Overnight in Hanoi. Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum, the Palace of the former Governor of Indochina, the wooden stilt house where Ho Chi Minh lived for the last years of his life and the One Pillar Pagoda. In the afternoon transfer by road to Haiphong, Vietnam's third largest city. Haiphong still has many impressive examples of classic European colonial architecture in its town centre and after lunch there is time for a city tour before continuing to Halong. Transfer to hotel on arrival.
Dinner is in a local restaurant.
Overnight in Halong. A morning cruise in a private junk on the emerald green waters of Halong Bay, among the 3,000 spectacular limestone islands. The cruise ends with a fresh seafood lunch on board. Return to Hanoi by road in the afternoon. In the evening, before dinner at a local restaurant, experience a traditional form of entertainment in northern Vietnam at a water puppet show.