🌿 Trang An – Bai Dinh Pagoda Full-Day Tour (with Homestay in Ninh Binh)

Explore a UNESCO-listed natural and spiritual wonder of Vietnam

Located in the heart of Ninh Binh province, the Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex is a recognized UNESCO World Heritage Site. This eco-tourism destination covers over 2,000 hectares and includes sacred sites like Hoa Lu Ancient Capital, a network of mysterious caves, and the majestic Bai Dinh Pagoda – one of the largest spiritual complexes in Southeast Asia, home to hundreds of intricately crafted Buddhist statues.

This full-day tour offers a perfect mix of history, culture, and nature, making it one of the most unforgettable Vietnam tours for travelers seeking authentic countryside experiences.

🗓 Itinerary

8:00 – 8:30 AM: Pick-up from your hotel in Hanoi’s Old Quarter. Begin a scenic 2-hour drive through the northern countryside to Ninh Binh province.

10:30 AM: Arrive at Bai Dinh Pagoda – Vietnam’s largest pagoda complex. Explore its awe-inspiring Buddhist architecture and admire hundreds of statues, including a 10-meter-high bronze Buddha.

12:30 PM: Enjoy a traditional lunch at a local restaurant, featuring regional Ninh Binh specialties such as goat meat dishes.

1:30 PM: Head to the nearby Trang An Scenic Landscape for a relaxing boat trip along the Trang An River. Marvel at towering limestone karsts, hidden temples, and cave systems. The tranquil journey, lasting 2–3 hours, is rowed by friendly locals and reveals some of the most stunning scenery in Vietnam.

4:30 PM (approx.):Transfer to your peaceful local homestay in Ninh Binh village. Take time to relax, immerse yourself in local life, and enjoy the quiet charm of the countryside.

🌟 Highlights:

• Discover the ancient and spiritual grandeur of Bai Dinh Pagoda

• Enjoy a traditional lunch with authentic Ninh Binh cuisine

• Rowboat journey through the UNESCO-listed Trang An cave complex

• Experience rural Vietnam with an overnight stay in a cozy local homestay

• A perfect blend of culture, history, and nature in one of the best Vietnam adventure tours

07.45 – 8:30: Our luxury limousine or shuttle bus will pick you up from your hotel in Hanoi and start our trip to explore the most amazing bay in the North of Vietnam. On the way, we will have a quick stop at the middle of the way to rest. This also let you have a glance at Hai Duong Province and taste their traditional “Green bean cake”.

12.30: Arrive in our office at Hon Gai Pier, you will have a bit time to relax and enjoy a cup of tea/coffee. Wait for our captain to finish the registration and transfer by tender to our boat.

12.45: Enjoy welcome drink and spend a couple minutes to briefing about safety on boat and activities included then we check in our cabin.

13.30: Delicious Vietnamese set menu will be served while leisurely cruising further into Bai Tu Long Bay.

15.00: Arrive in kayaking area – that is Cap La Island. Enjoy kayaking through the karst and breathtaking nature, swimming and relaxing.

17.30: Get back to the boat and enjoys our Sunset party while our cruise sailing to the overnight anchorage.

19.00: Sumptuous set-dinner on board.

20.30: Free time to challenge yourself in Vietnamese puzzle games, or gathers your group/family for a board game; try your luck with squid fishing or simply has a cocktail and enjoy the quiet night on the bay.

06.00: Start your day with a Tai Chi routine on sundeck or catch a morning view of the stunning bay’s landscape with a cup of tea or coffee.

07.00: Breakfast will be served in Western style, familiar to you to fulfill your strength and ready for another exploring day.

08.00: Explore the well hidden Thien Canh Son Cave.

09.00: Upon return to the boat you will have about 30 minutes to freshen up and finish packing.

10.00: Attend in a Vietnamese cooking demonstration. You can quickly learn a simple but delicious Vietnamese dish that Gordon Ramsey (a 2 Michelin Star Chef) used to guide – Nem Cuon or challenge yourself in fruit and vegetables carving.

11.00: Enjoy a traditional Vietnamese lunch on boat.

12.00: Back to the harbor and disembark in Hon Gai pier.

12.30: Our shuttle bus or limousine will take you back to Hanoi.

17.00: You will arrive in Hanoi. Then our driver will transfer you to the airport for your flight to Da Nang. Upon arrival, you will be transferred to hotel for check in. Overnight in Hoi An.

A fun, hands-on cultural experience in the heart of Vietnam!

Ever wanted to try your hand at fishing with real local fishermen? Or paddle one of Vietnam’s unique basket boats? This is your chance to dive into a fun-filled, immersive adventure you’ll never forget! Whether you’re a solo traveler, a couple, or a family with kids, this activity promises smiles, laughter, and a true taste of Vietnamese culture.

Join our "Fishermen & the Waterways of a Past War" Tour and enjoy a wide range of experiences:

• 🎣 Learn traditional fishing techniques directly from local fishermen

• 🛶 Paddle a round bamboo basket boat through lush, peaceful coconut waterways

• 🍤 Catch your own fish and let us cook it for you – fresh and delicious!

