Hanoi – Ninh Binh – Ha Long Bay – Phu Quoc
The north comes first, from a single Hanoi hotel: the Old Quarter on foot, Hoa Lu and the Trang An grottoes at Ninh Binh, and six hours cruising Ha Long Bay. That third day ends with the 22h00 flight to Phu Quoc. On the island you have VinWonders and an evening at Grand World, a speedboat day around four islands with the sea-crossing cable car to Hon Thom, and a last day along the south coast to Sao Beach, a fish sauce house and Sunset Town.
Day 1
A private car meets your flight and takes you to your hotel in the Old Quarter, where the guide collects you at 13h30. You walk to Hoan Kiem Lake and Nam Huong Temple, cross The Huc Bridge to Ngoc Son Temple for the story of King Le returning the sword and the preserved lake turtle, then reach St Joseph's Cathedral at 14h30: the Gothic facade, a banh mi from the stall beside it, sugarcane juice or street coffee, and half an hour among the shops nearby. From 15h20 you are on Train Street, and if the timing holds you watch the train pass. The walk ends there at 16h00. The second version of the afternoon finishes instead with egg coffee at a local coffee house.
Meals: No meals included
Day 2
Out at 08h00 for the 110km drive south through open country, with a short break on the way. At 10h15 you are at Hoa Lu, the first capital of Vietnam, and the temples to the Dinh and Le kings. At 11h30 you cycle at an easy pace along the canal roads and between villages, limestone towers on every side. Buffet lunch at 12h15: goat, fried rice and a spread of local dishes, with vegetarian food always available. At 13h00 a rowing boat takes you into Trang An, UNESCO-listed since 2014 and the landscape behind Kong: Skull Island, through Sang, Toi and Nau Ruou caves. At 15h15, Mua Cave and almost 500 steps up Lying Dragon Mountain for the view over Tam Coc. Back at your hotel by 19h30.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch
Day 3
A limousine collects you at 08h30 and runs to Quang Ninh with one stop. You board at Tuan Chau Island just before midday; lunch of Vietnamese dishes and seafood is served while the boat passes the Incense Burner and Fighting Cocks rocks. At 13h30 you walk Sung Sot Cave, 25 metres above the water, 10,000 square metres of chamber and 800 metres of lit stone path. Luon Cave by kayak or bamboo boat at 14h45, Titop Island at 15h45 to swim or climb to the lookout. Back aboard at 16h30 for the sunset party on the sundeck, ashore around 18h00, and at the hotel by 20h30. The flight to Phu Quoc leaves Hanoi at 22h00.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch
Day 4
You land on Phu Quoc and a private car takes you from the airport directly to your hotel or resort, where the guide handles the check-in with you. Nothing else is scheduled, which after a night flight is the point.
Meals: No meals included
Day 5
A shuttle collects you at the resort for VinWonders, the largest theme park in Vietnam: the rides, the water park, the castle, the fairy tale garden, the Viking village and the aquarium, where the Love Story's Mermaid show runs. Lunch is at a restaurant in the park. In the evening you cross to Grand World, the sleepless city, for the Bamboo Legend structure and the Vietnamese Essence show, which is not included. Dinner is bun quay, the Phu Quoc noodle dish you season yourself, and the night ends with the Colours of Venice along the canal.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 6
Picked up at 07h20, at the Phu Quoc pearl farm by 08h30, and at An Thoi harbour at 09h30 to board the speedboat. May Rut Trong first, for swimming and photographs; then Mong Tay, also called May Rut Ngoai, where lunch is served and there are paddleboards; then Dua, or Roi, for coral in one to three metres of water. Coral Park and sea walking can be added at your own cost. The boat then reaches Hon Thom, where you ride the world's longest three-wire sea-crossing cable car and can spend time at the Aquatopia water park. Between 16h00 and 16h30 you transfer to Sunset Town, and you are back at the hotel at 17h00.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch
Day 7
Collected at 09h00. From 10h00 you are in Sunset Town, the Mediterranean-styled quarter at the southern end of the island, with the Kiss Bridge — that ticket is included. Then the Phu Quoc prison, kept as a museum of the island's wartime years, and a traditional fish sauce house where the barrels and the process are explained. At 12h00 you go on to Sao Beach for lunch, white sand and clear water, with time to swim. In the afternoon, Ho Quoc Pagoda, built with the mountain behind it and the sea in front, and finally Sunset Sanato Beach and the sculptures standing on the sand. Back at the hotel at 17h00.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch
Day 8
Breakfast at the hotel, check out, and a private car to Phu Quoc airport timed to your flight.
Meals: Breakfast
The Hanoi to Phu Quoc flight leaves at 22h00 on day 3 and lands in the small hours of day 4; the fare is not part of the land package and is quoted separately. The Vietnamese Essence show at Grand World and the sea walking at Coral Park are at your own cost.
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