City Breaks
Start Planning Today
Our travel specialists are ready to design the perfect itinerary for you: whether it's your first time or your fifteenth.
Mon–Fri 09:00am–17:00pm AEST · No obligation · Free expert advice
Description: Upon arrival at Noi Bai Airport and clearing all customs procedures, please proceed to exit gate where you guide will be waiting to transfer you to your hotel for check-in. The remainder of the day is at leisure for you to explore at you own pace.
Start Time: 08:00am Duration: 8 Hrs Description: Explore the charming city of Hanoi (Hà Nội), often referred to as the ‘Paris of the East’, with its yellow ochre colonial buildings, tree lined boulevards and scenic lakes. Visit the historic Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, an imposing monument of marble and granite built to house the preserved body of beloved Vietminh leader Ho Chi Minh, affectionately known to the Vietnamese as 'Uncle Ho'. Visit the One Pillar Pagoda, a Buddhist Temple built in 1049 of wood in the shape of a lotus blossom and set on a single stone pillar. Continue on to Ho Chi Minh's House nearby, a simple wooden house in a tranquil setting where Ho Chi Minh lived and worked. Some of his belongings are on display and visitors can walk up the steps to see his bedroom. Next, we visit the Temple of Literature, Vietnam’s first National University built in the late 11th Century. This picturesque Temple is an example of well-preserved traditional Vietnamese architecture and is featured on the back of the 100,000 Vietnamese Dong banknote. In the afternoon, visit the fascinating Museum of Ethnology (closed on Monday’s), which houses an extensive collection of traditional costumes and artefacts from Vietnam’s 54 ethnic minority groups. Drive back to central Hanoi for a 1 hour cyclo tour through the famed Old Quarter known for its ‘36 streets of 36 wares’ named after the original 36 artisan guilds that date as far back as the 13th Century. Explore the fascinating maze of back streets, fronted by narrow houses known as 'Tunnel' or 'Tube Houses', built to avoid taxes based on the width of their frontage onto the street, a wonderfully eclectic glimpse into Hanoi street life. Conclude the day by watching an entertaining water puppet performance, a uniquely northern Vietnamese art form said to have originated in the flooded rice fields of the Red River Delta. The show uses colourful wooden puppets to depict scenes of rural life and episodes of national history set to music. Cold Towels and Water will be supplied during the tour.
Start Time: 08:00am Duration: 9 Hrs Description: We depart Hanoi for a two hour drive along the Trang An Landscape Complex in the Ninh Binh Province. Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2014, Trang An is famed for its spectacular landscape of limestone karst peaks, some of which are submerged and surrounded by vertical cliffs. Within the complex, visit Vietnam’s ancient Capital of Hoa Lư, the country’s first centralised feudal state from the end of the 10th Century. While the ancient Citadel has largely disappeared, the Temples of the Dinh and Le Dynasties still stand surrounded by rice paddies. After lunch at a local restaurant in Ninh Binh, we continue to the 3500ha (13.5sq. miles) Van Long Nature Reserve, the largest wetland natural reserve in the Red River Delta. We will enjoy a two hour boat trip taking in the stunning scenes of local villages dotted among the limestone karsts and caves. Bring along binoculars as you may encounter some rare Langurs (monkeys) or birds. We then return to Hanoi (Hà Nội). Cold Towels and Water will be supplied during the tour.
Description: After breakfast at your hotel, you will be met and transferred to Noi Bai Airport for your onward journey or departure flight home. • Alternative Hotel Option Legend Metropole 5* or similar, Hanoi (Hà Nội) 1 x Deluxe Room with Breakfast Daily included. Supplement: AUD $295.00 per person per night. • Optional Extras (Pricing on Request) Morning Hidden Hanoi (Hà Nội) Unlike in Ho Chi Minh where skyscrapers are being built up every year, in Hanoi the changes are at a much slower pace. Hanoi still maintains the landscape and infrastructure of the French colonial period. Take this chance to explore the hidden alleys and corners to observe the life of locals who still keep the old time habits and customs alive. Enjoy street coffee at a traditional coffee shop located near an old village. Walk through alleys so small that only one person can pass at a time. Visit the Nha Chung alley to see the historical Catholic landmarks. Learn about the city’s changes from the viewpoint of a local who has stayed in the same antique house for three generations. Lunch at a subsidy period themed restaurant takes you back in time to truly experience the hidden side of Hanoi. Farming Life Photography Trip Some of the best photography taken is highlighting local life at work. Get your camera ready to capture unforgettable moments of Farmers at the Flower and Vegetable Gardens when they start their first work of the day. Early in the morning, drive 15 kms Southwest of Hanoi to a small Village with a long tradition of Floriculture. Although these days it is one of the last Villages preserving the traditional profession, it is considered the Flower Granary of Hanoi. Let’s snap stunning photos of locals clearing Grass, watering and cutting Flowers and Vegetables and loading up the Motorbike for a ride to the Market. A Day as a Hanoian Hanoians have a way of life that still embodies a hint of something old, traditional and rural. This is what has made Hanoi truly unique in the eyes of travellers. Its rustic charm still rings true and gives this city of millions a quaint charm. Follow our local guide to explore what goes on in a day as a Hanoian. See what they see, sample what they eat, sip what they drink and take part in some daily pastimes that are practiced each day. This is a day truly spent as a local. Make your way through many little stores in Gioi Market where thousands of goods are sold. A ride on a local train from Hanoi suburb back to the centre provides a window into local transportation. You will embrace a ‘non-touristy’ route and have the chance to engage with locals as you make yourself a true Hanoian. Hanoi After Dark by Vintage Vespa We start this exhilarating evening at a nice café in the Town Centre, with views of the amazing St Joseph’s Cathedral and try snacks from a nearby Street Vendor before hopping on the back of our Vespas. We weave through narrow Streets of the Old Quarter before arriving at a fascinating local joint located mere centimetres away from the Railroad tracks, where we will brief about the local setting of Hanoi. The next stop is gastronomical heaven as we taste the quintessential dish of Hanoi, before making our way along West Lake to taste another local specialty and learn the art of Wrap ‘n’ Roll, Vietnamese style! The night ends at a live music venue. A live band will wow you with a truly unique blend of styles! • Travel Information Visa Requirements: Please ensure your passport is valid more than 6 months from the date of return for every country you are visiting. Please also ensure there is sufficient space in your passport to allow for all immigration procedures, taking note that some South East Asian countries take up a full page for the visa sticker and need yet more space on a separate page for entry and exit stamps. Kindly note that visa service is not included in our proposal. Please contact Europe Holidays for any visa service or guidance. Please note the following general information is subject to change concerning visas. For Vietnam, a one month single entry visa is available upon arrival with a pre-arranged visa invitation authorisation letter. The visa invitation letter processing time is two weeks, rush service may be available at additional cost. Trip and Travel Insurance: The tour price does not include personal insurance. Travellers are highly recommended to purchase Travel Insurance upon commitment of the booking. Europe Holidays can assist with your travel requirements. Travel Advice for New Year: If your dates of travel fall during Tet, the Vietnamese New Year (17-22 Feb, 2026), travellers who are visiting larger cities like Saigon or Hanoi may encounter empty streets and deserted parks as Vietnamese people return to their home town to celebrate the New Year with their families. Most businesses are closed during TET holiday.
