rosellem176
Sep 2026
unforgettable experience
hazel and jasmine were very accommodating,they help us in all our needs and provide us with a great tour, good food and happy memories in Vietnam
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TripadvisorHanoi Old Quarter & Ha Long Bay - 4 Days
4.9 on Tripadvisor Licensed international tour operator What makes Meetup different
This journey is real. Yours will be your own version of it.
Four days is not long, so this itinerary spends none of it on logistics.
Hanoi opens on foot. The Old Quarter is a grid of streets named for the trades once worked on them, Hang Gai for silk, Hang Bac for silver, Hang Ma for paper, and most of them still sell roughly what the name says. Hoan Kiem Lake sits in the middle of it, and the city walks around it all day. The second morning is the formal city: Ba Dinh Square, the One Pillar Pagoda, and the Temple of Literature, founded in 1070 and home to Vietnam's first university six years later.
Then the bay. Ha Long holds close to two thousand limestone islands across roughly 1,553 km² of the Gulf of Tonkin, drowned karst towers of a kind found in only a handful of places on earth. You spend five hours among them, walk through two of the largest caves, and eat lunch on deck while the boat keeps moving.
At a glance · this journey as it runs
Duration
4 days, 3 nights
Departs any day, year roundDestinations
2 stops, 1 spots
Ha Long Bay, HanoiTour pace
Medium
Physical rating
Easy
Getting around
Private van + 2 domestic flights
Can be reworked overland if you would rather not flyBest season
October to November, and March to April
Indicative from
From USD 390 per person
Route
Hanoi→Ha Long City→Ha Long Bay→Hanoi
Four days, two cities and one bay, with almost no dead time between them. Hanoi comes first and gets a night and a morning: the 36 guild streets of the Old Quarter still named for what was sold on them, Hoan Kiem Lake at the centre of it, and Ba Dinh Square and the Temple of Literature on the second morning. Then east on the expressway, 175km and about two and a half hours to Ha Long City, where you sleep on the mainland rather than at anchor. The following morning is the bay itself: five hours aboard among limestone islands that rise straight from the water, into the Thien Cung and Dau Go caves, and back to Hanoi by mid-afternoon. It is the short version of the north, and it works because nothing on it is rushed except the map.
About this trip
This journey takes you through the distinct rhythms of Northern Vietnam, starting in Hanoi, a capital where history breathes through a captivating maze of ancient streets. Here, the Old Quarter unfolds as a living museum, its narrow lanes echoing with centuries of trade where merchants still gather beneath antique brick houses. A gentle cyclo ride through the evening haze brings you to the peaceful shores of Hoan Kiem Lake, the serene heart of the city where locals connect and unwind. The city’s spiritual gravity is felt deeply at the lotus-shaped One Pillar Pagoda and the ancient, quiet courtyards of the Temple of Literature.
Leaving the bustling capital behind, the landscape shifts dramatically as you approach Ha Long Bay. Gliding aboard a traditional junk, you will drift into a world of pure silence, where over 3,000 towering limestone karsts rise majestically from the emerald waters like a cathedral built by the sea. From the historic charm of Hanoi’s guild streets to the mythical, misty horizons of Ha Long, this route offers an unforgettable taste of Vietnam’s natural wonders and cultural soul
The journey, day by day
Written out the way it runs, so nothing is left to your imagination. Read it, note the days you would keep and the ones you would skip, and a local expert reshapes the rest around you.
14:00Upon your arrival at Noi Bai International Airport, welcomed by your English speaking tour guide before transferring to your hotel in Hanoi city for check-in. You will then take an interesting walk around the Old Quarters in Hanoi to see the old-styled narrow streets full of antique brick houses where merchants and artisans gathered to sell their products. You will be amazed by various shopping malls at Hanoi Old Streets, each bears the name of the goods that was specifically traded such as Hang Gai (Silk Street with silk products), Hang Bac (Silver Street with silver products), Hang Ma (Paper Street with paper products) & Hang Go (Wood Street with wood products). Hanoi Old Streets are well-known as your shopping paradise.
From there, it is a short distance to Hoan Kiem Lake - Restored Sword Lake - the heart of Hanoi and the soul of Vietnamese where local people often go for rest, chatting, walking or doing exercises.Before transferring back to your hotel for rest, take an distinctive cyclo ride (30 minutes) around the Old Quarters to discover the daily life of local Hanoians.
