Day One: Hanoi – Haiphong – Halong Bay – Lan Ha Bay
8:00 – 8:30 You will be greeted at your hotel to take the new highway to Got Ferry Terminal, Cat Hai Town, Haiphong City (if book our shuttle bus). You will travel on the longest bridge in Southeast Asia and be greeted at our lounge before boarding.
12:30 Board the Heritage Cruises boat and enjoy a welcome drink as you receive a cruise briefing, safety instructions and check in to your suite. Lunch is served at L’Indochine Restaurant.
12:40 Cruise to Da Chong islet, where you can see a heritage lighthouse built by the French more than 100 years ago. After lunch, cruise to Gia Luan Lagoon where limestone karst formations rise out of the sea. This quiet bay is untouched and remote, as not many cruise ships visit.
15:30 Approach the Ba Trai Dao beaches in Lan Ha Bay, a natural frontier between two provinces, Halong Bay and Cat Ba Archipelago. This is a secret hideaway with its pristine beaches, caves and coves, plus the natural beauty of about 400 limestone islands. Options include kayaking or swimming.
17:30 Head back to the cruise ship and grab a cocktail to watch the sunset over the Gulf of Tonkin.
18:30 Options include a tea ceremony, massage, or a Vietnamese traditional cookery class.
19:30 A memorable dining experience at the restaurant features local delicacies in an intimate setting.
21:30 Relax at the top-deck bar, try your hand at squid fishing. The bars are open late.
Day two: Halong Bay – Bai Tu Long Bay Hideaway
6:15 Practice Vovinam on the sundeck at sunrise, followed by coffee, tea and pastries.
8:30 Transfer to a speedboat to visit Viet Hai Village. Take a bicycle ride through a rainforest tunnel that leads to a rice-field vista. Visit a traditional house in a village deep in a national park where you can observe the lifestyle of the local people. Lunch is served in a restaurant at Viet Hai Village. Then, back to the speedboat to visit Bai Tu Long Bay.
13:30 Visit Bai Tu Long Bay where you can go bamboo boating, kayaking at Ba Ham Lake, enclosed by vertical cliffs (if the weather permits).
16:00 Return to Heritage Cruises and join a traditional cookery class. Watch the sunset over the Gulf of Tonkin and enjoy cocktails, beer or fine wine as the sky changes color.
19:30 Enjoy a fine-dining experience in the main restaurant.
21:30 Relax at the top-deck bar, try your hand at squid fishing. The bars are open late.
Day three: Expedition day on the Cat Ba Island, Lan Ha Bay and its floating village.
10:00 After a brunch de luxe, go by speedboat to the Gia Luan seaport and disembark to explore the largest island in the Gulf of Tonkin, Cat Ba.
10:30 Our driver and tour guide will meet you to drive you into the lush rainforest and scenic karst landscapes where you will stop to visit the largest cave, Trung Trang Cave, or Quan Y Cave close to Cat Ba National Park.
11:30 Head to the center of the island, join the locals at the market, and learn how Nuoc Mam (Fish Sauce) is produced, a favorite of the Vietnamese, at the fisheries factory.
13:00 Have lunch at local restaurant in the center of the island.
14:00 You can enjoy swimming from the Cat Co before heading back to Beo seaport.
15:15 Detour to the Beo seaport where the speedboat will be waiting to take you out to explore Lan Ha floating village, the largest floating village in the Gulf of Tonkin, and relish the beauty of Lan Ha Bay.
16:00 Your adventure on land and waters ends, and you are transferred back to Heritage Cruises.
1600-19:00 Free time to enjoy the swimming pool and enjoy a cocktail or glass of wine at the Pool Bar while the sun sets over the bay.
19:00 Dinner will be served at Le Tonkin Restaurant.
21:30 Relax at the top-deck bar, try your hand at squid fishing. The bars are open late.
Day four: Halong Bay – Hanoi
6:15 Start the day with a session of Vovinam on the sundeck
6:45 Have a light breakfast on board
7:15 Head off in a bamboo boat to explore the Dark and Bright Cave.
9:00 – 9:30 Return to the ship for checkout.
10:00 Enjoy brunch while cruising back to harbour.
11:00 Return to Got Harbour and relax at our lounge while your transportation arrives.
12:10 Departure to Hanoi for those who have booked our Limousine service.
14:00 Approximate time of arrival in Hanoi, and drop-off at your hotel.