5D4N NINH BINH - NAM DINH - HA LONG

LEGENDS OF TONKIN
HANOI – NINH BINH – NAM DINH – HA LONG
Time: 5 Days 4 Nights

BRIEF ITINERARY
Day 1: Hanoi – Drive to Ninh Binh – Dancing Cave - Trang An Grottoes – Overnight in Ninh Binh (-/L/-)
Day 2: Ninh Binh – Drive to Nam Dinh – Cat Dang Lacquer Craft Village - Overnight in Nam Dinh City (B/L/D)
Day 3: Nam Dinh City – Hong Quang Water Puppetry Village - Xuan Thuy National Park – Ecohost Hai Hau  (B/L/D)
Day 4: Ecohost Hai Hau – Drive to Ha Long – Overnight on cruise (B/L/D) /sample itinerary
Day 5: Ha Long – Drive back Hanoi – Departure (B/Br) /sample itinerary

DETAIL ITINERARY
Day 1: Hanoi – Drive to Ninh Binh – Dancing Cave - Trang An Grottoes – Overnight in Ninh Binh (-/L/-)

8:00 Tour guide and car pick you up at your address to depart to Ninh Binh. 
09:30-10:00: Arrive at Mua Cave and start an amazing trek up to the top of Ngoa Long mountain for watching the spectacular rice valley with a precious view of nature. 
12:30 Have lunch in local restaurant with some Asian local special dishes.
14:30 Start to visit Trang An tourist attraction, take boat trip to visit cave complex: Nam cave, Vong Cave, Thanh Truot Cave, Dai Cave, Film School - here, the huts are restored and reproduced the scene of the everyday life, the aboriginal abode appeared in the famous Kong movie, see scenery of mountain and rivers. 
On the way back to your hotel, we stop to visit Bich Dong Pagoda where you have a chance to worship and make offerings, enjoy the peaceful atmosphere, and learn more about Buddhism in Vietnam. 
Overnight in Ninh Binh

Day 2: Ninh Binh – Drive to Nam Dinh – Cat Dang Lacquer Craft Village - Overnight in Nam Dinh City (B/L/D)

Having breakfast at your hotel.
Take your time to visit Thai Vi Temple by bike which is one of the oldest temple in Ninh Binh before heading to Nam Dinh Province. 

We then pay a visit at Cat Dang Lacquer Craft Village in Y Yen District. This village is said to have a history of over 600 years. Through the stages of existence and development, up to now the artisans of Cat Dang lacquer craft village continue to maintain the traditional profession of producing lacquer products on wood, mainly thrones, chairs, and tables, palanquins, statues, paintings... serving religious activities. At the same time, local people develop many consumer and daily life product designs to suit the needs of the domestic and export markets.
Arrival at Nam Dinh city, having lunch at local restaurant before heading to hotel for checking in and relax. 
15:30: Be ready at Lưu Gia Trang Ecological Restaurant and get on a cyclo tour. The cyclo tour will take you passing outside some iconic destinations of Nam Dinh City like Nam Dinh Flag Pole which is one of four localities in the country that the Nguyen court built a citadel and flagpole (along with the flagpole in Hue in 1807, the flagpole in Hanoi in 1812, and the flagpole in Bac Ninh in 1838). 
Next to the Flag Pole is Nam Dinh Museum where display antiquities and unique cultural and artistic values of Thanh Nam land. 
Continuing riding, the cyclo tour takes you into some streets in Nam Dinh old quarter area.
Our last stop is Tran Hung Dao Monument, the great general under Trần Dynasty, one of the heroes, famous generals of Vietnam with two time victories Mongolian army invasion. We can have a group photo to check in here before coming back to our first starting point – Lưu Gia Trang Ecological Restaurant.

We then taking a taxi to be back hotel for relaxation. 
Having dinner at local restaurant and stay overnight at hotel in Nam Dinh City. 

Day 3: Nam Dinh City – Hong Quang Water Puppetry Village - Xuan Thuy National Park – Ecohost Hai Hau  (B/L/D)

08:30 we check out hotel and will firstly visit Hồng Quang Village – one of the most beautiful water puppet villages in Vietnam and experience how the local artisans make a real water puppet. They will tell you stories about the history of water puppet culture and how they preserve this folk art from generations.
Leaving a puppet village, we get in the car and head to Giao Thuy District and reach Xuan Thuy National Park. Get on the boat to visit deeper into the park, reach the claim field then we have lunch on a claim hut. Enjoy the sea breeze and atmosphere.  
14:00 Bid farewell to a National Park, we transfer to EcoHost Hai Hau for checking in and relax in the green lush garden of EcoHost.
16:00 Get on the bike, we continually visit Pham Phao village which is famous for wooden caving and traditional trumpet making and church. On the way, we will also visit the tile-roof bridge of Luong Pagoda in Hai Anh Commune which was built in the 16th century in unique architecture that reflects the Vietnam Countryside. You will have a chance to explore the daily life of local people and learn Vietnamese ritual and worship to ancestors. 
After visiting, we head back Ecohost to enjoy a herbal foot bath that will nourish both your foot and your mind
Having dinner and resting in the peaceful village.

Day 4: Ecohost Hai Hau – Drive to Ha Long – Overnight on cruise (B/L/D) /sample itinerary

08:00 Bid farewell Ecohost Hai Hau and we head to Ha Long
12:30 Boarding Bhaya Cruise and checking in your cabin before heading to the restaurant for a safety briefing. Enjoy the welcome drink while meeting the Cruise Manager and the crew team at the restaurant.
13:00 Enjoy lunch as the boat cruises towards the southeast of Halong Bay, passing Fighting-Cock Islet, Titop Islet, and Human head Islet.
15:00 Kayak around the Trinh Nu area or visit Trinh Nu Cave - one of the finest sunlight-filled caves in Halong Bay covering an area of 2,000m2 with stunning stalactites and stalagmites.
17:00 Return to the boat and freshen up for the evening’s activities. Bar opens for a Happy Hour promotion on a selection of drinks.
17:30 Join the exciting cooking or fruit carving demonstration on the sundeck (or in the restaurant, depending on the weather). Don’t miss out on the stunning view of the sunset over the enchanting Halong Bay from the sundeck of the boat.
19:00 Savor the delicious dinner in the restaurant.
21:00 Free time to enjoy a drink at the bar or stargaze on the sundeck. Or enjoy the squid fishing program after dinner on the first deck.
Retire to your cabin for a good night's sleep.

Day 5: Ha Long – Drive back Hanoi – Departure (B/Br) /sample itinerary

06:15 Rejuvenate the body and mind with a refreshing Tai Chi lesson during sunrise on the sundeck as complimentary tea and coffee are served.
06:50 A light breakfast is served in the restaurant. The boat cruises towards the center of Halong Bay.
07:20 Avoid the morning crowd and explore Sung Sot Cave, the largest cave inside Halong Bay with 10,000 square meters of space that holds thousands of stalactites and stalagmites and is threaded by a 500-meter paved passageway.
08:20 Return to the boat and enjoy the brunch served in the restaurant.
09:00 The boat heads back to the pier. Time to pack your luggage and get ready to check out. Enjoy the scenery as the boat cruises back to the port.
10:30 Disembark from the boat at Tuan Chau International Marina.
We get on the car and head back Hanoi.
Good bye and see you again!