Dates are flexible. This day-by-day plan is provisional until you choose exact travel dates.
After landing at Noi Bai International Airport, allow roughly 60–90 minutes for immigration, baggage collection, exchanging a little cash, and meeting your driver. The journey to the Hanoi Old Quarter usually takes another 45–75 minutes depending on traffic. For four people with luggage, a pre-booked private transfer is the easiest option, usually around 500,000–800,000 VND per vehicle. Ask to be dropped at the hotel entrance, as some Old Quarter lanes are narrow or pedestrianised.
Keep the afternoon deliberately light: check in, shower, and rest before going out. If the room is not ready, leave bags with reception and use a nearby café for a simple break. A taxi or Grab is useful if the hotel is several blocks inside the Old Quarter.
Later, stroll around Hoàn Kiếm Lake for about an hour. The paths are manageable for children and older family members, and there is no fixed sightseeing schedule to worry about. You can look across toward Ngọc Sơn Temple and visit if everyone still has energy; admission is generally around 30,000 VND, but keep it optional so the first day stays relaxed.
For dinner, continue on foot through the Old Quarter or take a short Grab ride to a vegetarian restaurant or café near Tạ Hiện Street. Vegetarian options are common in Hanoi, but confirm whether dishes contain fish sauce, oyster sauce, or meat stock, and ask for “chay” when ordering. Allow roughly 100,000–250,000 VND per person for a comfortable vegetarian meal with drinks. The area becomes noisy and crowded in the evening, so keep valuables secure and return to the hotel whenever the family is ready; there is no need to add Hanoi Train Street or another distant stop today.
Take a Grab or taxi from your hotel to the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum Complex in Ba Đình, usually around 15–25 minutes from the Old Quarter in normal traffic. Check the official visiting schedule before leaving, as the mausoleum has restricted opening days and hours; queues and security can add time. Dress modestly, avoid bringing large bags or food, and allow around two hours for the grounds, security procedures, and the nearby One Pillar Pagoda. If the mausoleum itself is closed, treat the complex as a flexible stop rather than relying on entry.
Have a relaxed vegetarian lunch at a local restaurant or café in Ba Đình before continuing. A simple meal generally costs around 80,000–180,000 VND per person, with coffee or soft drinks often adding 35,000–70,000 VND. Ask clearly for “chay” (vegetarian), especially if ordering noodles or rice dishes, and confirm whether fish sauce or meat broth is used.
A short 10–15-minute Grab or taxi ride brings you to the Temple of Literature. Spend roughly 60–90 minutes exploring its courtyards, gardens, and stone stelae, keeping the pace comfortable for the family. Admission is typically about 70,000 VND per adult; check current arrangements before visiting, particularly if your travel dates or opening conditions change. Afterwards, return to the hotel for a rest or settle into a café—there is no need to add another museum today.
For dinner, head to Pizza 4P’s Tràng Tiền in the French Quarter, allowing about 1½ hours. Reserve in advance for four people and expect approximately 250,000–450,000 VND per person. The restaurant offers several vegetarian choices, but mention your dietary preference when booking and confirm ingredients when ordering. After dinner, take a gentle walk around Tràng Tiền if everyone still has energy, or return directly to the hotel for an early night.
Once you reach Ninh Bình, go first to Hoa Lư Ancient Capital for an easy introduction to the region. The temple complex is compact, so around 1–1.5 hours is enough for a comfortable family visit without overloading the day. Entry is commonly around 20,000–30,000 VND per person; wear comfortable shoes and clothing that covers shoulders and knees for the temple areas.
Have a relaxed vegetarian lunch around Tam Cốc before checking in. Look for a restaurant that can prepare cơm chay, tofu, vegetables, rice, noodles, or mushroom dishes, and clearly say “vegetarian” or “chay”; for stricter vegetarians, confirm that fish sauce, oyster sauce, and meat stock are excluded. Allow roughly 120,000–250,000 VND per person for a casual meal, and keep some extra time for check-in and a proper rest.
Take the Tam Cốc sampan ride after lunch, allowing about two hours including boarding and waiting time. The route passes through rice fields and between limestone cliffs, with several low caves; boats are generally shared or arranged locally. Bring hats, water, sun protection, and small cash, and keep the pace gentle for younger children or anyone tired from the morning.
Return to your accommodation and leave the late afternoon open. If everyone feels refreshed, borrow bicycles or take a short walk through the Tam Cốc countryside, staying near the hotel and returning before dusk. Otherwise, rest and have an early vegetarian dinner nearby; casual family meals usually cost about 120,000–250,000 VND per person. Ask the accommodation to help pre-order simple chay dishes if nearby restaurants have limited vegetarian choices.
