This morning, depart the hotel at 08:00 for a 2.5-hour drive through rural northern Vietnam to the site of Vietnam’s first capital, Hoa Lu. Visit the temples dedicated to Emperor Dinh Tien Hoang of the Dinh Dynasty (968 – 80), and Emperor Le Dai Hanh of the Le Dynasty (980–1009). The ancient Hoa Lu Citadel, most of which has since been destroyed, once covered an area of three square kilometers.
After visiting Hoa Lu, if time and energy levels permit, choose to take a half-hour walk up one of the surrounding limestone karst hills and be rewarded with spectacular views.
In the late morning, depart for a Vietnamese lunch. Along the way, make stops along the way to take pictures of local villages and the surrounding stunning landscape.
After lunch, visit the Trang An Landscape Complex which was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in June 2014.
Take a relaxing boat ride on a peaceful river passing through a series of caves (one of which takes 15 minutes to pass through in darkness). Trang An is a spectacular landscape of limestone karst peaks permeated with valleys, some of which are submerged and surrounded by steep, almost vertical cliffs. As the boat gently slices through the water, notice the enormous limestone karsts jutting out from the green rice fields, giving rise to another name, ‘Halong on Land’. In an eco-tourism area, the only interruptions here are the sound of birds and the gentle paddle of the oar upon the crystal clear river.
If you’re feeling adventurous, climb up to Bich Dong Pagoda on nearby Ngu Nhac Mountain. Dating back to 1428 and comprising three structures: Ha, Trung, and Thuong Pagodas, in ascending order, Bich Dong Pagoda is stunning.
Transfer to the hotel and spend the rest of the afternoon at leisure.
Overnight in Hanoi.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch.

Ninh Binh Hoa Lu citadel