Unveil Vietnam Highlights and Hidden Gems
15 Days

Upon arrival at Hanoi's Noi Bai International Airport, you will be greeted by our assistant at the airport to support you with the immigration process and escort you to meet the tour guide to transfer to your hotel.

Welcome to Hanoi, Vietnam's capital which celebrated its anniversary of 1,000 years in 2010. As you travel to your hotel, take a look out your window and take a look at the landscape and architecture. Historical emphasis on the arts and learning stipulates that buildings in Hanoi remain small, simple, and in harmony with nature.

Depending on the time of your arrival, you have the afternoon free to take a first look around.

17.30: Be exclusively invited by our hosts to visit their beautiful and cozy home, sip a cup of tea while listening to the host introducing family’s history. Stories continue around the table as we join them in a traditional home cooked dinner, prepared by mothers. After the meal, enjoy a green tea to relax and chat more, our host offers a great opening to find out about the family’s life in the past and today.

Drive from hotel to visit the Ho Chi Minh Complex: Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum and his Stilts House, Presidential Palace and the One Pillar Pagoda nearby. You’ll also wander around the Old Quarter, the Lake of the Resorted Sword, Ngoc Son Temple, the Temple of Literature.

Next, you visit Hoa Lo Prison, also known as “Hanoi Hilton” and “Maison Centrale”, is a historical site in the French Quarter of Hanoi. Loosely translated as “hell’s hole”, it was originally built by French colonist in 1896 to house and torture revolutionary Vietnam rebels.

After lunch, visit the home of the last traditional mask making artisan in Hanoi. Entirely handmade and always lingering with the faint smell of paper and glue, the paper masks have been part of the childhood for many generations of Hanoi people who wore them to celebrate the full moon night particularly during the Mid-Autumn Festivals. The visit to the artisan, will serve a cause of raising awareness about the preservation of this multi century old art.

Finally, you will enjoy a Water Puppet show. A uniquely northern Vietnamese art form said to have originated in the flooded rice fields of the Red River Delta.

Please note that the HCM Mausoleum is closed on Fridays and Mondays and most museums are closed on Mondays

Pick up at your hotel and start the trip to Ninh Binh. Ninh Binh Province – located in North Vietnam, famous for the nearby karst scenery and the village of Tam Coc.

Arrive at Hoa Lu Ancient Capital. Hoa Lu ancient capital was the first capital of the feudal state of Vietnam, Truong Yen Commune, Hoa Lu District, Ninh Binh Province. It is a tourist destination that will bring you to a few imperial capitals of the country in the ancient and medieval eras. Visiting Hoa Lu, you will not only have a fun and exciting time but can learn more about culture and history as well. Visit King Dinh and King Le’s temples. Then continue the trip to Mua Cave.

Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant with great local cuisine

Afternoon, continue to visit Tam Coc Wharf. Get on Sampan boats to get through caves and visit the countryside landscape. A beautiful boat that lives up to its name “Halong Bay on land”. It will take you under some limestone caves and just enjoy looking at the scenery. Back to Hanoi and overnight in Hanoi.

After early breakfast, depart to Panhou Retreat takes around 7 hours, so it’s the best to start early in the morning to arrive at a reasonable time. Panhou Retreat is a peaceful haven set amidst the lush green mountains and terraced rice paddies of Hoang Su Phi.

Walking time: 5 hours. Terrain: +400m / -400m

Your hike is going to start at 9 am after a delicious breakfast. At the beginning of the walk, you will have the chance to pass through a village of Yao people. These lovely people wear long tunics and have settled their houses on pillars on the mountainside. You will also have the opportunity to walk through breathtaking rice fields in terraces and bamboo forests.

During the hike, the group will take a break at a Red Dao House. The family there is eager to welcome you with a cup of local tea. You can either rest while waiting for lunch or join your local guide in preparing the meal.

In the afternoon, the walk will continue to a Tay village in the valley. The group will then follow the river to return to Panhou Village.

Hope you are excited about the adventure ahead!

