8:30 AM: Begin your journey from Hanoi, enjoying views of daily life in Vietnamese villages along the way. Arrive at Duc Wharf, board your private sampan and relax on a 1.5-hour journey down the serene river. Along the way, make a stop at Den Trinh (Temple of Representation) to admire this sacred site. Continue further down the river and arrive at the base of Huong Tich Mountain. A stone path leads you to Thien Tru (The Heaven Kitchen Pagoda), a 17th-century temple dedicated to the Goddess Quan Am. Begin a rewarding trek up to Huong Tich Grotto (Pagoda of the Perfumed Vestige), located in one of the most stunning grottoes in Vietnam. This famous Buddhist pagoda is a vital spiritual site for Mahayana Buddhists in the country. After descending the mountain, enjoy lunch and then rejoin your sampan for a tranquil two-hour journey back up the stream. Transfer back to your vehicle and return to Hanoi in the late afternoon. End of the trip.