourful cuisine, compelling history, immense cultural diversity and an incredible heritage. Stretching its way down from the rugged, hill-tribe country along the Chinese border to the abundantly fertile Mekong Delta in the south, this land is as rich and diverse in natural beauty as it is warm and friendly when it comes to the hospitality of its people.
Join us on this ten-day, group tour to discover Vietnam's stunning natural beauty and remarkable cultural heritages. Starting from Hanoi, where we will meet you on arrival, this journey takes you to Ha Long Bay, Da Nang and Hoi An before coming to an end in Saigon (officially known as Ho Chi Minh City).
With an intriguing history spanning over 4,000 years, including occupations from both Chinese and French, the country’s architecture and cuisine is a fascinating testament to cultural diversity. Be part of this wonderful trip to soak up the astounding natural beauty and rich cultural heritage of Vietnam.
CruiseCity sightseeing
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
Accommodation
Hotel
Age Range
2-79 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Halong
Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Halong Bay, Mekong Delta, Hoi An, Danang
At 8.30am your tour guide and car will pick you up from your hotel and will start our tour of Ho Chi Minh City. You will get to know its history and culture by stopping at:
The Reunification Palace - on April 30th, 1975, what the Vietnamese refer to as the 'American War' officially ended when tank number 843 of the North Vietnamese Army crashed through the gates of what was, at the time, the residence of the President of the Republic of Vietnam
War Remnants Museum - formerly known as the Museum of American War Crimes is a poignant display of the futility of war. Some of the black and white photography in the 'Requiem' exhibit is particularly touching and is dedicated to both foreign and Vietnamese journalists and photographers who perished during the conflict.
Notre Dam Cathedral and General Post Office were built around 1877 and 1883 respectively. These two iconic buildings are fine examples of French colonial architecture. Remarkably every stone used in the building of the Notre Dam Cathedral was shipped from France to Vietnam. The Old Post Office is also the country's largest post office.
The Opera House, after the lunch at local restaurant, we take you to see Chinatown and the Chinese market Binh Tay. We then move on to Thien Hau Pagoda, a temple entered through an iron gate and crossing a small courtyard. The roof is decorated with delicately fashioned porcelain figurines expressing themes from Chinese religion and legends. Lanterns and wooden models of Chinese theaters hang over the entrance. Our final stop before taking you back to your hotel is Ben Thanh Market, one of Vietnams largest markets and a real heart beat of Ho Chi Minh culture.
The accommodation was just as advertised, the boat was very well presented, clean and excellent facilities. Very pleased with the room. I woke up on the second morning to find they had been up all night and replaced the carpets in some of the public areas!!?
The dining area was a lovely place to sit and eat, the food was fabulous, and lots of it too.
You kind of expect good service, but the staff on board were exceptional and such good fun too, singing and dancing behind the bar 🙂 Tequila (his name!) went out of his way to make sure everything was alright.
I would definitely recommend this trip and also for 2 days. The second day is full of things to do and you're also away from the really busy tourist bits that can only sail so far for one night onboard. I will book again when I return, its fabulous.
Why walk when you can recline and relax on your very own cyclo three-wheeled bike tour? Focus all of your attention on the spectacular highlights of Ho Chi Minh City, known as Saigon to some, with the wind in your hair and a camera in your hands. Don't miss out on these once-in-a-lifetime sites of Vietnam culture, scenery, thriving markets, the War Museum, and all the ornate architecture of palaces, temples, historical buildings, and monuments. Don't worry, it's not all sitting, you get to stretch your legs when venturing inside and around these beauts.
Halong Bay is the World Heritage Site. It is really a wonderful experience with travelers who love natural beauty. On this boat ride you will also be able to discover Halong Bay by kayak, and also visit the best cave which is the Sung Sot cave.
The itinerary for this Halong Bay 6 hours boat trip looks per the following:
In the morning:
8.00-8.45: Get picked up at the hotel in Hanoi Old Quater/ Opera House to depart for Halong Bay
Our journey follows Hanoi – Haiphong- Tuan Chau Highway (about a 3 hour- drive)
On the way, we stop for a short break for 30 minutes to relax
12:00: Arrive at Tuan Chau Harbor, get on Luxury Cruise with our crew’s warm welcome
Enjoy the welcome drink then start the excursion to discover the beauty of the world heritage site
12:30: Enjoy Vietnamese lunch on the boat .While having lunch, the boat will pass by the beautiful scenery on both sides with thousands of limestone such as Fighting Chicken and Incense Burner Islets – 2 symbols of Halong Bay
14.00: Arrive at Bo Hon Island, and you will visit Sung Sot Cave – the most beautiful cave with a lot of stalagmites and stalactites
14.45: Do kayaking or bamboo boat through Luon Cave to discover the beautiful lagoon.
