Be it a private trip in a rental car or a coordinated trip in a small group, a day trip to the tranquil and spectacular Tamcoc and Hoa Lu is something you cannot avoid when you are in Hanoi. It will bring a whole lot of different dimensions in your tour about the ancient Vietnam and the life of the local people. It is approximately a 2.5-hour trip to Tam Coc or Hoa Lu from Hanoi and pick-ups are usually done at around 8:00 – 8:30 am from the hotels. Both Tam Coc and Hoa Lu are in the Ninh Binh province. Some companies prefer to start the journey to Hoa Lu which used to be the first capital of ancient Vietnam. When you reach Hoa Lu, visit temples of Dinh Dynasty from 968-1009 AD and the old citadel, which once covered 3 sq km. The citadel is mostly destroyed by now.

In the late morning, head out to Tam Coc for a lunch break followed by a serene and gentle ride in a traditional sampan along the Hoang Long River. Just relax and watch the spectacular landscape around you; you will see the farmers are working in the paddy fields those nestled in the foothills of the Ninh Binh Mountains. End the day with an afternoon tea or coffee before heading back to the hotel.