Meet & greet: Upon arrival at Hanoi airport, you will be welcomed to Vietnam by your private English-speaking guide, and then transferred to your hotel. An early check in has been booked for your arrival this morning.

Afternoon cyclo tour of the Old Quarter: The best way to explore the picturesque area of the Old Quarter is by "cyclo" (a three-wheeled bicycle taxi). Also known as the "36 Streets District", it was once the thriving commercial centre of the city. Each of the 36 short lanes used to specialise in a particular trade represented by one of the guilds. This is still reflected in the names of certain streets: like Silk Street, Gold Street and Fish Street. Among the ancient homes and attractive temples there is a multitude of tantalising souvenir shops.

Evening meal at Home Moc: This evening you’ll be taken to Home Moc Restaurant in central Hanoi, set in a classic French Villa that has been meticulously maintained through the years. A set Vietnamese set menu is included, but drinks must be paid for locally.  After dinner, you will be transferred back to your hotel.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at Peridot Grand Luxury Boutique Hotel (Grand Deluxe Room)

Meals: Breakfast & Dinner

Guided tour of Hanoi: Start today's tour with a visit to the Temple of Literature, which was built in the 11th century and was the first university established in Vietnam. Continue to the Tran Quoc Pagoda and then finish the morning at the Museum of History, followed by lunch at a local restaurant. This afternoon embark on a leisurely cyclo ride around Hoan Kiem Lake. If time permits, pay a visit to a local coffee shop and enjoy Hanoi’s specialty, egg coffee, which is tastier than it sounds!

Accommodation: Stay tonight at Peridot Grand Luxury Boutique Hotel (Grand Deluxe Room)

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch

Day at leisure in Hanoi: You have a full day today to explore the Vietnamese capital independently. Stroll around the picturesque Hoan Kiem Lake, take in a water puppet show, go shopping in the Old Quarter, or sample some of Hanoi’s many culinary delights.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at Peridot Grand Luxury Boutique Hotel (Grand Deluxe Room)

Meals: Breakfast

Road journey to Lan Ha Bay: This morning, you will be met at your hotel and driven for approximately 2 hours through the Red River delta to the coast and the Gulf of Tonkin, where the quieter waters of Lan Ha Bay are found.

Lan Ha Bay Cruise On arrival at the port, board your cruise and set sail around noon. As your journey begins, lunch is served in the dining room on the terrace deck offering panoramic views of the passing scenery. You will pass an ancient lighthouse built by the French more than a century ago. While heading deeper and further south into the maze of Lan Ha Bay, you can enjoy the activities offered on-board - take a plunge in the pool or make use of the spa or the bar.

The first stop is a local pier on the south of Cat Ba Island which is the entry point for a visit to a charming village named "Viet Hai". Hop on bicycles (or electric cars) for a scenic exploration along small paved pathways, which meander through the lush tropical forest towards the village nestled in the valley. The community, surrounded by jungle and mountains, and only accessible by sea, is self-sufficient, cultivating vegetables, fruits and fishing in the bay. Meet and interact with the local inhabitants doing their daily work around their homes and gardens and get an insight into their way of life here.

Back on board, set sail again to a tranquil place and moor up for the night. The chef will serve a multi-course dinner and afterwards you can join fellow passengers for a movie night in the dining room or help the crew fishing for squid.

 Please note that the following cruise itinerary is subject to alteration dependent on sailing conditions.

Accommodation: Stay tonight onboard the Ylang Cruise (Signature Suite)

 Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Lan Ha Bay Cruise: Early this morning there is an optional Tai Chi session or a yoga class in the dedicated yoga room. Breakfast is then served in the dining room or in your suite before you set off to visit one of the few remaining floating, fishing villages. After visiting the villages, set off on a leisurely hiking tour in Cat Ba National Park. Learn more about the endemic flora and fauna and the island itself, as the largest island in the Gulf of Tonkin.

Lunch is served back on board, while the Ylang continues to sail through the bay to a secluded cove. The afternoon is free to choose from a range of activities: you may like to swim and sunbath on a natural beach or join a kayaking tour - or a bit of both. Or simply just kick-back on board and relax.

