Info
Environmental
Pricing
£1,250
USD $2,450
AUD $2,550
CAD $2,450
EUR $1,600
(Flights not included)
Click here to request flight costs for this tour
Trip Dates
2009: 10th January, 8th November
If you are booking for two or more people, you can select your own departure date if these dates do not suit. We can also tailor-make a trip to suit your exact requirements.
Itinerary
Day 1 - Hanoi Arrival in Hanoi, transfer to hotel. Walking orientation of the old city and Hoan Kiem Lake.
Day 2 - Hanoi
Hanoi City tour After breakfast a half-day city tour to visit some of Hanoi’s historical sights. The beautiful Hoan Kiem Lake, the final resting place of Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum set deep in the bowels of a monumental edifice that has become a popular local and foreign pilgrimage. Ho Chi Minh’s house, a stilt house built in the style of the ethnic minorities, where Ho Chi Ming lived simply between 1958 and 1969. One Pillar Pagoda a small but significant pagoda with a Buddhist representation of the world and the Temple of Literature originally built in 1070. Afternoon free to shop and explore Hanoi's old quarter at leisure. (B)
Day 3 Hanoi - Perfume Pagoda 70km
Drive to the outskirts of Hanoi before beginning your cycle ride to the Perfume Pagoda. On this journey we use small back roads off the main highways and away from the traffic. This also affords you the maximum people contact and views of the rural countryside and farming.
The Perfume Pagoda is a highlight of the Hanoi region, it includes a 3 hour boat trip along the scenic waterways. The Pagoda itself is at the top of a steep walking path. It is built into limestone cliffs of the Huong Tich Mountains (Mountain of Fragrance) it is a famous shrine for Buddhist pilgrims. (B,L,D)
Day 4 - Perfume Pagoda to Ninh Binh 60km
Again we access small roads and water canal trails to cycle to Ninh Binh. Often described as the Halong Bay on the land, Ninh Binh is a peaceful settlement with long waterways rich with paddy fields stretching through the mountains. It is superb landscape for cycling exploring by boat. Includes a 2 hour boat trip through the rice field canals. (B,L,D)
Day 5 – Ninh Binh to Phat Diem 29km
Phat Diem is the site of a cathedral, remarkable for it’s vast dimensions and unique Sino-Vietnamese architecture. The vaulted ceiling is supported by massive timber beams and the main alter a single block of granite. It has a huge bell tower and nearby is a 19 century covered bridge. (B,L,D)
Day 6 Phat Diem- Nam Dinh -60KM Biking-O/N In NamDinh (B,L,D)
Day 7 Nam Dinh-Phu Ly-Ha Noi 60KM Biking (B,L,D)
Day 8 Free day in Hanoi
Day 9 - Hanoi – Halong Bay
Halong Bay 2-day tour. Journey East along Highway 5 across Hai Hung Province to Halong on the coast. Your driver will stop at various places of interest along the way including the Humanity Centre a program for disabled young people to learn crafts such as silk embroidery. Halong is a popular holiday resort for local people and also the departure point for your boat journey to Halong Bay World Heritage Park. (B, L,D)
Day 10 – Halong Bay _ Hanoi
This morning a half-day boat trip through this magical land. Halong Bay is one of the most spectacular and romantic of all Vietnam's physical wonders. From the Emerald waters 3,000 islands rise steeply to create a dramatic seascape. Said to be the 'dragon descends into the sea. 'The boat will stop at various points of interest, caves and lagoons. Weather permitting you may swim in one of the lagoons. Lunch is served on board. Return journey to Hanoi (B,L,D)
Day 11/12/13/14 Community Development work at Vietnam Friendship Village
Day 15 Your tour ends with a transfer to the airport for your outbound flights.(B)
Extension Trips
Extension: Laos 6 days
Extension: Laos 10 Days
Extension: Cambodia 6 Days
