Transfer from Hanoi International Airport/Meeting point to Halong Bay to embark the cruise with a stop for lunch enroute. Cast off in the late afternoon for an evening sailing to drop anchor in a sheltered bay amidst the amazing island scenery.

Morning sail around Halong Bay and beyond with its 1,500 dramatic limestone islands and extraordinary rock formations, dating back 20 million years. We make a stop at Viet Hai Village and continue our journey by mountain bike or electric buggy to visit the village’s vegetable farm and typical village houses. It is a breathtaking trip along a small road winding its way through the limestone rocks. In the afternoon we will continue cruising towards Lan Ha Bay for a visit to a floating fishing house. Weather dependent, we will end the day with cocktails at a beautiful beach in Halong Bay.

Our exploration of Halong Bay continues and we stop at the so called “Dark and Bright Cave”. Take a kayak or a local basket boat rowed by fishermen and enter this remarkable cave into an enclosed area similar to a crater. Bats can be heard in the cave and massive stalagmites hang from the ceiling. In the afternoon, we leave Halong Bay and are enter the river where we drop anchor near Hai Phong.

Observe the lively and interesting life of the Kinh Thay river, a key commercial waterway. Afternoon excursion to Thanh Ha Commune with village walk and a private water puppet show set under shade by a beautiful pond of lotus and lilies. We continue cruising until late evening and drop anchor midstream.

Today we will be cruising towards Hanoi. Enroute, stop at Bat Trang, a ceramic village, in the afternoon. Before returning to your ship after the excursion you will enjoy a traditional unicorn and lion dance at the jetty.

Dropped anchor in the bustling city of Hanoi, passengers will visit some highlights of this Asian metropolis, must see’s like the notorious Vietnam war prison known as the Hanoi Hilton, temple of literature where Confucius did his thinking and the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum. Afternoon walking tour of Hanoi including a visit to a coffee shop where we learn about Vietnam’s famous coffee making industry.

Morning sail through day from Hanoi up the Red River to Viet Tri, not the most picturesque of towns but an excellent base for going deeper into Highland Vietnam. Going ashore we visit a timeless Arcadian Vietnam with emerald green rice paddies punctuated by lime stone rock formations. Of particular interest is the Thay and Tay Phuong Pagodas, hardly known, yet with exquisite temples dating from the 8th and 11th century and home to some fine Buddhist statuary carved from jackfruit trees. Afternoon excursion to a carpenter village. We will arrive in Viet Tri in the evening.

In the morning cruising to Tien Du ferry station to the conical hat making village of Gia Thanh. Take in the sights and sounds of the bustling river with all kinds of craft and activity. By bus we continue to Hung Lo Temple.

Enjoy a day sailing downstream admiring the unspoilt beauty of the Da River. We pass the Ba Vi National Park with its rich and diverse tropical and sub-tropical flora and fauna before arriving at Hoa Binh. We will visit the UNESCO praised village of Duang Lam.

Hoa Binh was the site of a major battle with the French in 1951 & 1952 and is home to the Muong ethnic group.This morning we will take a boat ride on the reservoir of Hoa Binh power station and visit a local village and tonight you will enjoy the traditional performance of local hill tribe people.

Disembark after breakfast (08.30am) and visit a museum and local village where villagers still wear traditional dresses. Lunch will be served at a local restaurant, followed by a transfer to Hanoi airport or drop off point Pan Pacific Hotel Hanoi.