Pandaw Cruise Halong Bay & Red River 11 days

Transfer to Hoa Binh, embark your ship at around 15.00pm and set sail downstream for sunset and a night on the Da River.

TRANSFER FROM HANOI AIRPORT
We do pick you up from Hanoi Noi Bai International Airport – seat in coach. Last departure is no later than 12.00 noon. Please look for a Pandaw sign with your name on in the arrival hall. Arrival Hoa Binh for embarkation at 15.00pm.

TRANSFER FROM HANOI CITY
For passenger already in Hanoi the night before, please meet us at:
PAN PACIFIC HOTEL HANOI
1 Thanh Nien Road, Ba Dinh District
HANOI., VIETNAM
Tel +84 4 382 38888

Registration at hotel lobby 11.00am. Coach departs from Pan Pacific Hotel Hanoi at 12.00noon. Arrival at Hoa Binh Jetty at 15.00pm.

PASSENGERS WITH OWN ARRANGEMENTS
Please arrive at Hoa Binh Jetty (behind AP Plaza Building) for embarkation at 15.00pm.

Hoa Binh was the site of a major battle in 1951 & 1952 with the French and is home to the Muong ethnic group. We will visit a museum and a local village where villagers still wear traditional dresses. Then take a local boat ride on the reservoir of Hoa Binh power station. Tonight you will enjoy the traditional performance of local hill tribe people.

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 Trung Ha. On board your guides and chefs will entertain you with cooking demonstrations and a talk on Northern Vietnam.

After breakfast you travel by coach through beautiful scenic countryside to the UNESCO village of Duong Lam. Then we continue cruising downstream to Viet Tri. Take in the sights and sounds of the bustling river with all kinds of craft and activity.

In the morning we cruise to Tien Du ferry station where we visit the village of Gia Thanh famous for the making of conical hats. This is travel off the beaten track, as no tourists visit this area. Travel to Hung Lo Temple for ‘Hat Xoan’ and enjoy a performance of local dance from the villagers. Afternoon visit to a carpenter village. Return to the ship and continue cruising the scenic Lo River.

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. In the afternoon, we visit Bat Trang ceramic village. We then sail on the Lower Red River to Hanoi arriving in the evening.

Dropped anchor in the bustling city of Hanoi, passengers will 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.

We will be cruising in the morning. Afternoon, local boat ride to Stork ‘s Island with its well-maintained bird sanctuary and take a walking tour of Ninh Giang commune visiting the local market. Enjoy a homemade special cake (Banh Gai) and return to the ship for dinner.

Morning sailing on the Thai Binh River and visit the Thanh Ha Commune where we take a walking tour. Here, we enjoy also a water puppet show. Observe the lively and interesting life of the river, a key commercial waterway. Back to the ship and have lunch while the ship cruises through amazing scenery to Halong Bay. We arrive at Halong Bay around 4 pm for a sunset cruise. Tonight enjoy a barbeque on a secluded bay in Halong Bay – quite wonderful !

Morning sailing in Halong Bay and beyond, with its 2,000 dramatic limestone islands and extraordinary rock formations dating back 20 million years. We will visit, by local boat, a floating home, stop at a beach and enjoy kayaking or taking a rowing basket boat to bright & dark limestone caves.

Morning sailing in Halong Bay and beyond, with its 2,000 dramatic limestone islands and extraordinary rock formations dating back 20 million years. We will visit, by local boat, a floating home, stop at a beach and enjoy kayaking or taking a rowing basket boat to bright & dark limestone caves.

Morning sail back to Tuan Chau Jetty. Disembark at 11.00am for transfer to Hanoi Airport or Pan Pacific Hotel Hanoi with stop for lunch at a local restaurant.

Please note: This is a seat in coach service to the airport. Your domestic flights must depart after 18.00 pm. Your international flights must depart after 19.00 pm