Itinerary

1. Day 1: Hanoi - Halong Bay

   • 09:00 – 09:15 approximately: Your Vietnam tour guide will pick you up from your hotel in Hanoi's old quarter for a 2.5-hour journey via 5B highway in an ultra-luxurious limousine.
   • 11:45 – 12.00 approximately: Arrive at Tuan Chau marina.

   • Transfer by speedboat to Stellar of the Seas.

   • Board the cruise and enjoy a refreshing welcome drink.

   • Meet the captain & crew during the briefing and safety instructions. 

   • Set sail as lunch is served.

   • 12:30: Join a typical lunch in the luxury dining room with an indoor or outdoor dining area. 

   • Check into your cabin to refresh and unwind.

   • Continue cruising past Con Vit islet, Thumb islet and Gia Luan harbour in the Cat Ba area. 

   • Discover the lagoon area belonging to Lan Ha Bay.

   • Go swimming or simply sunbathe.

   • Early evening: Climb to the sundeck to watch the sunset and enjoy the sunset party. It's an ideal time to make acquaintance with new friends, share your travelling experience or watch the sunset. Go for a swim in the seasonal swimming pool or play a round or two at the mini-golf course.
   • 18:00: Witness a cooking demonstration and learn how to make the famous traditional Vietnamese spring rolls. Here, understand the culinary culture of the Vietnamese.
   • 19:00: Savour the BBQ dinner. 

   • After dinner, reward yourself with a large selection of cocktails at the panoramic bar with a seasonal pool view. 

   • Explore wine and cigars cellar, or choose onboard activities: games, movies, squid fishing or a relaxing massage.

   Overnight on board.

2. Day 2: Lan Ha Bay

   • 6:30: Take part in a Tai Chi session on the sun deck. Tai chi helps focus the mind and condition the body; there is no better environment than the limestone peaks and islands. 
   • 07:30: After breakfast, there is free time as the cruise continues along the bay.
   • 11:30 approx: Enjoy lunch.
   • 13:15 approx: Transfer to the speed boat heading to Viet Hai Village.
   • Afternoon: Take the bicycle ride to enjoy gorgeous sceneries by the village roads and go through rain forests.

   • Visit a local family's house to see their daily lives.

   • Return to the boat and continue cruising further in Lan Ha Bay.

   • 15:00: Arrive at Ba Trai Dao Beach and go for a swim.

   • See the fish farm at the typical Lan Ha bay floating village.

   • Early evening: Return to the ship, take time to rest or play a short game on the golf course or relax with a massage. 

   • After dinner, choose from a large selection of cocktails at the bar. Go swimming, explore the wine and cigars cellar or enjoy the bay's landscape at night.

   • Relax with a massage service. 

   • Take one of our onboard activities like squid fishing, watching movies in the restaurant.

   Overnight on board.

3. Day 3: Tai Chi – Sang Toi (Dark & Bright) Cave – Vietnamese Cuisine

   • 06:30: Participate in the Tai Chi lesson.
   • 07:00 – 7:45: Have a light breakfast.
   • 08:00: Behold the stunning view of the bay, and its dramatic limestone islets as you sail through the calm emerald waters heading to Dark & Bright Cave (Hang Sang & Toi)

   • Either explore the cave yourself on a kayak or let a local take you on a bamboo boat. 

   • 09:30: Check-out.
   • 10:00: Relish Vietnamese cuisine. 
   • 12:00: Disembark from the cruise. 

   • Return to Tuan Chau Marina by a speedboat.

   • Transfer to Hanoi in an ultra-luxurious limousine.

   • 15:00: Arrive back at your hotel.

4. Day 4: Hanoi – Ha Giang

   • Depart at 6:00 AM from your hotel in Hanoi on a bus.

   • Reach Ha Giang city (7-hour drive). 

   • Your local guide will pick you up and transfer you to the homestay for lunch.

   Overnight at the homestay based on a Private Room basis.

