8-Day Vietnam Highlights Tour from Hanoi with cruise, caves and Hai Van

• 09:00: Meet your Vietnamese tour guide and driver in your hotel's lobby and transfer to Hai Phong city.

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

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

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

• 17:00: Return to the cruise ship to catch the daily spectacle of a gorgeous sunset 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 retiring to your cabin, you can head to the bar, visit the spa, or join the crew for some squid fishing.

• 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 learn more about their lives and how they work every day.

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

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

Easy trek to Chieng Lau, Yen, and Ba villages, with bamboo rafting on Cham Stream:

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

• 09:00: Take a short break in Luong Son, outside Hanoi.

• 11:00: Stop at the local market of the Muong Ethnic Minority and 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 continue 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. Follow a small road through terraced rice and sugar cane fields, cross the hanging bridges, and visit remote Thai ethnic villages.

• Stop at the giant waterwheels, visit the ducks' farm to learn about agriculture, and then get on a bamboo raft for a relaxing cruise on Cham Stream, depending on weather conditions.

• 17:30: Transfer to the Eco Garden - Mountain Retreat and enjoy swimming in the infinity pool.

• 19:00: Have a BBQ dinner at the lodge, enjoy some local rice wine, and spend 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, private room (no air conditioning), or deluxe room with air conditioning.

• 07:00 - 08:00: Have breakfast at the lodge and enjoy the breathtaking view from Pu Luong Eco Garden - The Mountain Retreat.

• 08:30 - 12:00: Hike along small trails through the terraced rice fields and cross the stream to visit the remote hidden village of Kho Muong, where you can learn about the local people of Pu Luong. (6 km)

• Explore Doi Cave (Bat Cave), the largest cave in Pu Luong, depending on 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 Ninh Binh at 14:30.

• 17:30: Arrive at Ninh Binh Retreat, check in, and enjoy free time.

• 19:00: Have dinner at the retreat.

*Sleeping options: Ninh Binh Retreat traditional dorm room in the house on stilts, bamboo bungalow (no air conditioning), or deluxe villa with air conditioning.

• 07:30 - 08:30: Have breakfast at the retreat.

• 08:30 - 12:00: Cycle through the limestone karsts to reach the temples of the first two emperors of the 10th century in Hoa Lu, the ancient capital.

• Hike up 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 among the karsts. Enjoy the beautiful scenery and peaceful atmosphere.

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

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

• 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 Phong Nha Cave.

• 13:30: Visit Phong Nha Cave, considered the "First Wonder." Take a boat about 5 km along the Son River to reach this river cave. On the Son River, see children having fun on the waterfront.

• Explore Phong Nha Cave, the longest wet cave, and enjoy the scenery, spectacular limestone, underground river system, and unique stalactites.

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

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

• 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.

• 08:00: The tour guide will pick you up by 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 your 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 cross the top of the pass, you are surrounded by clouds on one side and stunning ocean views on the other.