Vietnam'S Hidden Treasures: Off-The-Beaten-Path And Local En

Upon arrival at Noi Bai Airport, after clearing all customs procedures, please proceed to the exit gate and meet our guide, who will be waiting in the lobby, holding the signboard with your name on it. If you cannot locate your guide, please go to the Airport information counter in the middle of the Domestic and International arrival lobby (inside the terminal) and call the emergency numbers provided in the confirmation voucher for assistance. Your driver will come to meet you up and transfer you to your hotel in the Old Quarter. Overnight in Hanoi If time permits, we will take you to Hanoi sightseeing Vietnam's capital Hanoi is often called the ‘Paris of the East’ and is known for its yellow ochre colonial buildings, tree-lined boulevards, and scenic lakes. Today we will visit the Temple of Literature, the first national university in Vietnam built in the late 11th century. This picturesque temple is a well-preserved example of traditional Vietnamese architecture. Spend time in the beautiful garden of the Temple of Literature, enjoying its quiet and peaceful atmosphere. Continue to the Vietnamese Women’s Museum, located on one of the oldest streets of Hanoi. You will see various exhibitions that will give you insight into Vietnamese life through the lens of women's topics.   Then enjoy the walk around the photogenic Old Quarter, where each street has a name of the goods, which originally were sold there in the past. Explore the fascinating maze of back streets, fronted by narrow houses known as “tube houses”, built to avoid taxes based on the width of their frontage onto the street, a wonderfully eclectic glimpse into Hanoi street life. Notes Suggested departure time: 14:00 Tour duration: 3.5 hours

Have breakfast at the hotel and depart for a 3-hour drive to the Trang An Landscape Complex in Ninh Binh Province. Recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2014, Trang An is famed for its spectacular landscape of limestone karst peaks whose sheer vertical walls rise abruptly 200m (656ft) above the surrounding land and water. The dense rainforest of the landscape that is clinging to the cliffs and peaks, blends naturally with rice paddy fields and rivers, creating a picturesque patchwork of color.  In the afternoon, visit Tam Coc, known as “Halong Bay on Land”, where a skilled rower will take you on a 2-hour slow journey on the winding river and canals. Enjoy the views of the beautiful karst formations as you enter into natural caves formed under the hills.  After the boat trip, climb to Mua Mountain, which has a shape of a bell with a base sized around 800 square meters. On the left and right sides of the staircase, there are beautiful carvings of the dragon or phoenix. The way leading to the cave formed by a long stone staircase zigzags through the karst, there are nearly 500 steps to a simple altar to Quan Am (the Goddess of Mercy). Later you will be transferred to your hotel in Ninh Binh. Overnight in Ninh Binh  Notes Suggested departure time: 08:00  Tour duration: 8.5 hours

Explore the scenic countryside and engage in local activities with a full-day tour of Tho Ha Village, Galaxy Grotto, and Nho Quan. After breakfast at the hotel, drive to Tho Ha Village in Nho Quan, where you can begin a leisurely 5-15km (3-10mi) bike ride, passing by charming villages and picturesque landscapes. Continue to Dong Tam Hamlet to participate in exciting agricultural activities such as crab catching, fishing, and transplanting and watering vegetables. Return to the hamlet in time for a cooking class and lunch with a local family, where you can enjoy delicious sweet potato cakes and grilled fish. After lunch, board a rowboat at Nha Le Pier for a trip to Galaxy Grotto, a stunning 900m (2,953ft)-deep cave filled with beautiful stalactites that resemble a galaxy of stars. The Grotto is also home to a large colony of bats, which you can observe near the end of the cave. Then we will transfer you to your hotel in the scenic area of Ninh Binh province.  Overnight in Ninh Binh Notes: Suggested departure time: 08:00 Tour duration: 05 hours (with transfer)