18:30Pick up at your hotel and transfer to Cha Ca La Vong Restaurant for famous Vietnam Grilled Fish (Complementary: One bottle of beer per person). Overnight in Hanoi.What this journey includes
This covers the journey as written above. Once your version is set, your local expert confirms in writing exactly what sits inside your quote and what does not, before anything is agreed.
What our guests say
847gayathrin
Sep 2026
Great experience with Meet up Travel
It was such a wonderful experience traveling with the Meet Up Travel team! From the initial planning and itinerary preparation to the actual trip, everything was well organized and smoothly managed. Our sincere thanks to Ms. Macao and Ms. Stella for their excellent support and for making our entire trip so enjoyable and memorable. We truly appreciate all the effort, coordination, and care that went into making this journey an awesome experience.
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Tripadvisor
williamanthonym2026
Sep 2026
Honeymoon trip!
Meetup have made our holiday such a trip to remember, stress free. Kim, Phoenix and the rest of the team have gone above & beyond to make our honeymoon a dream come true. I so love Vietnam💜 thank you so much!😁💜💜💜
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Tripadvisor
Trek63307760434
Sep 2026
Honeymoon holiday
Had the pleasure of Meetup Travel organising our Honeymoon holiday from Hanoi to Da Nang to Ho Chi Minh City. Phoenix was my first point of contact & he organised our itinerary from beginning to end. We were then introduced to his Team Lead Kim who with the rest of her team carried us through our travels answering all our questions everywhere we went. I would highly recommend Meetup Travel to anyone coming to Vietnam. Thank you Kim & your team for a fantastic first time experience in Vietnam.
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Tripadvisor
teresanE7446QJ
Sep 2026
North Vietnam
Experience with the Meetup Team was fabulous. Atmosphere was very warming and cheerful - wants you get to know that there is a whole team to guide you through the days of touring. The crowd size was small and very manageable. Staff were very helpful and solved all problems straight away - making sure you are enjoying your day ahead valued. I would differently use this service again.!!
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Tripadvisor
aleenap231
Sep 2026
Vietnam Trip
We had a wonderful experience with the travel agency during our 7-day trip to Vietnam. From planning and accommodation to transportation and sightseeing, everything was well organised and handled smoothly. The team was supportive, responsive, and always available whenever we needed assistance. Overall, it was a memorable and hassle-free trip, and we would definitely recommend their services to anyone planning a Vietnam holiday.
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Tripadvisor
M9944TClindal
Sep 2026
Beautiful Sapa & Hot Hot Hanoi
Visited Sapa in July 2026, as it is a wedding anniversary holiday, we decided to get a travel agent to plan the whole trip for us. It was a 6D5N trip to Sapa and Hanoi. So Shirley planned the itinerary for us; 3N in Sapa and 2N in Hanoi, with visits to many attractions in Sapa based on our likes and dont..🤭. She is very accommodating to our requests and make amendments to the itinerary during our discussions and also make good recommendations: where to go in July, where to take nice pictures etc etc (and we really took many nice pictures throughout the trip). As weather in July is not ideal, there are places which she advised us against visiting so it will not be wasted trips…truthfully recommendations. Then there was Stella who briefed me through the whole itinerary before our trip so that we are well prepared and also things to look out for while in Sapa and Hanoi as we travelled without a tour guide. That was very helpful as it was our 1st time to Sapa and Hanoi. She also keep checking on us to make sure we were doing fine ourselves, we were at the right locations without any tour guides. The whole experience was seamless from the time we touched down at the airport to the bus journey to Sapa, our trips to all the recommended attractions to our way back to Hanoi and finally back home. During the whole trip it was fuss-free as everything was well arranged for us ie the drivers were on time to pick us and brought us around, the lunch arrangements and access to the attractions etc, it’s all so efficient…we really enjoyed the whole trip and was surprised that all went well with no hiccups 👍. The team did a fantastic job with all the arrangements that made it a delightful holiday for us!! Lastly, the price for the whole package is reasonable with excellent service!
