A Great Trip To Halong Bay - Hanoi - Ninh Binh
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We found a local tour operator through good reviews on the Internet. Initially, we only wanted to book a Halong Bay day trip but the service, suggestions and price we received via email was so good that we ended up booking the hotel, the airport-hotel transfer and the Halong Bay day trip. We emailed different local tour operators for the Halong Bay day trip but none matched the good service and price.
We were received at the airport by a very friendly guide. The mini bus for us was in very good condition. We were sent to our hotel in the old town of Hanoi on Ma May street.
Our Halong Bay day trip was a private trip. We had the mini bus and the boat to ourselves. The seafood lunch served on the boat was good and the cruise through the bay and the visit to Thien Cung Grotto ("heavenly palace" cave) were enjoyable. We took some amazing pictures.
We were so happy with the Halong Bay day trip so we went on to book a Hanoi City tour and a Ninh Binh day trip.
Our Hanoi City tour included the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, Residence and Museum, One Pillar Pagoda, Hoa Lo Prison (Hanoi Hilton), a great lunch, Vietnam Enthnology Museum and Temple of Literature. We were back at the hotel around 4.15pm, rested for 2 hours, then tour guide picked us up again with the minivan. We went to Le Mat the "snake village" just outside the city for a snake dinner in a restaurant with elegant Chinese style dining halls. It was a unique experience.
Our Ninh Binh day trip included the Bai Dinh Pagoda (the biggest in South East Asia, Hoa Lu the ancient capital and an almost two hours local small rowboats (sampan) cruise through Tam Coc the "Halong Bay on land". We passed through three low caves where we could reach up and touch the ceiling.
We did some sight-seeing on our own such as exploring the old town (using the walking tour from Frommers.com), the Hoan Kiem Lake and an evening show at the Thang Long Water Puppet Theater. We also tried Hanoi's famous fried fish at Cha Ca La Vong at no. 14 Cha Ca steet in the old town. Beware of imitation restaurants on Cha Ca street, they even claimed that they are no. 14 when the real Cha Ca La Vong is just across the road! The price at Cha Ca La Vong is high but the authentic experience (you cook and mix the dish yourself at the table) and great taste is worth it. We ordered Cha Ca at another restaurant and the price is half but it is nothing near what we had at Cha Ca La Vong.
We really enjoyed this Hanoi trip and had some great new experiences. Our 5 days 4 nights private and customized trip was cheaper with a more interesting itinerary and more sights than 4 days 3 nights package trips offered by the tour agencies in our country.
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Reviews from Customers
Please take a look at the following reviews from our customers
James Madison
08/31/2018
Excellent experience
It was an experience, that you will never forget, how it would have been during the war, with no light, food and much air and space. If you are able it is definitely worth going in the tunnel. It is not very long and a little bit of light and air. We will come back Cu Chi Tunnels again
James Madison
08/31/2018
Excellent experience
It was an experience, that you will never forget, how it would have been during the war, with no light, food and much air and space. If you are able it is definitely worth going in the tunnel. It is not very long and a little bit of light and air
Sow Fung
07/15/2015
Great time with the Halong bay & Bai Tu Long bay
Hello Hung ! A big hello from the us. We are checked into Queen hotel and also have been given free access to the internet for 1 night! Thank you for getting a wonderful trip - we had a lot of fun with the Halong Bay and Bai Tu Long Bay cruise, as well since the memorable "picnic" on the actual private beach with white We will have some more days to explore this particular exotic city you known as home, and will be bringing back around many fond of reminiscences Take care Sow Fung & Laurence.
Lucie & Ruud
07/15/2015
Memorial trip Vietnam
Hi Nam, As promised some pictures from the great trip to Vietnam. We'd a marvelous time and also have good memories to your countrie and also the people there. We enjoyed the trip greatly, you did a great job. Say hello towards the driver. Greatings from Lucie as well as Ruud.
Martin - Denmark
07/15/2015
Thank you
Hello Giang What a nice surprise to know from you. Here in little Denmark we're approching the authum and also the weather is not such as in Vietnam: -( the sun i shinning however the tempeture is only 5 C so it's the beginning to obtain colder.As you know the two of us started on our brand new jobs on September 17 and sofar it's been a very good but additionally very busy period for that both of us. We really enjoyed our vacation in Vietnam and much because of your effort in telling all of us about Vietnam and bringing us nearer to the local Vietnam lifestyle. I promised you an image of our house as well as I enclosed one within this mail. Next week we are experiencing some very good buddies visiting us and by then I must finalize the "video" of all of the about 1100 pictues that people took during our journey. But right now it's a video lasting over two hours so I will need to shorten it for almost 1 hour. But we have some excellent memories connected to nearly every picture - so that isn't a very easy job. I took the freedom to send two of those to you here additionally. We are "in our minds" ready planing the next day at Vietnam but we don't know when it will end up being yet - but if it rises north don´t worry we will demand you. I hope this particular mail goes well. We both whish you best wishes for the future and we don't doubt that you together with your skills will acchive your own goal. Yours sincerly Helle as well as Martin.
Mr. James Duffy - Program Manager - Indian
07/15/2015
Thank you for your sense of responsibility, courtesy and your hospitality
Dear Mr. Dzung Nguyen, Regards. I must thank you for the sense of responsibility, courtesy as well as your hospitality, which enhance image of the country. I started loving your country as well as your countrymen. When I investigated your vietnam history, I'm really amazed. Covey my thanks to your company for having provided a great service for my vietnam visit. I have not given anything great like a quantity of business. However, You respected me and encouraged me to return again to Vietnam, after i first time could not enter your country. I would always remember you and getting excited about your visit to Indian. Thanks a lot. Your own truly,
Chin Choo
07/15/2015
Wonderful time in Hanoi and Halong Bay
Dear Phu Hope this postal mail finds you well. I returned to Malaysia last 7 days. I had a wonderful amount of time in Hanoi and Halong Bay. Thanks to the nice people who I met during the trip in addition to thanks to you to be such a wonderful visit guide. I will certainly visit Hanoi again. I attach a few of the photos which I took throughout the Halong Bay trip that you should see. How are things along with you? That's all for right now. Regards Chin Choo.
Alicia
07/15/2015
Thank you for wonderful Hanoi & Halong Bay trip
Hello Giang, Just wanted to give you thanks for taking our team (St John Bosco) close to Hanoi and Ha Long Bay. You taught us a lot and we all skipped you after we remaining for Sapa. There is really a photo attached to this email for you personally. Hope you are nicely, from Alicia.
Erika and Bruno.
07/15/2015
Good time in Vietnam
Hi Sing! Hello Chochichäschtli! (The new word that you simply lerned about the furniture within the kitchen) Howe are you? We had a excellent time in Vietnam. The north part as well as the area in the southern was very interesting. Concerning the weather we are lucky because we'd always sunny days as well as hot. Now we're in the cold Switzerland. Any days ago we'd for this wintertime the first snow. Best regards and a great time whithout rain!! Silvia as well as Pius Erika and Bruno.
