Halong Bay and Red River - Downstream

Transfer from Hanoi to the ship docked on the Red River in Viet Tri. After lunch, visit Lac Long Quan or the Hung Kings Temple to learn about the Hung Kings and the founding of Vietnam’s first nation. Return to the ship for a welcome dinner and crew introduction.

Spend the day exploring local crafts in the delta. Begin with a visit to Hung Lo Temple to hear traditional folk music and walk through the surrounding town. In the afternoon, visit the smith village of Ly Nhan to observe traditional metalworking techniques still in use today.

Visit the UNESCO praised village of Duong Lam, an ancient village that is a well-preserved example of a traditional Vietnamese village from centuries ago with intricate architecture and fascinating culture. After lunch, continue downstream on the Red River and visit a timeless Arcadian Vietnam with emerald green rice paddies punctuated by lime stone rock formations. Make a stop at a small village dedicated to the handmade production of Vietnam’s most famous headwear, the Non La conical hat before continuing to Thay Pagoda. Hardly known, yet with exquisite temples dating from the 11th century, visit this beautiful temple beside a lake and explore the village that surrounds the pagoda.

Dropping anchor in the bustling city of Hanoi, passengers will embark on a captivating journey through Hanoi, venturing beyond the typical tourist trail. Explore the historic Temple of Literature, a testament to Vietnam's Confucian roots, and gain a poignant understanding of the city's past at the Hoa Lo Prison. Immerse yourself in the vibrant Old Quarter, a sensory feast of sights, sounds, and aromas. Witness the unique spectacle of Train Street, sipping Vietnamese coffee as a train passes just inches away. Explore the local markets of Hang Da and Hang Gai Street and meet for transfer back to the RV Angkor at Thang Long Theatre.

This morning, visit Bat Trang ceramic village, a hub of ceramic production for generations. The ceramics made here are famous throughout Vietnam and adorn many homes both north and south. Before returning to the ship, a local dance troupe treats you to a lion dance on the pier. This colorful and energetic dance is customary during festivals throughout Vietnam, most notably during Tet. Sail through the maze of waterways this afternoon and are entertained onboard by your Pandaw Chef with a cooking class and fruit carving.

After breakfast, head ashore to Co Chat village, Nam Dinh. Here you visit local craftspeople making silk by hand, and the local markets are filled with exotic produce. After lunch onboard, moor at Khanh Thien Village, a quaint town known for it’s skilled craftspeople. Explore this cultural hub by local transportation or bicycle and discover a host of handicrafts including water hyacinth weaving and a variety of rice paper and cakes. End the evening with a performance by the locals of ‘Chau Van’ singing, an ancient art form local to this area.

Discover ‘Halong on Land’ today as you visit Ninh Binh and take small bamboo rowing boats through the magnificent limestone caves. Visitors in September and October or April and May will witness the valleys shine golden as the rice fields prepare for harvest. After lunch, continue your exploration of the Red River Delta with a journey to Phat Diem, home to Phat Diem Cathedral, a 19th-century Roman Catholic church built in an eclectic blend of Vietnamese and European architectural styles. Continue upstream on your journey to Halong.

Observe the lively and interesting life on the river before you reach the next destination in the afternoon. Excursion to Thanh Ha Commune with village walk and a private water puppet show set under shade by a beautiful pond of lotus and lilies. Drop anchor near Hai Phong Port, the gateway to Halong Bay. 

Cast off early morning along the river before entering Halong Bay’s amazing island scenery with its 2,000 dramatic limestone islands and extraordinary rock formations dating back 20 million years. Exploring Halong Bay, you stop at the so-called “Dark and Bright Cave”. Take a kayak or a local basket boat rowed by fishermen and enter this remarkable cave into an enclosed area similar to a crater. Bats can be heard in the cave, and massive stalagmites hang from the ceiling. Continue cruising around Halong Bay until the ship drops anchor in a quieter part of the bay.

You make a stop at Viet Hai Village and continue the journey by mountain bike or electric buggy to visit the village’s vegetable farm and typical village houses. It is a breathtaking trip along a small road winding its way through the limestone rocks. In the afternoon you can continue cruising towards Lan Ha Bay for a visit to a floating fishing house. Weather dependent, you can end the day with cocktails at a beautiful beach in Halong Bay.

Morning sail to Tuan Chau Jetty. Disembark and transfer to Hanoi Airport with a stop for lunch at a local restaurant (approximately 130km and a 2.5-hour journey).