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Tripadvisor
574sharikar
Sep 2026
Family trip to Vietnam
We had a wonderful experience booking our Vietnam trip with the Meetup Travel. From the very beginning, they were extremely supportive, responsive, and helpful throughout the entire journey. Everything was well coordinated, and we truly enjoyed a memorable trip. Coming to Macao, she was the very first person we contacted when we made our initial enquiry. From that first conversation until the end of our trip, the entire journey was absolutely beautiful. She understood what we were looking for, guided us patiently, and made sure everything was taken care of. Another brilliant service from Stellah which is unforgettable. She had gone all the way out to help us and make sure we were comfortable ❤️ We are truly grateful for all the support and care . Highly recommended Meetup Travel for your Vietnam trip
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Tripadvisor
N7329DIedwinp
Oct 2026
Vietnam Tour Sept - Oct 2026
Lynna and Stella provided excellent customer experience from Hanoi to Sa Pa and back to Hanoi. We will definitely get Meetup service again. See you again on Feb 2027!
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Tripadvisor
yosit257
Sep 2026
Vietnam Travel
We had a very pleasant experience during our visit to Vietnam, thanks to the help of Mèetup Travel especially Hana and Hazel who always available answering any questions pre and during travle time. 100% would recommend Hazel and Hana for Vietnam travel.
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Tripadvisor
unnikrishnann2023
Sep 2026
Excellent Vietnam Family Trip with Meet Up
We had a wonderful experience with Meet Up Team during our Vietnam trip. From the initial planning to the completion of the journey, the team was very helpful, professional, and well coordinated. Our itinerary covered Hanoi, Sapa, Ninh Binh, and Halong Bay, and the arrangements were handled smoothly. The hotels, transportation, sightseeing, guides, and Halong Bay cruise were all well organized. The team was always available whenever we needed assistance and made sure everything went according to plan. A special mention to the guides and drivers, who were friendly, punctual, and supportive throughout the trip. The coordination between the different destinations was also excellent, which made the journey comfortable for our group. Overall, it was a memorable Vietnam holiday for our family. Thank you to the entire Meet Up team for the excellent arrangements and coordination. We would definitely recommend them to anyone planning a Vietnam trip.
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Tripadvisor
Getaway52029306358
Sep 2026
Especially thanks to Xeon & Hazel
Thank you, Xeon, Hazel, Krystal, Kim, Stella, and the rest of the Meetup Travel staff for the excellent service, from arranging the trip until the very end of my time in Hanoi and Sa Pa. I was welcomed by the rain when I arrived, but I’m more than happy that the sun came out on my last day here. Despite the rainy season, I still managed to enjoy and make the most of my trip. Vietnam is such a beautiful and lovely country to visit, with so much to experience. For sure, I’ll come back again! 🇻🇳❤️ Take care, and see you again!
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Tripadvisoraleenap231
Sep 2026
Vietnam Trip
We had a wonderful experience with the travel agency during our 7-day trip to Vietnam. From planning and accommodation to transportation and sightseeing, everything was well organised and handled smoothly. The team was supportive, responsive, and always available whenever we needed assistance. Overall, it was a memorable and hassle-free trip, and we would definitely recommend their services to anyone planning a Vietnam holiday.
Posted on
Tripadvisor
208miraha
Sep 2026
SuperB experience
Vietnam was absolutely beautiful, and the people were so warm, kind, and welcoming. 🇻🇳❤️ Booking through Meet Up Travel was also a different experience from the usual travel agency. From the very beginning, I shared my dietary requirements and made quite a number of changes to the itinerary, and they were always so accommodating and patient with all my requests. They even went through the entire itinerary carefully with us to make sure everything was well arranged and the trip would run as smoothly as possible. What I really appreciated was how they were always there whenever we had any questions or needed help. It genuinely felt like having a Vietnamese friend we could turn to throughout the trip someone who was just a message away and always ready to help. Thank you so much for organizing everything and making our trip such a smooth and enjoyable one! We will definitely be visiting Vietnam again, and I would absolutely liaise with you again for our future trips. Thank you once again for taking such good care of us and making the whole experience so memorable! ❤️
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Tripadvisorunnikrishnann2023
Sep 2026
Excellent Vietnam Family Trip with Meet Up
We had a wonderful experience with Meet Up Team during our Vietnam trip. From the initial planning to the completion of the journey, the team was very helpful, professional, and well coordinated. Our itinerary covered Hanoi, Sapa, Ninh Binh, and Halong Bay, and the arrangements were handled smoothly. The hotels, transportation, sightseeing, guides, and Halong Bay cruise were all well organized. The team was always available whenever we needed assistance and made sure everything went according to plan. A special mention to the guides and drivers, who were friendly, punctual, and supportive throughout the trip. The coordination between the different destinations was also excellent, which made the journey comfortable for our group. Overall, it was a memorable Vietnam holiday for our family. Thank you to the entire Meet Up team for the excellent arrangements and coordination. We would definitely recommend them to anyone planning a Vietnam trip.
