Hanoi & Ha Long Bay Highlights
Five days pairing northern Vietnam's two unmissable icons — Hanoi's Old Quarter and colonial-era landmarks, followed by an overnight cruise through the limestone karsts of Ha Long Bay — with your transfers, hotels and guided sightseeing handled from arrival to departure.
Northern Vietnam's two icons, back to back
Hanoi and Ha Long Bay are the reason most travellers put northern Vietnam on the map — a thousand-year-old capital of temples, lakes and French-colonial streets, an easy few hours from one of the most photographed seascapes on Earth. This five-day trip pairs them into a single, well-paced route, so you get both without spending your holiday working out logistics.
You'll walk the tangled lanes of Hanoi's Old Quarter, stand before the country's oldest university at the Temple of Literature, and take in the layered history around Hoan Kiem Lake and Ba Dinh Square. Then it's out to the coast for an overnight cruise through Ha Long Bay's limestone karsts — nearly 1,600 islands and islets rising out of jade-green water, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1994.
Airport transfers, centrally located accommodation, daily breakfast and guided sightseeing are arranged for you, along with your night aboard the cruise. Prefer a longer bay stay, a deluxe cabin, or to extend into Ninh Binh or Sapa? Every element here can be tailored — this itinerary is the starting point, not the ceiling.
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What you'll actually see
Hanoi's Old Quarter
The city's commercial heart for over a thousand years, still organised into the "36 streets," each historically named for the guild that traded there — silver, silk, paper, medicine. Narrow shophouses, street food stalls and motorbike traffic in one of Southeast Asia's most atmospheric old towns.
Temple of Literature & Ba Dinh Square
Vietnam's first national university, founded in 1070 and dedicated to Confucius, its courtyards lined with stone stelae recording centuries of doctoral graduates. Nearby, Ba Dinh Square and the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum anchor the city's modern political history.
Ha Long Bay by overnight cruise
A UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1994, its limestone karsts and outlying islets rise from the Gulf of Tonkin in their thousands. An overnight cruise is the standard, unhurried way to see it — cave visits, kayaking or swimming, and sunset on deck as the boat threads between the islands.
Hoan Kiem Lake & the Turtle Tower
The small, legend-wrapped lake at the centre of Hanoi, its Turtle Tower rising from a tiny island and tied to the story of a magic sword returned to a golden turtle. A natural spot for an evening stroll between the Old Quarter and the French Quarter.
Your 5-day itinerary
City first, coast second — a balanced pace with breakfast daily and all listed transfers included.
You're met at Noi Bai International Airport and transferred to your centrally located hotel. Settle in, then ease into the city at your own pace — the Old Quarter and Hoan Kiem Lake are both within easy walking distance for a first evening stroll, a bowl of pho, and a look at the lights around the Turtle Tower.
A guided day through the capital's landmarks: the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum complex and Ba Dinh Square, the One Pillar Pagoda, and the Temple of Literature with its stone stelae courtyards. In the afternoon, a walking tour through the Old Quarter's 36 streets, finishing at Hoan Kiem Lake as the light softens — with an optional evening water puppet show, a Hanoi tradition dating back centuries.
A scenic road transfer from Hanoi out to the coast, where you'll board your cruise boat and set sail into the bay. The afternoon brings your first close look at the karsts — a stop to visit one of the bay's dramatic limestone caves, then swimming or kayaking around the islets before a seafood dinner is served on board as the sun sets over the water.
An early option for Tai Chi on deck as the karsts emerge from the morning mist, followed by breakfast and a further island or cave excursion before you disembark. From there, it's a road transfer back to Hanoi, arriving with the evening free — a last chance to revisit the Old Quarter or try a different corner of the city's food scene.
Enjoy a final breakfast and, depending on your flight, a little free time for last-minute shopping or a relaxed morning by the lake. You're then transferred to the airport for your onward journey — or, if you'd like to extend, we can add nights in Hanoi or link this trip to Ninh Binh's limestone rivers or the hill country around Sapa.
Indicative itinerary. The exact order of activities, sightseeing and transfer times is confirmed at the time of booking and may adapt to cruise schedules, tides, weather and local conditions.