5. Day 5: Ha Giang - Dong Van

   • Drive 155 km en route, meet Mong people to see their lifestyle. On the way, you will have enough time to stop at beautiful places to take photos or enjoy the landscape.

   • Reach Heaven's Gate (1500 m high) for a fantastic view. 

   • In Quan Ba, see the famous twin mountains. 

   • Have lunch in a small restaurant in Yen Minh. 

   • Drive down Ha Giang and make a stop 15 km west from Dong Van to visit the Vuong palace. This palace belongs to the Mong people.

   • Reach Dong Van around 5 pm. 

   • Have dinner in the hotel. 

   • Take a walk in the old quarter's small market. Dong Van is a quiet village and nice to walk around in.

6. Day 6: Dong van - Meo Vac

   • After breakfast, visit the flag tower and the Chinese border.

   • Go on a drive through the Dong Van Geopark. The Ma Pi Leng Pass is considered the “king” of Vietnam’s passes. On top of this pass begins the 20km long happiness road, which is handmade by the local people and has a romantic atmosphere. 

   • Stay in the town of Moe Vac when you reach around 5 pm.

7. Day 7: Meo Vac – Du Gia

   • Drive 100km to Mau Due and Du Gia across terrace rice fields. 

   • Around 1 pm, arrive in Du Gia and have lunch with a family of Tay's minority. 

   • Go on a 2-3 hours trek to see villages and a beautiful landscape.

   Overnight at a homestay.

8. Day 8: Du Gia – Bac me – Ha Giang

   • Do a short trek through the terrace rice field to visit a local white Mong family.

   • At 03:30 pm, return to Ha Giang and drop off at Ha Giang's homestay to rest.

   • Take a bus limousine to return to Hanoi. 

   • Arrive in Hanoi around 10 pm.

9. Day 9: Hanoi – Sapa – Lao Chai Ta Van

   • 06.00 – 06.30: Pick up at the hotel or from the meeting point and then head to Sapa on a luxurious bus. 

   • Follow the Noi Bai – Lao Cai high-way. Along the way, contemplate the beauty of northwest mountains.

   • Have a short break for 30 minutes then continue the trip to Sapa.

   • 13.00: Arrive in Sapa, check-in at the hotel and have lunch.

   • After lunch, the tour guide will pick you up from your hotel. 

   • Join a trek down to Lao Chai village to visit the Tay and Dzay tribes. 

   • Keep going along the bottom of Muong Hoa valley to visit Ta Van village which is home to the Dzay minority. This is the most beautiful ethnic village in the area.

   • Check-in at the homestay. 

   • Get to know the family of the Dzay People. 

   • You may attend a local cooking lesson with the family and enjoy dinner in peace. 

   • In the evening, head to a bar nearby with live music and socialize with other tourists. 

   • Enjoy overnight at a local homestay. The accommodation for the evening is clean, basic bedding and mosquito nets are provided, and a western toilet & shower are available.

   • Sleep on mattresses on the floor in a mixed-gender dormitory.

10. Day 10: Giang Ta Chai villages – Sapa – Hanoi

    • After breakfast, start the day with an easy trek of 5 km to visit villages of the H’mong. 

    • Follow paths up and down the rice terraces and through the villages of local hill tribes. 

    • Behold the sight of a beautiful waterfall and rattan bridge with picturesque landscapes. 

    • Go through bamboo forests on the way to the main road.

    • Around 2 pm, you will be picked up from Ta Van village by bus and driven to Sapa Town. 

    • Enjoy your free time in Sapa.

    • Around 3:00 pm, get your takeaway sandwich for your journey to Hanoi.

    • Arrive in Hanoi around 9:30 pm.

11. Day 11: Hoa Lu - Tam Coc - Mua Cave

    • 08.10: The driver and tour guide will pick you up from the hotel or meeting point in the Old Quarter to get to Ninh Binh province.
    • 09.30: Visit Hoa Lu, the ancient capital of Vietnam, from 986 to 1010. 

    • See the 10th-century Ding King Temple and Le king temple. Find out the heroic histories of these two Kings of the Chinese Wars.