15.15: Visit TiTop Island with its sandy beach. You can go swimming here or trek up to the top of the island for sightseeing all of Halong Bay
16.30: Back to the boat for the sunset party (with wine, tea, fruits, and biscuits) meanwhile the boat is cruising back to the harbor
18.00-18.15: Arrive back to the harbor. Get on the bus and return to Hanoi
21.00 : Get dropped off at the hotel. Tour ends
This trip was everything we had ever dreamed of and more. The great planning ensured that every detail was taken care of, leaving us free to fully embrace the experience. Most tours were private for my family. Minah and her team did a great job and highly recommend them!
Cultural, religious and historic sites
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
Accommodation
Hotel
Age Range
1-88 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Hanoi, Siem Reap, Luang Prabang
Hanoi, Siem Reap, Luang Prabang, Ho Chi Minh City, Halong Bay, Bangkok, Angkor Wat, Ninh Binh, Ha Long Bay, Mekong Delta
At either 8am or 12:30pm your private tour guide and car will pick you up from your hotel and take you North West to the Cu Chi Tunnels which are 70kms away. This is an area where Vietnamese people proudly held their ground during the Vietnam war (in Vietnam it is known as The American War). Over 200kms of underground tunnels were made, the trip will help you understand the struggle the Vietnamese would have gone through on the frontline. It took an enormous amount of ingenuity, courage and imagination to match the enemy and these tunnels were a big part of the Vietnam War and ended being a resounding victory for the Cu Chi people.
The tunnel system, fortifications and trenches were a part of a soldiers life, you will see how they lived, the kitchens, store rooms, hospital, living quarters. You can crawl around parts of the tunnel yourself and watch a video of the history of the Vietnam War in this area.
We will then take you back to your hotel.
Book this tour and enjoy an incredible cruising experience in Vietnam. Start your journey from Hanoi, where you will be picked up by our representative and transferred to Luxury Cruise. Board the cruise and sail past the islets Da Chong, Con Vit and Gia Luan.
Cruise to Lan Ha Bay, whose limestone outcroppings and emerald waters are equally as impressive as that of the Ha Long bay but often sees less boats and travellers as compared with its more popular twin. The bay is also known for its beautiful beaches and mysterious caves.
Stop at Vung Tra Bau. Choose between either kayaking or swimming in its emerald waters before heading to the world-famous Ha Long Bay. See its towering limestone island, called karst, which are covered with rainforests. Enjoy the beauty of its emerald waters and see various islets around it.
See local fishermen netting their catch. Learn to prepare well-known Vietnamese cuisine during this trip. Fish squids in calm waters in the evening. This cruise has been designed with your utmost comfort and entertainment in mind. Admire panoramic views of the bay and the surrounding areas from the cruise. Give us the opportunity to serve you and we will ensure that you will never forget your memories.
Ancient ruins, fascinating history, lush scenery and bustling cityscapes await on this 16-day tour through Vietnam, Cambodia, and Thailand. Cruise amongst the lush greenery and buzzy floating markets of the mighty Mekong River. Learn about Cambodia’s humbling history in Phnom Penh. Gasp as the sun rises over Angkor Wat. Cruise Bangkok’s small canals and explore the ancient old capital city of Ayutthaya. Take in the beautiful mountainous scenery of Northern Thailand enroute to Chiang Rai. This fast-paced adventure is filled with authentic, unique and unforgettable adventures!
Cultural, religious and historic sites
Tour Type
Group Tour
Accommodation
Hotel, Resort
Age Range
18-75 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Ho Chi Minh City, Bangkok, Hoi A
Ho Chi Minh City, Bangkok, Hoi An, Kanchanaburi, Phitsanulok, Chiang Rai, Chiang Mai, Can Tho, Chau Doc, Phnom Penh, Battambang, Siem Reap
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Very well. Information was very detailed and well-chosen for us. No problems at all.
Coco Riverside Lodge was excellent we would have loved to have stayed longer in this beautiful place and enjoyed the great hospitality.
Service was extremely good. The guide was very informative and knowledgeable and the driver was very good and safe. Every place we visited we were taken care of very well. Hope to return again in the future.
Cultural, religious and historic sites
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
Accommodation
Hotel, Resort, Lodge
Age Range
35-79 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Ho Chi Minh City, Halong Bay, Da
Ho Chi Minh City, Halong Bay, Da Nang, Hue, Hanoi, Sapa, Cai Be, Hoi An