Highlights / General details

Surround yourself in the rich history and breathtaking scenery of Vietnam.

Step back in time at the ancient citadel of Hoa Lu, Vietnam’s first capital.

Cycle amongst the lime karsts and surrounding scenery.

Take a row boat through the UNESCO site of Trang An to explore magnificent caves and get up close to the region’s spectacular karst country.

Inclusion

Hotel pick-up and drop-off; Local English speaking guide; Entrance fees as indicated; Bike & Helmet; Lunch.

Exclusion

Items of a personal nature; Tips or gratuities for drivers or guides.

Hours of operation

Available daily at 8:00am - 8:30am.

Duration

Approximately 10-11 hours.

Location

Meeting point: Pick up at centrally located hotels in Hanoi.

Finish point: Drop off at centrally located hotels in Hanoi.

Itinerary

Our Hanoi tour begins with a two hour drive from the hectic capital of Hanoi to the province of Ninh Binh, approximately 100 kilometers away. Our first destination is Hao Lu, the location of the capital of Vietnam during the Dinh Dynasty (968-980) and early Le Dynasty (980-1009). The ancient citadel once covered 300 hectares of land, however the passage of time has left few remains of this once glorious capital of the Vietnam.

On arrival, dive into history at the Dinh & Le Temple. Restored in the 17th century, the temples are dedicated Dinh and Le emperors and believed to be built on the original foundations of the old palaces from the 11th and 12th centuries.

Next it's time for the biking part of the tour, as you hop on a bike for a 12 kilometer bike ride through the area, lime karsts towering above you as you ride along backroads and beautiful scenery... experiences you just don't get on other Hanoi tours!

Following our bike ride, we'll stop for lunch at a local restaurant before visiting Trang An, a new addition to UNESCO’s list of heritage sites. Honored as of June 2014, the 10,000-hectare Trang An complex comprises three areas: the Trang An ­– Tam Coc – Bich Dong ecological site, the Hoa Lu imperial capital, and the Hoa Lu primitive forests. It is often referred to as the Halong Bay of the land due to its spectacular scenery: lime karsts rise up of the ground to tower over the region, and is a truly wonderful sight to see.

Here, we’ll board row boats for a 3 to 3.5-hour journey through caves, passing local villages along the river system of the Red River Delta. The scenery comprises of lush green rice paddies during the rice growing seasons and the surrounding limestone karsts make for a stunning backdrop, presenting many photo opportunities for the keen photographers amongst the group.

At the end of the boat trip, we’ll return to the city and finish our Hanoi tour.

Additional Information

Note: A Tam Coc boat trip will be offered as an alternative to Trang An on selected days when the place is too crowded or during peak season.

When packing be aware that dress standards are conservative throughout Asia, especially outside major cities. To respect this and for your own comfort, we strongly recommend modest clothing. This means clothing that covers your shoulders and knees. Loose, lightweight, long clothing is both respectful and cool in the predominantly hot Asian climate. In many rural areas in Asia women will need to wear modest clothing even to swim. Singlets, tank tops and topless sun bathing are all unacceptable. When visiting religious sites men often need to wear long trousers and women a long skirt or sarong.

Participant restrictions

Children under age 12 are not permitted to join this tour.

Policies

This tour is offered on a "join-in" basis. Maximum group size is 12.

If you have your voucher, your booking is confirmed. We'll see you at your hotel for pick up.

Please check your hotel details are correct on the voucher.

Cancellation: 2 days prior 100% penalty. No show 100% penalty.

Complete information, including local telephone numbers at your destination, will be included on your Confirmation Voucher.

**All information requested must be supplied or booking is subject to automatic cancellation**