Walking duration: 4.5-5 hour. Topography: +400m/-400m

The songs of birds that have found refuge in the gardens of Panhou village add to the peacefulness of the place located in the heart of Song Chay mountain. After breakfast, you will depart to hike to the nearby mountain. The day's walk begins his attack and the passing of an ancient Promite. The landscape extends to the mountains beyond, seemingly moving toward winding, terraced slopes.

You come to a village of the Red Dao people. The women wear bright red ao dai, iridescent brocade shirts and grow medicinal plants to treat muscle pain, arthritis, flu, or just to relax... After lunch, you continue walking through the terraced fields, relief area and tea hills, then Yaos village with ao dai and Panhou Village.

The departure day from Panhou Retreat to Hanoi, with a final breakfast before checking out and saying goodbye to the Hoang Su Phi region. You will arrive in Hanoi in the early evening.

At 08:00 your driver will pick you up at your hotel for departing for Halong Bay,

10.20: Arriving at the jetty. Prepare for 25 min scenic flight.

10.50: Seeing Halong Bay from seaplane will bring you the exceptional experience of viewing the magical beauty of the World Natural Heritage Site that you would have never seen before.

12.00: Embark on a unique journey, meeting at Heritage Line’s lounge at Tuan Chau Marina. A short speedboat transfer takes you to your luxurious floating home, the starting point for exploring the wonders of Lan Ha Bay and Cat Ba Island. Lunch is served in the almost 360-, light-flooded, elegant dining room during we sail deeper into the bay. Unwind on the terrace deck or private balcony, soaking in the surreal seascape.

Mooring close to Cat Ba Island, we step on land heading to Viet Hai Village, nestled in a picturesque valley surrounded by jungle-cladded mountains. Cycling through this valley offers wonderful insights into the isolated life of the local inhabitants. The community, surrounded by thick forests and mountains, and only accessible by sea, is self-sufficient, cultivating vegetables, fruits, and fishing on the bay.

Returning to the ship, we sail to our overnight anchorage spot in Lan Ha Bay. Participate in a Vietnamese tea tasting, pamper yourself with spa a treatment, or enjoy some time in the sauna located in the ship’s vast spa area.

After dinner offers you can opt for a guided “Singing Bowl Meditation” in the wellness studio or simply relax under the stars on the terrace deck or your private balcony to embrace the serenity of this surreal landscape.

Heritageline Cruise Exclusive Benefit:

• Signature Suite Cabin
• Welcome Drink, Fruit Basket, Flower Bouquet
• Turn Down Gift
• In-Suite Dining (upon request)
• 01 Aromatherapy Bath (in-room)
• Reflexology or Neck & Shoulder Massage (30 minutes per person)

Begin your day with a Tai Chi session on the terrace deck, offering a rejuvenating experience under the morning sun. During breakfast time the ship sails toward the northern access port to enter Cat Ba Island and its national park.

A short scenic bus ride takes you through the lush park and the starting point for a leisurely hiking outing to get to know this designated biosphere reserve better. The Park hosts about 1,500 plant species, 78 avian, 20 reptilian and 32 mammalian species including deer, macaques, and civets.

Returning to the ship for lunch and some enjoyable sailing time reaching eventually a secluded spot for the afternoon activities. The afternoon is “at your own pace” with options including relaxing or swimming at a natural beach, exploring the calm area with kayaks, or enjoying spa treatments, steam bath, or sauna back on board. Make the most of this unhurried afternoon, creating enduring memories in Lan Ha Bay.

As the sun sets, the ship sails to its overnight mooring spot. Savour a multi-course dinner and join again our guided “Singing Bowl Meditation” or retire to your suite to unwind on your private balcony.

Wake up early for a Tai Chi session on the terrace deck. Traditional Vietnamese coffee, tea and breakfast pastries await in the dining room for a first bite. The ship sails to a place called “Frog Lake”, a secluded area which is perfect for an energetic morning excursion by kayak. Explore this captivating marine landscape with cliffs stretching vertically out of the water and you feel a sense of freedom while paddling through a labyrinth of jade-green water, rocks and vivid tree-topped islets.

