Explore Northern Vietnam Hanoi, Ninh Binh and Halong Bay

What's Included

Meeting and pickup

Itinerary

Day 1
Hanoi
2 stops
1
Hanoi
Arrival & Check-In: Airport pick-up is available from Hanoi’s airport (HAN). Flight arrivals should be at or before 2pm.
30 minutes • Admission ticket free
2
Hanoi Old Quarter Vietnam
Lost Plate’s Hanoi Evening Food Tour: Discover the backstreets of Hanoi’s old-quarter while visiting authentic eateries, trying over 10 dishes, and pass by some of the city’s most iconic sights including the Long Biên Railroad Bridge and Hoàn Kiếm Lake.
3 hours • Admission ticket free
Day 2
Hanoi
4 stops
3
Old Quarter
Morning Market & Food Tour: Start your day with breakfast favorites like Chicken Phở Gà, savory Bao, egg coffee, and fried rice balls coated in honey. Along the way, we’ll explore the historic B-52 Lake to reflect on Vietnam’s resilient past before continuing to a hidden café.
3 hours • Admission ticket free
4
One Pillar Pagoda
Hồ Chí Minh House & One Pillar Pagoda: Visit Ho Chi Minh’s House to discover the humble living quarters of Vietnam’s beloved leader, and see the iconic One Pillar Pagoda, an architectural wonder perched over a peaceful lotus pond.
1 hour • Admission ticket included
5
Hanoi Train Street
Train Street: Make a Vietnamese coffee or grab a cold local beer just steps from the tracks at Hanoi’s famous Train Street, where the train rushes by within arm’s reach.
1 hour • Admission ticket free
6
Old Quarter
Dinner: A local go-to for special gatherings, this restaurant focuses on family recipes passed down through generations. Each dish, from slow-cooked roast pork to comforting stuffed tofu to pork bone soup with taro, features flavors of traditional Vietnamese home-style meals.
1 hour • Admission ticket free
Day 3
Ninh Binh
2 stops
7
Ninh Binh
Cooking Class & Lunch: Learn to make Bánh Xèo (Vietnamese pancakes) at a laid-back spot with limestone peak views, then enjoy them alongside garden-fresh dishes like grilled beef wrapped in betel leaf, fragrant stir-fries, and sticky rice.
2 hours • Admission ticket free
8
Ninh Binh
Sunset Cycling & Food Tour: Pedal along countryside lanes through quiet villages and rice fields to visit a local’s home for tea and a glimpse into everyday life, watch the sunset over handmade spring rolls, and end with dinner at a family-run restaurant with their signature grilled duck, stir-fries, and draft beer.
2 hours • Admission ticket free
Day 4
Ninh Binh
4 stops
9
Ninh Binh
Boat Ride Through Caves: Float your way through Ninh Binh’s serene waterways, where towering limestone karsts rise dramatically above lush riverbanks. On this 3-hour journey, you’ll paddle through hidden caves, lush valleys, and discover stunning stalactite formations.
2 hours • Admission ticket free
10
Ninh Binh
Lunch: In Ninh Binh, goat is the local specialty and this family-run spot serves it best, from lime-dressed carpaccio and lemongrass-fried ribs to crispy scorched rice with savory goat sauce and fresh local sides.
1 hour 30 minutes • Admission ticket free
11
Ninh Binh
Cycle & Hike to Panoramic Views: Hop on bikes for a flat ride through the countryside to Mua Cave, then tackle nearly 500 stone steps to two jaw-dropping viewpoints over rice fields and dramatic limestone peaks.
2 hours • Admission ticket free
12
Ninh Binh
Dinner: End the evening with tabletop BBQ and a spread of Vietnamese favorites, all enjoyed with sweeping views of Ninh Binh’s limestone peaks and a cold beer.
2 hours • Admission ticket free
Day 5
Ninh Binh to Hanoi
1 stop
13
Hanoi
You’ll depart for the airport (or a destination of your choice in the city). The drive from Ninh Binh to the airport is approx. 2-3 hours, and you will arrive by 12pm noon.
3 hours • Admission ticket free

Additional info

• Public transportation options are available nearby
• Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
• Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
• Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness

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