    • 10.30: Visit Mua Cave (Dancing cave).

    • Get the impressive panoramic view of Tam Coc and Ninh Binh city when you reach the top of Ngoa Long mountain (about 500 stone steps).

    • 12.00: Enjoy the set menu of Vietnamese lunch at Wonderland bungalow. (Cooking class activity is available)
    • 13.00: Discover Tam Coc (Three water caves) on a sampan (bamboo boat) in almost 2 hours. (Hang Ca- first cave, Hang Hai- second cave, Hang Ba- the third)
    • 15.00: Be amazed by the beauty of the countryside in the North of Vietnam as you cycle through it.
    • 16.00: Have a blast at the sunset party at the swimming pool. Relax by swimming, drinking local tea, eating fresh fruits. (swimming depends on weather conditions)

    • Travel to your homestay in Ninh Binh, Ham Rong, to take a rest, shower, and have dinner. 

    • 20.30: A car will take you to Ninh Binh train station to catch the night train to Dong Hoi. (Departure 21:47)

12. Day 12: Phong Nha and Paradise Cave

    • 07:30 – 08:00: The driver and guide will pick you up at Dong Hoi station, airport, bus station or hotels at Dong Hoi city or Phong Nha town to go to Phong Nha Ke Bang national park. 
    • 09:00: Visit Paradise cave which was discovered by scientists of the British Caving Research Association in 2005. It is the longest dry cave in Asia.

    • Ride in an electric car from the parking to the foothills of the cave (2km).

    • Cross the lively jungle to explore the cave. With naturally primitive features Paradise Cave looks like a landscape painting, making it very attractive to visitors. There are a series of white crystal stalactites resembling glass pillars and many other spectacular formations.

    • 12:00: Lunch at a restaurant with local specialities.
    • 13:00: Continue to the Phong Nha Cave.
    • 13:30: Take a boat for about 5km along the Son River to Phong Nha Cave (river cave).

    • On Son river, children have fun on the waterfront and have the opportunity to experience the daily life of the nearby riverside village.

    • Return to the boat pier.

    • 16:00 – 16:30: Transfer back to Phong Nha town or Dong Hoi City.
    • 17:00 – 17:30: Reach your destination and spend the night at the hotel.

13. Day 13: Train ride from Dong Hoi to Hue

    • After breakfast, a car will take you to the train station to take the train to Hue. The train departs at 8:05 am and reaches Hue around 11 am.

14. Day 14: Hue Day Trip

    • At 8 am, the tour guide and driver will pick you from the hotel to start the day trip to explore Hue Imperial City.

    • Go shopping in Dong Ba Market, the most famous market in Hue.

    • Go on a boat trip on the Perfume River to see the lush greenery, especially in the summer season when flowers bloom.

    • Visit Thien Mu Pagoda.

    • See the Citadel (Imperial City), the Royal Palace of Nguyen Kings with many constructions of Flag Tower, Five Phoenix Tower, Thai Hoa Palace, Mieu Temple, Nine Urn Dynasties, etc.

    • Have lunch at a restaurant.

    • In the afternoon, go on an exploration of Royal Mausoleum of Nguyen’s Kings. Visit two of the six tombs.

    • Return to your hotel.

15. Day 15: Easy Ride from Hue to Hoi An

    • Make a full-day trip from Hue to Hoi An by motorbike. The bikes are equipped to carry your luggage. But, if you are travelling with hard suitcases or many bags, we can easily arrange for them to meet you in Hoi An. This scenic coastal route is simply the best way to travel to Hue if you only have one day.

    • Leave Hue in the morning and make the first stop at Elephant Springs, where you can wade in the rock pools.

    • Next, stop for photos at Lang Co Beach before travelling over the Hai Van Pass. Hai Van means “Sea of Clouds”, and when crossing the top of the pass, you are surrounded by clouds on one side with stunning ocean views on the other.

    • Travel through Da Nang and stop at the famous China Beach with its fine white sand.

    • Make the final stop of the day at the Marble Mountains.