Back on board, we serve a hearty breakfast or brunch while cruising back to the disembarkation spot, from where we transfer you back to the pier by speedboat. Savour the last moments of this unique journey while relaxing on the terrace deck.

11.30: Disembark around noon and transfer back to Hanoi for the flight to Da Nang. Upon arrival, pick up and transfer to your hotel in Hoi An. Overnight in Hoi An.

Departure: 8:30am (lunch included)

- Pick you up at your hotel by mini- van and transfer you down to PHƯỚC HẢI- CỬA ĐẠI Fishing Village

- Boat cruise and commence cruising on CỬA ĐẠI River

- Enjoy Thúng Chai basket boat demonstration by crews.

- Learn to paddle the unique Vietnamese bamboo basket boats and join in a basket boat racing for fun while exploring waterways palm coconut canals waterways of a past war and hear of the extreme conditions endured by soldiers of both sides of V.C & US army. Enjoy your fun catching purple crabs

- Join local fishermen life on the river and enjoy hands-on experience cast net fishing

- Enjoy learning and experiencing cultural folk music of singing and rowing Bả Trạo with local fishermen

- Keep arriving to an islet fisherman for big net fishing

- Back on-board, enjoy lunch and cold beer or soft drink

- Return to hotel by mini van.

Breakfast at the hotel. Free on your own time before transfering to the airport for flight to Ho Chi Minh. Upon arrival, pick up to your hotel and check in.

In the afternoon enjoy Vespa tour.

‘A foodie night out on the town’

Experience the local nightlife and enjoy tasty food and live music as we ride pillion on vintage Vespas along the busy streets of this vibrant city. See Saigon come alive at night on this after dark adventure!

Immerse yourself into the cosmopolitan nightlife of this busy city by night. Soak up the energy of this urban metropolis at our central city location while watching the world go by we sip on our first drinks and try out some tasty snacks. Your expert driver will then zoom through the busy streets of Saigon as you check out some of the famous highlights in this bustling city. Feel like a local as we feast on authentic, fresh seafood dishes, eating streetside and then enjoy the local favourite that is the delicious Banh Xeo, a traditional Vietnamese savoury pancake. We then ride off into the night again to experience live music at two very different venues. Firstly, the laid back atmosphere of quieter, softly lit coffee shop before heading to a lively rock bar where a new generation of Vietnamese flaunt their style. Bring a healthy appetite and a sense of adventure as our guides show you their city by night.

In the morning, you will take half day Cu Chi Tunnel: At its height, the tunnel system stretched over 250 kilometers, from Saigon to the Cambodian border, and was three levels deep. The network included innumerable trap doors, specially constructed living areas, storage facilities, weapons factories, field hospitals, command centers and kitchens. Today the remaining tunnels have become a major tourist attraction giving the visitor a unique experience and a feel of what underground life during the U.S.-Vietnam War must have been like.

You will embark on a city tour of Saigon, including the Reunification Palace, Notre Dame Cathedral, the Old Post Office and bustling Ben Thanh Market.

08.00: A trip to escape from bustling Saigon to unwind at Can Gio Biosphere Reserve.

Upon arrival, take a visit to Can Gio Museum and observe the wildlife. After spending time getting more knowledge about the history and nature of the region, you will move on to Rung Sac Guerilla Base in the mangrove forest, this is the major part of the day.

The canoe goes along the waterway and it is a small adventure to see mangroves with their special roots on the way. Take a visit to the base which stationed by Viet Cong from the period of 1966 -1975 and was used to be an important base camp to set up over 1,000 combats to Saigon.

After the lunch on Can Gio Beach, on the way back city, you will visit a local temple, which is dedicated to the Whale (considered as the Sea Protector of the local fishermen) and learn about the local belief.

Breakfast at the hotel and free on your own time until check out time or when your driver come and pick you up to the airport for your home flight. We hope you have had a memorable trip and wish you pleasant onward travels!