Itinerary

1. Day 1: Hanoi – Lan Ha Bay – Dark & Bright Caves – Overnight

   • 09.00: Meet your Vietnamese tour guide and driver at your hotel's lobby and transfer to Hai Phong city.

   • 12:00: Rest at the harbour as the Premier Cruise completes its final preparations. Board shortly after this and enjoy our welcome drink.

   • 13:00: Sit down in the dining room for a delicious lunch and a view of the wonderfully unique limestone towers outside the windows.

   • 15:15: On sampan boats, some residents of the bay will show you their home and take you to the Dark & Bright caves. There are two gorgeous caverns with a vast and enclosed lake on the other side. Swimming is also available here. 

   • 17:00: Return to the cruise ship to catch a gorgeous sunset's daily spectacle and enjoy the bar's happy hour. 

   • 19:00: Along with a fantastic dinner, witness an exceptional performance of traditional Vietnamese music in the dining room or on the top deck.

   • Before you retire to your cabin, you can head to the bar, the spa or join the crew for some squid fishing.

2. Day 2: Lan Ha Bay – Tra Bau – Hanoi

   • 06:00: Begin the day with a Tai Chi session on the top deck.

   • 07:00: Enjoy breakfast in the fresh air and peaceful beauty of the Bay. 

   • Row a kayak to discover the lovely Tra Bau area. 

   • 08:15: Visit a fishing farm and socialize with the resident fishermen to know more about their life and how they work every day.

   • 10:00: Return to the ship and enjoy the cooking demonstration put on by a talented chef as they give you an insight into Vietnamese cuisine. Then sit down for a lovely buffet lunch as your approach the harbour.

   • 11:45: Deboard from the cruise and hop in the bus to head back to Hanoi.

3. Day 3: Hanoi – Pu Luong

   Easy Trek to Chieng Lau, Yen, Ba villages, Bamboo rafting on Cham Stream:

   • 07:00 - 07:30: You will be picked up from your hotel in Hanoi Old Quarter to go to Pu Luong Nature Reserve by limousine bus.

   • 09:00: Take a short break in Luong Son (outside of Hanoi).

   • 11:00: Stop at the local market of the Muong Ethnic Minority; enjoy the beautiful scenery of Thung Khe Pass (one of the 10 most beautiful passes in Vietnam).

   • 12:00: Arrive in Mai Chau and transfer to a van to go to Pu Luong nature reserve.

   • 13:00: Check-in and have lunch at Pu Luong Eco Garden – The Mountain Retreat.

   • 14:30 - 17:30: Board the van to the starting point. Following a small road through the terraced rice and sugar cane fields, cross the Hanging Bridges to visit remote Thai ethnic villages.

   • Stop at the giant waterwheels, go to the ducks' farm to learn about agriculture before getting on the Bamboo Raft for a relaxing cruise on Cham stream (cruise depending on weather conditions).

   • 17:30: Transfer to the Eco Garden – Mountain Retreat. Enjoy swimming in an Infinity Pool.

   • 19:00: Have a BBQ Dinner at the lodge, enjoy some local rice wine. Have a quiet night in the middle of the Reserve.

   *Sleeping options in Pu Luong Eco Garden – The Mountain Retreat. Traditional dorm room in the house on stilts or Private Room (no Air-con) or DeluxeRoom with Air-con.

4. Day 4: Explore Kho Muong village and Doi Cave – Ninh Binh (120km)

   • 07:00 - 08:00: Have breakfast in the lodge. Enjoy the breathtaking view from Pu Luong Eco Garden – The Mountain Retreat.

   • 08:30 – 12:00: Hike on the small trails through the terrace rice fields and cross the stream to visit the remote hidden village of Kho Muong to learn about the local people in Pu Luong. (6kms)

   • Explore Doi Cave (Bat cave). This is the largest cave in Pu Luong. (depending on the weather conditions)

   • 12:00: Return to the Eco Garden – The Mountain Retreat, and check-out.

   • 13:00: Have lunch and then enjoy some free time to relax in the Infinity pool or walk around the village before boarding the car to go to Ninh Binh at 14:30.

   • 17:30: Arrive in Ninh Binh Retreat, check-in and have free time.

   • 19:00: Have dinner at the retreat

   *Sleeping options: Ninh Binh Retreat Traditional dorm room in the house on stilts or bamboo bungalow (no Air-con), or Deluxe villa with Air-con.

5. Day 5: Cycle to Hoa Lu & boat ride in Trang An

   • 7:30 - 8:30: Have breakfast at the Retreat.

   • 8:30 - 12:00: Cycling through the limestone karsts, reach temples of the first 2 emperors in the 10th century in Hoa Lu, the ancient capital.

   • Hike up the Ma Yen mountain to visit the King’s tomb. On the way back, share tea with a local family.

   • 12:00 -13:30: Check out and have lunch at the retreat.

   • 13:30 -16:00: Go to Trang An for a boat ride in between the karst. Enjoy the beautiful scenery and peaceful atmosphere.

   • After the trip, transfer to a homestay in Ninh Binh - Ham Rong Homestay to take a rest, shower, and dinner before roaming around.

   • 20:30: The car will take you to the train station. Board a night train from Ninh Binh to Dong Hoi. (train Departs at 21:47)

6. Day 6: Phong Nha - Paradise Cave

   • 07:30 - 08:00: Your driver and guide will pick you up at Dong Hoi station, airport, bus station or hotels in Dong Hoi city or Phong Nha town and transfer you to Phong Nha Ke Bang national park.

   • 09:00: Visit Paradise Cave, discovered by scientists of the British Caving Research Association in 2005. It is the longest dry cave in Asia.

   • 12:00: Treat yourselves to local delicacies during lunch.

   • 13:00: Continue the journey to visit the Phong Nha Cave.

   • 13:30: Visit Phong Nha Cave which is considered “First wonder“. Take a boat about 5km along the Son River to Phong Nha Cave (river cave). On Son river, see children having fun on the waterfront.

   • Explore the Phong Nha Cave: The longest wet cave; enjoy the scenery, spectacular limestone, underground river system and unique stalactite of the world.

   • 6:00 - 16:30: Return to Dong Hoi City.

   • 17:00 – 17:30: Go back to Nam Long Plus Hotel to stay overnight.

7. Day 7: Train from Dong Hoi - Hue

   • After breakfast, the car will take you to the train station. Board the train to Hue. (the train departs at 8:05 AM) 

   • Arrive in Hue around 11:05 AM.

8. Day 8: Easy Rider from Hue to Hoi An

   • 08:00: The tour guide will pick you on a motorbike from your hotel in Hue. Enjoy a full-day trip from Hue to Hoi An on a motorbike. 

   • 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 you are crossing the top of the pass, you are surrounded by clouds on one side with stunning ocean views on the other.