Posted on
Tripadvisoryosit257
Sep 2026
Vietnam Travel
We had a very pleasant experience during our visit to Vietnam, thanks to the help of Mèetup Travel especially Hana and Hazel who always available answering any questions pre and during travle time. 100% would recommend Hazel and Hana for Vietnam travel.
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Tripadvisor
411abithab
Sep 2026
Unforgettable Vietnam Adventure 💫
Amazing Vietnam trip! ❤️ Everything was perfectly organized, from hotels to tours. Excellent service, smooth arrangements, stress-free and unforgettable experiences throughout.
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Tripadvisor
malum615
Sep 2026
Vietnam Trip
Team Meetup Travel was available throughout the journey at any time. They accommodated every special requests, our time constraints. Entire travel within Vietnam was so effortless. They planned every minute details before we reached zero confusions and full utilisation of time we got both in Sapa and Hanoi. A big thank you to Hynnee, Krystal and Kim from team Meetup Travel for making our time in Vietnam comfortable and enjoyable.
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Tripadvisor
Vinay781
Oct 2026
Awesome visit with the awesomeness of Meetup Travel
We recently travelled to Phu Quoc, Vietnam, with our daughter and had a wonderful experience, thanks to the excellent planning and support provided by Meet Up Travel, Vietnam. From the initial planning to the execution of the trip, everything was handled very efficiently and professionally. The itinerary was well planned, the arrangements were smooth, and the overall experience was comfortable and enjoyable for the entire family. A special mention to Rosie and Hazel, who were extremely supportive, responsive and efficient throughout our trip. They were always available to clarify our questions, address any concerns and ensure that everything went smoothly. Their attention to detail and willingness to help made a significant difference, particularly while travelling with a child. We truly appreciate the efforts of the entire Meet Up Travel team and would happily recommend them to anyone planning a holiday in Vietnam. Our Phu Quoc trip created some wonderful family memories, and Meet Up Travel played an important role in making it a hassle-free and enjoyable experience. Thank you, Rosie, Hazel and the entire Meet Up Travel team for a fantastic experience!
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Tripadvisor
jandanielj2026
Sep 2026
Experience
Great experience with the assist pf ms Evie and Stella
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TripadvisorIs this journey a good starting point for you?
The honest version
The Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum closes on Mondays and Fridays, opens mornings only, and shuts for roughly two months of annual maintenance in autumn. The surrounding complex stays open regardless, and Meetup Travel substitutes the Temple of Literature and the Museum of Ethnology on closed days.
A good starting point if you are
- Travellers with a long weekend, or anyone bookending a longer Asia trip with a few days in Vietnam. It covers the two things almost everyone comes north for, with a private guide throughout and easy walking only. Also a good fit for travellers who would rather sleep in a proper hotel bed than in a cabin.
Say so early if you
- This is a day cruise, not an overnight one. You see the bay in daylight and return to Hanoi the same afternoon, which means you miss sunset and sunrise on the water, the quietest hours out there. If those matter to you, Meetup Travel's overnight cruise itineraries are the better choice. Four days also leaves no room for Ninh Binh, Sapa or anywhere else in the north.
The next step asks for real detail. Your dates, who is travelling, how you like to move, what you would change about this route. It takes a few minutes to fill in, because a local expert writes your itinerary from those answers rather than sending you a file. Nothing is booked or charged at this stage.
Before you get in touch
About 2.5 hours by road, covering roughly 175km via the Hanoi to Hai Phong and Hai Phong to Ha Long expressways. Older guidebooks and many tour listings still say four hours, which reflects the route before the expressway network was completed and is no longer accurate.
There is no train and no flight worth taking. Seaplane transfers operate from Hanoi in about 45 minutes at a considerably higher price. Meetup Travel uses private cars on the expressway, with one comfort stop on the way.
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