Vietnam Cruise Holiday on Red River

Right after landing on Noi Bai Airport, Viet Prestige travel’s tour guide will pick you up and then transfer you to hotel for check in. Free at your leisure in the remainder of the day

Transfer from Hanoi to Halong Bay to embark Pandaw cruise with a stop for lunch enroute. Cast off in the late afternoon for an evening sailing to drop anchor in a sheltered bay amidst the amazing island scenery.

Today sail around Halong Bay and beyond with its 1,500 dramatic limestone islands and extraordinary rock formations, dating back 20 million years. We will visit by local boat a local floating home, kayaking or taking a rowing basket boat to bright & dark limestone caves.

Morning continue cruising in Halong Bay then we will enter the river in the afternoon and setting sail to Pha Lai. Observe the lively and interesting life of the river, a key commercial waterway. We will anchor mid-stream.

Morning sail on Duong river to Duc Tai Village. take a walking around Duc Tai Village and visit a local family where bamboo baskets being made by family member. Back to the ship and have lunch while the ship cruising on Thai Binh river. The afternoon excursion to Thanh Ha commune for water puppet show & village walkabout. Continues cruising to Ninh Giang.

In the morning take a walking tour in Ninh Giang commune to visit local market and taste a homemade special cake (BANH GAI). Then we will continue to Stork ‘s island on a 25 minutes bus ride before wer return back to the ship for lunch. Afternoon cruising to Ha Noi.

After hearty breakfast, the cruise docked in the bustling city of Hanoi, visit some highlights of this Asian metropolis, must see’s like the notorious Vietnam war prison known as the Hanoi Hilton, temple of literature where Confucius did his thinking and the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum. Afternoon walking tour of Hanoi including a visit to a coffee shop where we learn about Vietnam’s famous coffee making industry. Before returning to your ship you will enjoy a traditional unicorn and lion dance at the jetty.

Morning visit Bat Trang ceramic village then sail through day from Hanoi up the Red River to Viet Tri, not the most picturesque of towns but an excellent base for going deeper into Highland Vietnam. Going ashore we visit a timeless Arcadian Vietnam with emerald green rice paddies punctuated by lime stone rock formations. Of particular interest is the Thay and Tay Phuong Pagodas, hardly known, yet with exquisite temples dating from the 8th and 11th century and home to some fine Buddhist statuary carved from jackfruit trees. We will arrive in Viet Tri in the evening.

In the morning cruising to Tien Du ferry station to the conical hat making village of Gia Thanh. Take in the sights and sounds of the bustling river with all kinds of craft and activity. By bus, we continue to Hung Lo Temple.

Enjoy a day sailing downstream admiring the unspoilt beauty of the Da River. We pass the Ba Vi National Park with its rich and diverse tropical and sub-tropical flora and fauna before arriving at Hoa Binh. We will visit the UNESCO village of Duong Lam.

Hoa Binh was the site of a major battle with the French in 1951 & 1952 and is home to the Muong ethnic group.This morning we will take a boat ride on the reservoir of Hoa Binh power station and visit a local village and tonight you will enjoy the traditional performance of local hill tribe people.

Disembark after breakfast and visit a museum and local village where villagers still wear traditional dresses. Lunch will be served at a local restaurant, followed by a transfer to Hanoi airport, estimated arrival at Hanoi Airport at 17.00pm and continuing to central Hotel, about 18.00pm. so that your flight out of Hanoi airport must be after 18.00pm (domestic) or 19.00pm (international).