Accommodation: Stay tonight onboard the Ylang Cruise (Signature Suite)

 Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Lan Ha Bay Cruise: Wake early for Tai Chi or yoga up on deck, before enjoying a traditional Vietnamese coffee, tea and pastries in the dining room. The Ylang sails on to Frog Lake, where it will moor up and allow you some more time to kayak or swim, before passing back through Lan Hay Bay to the pier while you have brunch. On arrival, disembark and meet up with your driver.

Road journey to Ninh Binh: Having disembarked from your cruise, and met up with your guide, you will drive west to the lush landscapes of Ninh Binh. The drive will take around 3.5 hours (subject to local traffic).

Accommodation: Stay tonight at Tam Coc Garden Resort (Premium Tonkin Room)

 Meals: Breakfast

Guided tour of Ninh Binh: This morning you will be taken to explore Tam Coc. This area is often called 'Halong on land' as it has the same limestone rock formations but is surrounded by paddy fields and streams rather than the sea. Take a short bicycle ride along picturesque country roads and learn more about the countryside and the lives of the people living here. In the afternoon, board a small sampan boat and enjoy a spectacular two-hour boat ride through caves, waterways and the stunning rural landscapes of limestone cliffs and rice paddies.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at Tam Coc Garden Resort (Premium Tonkin Room)

 Meals: Breakfast & Lunch

Guided tour of the Cuc Phuong National Park: After breakfast this morning, you will be transferred to the nearby Cuc Phuong national park, one of Vietnam’s most beautiful and important protected areas. The forest contains almost 2,000 species of trees and amongst them lives some amazing and rare animals including the Clouded leopard, Delacour’s Langur, Owston’s Civet, Otters and Asian Black Bears. On arrival in Cuc Phuong, you will be taken to the Visitor Centre where you can learn more about the park from the pictures and models on display. You will also visit the Endangered Primate Rescue Centre - one of the highlights of Cuc Phuong, where you can observe some of the rarest primate species in the world. After lunch in a local restaurant at the park headquarters, drive further through the forest to the central area, before setting off on a 6km trek. If you are lucky, as you trek through the jungle, you will see a wide range of tropical plants, unusual insects and a few wild mammals. At the centre of the forest is a 1000-year-old tree which is considered to house the spirit of Cuc Phuong. After paying your respects, head back to the entrance and drive back to your hotel for an evening at leisure.

 For this excursion, you will need to take solid walking shoes or boots, a lightweight waterproof coat, head torches and insect repellent.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at Tam Coc Garden Resort (Premium Tonkin Room)

 Meals: Breakfast & Lunch

Road journey to Mai Chau: This morning, you will be driven from Ninh Binh to Mai Chau, a picturesque journey of around 3 hours through some beautiful scenery. On arrival, check into your hotel and enjoy the beautiful surroundings.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Avana Retreat (Bauhinia Mountain Suite)

 Meals: Breakfast

Morning nature trek: This morning you will take a hike into the nearby mountains. Start from the Avana Retreat and trek through the forest until you reach the top of a mountain where you can stop for a breathtaking view over the villages below. Continue on your walk along narrow paths, passing local cornfields, cassava fields, bamboo forests, and paddy fields, visiting remote villages, hearing the buffalo’s bells ringing out in the air and passing local farmers on your way. You also have an opportunity to visit a local house and listen to some stories about the traditional life customs in an ethnic village. Later return to the Avana Retreat by shuttle van. Please note this excursion is approximately 3 hours long, walking to a height of 700m and classed as an intermediate hike. If you prefer a shorter, easier walk please enquire as this can be arranged as an alternative.

Comfortable long trousers, long shirts and hiking shoes / boots should be worn.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Avana Retreat (Bauhinia Mountain Suite)

 Meals: Breakfast

At leisure: You have time to relax at the hotel or explore the local area independently.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Avana Retreat (Bauhinia Mountain Suite)

 Meals: Breakfast

Road journey to Hanoi: Relax at the hotel this morning and depart Mai Chau after lunch for the drive back to Hanoi, a journey of approximately 3-4 hours, depending on traffic conditions.

Meals: Breakfast