5-Day Hanoi, Ninh Binh & Ha Long Bay Overnight Cruise Tour

Your journey begins at Noi Bai International Airport, where your driver meets you and takes you to your hotel to freshen up. Standard check-in is mid-afternoon (around 14:00–15:00), so early check-in depends on the hotel and may cost extra.

The afternoon is a private tour with your English-speaking guide, a relaxed introduction to Hanoi’s history and daily life.

Hoan Kiem Lake & Ngoc Son Temple

Hoan Kiem Lake is the green heart of the city, where locals exercise, chat and stroll around the water. Ngoc Son Temple sits on a small island, reached by a red wooden bridge.

Temple of Literature

Vietnam’s first national university is a tranquil complex of courtyards and gates honouring Confucius and early scholars.

Tran Quoc Pagoda

This revered Buddhist temple is known for its age, its architecture and its calm setting by the water.

Old Quarter

A walk through the narrow, maze-like streets shows how Hanoi’s traders and craftspeople still work, shop and eat.

Evening: The evening is yours. Try a bowl of pho, enjoy a street-side coffee or simply rest after your flight.

After breakfast, join a small shared tour south to Ninh Binh, a province often compared to “Ha Long Bay on land” for its dramatic karst scenery.

Hoa Lu Ancient Capital

Visit the temples dedicated to the Dinh and Le dynasties and learn how Vietnam’s early rulers shaped the country. A buffet lunch follows at a local restaurant.

Tam Coc boat trip

Sit back as a local rower paddles you along the Ngo Dong River, through three caves and past rice fields framed by cliffs.

Mua Cave viewpoint

Climb about 500 stone steps to a panoramic lookout over the winding river and the limestone peaks below. It is the best photo stop of the day, and the effort is worth it.

In the evening, return to Hanoi.

After breakfast, travel from Hanoi to Ha Long Bay and board your cruise. A welcome briefing is followed by lunch as the ship sails between towering karsts and quiet coves.

Afternoon: Enjoy on-board activities such as kayaking near floating-village areas and a visit to one of the bay’s caves.

Evening: Dinner is served on board, and you can join optional evening activities such as squid fishing before relaxing in your cabin.

Activities and the exact schedule vary by cruise and by weather.

Wake early to watch the sun rise over the water, then join a gentle Tai Chi session on the sundeck. After a light breakfast, you may visit a small floating village or a pearl farm, depending on the cruise, before heading back to port.

A farewell brunch is served as you take in the last of the scenery. After disembarking, a private transfer takes you back to Hanoi.

Evening: The rest of the day is yours. Shop for souvenirs, wander the Old Quarter again or enjoy a final Vietnamese dinner.

Enjoy a slow final morning with breakfast at your hotel, and use the free time for last-minute shopping or a market visit. Check-out is typically by 12:00.

Your private driver then takes you to Noi Bai International Airport (HAN), timed to your flight.