What's included — and what's not
Clear from the start, so there are no surprises when you travel.
Included
- Accommodation for 4 nights, including 1 night aboard the Ha Long Bay cruise
- Daily breakfast
- Airport transfers (arrival & departure)
- Hanoi–Ha Long Bay road transfers
- Sightseeing as listed in the itinerary
- Selected entrance fees
- Local assistance throughout
Not included
- International flights (unless stated)
- Visa fees
- Travel insurance
- Personal expenses
- Meals not stated in the itinerary
- Optional activities & hotel upgrades
- Tips & gratuities
Before you go
Best time to visit
Northern Vietnam has a distinct cool, dry season roughly October to April and a hotter, wetter season from May to September. Autumn and spring are generally the most comfortable for sightseeing and calm bay conditions — we'll advise on timing for your dates when you enquire.
Currency
The Vietnamese Dong (VND). Cards are widely accepted in Hanoi's hotels and restaurants; carry some cash for street food stalls, markets and small vendors, including in the Old Quarter.
Getting around Hanoi
The Old Quarter is best explored on foot — traffic is dense and pavements are often shared with parked motorbikes. Your transfers and guided touring are arranged for you; for anything independent, ride-hailing apps are the simplest option.
Aboard the cruise
Cabins, dining and the exact excursion schedule vary by cruise operator and cabin category — details are confirmed with your booking. Pack a light bag for the overnight leg and leave larger luggage with your Hanoi hotel or the cruise's storage service.
What to pack
Light, breathable clothing, comfortable walking shoes, a rain layer, swimwear for the bay, sun protection and a reusable water bottle. A light jacket is useful for cooler evenings in the dry season and for the boat's air-conditioned cabin.
Visas & documents
Entry requirements depend on your passport. Many nationalities can enter Vietnam visa-free for short stays or apply for an e-visa in advance, but please check based on your nationality before you travel — we're happy to point you to the right source.
From temple courtyards to limestone karsts
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Good to have answered
Is the US$699 price per person? What does it cover?
Yes — that's a starting price, per person, for the 5-day itinerary based on twin-share accommodation, including your standard cabin aboard the overnight Ha Long Bay cruise. It covers hotels, daily breakfast, airport and Ha Long Bay transfers, the sightseeing in the itinerary, selected entrance fees and local assistance. The final figure depends on your travel dates, hotel and cabin choice, group size and whether you'd like it private, so we confirm an exact quote when you enquire.
How far is Ha Long Bay from Hanoi?
It's roughly a three to three-and-a-half hour road transfer each way, which is why the standard format is an overnight cruise rather than a day trip — it lets you actually spend meaningful time on the water instead of most of the day in transit.
Can we upgrade to a deluxe or balcony cabin on the cruise?
Yes. The base price assumes a standard cabin on a mid-tier cruise; deluxe, balcony and suite categories, as well as higher-end cruise operators, are available as upgrades. Tell us your preference when you enquire and we'll quote accordingly.
Are international flights included?
No — international flights aren't included unless we've specifically stated so in your quote. Hanoi's Noi Bai Airport is well connected across Asia and beyond; we can advise on convenient routings and arrange your airport transfers to match your flights.
Can this itinerary be customised or run privately?
Absolutely — this is a template, not a fixed package. Run it fully private, add nights in Hanoi, extend the bay stay to two nights, upgrade your cabin, or link this trip into Ninh Binh or Sapa. Tell us what you have in mind and we'll shape it around you.
Do I need a visa for Vietnam?
It depends on your nationality. Many travellers can enter visa-free for short stays or apply online for an e-visa in advance, but requirements and durations vary. Please verify based on your own passport before you travel — we're glad to point you to the right official source.
How do I book or get a quote?
Send us an enquiry with your rough dates and traveller numbers and we'll come back with a tailored quote and next steps. There's no obligation, and no payment needed to get a proposal.
Let's plan your Hanoi & Ha Long Bay trip
Tell us your dates and who's travelling. We'll send back a tailored itinerary and a clear, all-in quote — with the flexibility to make it exactly the trip you want.