Itinerary
- Day 1
Hanoi
Your driver meets you at the airport and takes you to your hotel for check-in. After settling in, the rest of the day is open for you to walk around and get a feel for Vietnam at your own pace.
- Day 2
Hanoi to Ha Long Bay
After breakfast at the hotel, you're picked up and driven to Ha Long City where you'll board your cruise ship. Once settled in your cabin, lunch is served while you sail past thousands of limestone islands. The afternoon brings a hike up Titop Island for views of the bay, followed by time to kayak and swim. Later, join other guests for the sunset party on deck, and then sit down to dinner prepared by the ship's chef.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast at the hotel), Lunch (Specially prepared lunch while cruising through Ha Long Bay), Dinner (Special dinner cooked by professional chef)
Included Activities
- Breakfast at hotel
- Check-out assistance
- Ha Long Cruise boarding and check-in
- Lunch on cruise
- Cruising through Ha Long Bay
- Visit Titop Island with hiking to summit
- Kayaking and swimming
- Sunset party on sundeck with traditional costumes
- Special dinner prepared by chef
Optional Activities
- Squid fishing during night time
Landmarks/POIs Ha Long Bay Titop Island - Day 3
Ha Long Bay to Hanoi
The morning starts early with sunrise photos and tai chi led by a master on deck. After breakfast, you'll explore Surprising Cave, which many consider the most beautiful in Ha Long Bay. Cruising continues past hundreds more islands before you take a cooking class on board. Enjoy a farewell lunch and then head back to Hanoi by bus.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast with coffee, tea, and fruits on cruise), Lunch (Farewell lunch served on cruise)
Included Activities
- Sunrise photography
- Morning tai chi exercises with master
- Breakfast on cruise
- Visit Surprising Cave
- Cruising through Ha Long Bay
- Cooking class on cruise
- Farewell lunch on cruise
Landmarks/POIs Surprising Cave - Day 4
Hanoi to Ninh Binh
Your guide meets you in Hanoi Old Quarter and you head south toward Ninh Binh province. First stop is Hoa Lu, Vietnam's ancient capital from the 10th century, where you'll see temples with unique architecture and palace ruins. Then it's on to Tam Coc for lunch at a local spot before boarding sampan boats. You'll float through caves and past villages with mountains and rice fields all around, returning to Hanoi that evening.
- Meals
- Lunch (Lunch in nice restaurant nearby Tam Coc)
Included Activities
- Tour guide meeting at Hanoi Old Quarter
- Visit Hoa Lu ancient capital
- Visit temples of Dinh and Le dynasties
- Learn about ancient culture and royal palace ruins
- Lunch at restaurant in Tam Coc
- Sampan boat ride in Tam Coc
- Cave passage through Hang Ca, Hang Hai, and Hang Ba caves
Landmarks/POIs Hoa Lu Tam Coc Hang Ca Cave Hang Hai Cave Hang Ba Cave - Day 5
Hanoi to Luang Prabang
Start with breakfast at your hotel, then your guide takes you to Tran Quoc Pagoda on West Lake and Ho Chi Minh's complex, which includes his stilt house and the One Pillar Pagoda. The Ethnology Museum comes next so you can learn about Vietnam's 54 ethnic groups. After lunch at a restaurant in Old Quarter, you're driven to the airport for your flight to Luang Prabang and transfer to your hotel.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast at hotel), Lunch (Lunch in local restaurant in Hanoi Old Quarter)
Included Activities
- Breakfast at hotel
- Visit Tran Quoc Pagoda
- Visit Ho Chi Minh's complex
- Visit Ho Chi Minh's stilt house
- Visit One Pillar Pagoda
- Visit Ethnology Museum
- Lunch at local restaurant in Hanoi Old Quarter
Landmarks/POIs Tran Quoc Pagoda Ho Chi Minh's Complex One Pillar Pagoda Ethnology Museum - Day 6
Luang Prabang
After breakfast, you cruise upstream on the Mekong River to reach Pak Ou Caves, a 16th-century cave monastery with thousands of Buddha images inside. A stop at Ban Muang Keo village shows you how traditional Lao rice whisky is made. Back in Luang Prabang, you'll visit Wat Sene and Wat Xiengthong with its famous two-tiered roof and ornate mosaics. If there's time, check out Ban Xangkhong Thai Lue village for arts and crafts or Ban Xiengleks for traditional Saapape making.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast at hotel)
Included Activities
- Breakfast at hotel
- Mekong River cruise upstream
- Visit Pak Ou Caves
- Stop at Ban Muang Keo for traditional rice whisky distilling
- Visit Wat Sene
- Visit Wat Xiengthong
Optional Activities
- Visit Traditional Art and Ethnology Center (closed on Monday)
- Visit Ban Xangkhong Thai Lue village for arts and crafts
- Visit Ban Xiengleks for traditional Saapape making
Landmarks/POIs Pak Ou Caves Ban Muang Keo Wat Sene Wat Xiengthong Ban Xangkhong Ban Xiengleks - Day 7
Luang Prabang Departure
Wake early to watch Buddhist monks gather their daily meals from residents in the sacred alms giving tradition that dates back to the 14th century. Visit the morning market, then return for breakfast at your hotel. You'll tour Wat Sene and Wat Xiengthong to see their distinctive low-sweeping roofs that represent classical Laotian architecture. Later, head to Kuang Si Waterfalls, the largest in the area with three tiers and a 50-meter drop into clear pools. The optional Bear Rescue Center visit comes before your transfer to the airport for departure.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast at hotel)
Included Activities
- Morning alms giving ceremony with Buddhist monks
- Visit temporary morning market
- Breakfast at hotel
- Visit Wat Sene
- Visit Wat Xiengthong
- Visit Kuang Si Waterfalls
Optional Activities
- Visit Bear Rescue Center
- Swimming in Kuang Si pools
Landmarks/POIs Wat Sene Wat Xiengthong Kuang Si Waterfalls Bear Rescue Center
