Orivia Travel · Private tours of Vietnam

Hanoi, Ha Long Bay & Ninh Binh in 5 Days

The classic first taste of the North: Old Quarter food walks, a night aboard a cruise in Ha Long Bay and a sampan ride through the karst valleys of Ninh Binh.

  • Duration: 5 days · 4 nights
  • Start: Hanoi · End: Hanoi
  • Route: Hanoi – Ha Long Bay – Ninh Binh – Hanoi
  • Departure: Daily, private tour
  • Meals: 4 breakfasts · 3 lunches · 2 dinners
  • Accommodation: 3 nights boutique hotel in Hanoi Old Quarter, 1 night Ha Long Bay cruise
  • Travel style: Culture & heritage, Nature & landscapes, Ha Long Bay cruise
  • Price: from US$545 per person, based on two travellers sharing on a private tour
  • Tour code: EN-NOR-001

Tour overview

Five days is enough to see why northern Vietnam wins people over. You start in Hanoi, where the Old Quarter still works the way it has for a century: one street for silk, one for tin, one for paper offerings, and food stalls everywhere in between. Then you swap the city for the water and spend a night on a cruise among the limestone islands of Ha Long Bay, with time to kayak into quiet lagoons. The last full day goes to Ninh Binh, often called Ha Long Bay on land, where a local boatwoman rows you along the river through caves and rice fields. Your guide and driver are with you only, so the pace follows you, not a bus timetable.

Highlights

  • Evening street food walk in Hanoi Old Quarter with a local guide
  • Overnight cruise in Ha Long Bay with kayaking and a cave visit
  • Rowing boat through the caves and rice fields of Tam Coc
  • Sunset climb to the Hang Mua viewpoint above the Ninh Binh valley
  • Private guide and car: start each day when you are ready

Day-by-day itinerary

Day 1: Arrive in Hanoi – Old Quarter food walk

Meals: D

Getting around: private car, walking

Your driver meets you at Noi Bai airport with a name sign and takes you to your hotel in the Old Quarter. After some rest, your guide comes by for a gentle evening walk: bun cha where locals queue, a stop for egg coffee, and the busy night market streets around Hang Dao. The walk ends near Hoan Kiem Lake so you can wander back on your own.

Day 2: Hanoi city: temples, lakes and quiet corners

Meals: B, L

Getting around: private car, walking

Start early at Hoan Kiem Lake while locals do their morning exercise, then visit the Temple of Literature, the country's first university. After lunch at a family-run restaurant, see the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum area and the One Pillar Pagoda, then finish at Tran Quoc Pagoda on West Lake as the light turns golden. Free evening to explore at your own pace.

Day 3: Hanoi – Ha Long Bay cruise

Meals: B, L, D

Getting around: private car, boat

A comfortable two and a half hour drive brings you to the Ha Long cruise harbour, where you board around noon. Lunch is served as the boat moves into the bay among thousands of limestone islands. In the afternoon you paddle a kayak into a sheltered lagoon or swim from a small beach, then watch the sunset from the deck before a seafood dinner on board.

Day 4: Ha Long Bay – Ninh Binh: Tam Coc and Hang Mua

Meals: B, L

Getting around: boat, private car, trekking

Wake up for tai chi on the sundeck and a visit to one of the bay's large caves, then brunch while the boat returns to harbour. Your car continues to Ninh Binh, where a boatwoman rows you along the river at Tam Coc, through three low caves and past rice fields. Before sunset, climb the 500 stone steps of Hang Mua for a view over the whole valley. Overnight back in Hanoi.

Day 5: Hanoi – departure

Meals: B

Getting around: private car, flight

Enjoy a slow breakfast and some last shopping in the Old Quarter. Your driver takes you to Noi Bai airport in time for your onward flight. If your flight leaves late, we can arrange a cooking class or a short cyclo ride to fill the day.

What's included

  • Private English-speaking guide on every sightseeing day
  • Private air-conditioned car or van with driver for all transfers
  • Airport pick-up and drop-off on arrival and departure days
  • Hotels as listed, twin or double room with daily breakfast
  • Meals as listed in the itinerary (B: breakfast, L: lunch, D: dinner)
  • Entrance fees and boat tickets for every visit in the itinerary
  • Bottled water and cold towels in the car every day
  • 24/7 hotline with the Orivia operations team in Hanoi
  • Overnight Ha Long Bay cruise in a private-balcony cabin, all meals on board, kayaking and cave visit

Not included

  • International flights and Vietnam visa fees
  • Travel insurance (strongly recommended)
  • Drinks with meals, personal expenses and laundry
  • Tips for guides and drivers (optional)
  • Single room supplement

Enquire about this tour or plan a tailor-made trip

More Northern Vietnam tours

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a visa to visit Vietnam?

Most travellers can apply online for an e-visa, valid for up to 90 days with single or multiple entry. Citizens of several countries, including the UK, Germany, France, Italy, Spain and the Nordic countries, can visit visa-free for a set number of days. Rules change from time to time, so check the official portal before you book flights. We are happy to look at your nationality and dates for you.

When is the best time to travel in Vietnam?

Vietnam is long, so the weather depends on the region. The North is cool and dry from October to April and hot from May to September. The centre around Hue and Hoi An is best from February to August, with heavy rain from October to December. The South is warm all year, with a dry season from December to April. A North to South trip works well in spring, from February to April.

Are the tours private or in a group?

Every tour on this site is private: you travel only with your own party, with your own guide and driver. That means you choose the start date, the pace and where to stop. Overnight cruises in Ha Long Bay are shared boats, but you have your own cabin.

What does the price per person include?

Prices are per person, based on two travellers sharing a twin or double room. They cover the guide, private transport, hotels with breakfast, the meals listed, entrance fees and boat tickets. Groups of three or more pay less per person; solo travellers pay a single supplement. Your quote will show the exact price for your party and travel dates.

Can you change an itinerary for us?

Yes, almost all of our travellers change something: an extra night on the beach, a cooking class, a slower day for children, or a different hotel. Tell us what you would like and we will send a revised plan and price, free of charge.

How do I book and pay?

Send an enquiry from any tour page or the tailor-made form. A travel designer replies within one working day with a plan and quote. Nothing is booked and nothing is paid until you confirm. To secure hotels and cruises we then ask for a deposit by bank transfer or card, with the balance due before arrival. The exact terms are written in your quote.