SE Asia Tour Packages
§ World Heritage -
.. Indochina
§ Vietnam Complete
§ Laos Discovery
§ Cambodia Essence
§ Vietnam Essence

'Mix & Match' Tours
§ City of Hanoi
§ Pagodas & History
§ Ha Long Bay & Yen Tu
§ Ancient Capitals
§ Northern Highlands
§ Cao Bang & Lang Son
§ Central Highlands
§ Hue Monuments
§ Cham Discovery
§ Mekong & the South
§ Cu Chi & Tay Ninh
§ Ho Chi Minh City

Tell us about your particular interests, and we'll take you to places only the local guides know. Whether it's active travel, sun worship, study tours, Vietnam War sites, or satisfying your culinary curiosity, Mikeland welcomes a challenge!

Home > "Mix & Match" Tours > Ha Long & Yen Tu

Day 1: Hanoi – Yen Tu - Sau Do
This trip to the east of Hanoi takes you to the foot of Yen Tu Mountain, a scenic spiritual retreat that draws 150,000 Buddhist pilgrims a year, but is often overlooked by foreign tours. The Tran kings (13th and 14th centuries) came here to seek the wisdom of the monks who lived on the mountainside. The great king Tran Nhan Tong founded the Truc Lam monastery and retired to teach and practice here after his victory over Kublai Khan's armies.

The king's tomb and several temples are dotted along this mountainside where thousands of Vietnamese come as pilgrims to pay their respects. The profile of the mountain is steep and awe-inspiring, but your visit can be considerably eased by taking the cable car to Tran Nhan Tong's tomb and temple.

If you're in relatively good shape, it will only take you a couple of hours to see the other temples of the lower circuit. Along the way, you'll be rewarded by remarkable vistas of steep mountain slopes and distant cloud-shrouded ridges. If you're truly feeling adventurous and have strong legs and a good spirit, you can even hike to the small temple at the very top of the mountain (1,068 meters/3,500 feet above sea level). Overnight in the town of Sau Do.

Day 2: Ha Long Bay - Hanoi
From Sau Do, you'll be driven to Ha Long Bay, a World Heritage site and one of the most unforgettable landscapes of Southeast Asia. The Bay encompasses 3,000 steep karst islands that many will recognize as the hideaway for the fugitive lovers in the movie Indochine. You'll be able to take in the view at your leisure, traveling by boat through this photographer's paradise, stopping for a swim or visiting one of the spectacular limestone caverns.

Overnight in Ha Long Bay.

Day 3: Ha Long Bay – Haiphong
From Ha Long Bay, you'll proceed by car and ferry to the port city of Haiphong. Along the way, you'll stop at the "Stake-Yard" in Yen Giang Lagoon. This is a historical site where archeologists have uncovered many of the sharpened stakes that were planted in the bottom of the Bach Dang River as a part of the successful ambush of Kublai Khan's invasion army in 1288.

You'll have time in the afternoon to catch some of the sights of Haiphong, whether shopping at one of its markets or visiting one of its historical pagodas. In particular, you might want to see the Dong Ha Pagoda, founded by monks of the Truc Lam school of Buddhism (see Day 1). Overnight in Haiphong.

Day 4: Haiphong - Hanoi
From Haiphong, we'll whisk you back to Hanoi in time for lunch.

• Are you an active traveller? We can arrange for you and your guide to explore Ha Long by sea kayak.
• On the way to Yen Tu Mountain, let your guide know if you want to stop at the temple and small museum that honors the great prince, Tran Hung Dao.
• Take an extra day to explore Lan Ha Bay, famous for its primitive islands, crescent beaches, tidal caves and crystal-clear coves. If you like adventure travel, we can arrange a kayak and tent camping on Ba Cat Islet.
• Add our 2-day city tour of Hanoi at the beginning or end of your trip. The Hanoi tour will include a visit to the History Museum, which has many artifacts and displays that explain the importance of places such as the Chi-Lang Pass and the Bach Dang River.