Your pre-booked private car from Ninh Binh should bring you to Tuan Chau International Marina around the cruise’s check-in window. Allow time for luggage handling, registration, and the safety briefing; the exact deadline depends on the cruise operator. Keep passports, medication, swimwear, sun protection, and a change of clothes in a small day bag, as larger luggage is usually handled separately.
Before boarding, reconfirm that all four travellers are receiving vegetarian meals, including lunch, dinner, and breakfast. Tell the cruise company clearly whether this means vegetarian with eggs and dairy or fully vegan, and mention allergies as well. A private Ninh Binh–marina car generally takes about 3–3.5 hours and costs roughly 2,000,000–3,000,000 VND per vehicle, so reserve it in advance and allow a buffer for traffic.
Once aboard the Hạ Long Bay overnight cruise, have the arranged vegetarian lunch and settle into your cabin. Spend the early afternoon on the sundeck or in a shaded seating area, enjoying the limestone karsts rather than trying to add extra sightseeing. Cruise meals are commonly included, while drinks, spa treatments, and premium activities may cost extra; check the inclusions before departure.
If the confirmed route includes Ti Top Island, use it as the day’s only main excursion. The family can swim from the beach or climb the steep steps to the viewpoint, allowing around 1–1.5 hours; younger children should be supervised on the steps and near the water. The stop may be changed or cancelled because of weather, tides, or the operator’s routing, so anyone who prefers not to go can remain on board and enjoy the scenery.
Return to the Hạ Long Bay overnight cruise for dinner and a relaxed evening on deck. Bring light layers, comfortable footwear, and motion-sickness medication if needed; the bay can feel breezy after sunset. Reconfirm the cabin, boarding deadline, vegetarian meal plan, and excursion list before travel, since cruise itineraries and included stops are dependent on the operator and weather.
After arriving in Hanoi, go straight to the hotel for check-in, luggage drop-off, and a proper rest. Keep this part unhurried after the cruise transfer; allow roughly 1½–2 hours for settling in, especially with children. If the room is not ready, ask the hotel to store your bags and use the lobby or a nearby café while you wait.
Take a Grab or taxi to West Lake, ideally around sunset. The Quảng An area is convenient for a short walk beside the water, with cafés where the family can stop for drinks or a light snack. There is no need to attempt the entire lake circuit—45–60 minutes is enough after the morning journey. Budget approximately 50,000–150,000 VND per person for drinks or snacks.
Continue by Grab or taxi to Uu Dam Chay in Hoàn Kiếm for dinner. This is a good evening choice for a vegetarian family, with Vietnamese-style plant-based dishes such as vegetable rolls, tofu, mushrooms, soups, and rice dishes that are easy to share. Reserve ahead if possible, particularly for four people at dinner time, and mention any allergies or whether you avoid eggs and dairy. Allow roughly 150,000–300,000 VND per person, depending on how many dishes and drinks you order.
After dinner, return directly to the hotel and keep the evening free. If everyone still has energy, take a brief walk around the nearby Old Quarter streets, but avoid adding another fixed stop after the long return from Hạ Long City.
Have a relaxed final morning with the family at Café Giảng in the Old Quarter. Its egg coffee is vegetarian, while tea, coffee, and other simple drinks are suitable for anyone who prefers to avoid eggs or dairy. Allow about 45 minutes and expect roughly 50,000–100,000 VND per person. Seating is compact and the café is tucked down a narrow lane, so arriving earlier is more comfortable with children.
Return to the hotel afterward to finish packing and check out. If you need breakfast rather than just drinks, ask the hotel to arrange vegetarian options such as fruit, bread, eggs, noodles without meat, or rice dishes without fish sauce; Vietnamese kitchens often use fish sauce unless you specifically request “chay” (vegetarian).
If the flight is later in the day, take a Grab or taxi to the Vietnam Women’s Museum near Hoàn Kiếm, usually a 10–20-minute ride depending on traffic. Spend around 1½ hours in the galleries, then have a simple vegetarian lunch near the hotel or in the Old Quarter. Allow approximately 80,000–180,000 VND per person for a casual vegetarian meal, and confirm that sauces and broths contain no fish or meat.
Check the museum’s current opening hours before setting out, as schedules can change. Skip this visit if the flight is early or the family would benefit more from a quiet packing morning; with children, leave some time to return to the hotel comfortably rather than filling every minute.
For an international flight, pre-book a private car through the hotel or a reputable transfer company and leave 3–4 hours before departure. The drive to Noi Bai International Airport generally takes about 45–75 minutes, but Hanoi traffic can be unpredictable, so allow time for check-in, immigration, and security. For four people with luggage, a private car is usually the easiest option and commonly costs about 350,000–600,000 VND per vehicle, depending on vehicle size and traffic timing.
Confirm whether the flight departs from Terminal 2, the international terminal, and keep passports and flight details accessible. Ask the driver to drop the family at the correct departure level, and carry a few vegetarian snacks and water for the airport journey.
No packing list attached yet.