Discover Authenticity. Explore Hanoi Like Locals. Experience Rustic and Comfortable Homestay. Cruise Artfully in Halong Bay and Cat Ba Archipelago. This trip has it all.

Drive from hotel through the historical Ba Dinh Square where president Ho Chi Minh proclaimed the independence of Vietnam in 1945 and find out outstanding architecture, beautiful atmosphere around this square. Then reach to Lenin Garden, a communal space for locals. This also offers a perfect opportunity for people-watching, to get a better idea of the daily activities of the locals. After that, we make our way through a small alleys of Hanoi where sewing shops have been in family hands for generations and admire the daily life of local people who still practise old an old way of life in the alleys of Hanoi. Do not forget to bring your camera along to capture the unique experience. Continue walk to visit the Temple of Literature, Vietnam’s first national university built in the late 11th century and explore its role in the country’s past.

Then visit the fascinating Ethnology Museum (closed Mondays), which is both a research centre and a public museum exhibiting the ethnic groups of Vietnam.

And enjoy your lunch at local restaurant before make a stroll around the charming Hanoi old quarter to explore the fascinating maze of back streets. Then walking to busy street of Nha Chung where every day is always the busy by several vendors of food or vegetables gather for sale. And stop at old French house of Hanoian for tea break and talk with him to discover more about the change of local people, life and listen to the story of family in each period. Drive back to hotel.

Overnight in Hanoi

NOTES

Suggested time: 08:00

Duration: 7 hour

Enjoy a 2 hours drive to Ninh Binh province. Visit to local artistan to enjoy water puppet show. Water puppetry is a unique art that originated in Vietnam’s wet rice civilization. Drive 1.5hrs minutes from your hotel to a local house situated in Hong Quang village to meet with a water puppet artisan. Born into a family with a tradition of performing water puppetry in Nam Dinh province, Mr. Phan acquired a passion for this folk art in his childhood. Inherited the talent & tradition from his father, he has profound passion of playing with puppets, making puppets by creating a mini stage for water puppetry and bringing his solo performances to several countries outside Vietnam. Sit down for a cup of tea and learn his stories about how the water puppet originated, his memorable experience traveling to different corners of the world to bring Vietnamese culture & folklores to international friends. Then join a 30-minute show seeing lion dances, buffalo fighting, rice farming, and boat racing, etc. at his private mini water puppet stage on his top house floor. After the show, get yourself in artisan’s role to handle puppets in the water or join with Mr. Phan to make and paint the puppets. Drive back to Ecohost to enjoy a lunch.

In this afternoon, be picked up from Ecohost with the local guide to a suburb of countryside for an afternoon of immersion in culture of Vietnam Red River Delta, in an authentic place still undiscovered by tourists. Start with a bicycle to visit Pham Phao cathedral where is famous for wooden carving and Traditional trumpet making Brass village. On the way, you will also see Tile-roofed Bridge was built in the 16th century with unique architecture. Then cycle to visit and experience the way to make a conical hat and interact with host family. Explore the daily life of local people and understand about the ancestor worship village. Afterward ride back to Ecohost to relax and enjoy dinner.

Overnight in Ecohost Hai Hau

NOTES:

Suggested time: 14:00

Capacity: Min. 1 pax - Max. 10 pax. due to tight space

Today, early wake up to explore a small typical local market in Dong Bien village. In this tiny village find all types of seafood products, fish, meat, fresh fruits and vegetables, as well as many other products for sale. From here wander the path on foot with the guide – a great way to explore and discover the real daily life of a local residents, a traditional forging family in the village before return Ecohost to get breakfast.

Then depart from Hai Hau for a 3.5-hour drive to Tuan Chau International Marina, Halong City, Haiphong via the new highway. Arrive at 12:00 and be greeted with a warm welcome and special tea at the Heritage Cruise’s lounge. Then it’s time to climb aboard the Heritage Cruise and check in; enjoy a welcome drink as you receive a cruise briefing and safety instructions. Boarding the Heritage Cruises boat and enjoy a welcome drink as you receive a cruise briefing, safety instructions and check into your suite. Lunch is served at L’indochine Restaurant. Then Heritage Cruises takes you to contemplate the magnificent sceneries made from limestone mountain of Lan Ha Bay – Cat Ba Archipelago. This bay is untouched and remote, as not many cruise boats use this route. The cruise vessel approaches the Ba Trai Dao (Three Peach beaches) or Tra Bau in Lan Ha Bay, a natural frontier between the provinces of Halong and Haiphong. This secret hideaway has beaches, caves and coves, plus the spectacular natural beauty of about 400 islands. Guests can try kayaking or simply swim in the clear waters of the bay. Back on Heritage Cruises, enjoy life aboard the vessel or in your suite, and with cocktail in hand watch the sunset over the Gulf of Tonkin. Enjoy your time with activities include afternoon tea and the chef will lead a Vietnamese cookery class. And A memorable dining experience will be offered at the restaurant, with local food in an intimate and romantic setting.

Enjoy evening views of the bay at the bar on the top deck. Try your hand squid fishing. The bars are open until late.

Overnight on Heritage Cruise (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Start the day with a session of Vovinam on the sundeck, followed by a light breakfast. Then take a bamboo boat out to explore the Dark and Bright Cave. Then return to the ship for checkout. Enjoy a brunch while cruising back to Tuan Chau Marina and disembark for your onward journey. and relaxing at our lounge while your transportation arrives. Drive back to Hanoi for your onward flight

End of service