There’s little scope for visiting these places on your own so it’s wise just to book a trip and take advantage of those with a good knowledge of the area. Tours are surprisingly cheap and professional executed. Halong Bay: is a place renowned for its natural beauty and can be reached from Hanoi in around 3.5 hours by road. A huge area of karst rocks and islets are scattered across the bay, Northeast of Hanoi. Although shrouded in mist for seven months of the year, the whole area presents an astonishing and photogenic experience, especially when see from a replica motorised junk with overnight berths. Ba Vi National Park: a little over an hour’s drive from the city brings with its spectacular views of the Red River Delta. The park has a fascinating eco system which supports a wide variety of flora and fauna many examples of which can be viewed by visitors on an organised tour of the park or by making your own way around. Thay and Tay Phuong Pagodas: organised trips take visitors from Hanoi to some of the most interesting places within the city’s surrounding countryside with the Thay and Tay Phuong Pagodas among the trips most interesting sights. The former structure is in fact a series of small temples while the latter dates back to the 18th century and is famous for its impressive collection of wooden Buddha icons. Chua Huong: otherwise known as the Perfume Pagoda, Chua Huong is a collection of Buddhist temples held sacred by the locals and are the focus of an annual springtime pilgrimage for many of Hanoi’s residents. The temples are about 2 hours out of the city, located in scenic surroundings on the edge of the Huong Son Mountain. To reach the temples, visitors must take a 45-minute boat journey along a small stream which is bordered by rice paddies and other interesting sights. Handicraft Villages: situated at Bat Trang, the first handicraft village provides visitors with the chance to observe the ancient processes involved with the production of ceramics. Craftspeople working at the village are invariably from families who have been involved in ceramics for many generations. A second village located at Duyen Thai focuses on the production of lacquered bamboo products while a third at Quat Dong specialises in embroidery. | 
