Northern Vietnam: The Red River & Ha Long

Transfer from Hanoi to Viet Tri, where your expedition vessel awaits on the Red River. After boarding and settling into your stateroom, the ship begins its journey downstream through the fertile landscapes of northern Vietnam. As the evening unfolds, enjoy a welcome dinner onboard accompanied by traditional Vietnamese dance, an introduction to the culture and spirit of the region. The meeting point for embarkation in Hanoi will be the Pan Pacific Hotel (1 Thanh Nien Road, Ba Dinh Dist., Hanoi 10000, Vietnam) and registration will be at 09:30am in the Song Hong Bar. Please ensure you are checked out and ready on time for our departure at 10:00am. For those not staying at the Pan Pacific Hotel, please ask your hotel reception sto arrange a taxi to the meeting point at 09.30 am for registration.

Meals:  L,D

Today offers an introduction to life in the Red River Delta. Visit Gia Thanh village, renowned for the production of Vietnam’s iconic conical hats, before continuing to Hung Lo Temple where a traditional Hat Xoan folk performance brings centuries-old music and storytelling to life. Later, explore villages known for carpentry and metalworking, where artisans continue traditional craft methods passed down through generations.

Meals:  B,L,D

Sail through tranquil countryside where rice paddies and limestone formations create a timeless rural landscape. Visit Duong Lam, one of northern Vietnam’s best-preserved ancient villages, where narrow lanes and historic homes reflect centuries of rural life. Continue to lesser-known pagodas including Thay and Tay Phuong, celebrated for their remarkable Buddhist statues carved from jackfruit wood.

Meals:  B,L,D

Arrive in Vietnam’s capital, a city rich in history and vibrant street life. Explore highlights such as the Temple of Literature, Vietnam’s first university, and the historic Hoa Lo Prison. Later, wander through the lively Old Quarter where markets, street food vendors and coffee houses create an energetic atmosphere. Return to the ship in the evening after experiencing the cultural and historical heart of northern Vietnam.

Meals:  B,L,D

Visit Bat Trang, a village famous throughout Vietnam for its ceramics. Workshops and family studios continue to produce pottery using traditional techniques developed over centuries. Later, sail the lower reaches of the Red River toward Dien Xa, known for its meticulous bonsai cultivation and ornamental trees.

Meals:  B,L,D

Journey along the Day River to explore Phat Diem Cathedral, a remarkable 19th-century church combining Vietnamese temple design with European Gothic elements. Nearby villages offer a glimpse into rural life where rice wine production and traditional crafts continue as part of everyday life.

Meals:  B,L,D

Travel to Ninh Binh, a landscape of limestone cliffs rising dramatically above rice fields and winding waterways. Small rowing boats glide through caves and narrow channels surrounded by towering karst formations. Later, visit nearby villages where families craft musical instruments and woodwork using techniques passed down through generations.

Meals:  B,L,D

Cruise the interconnected rivers of the Red River Delta, observing the lively activity of fishing boats, cargo vessels and riverbank communities. In Thanh Ha commune, stroll through a traditional village before enjoying a private water puppet performance beside a lotus-filled pond — an art form that originated in the flooded rice fields of northern Vietnam.

Meals:  B,L,D

Entering the Gulf of Tonkin, the scenery transforms dramatically as thousands of limestone islands rise from emerald waters. Explore Halong Bay by kayak or traditional basket boat, visiting the remarkable Dark and Bright Cave and its hidden lagoon surrounded by towering rock formations.

Meals:  B,L,D

Continue exploring the quieter corners of Halong Bay. Visit Viet Hai Village on Cat Ba Island where guests can explore by complimentary mountain bike or electric buggy through lush jungle scenery and farmland. Later, cruise toward Lan Ha Bay and enjoy the extraordinary seascapes of this UNESCO-listed region.

Meals:  B,L,D

Enjoy a final morning sailing through the limestone islands of Halong Bay before disembarking at Tuan Chau Marina before transferring to Hanoi. Estimated arrival at Hanoi Airport at 15.30 PM, hotels in Hanoi arriving around 16.30 PM. Your flight out of Hanoi airport must be after 16:30 (domestic) or 17:30 (international). Our last drop off at Pan Pacific Hanoi Hotel for passengers stay in Hanoi.

Meals:  B,L