Today, lace up your walking shoes and dive into the capital’s rich tapestry of history and culture. First stop: the iconic Old Quarter — a maze of narrow lanes where each street is named after the goods once traded there. Watch daily life unfold in fast-forward: grandmas selling sticky rice from bamboo baskets, kids weaving through traffic like pros, and food vendors whipping up magic from tiny stools. Don’t miss the chance to nibble on a crispy bánh cuốn or a juicy skewer of grilled pork while you wander.

Next up is the buzzing Dong Xuan Market, housed in a building with a classic French colonial facade — a melting pot of chaos, colors, and charisma. From textiles to electronics to dried shrimp, it’s a sensory overload in the best possible way.

Then it's on to the elegant French Quarter, where wide boulevards lined with flame trees and mango leaves tell tales of Hanoi’s colonial past. Here, modern-day Vietnam meets its storied history in style. Sink into a seat at a charming sidewalk café and treat yourself to a cup of cà phê trứng — Hanoi’s famous egg coffee, where velvety whipped egg yolk meets rich Vietnamese brew. It’s dessert and pick-me-up in one creamy, dreamy sip.

As you delve deeper into the city’s layered past, begin at Hoa Lo Prison, once dubbed the “Hanoi Hilton” by American POWs. Its sobering exhibits offer a glimpse into the resilience of the Vietnamese spirit. Then visit Cua Bac Church, a striking blend of French Romanesque and Vietnamese design, standing proudly amid the leafy streets.

Continue to O Quan Chuong Gate, one of the last surviving ancient gates from the city’s original fortifications. Weathered and worn, it’s a powerful reminder of Hanoi’s roots. Finally, conclude your journey at Bach Ma Temple, one of the oldest temples in the city, where incense curls through the air and centuries of devotion still echo in the stone.

The afternoon is left free for you to wander and explore on your own.

Accommodation:

Anatole or similar

Included meal: Breakfast, Lunch

Your day in Ninh Binh begins with an early departure from Hanoi, leaving the city’s lively hum behind as you drive south for about 2–2.5 hours. The scenery shifts quickly—towering limestone karsts start rising from emerald fields, hinting at the timeless beauty that awaits.

Your first stop is Đinh Lê Temple, a quiet, atmospheric sanctuary dedicated to the kings of the Đinh and Early Lê dynasties. Beneath ancient trees and stone courtyards, you’ll hear stories of Vietnam’s earliest unifying rulers and feel the solemn weight of a place where history and legend intertwine.

Next comes the highlight of the day: a serene sampan ride through waterways that curve between dramatic limestone cliffs. Whether you glide through Trang An or Tam Coc, the experience is dreamlike—lotus ponds drifting by, caves echoing softly, and your rower skillfully guiding the boat with quiet confidence (sometimes even with their feet!). It’s Ninh Binh at its most poetic.

As the golden hour settles over the karsts, you arrive at your luxury resort—a beautiful retreat surrounded by nature. Check into your villa, soak in the stillness of the countryside, and enjoy a slow, indulgent evening. A perfect ending to a day where history, landscape, and calm blend seamlessly.

Accommodation: 

An Ecolodge or similar

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Transportation: Driving from Hanoi hotel to Ninh Binh

After a peaceful night in Ninh Binh, your journey continues with a scenic 3.5–4-hour transfer northeast toward the coast. As the road unwinds into island-dotted waters, anticipation builds—because this is not the busy Halong route. You’re headed somewhere quieter, more untouched: Lan Ha Bay, the serene, remote neighbour of Halong.

At the pier, you step aboard Sena Cruise, a boutique wooden-style vessel known for warm hospitality and intimate experiences. Once the boat glides into open water, the difference becomes instantly clear. Instead of crowds, you’re surrounded by silence—just jade-green water, towering limestone pillars, and fishing rafts tucked gently between the karsts.

Sena charts its course deep into Lan Ha’s hidden pockets, where only a handful of boats venture. After a beautiful lunch on deck, you might kayak through glass-calm lagoons, explore sheltered coves, or swim in secluded bays where the only sound is your own laughter echoing off the cliffs.

As the sun drops, the bay turns soft pink and gold, and you settle in for an evening of cooking demos, relaxed dining, and moonlit tranquility. This isn’t the Halong of postcards—it’s the quieter, more soulful version, where the beauty feels personal and the stillness stays with you long after you return to shore.

Activities: 

kayak

squid fishing

bioluminescence

Accommodation: 

Sena Cruise or similar

Meals:
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Transportation: Driving from Ninh Binh hotel to Ha Long Bay port

Morning in Lan Ha Bay feels like waking inside a watercolor painting. Soft mist drifts between the limestone peaks, the water lies still as glass, and the only sounds are birds calling across the cliffs and the gentle hum of the boat easing into a new day. You might join a tai chi session on the sundeck, sip a quiet cup of tea while the horizon blushes pink, or simply lean on the railing and watch the bay slowly come alive.

After a light breakfast, Sena Cruise glides toward one last hidden corner of Lan Ha—perhaps a floating village or a peaceful lagoon—giving you a final, unhurried moment with the bay’s serene beauty. Then it’s time to pack up, enjoy brunch, and say a warm goodbye to the crew who’ve made the journey feel so personal.

Back on land, your driver awaits for the 2.5–3-hour transfer to Hanoi or directly to Noi Bai Airport for your onward journey. As the karsts fade in the rearview mirror, you carry with you the lingering calm of Lan Ha—its quiet mornings, its gentle waters, and the sense of having touched a part of Vietnam that still feels wonderfully untouched.

Meals: breakfast, lunch

Transportation: Driving from Lan Ha to Noi Bai Airport or to Hanoi Hotel