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!
Amazing - loved the trip so much due to the semi-structured style of it and the amount of free time provided. I was able to do everything I wanted to do on the trip and more. Lu, our CEO, was brilliant! I would recommend this trip to anyone looking to go to Vietnam.
Wildlife
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
Accommodation
Hotel, Hostel, Ship Cabin, Sleeper Train
Age Range
18-39 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Ha Long
Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Ha Long Bay, Nha Trang, Da Nang, Hoi An, Hue, Phong NHA
29% OFF TODAY
This deal is valid for limited time. Book now to reserve your seats.
18:00: Our tour guide will meet you at your hotel’s lobby and we will start walking around the narrow and crowded streets of the Old Quarter and discover nightlife in the bustling city.
We will first try a bowl of “Pho” - the most well-known beef noodle soup in Vietnam. Either way, you can choose to taste a typical specialty in the South of Vietnam named “Bun Bo Nam Bo”. Then we will drop in a local beer store on the street to enjoy the night atmosphere.
You will have a chance to sit at small chairs and drink “Bia Hoi” - a special kind of draught beer only available in Vietnam - in a big glass like a local. Enjoy it well with the delicious “Nem chua ran” - a kind of Vietnamese pork sausage; and peanut. Here you can also learn how to say “cheers” in Vietnamese style.
Afterwards, enjoy a few minutes walk to get to some bars or pubs nearby inside the busiest corner of Hanoi Old Quarter. We will provide you a list of nice pubs and bars so it will be easier for you to choose out of your favorite: either dynamic discotheques where you can shake your body with loud music and enjoy some alcoholic drinks; or the quieter pubs to have space to chat with your guide deeply about the local life here and make friends with others expats (Drinks are exclusive in the program).
22:00: Get back to your hotel to relax.
Vietnam is a vibrant and beautiful place filled with a diverse spectrum of activities that you can engage in to spend your time. This is all brought in to focus by a full itinerary that makes the most of your time, and is even further enhanced by a guide that shares the intricate details of each locale that may be overlooked by someone less enmeshed in the country's culture. You also make friends from all over the world as you travel and share these wonderful experiences.
Local culture
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
Accommodation
Hostel, Sleeper Train, Home-stay
Age Range
18-35 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Hanoi, Hoi An, Ninh Binh, Phong
Hanoi, Hoi An, Ninh Binh, Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park, Hue
27% OFF TODAY
This deal is valid for limited time. Book now to reserve your seats.
The tour operator made this an unforgettable trip as we had a fantastic time. Chris Tran took great care of us, and it was awesome not having to worry about transportation or hotels.
CruiseLocal boat rides
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
Accommodation
Hotel
Age Range
1-99 yrs
Operated in
english, french, german, spanish
Destinations
Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Halong
Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Halong Bay, Mekong Delta, Hue, Hoi An, Ha Long Bay
65% OFF TODAY
This deal is valid for limited time. Book now to reserve your seats.
I was nervous going into the tour as it was my first group trip but I couldn’t have asked for a better experience. Dolla was incredible and really brought the group together! I feel like I have memories and friends to last a lifetime!
City sightseeingBeach
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
Accommodation
Hostel, Sleeper Train, Home-stay, Resort
Age Range
18-35 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Hoi An
Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Hoi An, Qui Nhon, Nha Trang, Ninh Binh, Phong NHA, Hue
22% OFF TODAY
This deal is valid for limited time. Book now to reserve your seats.
Book this 1-day trip and get the chance to learn more about Vietnamese culture and enjoying beautiful sceneries. We will pick you up from your hotel or accommodation in Hanoi's Old Quarter between 07:15 to 07:45 in the morning and drive you to Ninh Binh.
Your first destination is the home of a local family in Tam Coc. A traditional Vietnamese family with three generations living together, they will provide you with unique insights into Vietnamese culture and a chance to learn about their daily life.
Enjoy a bicycle ride around the village and see gorgeous paddy fields surrounded by limestone mountains. Have a traditional lunch involving local cuisines with the family before continuing your journey again. Explore Tam Coc, which resembles Ha Long Bay except that this in inland, by boat and soak up the beauty of limestone mountains and paddy fields all around.
The final destination of this trip is Hoa Lu, the 10th century capital of Vietnam. Visit the temple of King Dinh and learn more about Vietnamese history from your tour guide. Leave Ninh Binh at around 4:30 in the evening and drive back to Hanoi. We will drop you off at your hotel or accommodation in Hanoi's Old Quarter.
Every detail of our trip worked perfectly. The numerous drivers we used throughout the trip were always on time,
the hotels were very nice and our tour guide was fantastic! We enjoyed the Mekong Delta and Halong Bay. All activities planned by our travel exprt,
we’re done incredibly well.
Local culture
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
What an unforgettable trip! My holiday in Vietnam was interesting, thanks to the travel team and their excellent planning. I got to experience the best of the country. Lindy, our travel consultant, was fantastic, she was always available and super helpful. Everything, from accommodations to transfers, was top-notch.
City sightseeing
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
Accommodation
Hotel
Age Range
1-90 yrs
Operated in
english, french, german, spanish
Destinations
Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Halong
Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Halong Bay, Hue, Hoi An, Ninh Binh, Cu Chi Tunnels, Ha Long Bay
65% OFF TODAY
This deal is valid for limited time. Book now to reserve your seats.
What a dream trip! The tour operator made it all possible with seamless planning and running the trip. From iconic sights to hidden gems, every moment was a delight. Expert guides, great services and comfortable hotels, we enjoyed 12 days in Vietnam. Dat's professionalism was truly exceptional.
SnorkelingActive and outdoor
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
Accommodation
Hotel, Resort
Age Range
1-90 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Hanoi, Halong Bay, Hoi An, Phu Q
Hanoi, Halong Bay, Hoi An, Phu Quoc Island, Phu Quoc, Ho Chi Minh City, Ha Long Bay
The logistics were very well organised and very smooth; everything worked perfectly. We will happily use the travel company again. You provided an excellent service, and our guide was so helpful and responsive to our questions and we have already recommended you to our friends.
Trekking and Hiking
Tour Type
Private Tour
Accommodation
Hotel, Bungalow, Home-stay
Age Range
7-80 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Hanoi, Sapa, Halong Bay, Nam Can
Hanoi, Sapa, Halong Bay, Nam Cang, Lan Ha Bay, New Orleans
Fantastic vacation. This tour was an excellent introduction to Vietnam; it made us eager to return and explore the country further. The transfers from the airport, hotel and on-the-day excursions were all seamless. We packed so much into our trip and saw so many incredible sites. The experience was fantastic for our children. We can't speak highly enough of the care we received from this company. Cheapest vacation ever!
City sightseeingCruise
Tour Type
Group Tour
Accommodation
Hotel
Age Range
3-79 yrs
Operated in
english, vietnamese
Destinations
Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Halong
Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Halong Bay, Hue, Hoi An, Cu Chi Tunnels