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Sample Itinerary · Tripcuro
Couple

Vietnam North to Central: Hanoi, Ninh Binh Bay Cruise & Heritage
Coast

Hanoi's Old Quarter, Ninh Binh's karst rivers, an overnight bay cruise and the central heritage coast

8 Nights · November 2025 · Vietnam

View Day-by-Day
Trip Overview
Duration
8 Nights
November 2025 · Couple
Where
Vietnam
Overnight luxury cruise through Lan Ha Bay with a private balcony suite · Trang An boat circuit and the panoramic Mua Caves climb in Ninh Binh · Hanoi Old Quarter: Hoan Kiem Lake, Train Street coffee and a water puppet show
Budget
INR 60,000 per person for this November
Land, cruise and hotels for two, plus international flights and Vietnam e-visa, worked out to roughly INR 60,000 per person for this November itinerary; excludes shows, meals and personal spends.
Where You'll Stay

Hanoi Central Park Hotel

Old Quarter, Hanoi · 1 Night
Deluxe room steps from Hoan Kiem Lake

Tam Coc Golden Sky Homestay

Tam Coc, Ninh Binh · 1 Night
Deluxe double; scooter rental on site

Verdure Lotus Luxury Cruise

Lan Ha Bay · 1 Night
Lotus suite with balcony; all meals included

Fivitel Da Nang

Son Tra, Da Nang · 2 Nights
Superior room with balcony and river view

Mercure Danang French Village Ba Na Hills

Ba Na Hills · 1 Night
Standard king with breakfast, hilltop

Hoi An Riverland Villa

Hoi An · 2 Nights
Deluxe room with balcony near the Ancient Town
Day-by-Day Itinerary
1
DAY
Day 1 of 9
Arrive Hanoi & Old Quarter Evening
  • Fly into Hanoi and transfer to a hotel in the Old Quarter
  • Settle in, then late breakfast and coffee nearby
  • Stroll Hoan Kiem Lake and visit Ngoc Son Temple on the water
  • Watch a water puppet show at Thang Long Theatre
  • Coffee and photos at Train Street; explore Beer Street and Old Quarter cafes
2
DAY
Day 2 of 9
Ninh Binh: Trang An & Mua Caves
  • Early transfer from Hanoi to Ninh Binh; check into a Tam Coc homestay
  • Rent a scooter and do the Trang An Grottoes boat circuit (Route 1)
  • Optional Bai Dinh Pagoda complex and Hoa Lu Ancient Capital
  • Scenic Bich Dong cave pagoda and mountain views
  • Climb Mua Caves at sunset for the panoramic view over the rice paddies
3
DAY
Day 3 of 9
Overnight Lan Ha Bay Cruise
  • Morning cruise transfer to the Ha Long / Lan Ha Bay port
  • Board a luxury cruise and settle into a suite with a private balcony
  • Cruise among the limestone karsts of Lan Ha Bay
  • All meals aboard; kayaking and swimming stops as the itinerary allows
  • Overnight on the bay
4
DAY
Day 4 of 9
Cat Ba, then Fly to Da Nang
  • Cruise returns to port late morning; disembark
  • Explore Cat Ba National Park before heading to Haiphong
  • Evening flight from Haiphong to Da Nang
  • Check into a river-view hotel in Da Nang
  • Explore the Son Tra Night Market and the Han riverfront
5
DAY
Day 5 of 9
Da Nang: Hai Van Pass & Beaches
  • Ride the scenic Hai Van Pass with a secret-beach stop en route
  • Climb and explore the caves and pagodas of Marble Mountains
  • Relax at My Khe Beach with a swim and beachside cafes
  • Sunset at Chua Linh Ung and the giant Lady Buddha on Son Tra Peninsula
  • Dinner and local night markets
6
DAY
Day 6 of 9
Up to Ba Na Hills & Golden Bridge
  • Taxi to the Sun World Ba Na Hills cable car base and ride to the summit
  • Check into the French Village hotel on the hilltop
  • Walk the Golden Bridge, French Village, Fantasy Park and gardens
  • Enjoy the mountain-top setting after the day crowds leave
  • Overnight at Ba Na Hills
7
DAY
Day 7 of 9
Ba Na Golden Hour & On to Hoi An
  • Dawn cable car back to the Golden Bridge for sunrise before the crowds
  • Return down after breakfast and transfer to Hoi An
  • Check into a riverside villa near the Ancient Town
  • Romantic riverside dinner in the Ancient Town
  • Optional bamboo circus show at Lune Theatre (pre-book)
8
DAY
Day 8 of 9
Hoi An: Lanterns & Memories
  • Slow morning: riverside walk and coffee in the Ancient Town
  • Basket-boat ride through Bay Mau Coconut Village
  • Evening lantern stroll and the Ancient Town night market
  • Attend the large-scale 'Hoi An Memories' outdoor show (book ahead)
  • Overnight in Hoi An
9
DAY
Day 9 of 9
Departure from Da Nang
  • Breakfast, relax and check out
  • Transfer to Da Nang Airport for the flight home
Good to Know

Best time to go

November brings dry, mild weather across the north and central coast — comfortable for the bay cruise, Ninh Binh boat trips and Hoi An evenings.

Getting around

Grab and Xanh SM ride apps cover the cities. Scooters are the ideal way to see Ninh Binh's karst backroads and the Hai Van Pass; hotels and homestays arrange day rentals.

Book shows in advance

The Hanoi water puppet show, Lune Theatre bamboo circus in Hoi An and the 'Hoi An Memories' outdoor spectacle all sell out — reserve tickets before you travel.

Vegetarian dining

Vegetarian food is easy across the route: dedicated veg spots in Hanoi's Old Quarter, homestay meals in Ninh Binh, and full veg menus on the cruise and in Hoi An.

Pace and transfers

The north-to-central flow uses an early Ninh Binh transfer, a cruise pickup and a short evening flight from Haiphong to Da Nang — build in buffer time so the cruise-to-airport connection stays relaxed.

Make this trip yours

Every Tripcuro itinerary is planned from scratch around your dates, pace and budget — this sample shows the level of detail you'll get.

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