• 🌴 Explore scenic river landscapes once part of Vietnam’s war-torn past, now serene and full of life

• 🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Gain insight into the daily lives and traditions of coastal communities in Hoi An

This authentic Vietnam tour offers more than just sightseeing – it's a chance to connect with the local way of life through engaging, safe, and exciting hands-on activities for all ages.

Today you will have free time explore Hoi An at your own pace, seeing what interests you. This ancient town is full of Japanese merchant houses and pagodas, temples and antique warehouses. Or just lounge about in a laid-back riverside café on the bank of the Thu Bon River.

Breakfast at hotel, free time for your own leisure then transfer to the airport for your flight to Ho Chi Minh. Upon arrival you will be transferred to the hotel for check in. Overnight at hotel.

HCM – My Tho – Ben Tre – HCM ( start 8.00 – return 17.00 ) Enjoy the scenic journey along the way bordered by green rice fields. On arrived at My Tho, visit Vinh Trang pagoda, take a leisurely boat ride along the river, view the stilt houses, fruit plantations and fishing villages along the river bank. Proceed to Tortoise islet, have lunch in the orchard garden. Then a boat ride to An Khanh – a less touristy attraction in Ben Tre, enjoy cruising on a hand-rowed sampan under the shadow of the water coconut trees along natural canals, then enjoy seasonal fruit & honey tea to the sound of "Southern Vietnamese folk music", performed by locals.

Visit a family business which epitomizes the idyllic rural lifestyle, taste the delicious coconut candy & observe the pastoral life as you roam through the fruit plantation and village. Meet the bus and return to HCMC. This trip provides a fascinating insight into daily life in the Mekong Delta and you are guaranteed to take home your own private collection of beautiful memories. Overnight at hotel.

Located 60km from HCMC, Cu Chi is now a popular spot for both Vietnamese & foreign tourists - the network of over 200km of tunnels became legendary when they played a vital role in the War. In their heyday, the tunnels were functioning underground cities including numerous trap doors, specially constructed living areas, storage facilities, weapons factories, field hospitals, command centers & kitchens.

Today, ducks and water buffalos happily co-exist in the rivers along the side of the road. However, the peaceful rural rice paddy scenery belies the area’s violent history. Visitors will find it hard to imagine the destruction, damage & defoliation over this whole area, caused by bombing and mines. There is plenty of evidence of the fierce battle that took place here during the 1960s when Cu Chi was a "Free Target Zone".

Start our tour in the morning, before entering the tunnels visitors can watch a short introductory video showing how the tunnels were constructed. You will spend the next hour exploring the tunnels. Afterwards, enjoy tea, cassava (guerrilla’s food during the war). Return to Sai Gon.

Have breafkast at hotel. Then you will get morning bus to Phnom Penh. The journey will take from 5.5 - 6 hours via Moc Bai Border. Upon arrival, Pick up from the bus station and transfer to the hotel check in. Overnight in Phnom Penh.

Breakfast at the hotel - Visit National Museum, over 5000 objects are on display including Angkorian era statu, lingas and other artifacts and followed by visit Wat Phnom Temple is one of the most important pagodas in Phnom Penh. Built in 1373 on an artificial hill by the wealthy widow Daun Chi Penh. Afternoon, visit the “Killing Fields” of Choeng Ek (15 km south of Phnom Penh). Between 1975 and 1978 about 17,000 men, women, children and infants (including nine westerners) were detained and tortured at the S-21 prison and transported to extermination camp of Choeng Ek and followed by visit Tuol Sleng Museum (S-21 prison). This former school was used as a prison by Pol Pot’s security forces. More than 17,000 people held at S-21 were taken to the extermination camp at Choeng Ek to be executed.

Have breafkast at hotel. Then you will get morning bus to Siem Reap. The journey will take from 5.5 - 6 hours. . Upon arrival, Pick up from the bus station and transfer to the hotel check in. Overnight in Siem Reap.

After breakfast, visit to The South Gate of Angkor Thom: Bayob Temple, The Royal Enclosure, Phimeanaka, Elephant and Leper King Terrace. Continue visit to Ta Promh (the jungle temple. After lunch, visit to Thommanan, Chaosay Tevoda, Ta Keo: small, attractive temple in very good condition, built all the same time as Angkor Wat. Continue to Angkor Wat: The “7th Wonders’of the World”. World Heritage Site since 1992, famous for its beauty and splendor. Angkor Wat features the longest continuous bas-relief in the world, which runs along the outer gallery walls and narrates stories from Hindu mythology. Continue visit to Bakheng Hill: Sunset viewing on the top of the hill. Bakheng is the first major temple to be constructed in the Angkor area; this temple-mountain offers extraordinary views. Overnight in Siem Reap.

Breakfast at hotel, free time for your own leisure till our driver come to pick you up to airport. Trip ends