Transfer to Viet Tri, embark your ship and set sail downstream for sunset and a night on the Red River. Tonight you enjoy a traditional dance on board.

In the morning transfer to Gia Thanh village and visit the conical hat making village. Then continue by bus to visit Hung Lo Temple where you can enjoy a UNESCO recognized "Hat Xoan" performance. In the afternoon, moor in Minh Chau to visit a carpenter village and smith's village in Vinh Phuc province.

You can visit the UNESCO praised village of Duang Lam, then sail downstream on the Red River and visit a timeless Arcadian Vietnam with emerald green rice paddies punctuated by lime stone rock formations. Of particular interest are 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.

Dropped anchor in the bustling city of Hanoi, passengers can 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. Welcome back to the ship by Lion Dances.

This morning, visit Bat Trang ceramic village, a hub of ceramic production for generations. The ceramics made here are famous throughout Vietnam and adorn many homes both north and south. Before returning to the ship, a local dance troupe treats you to a lion dance on the pier. This colorful and energetic dance is customary during festivals throughout Vietnam, most notably during Tet. Sail through the maze of waterways this afternoon and are entertained onboard by your Pandaw Chef with a cooking class and fruit carving.

After breakfast, visit Dien Xa Bonsai village followed by lunch. In the afternoon, visit the famous Phat Diem stone Cathedral and a local house where they make rice wine. Back to the ship then sail up the Day River to Ninh Binh.

In the morning you visit Thung Nang, taking a rowing boat to the so called "Halong on land" in Ninh Binh. In the afternoon you visit the quaint village of Pham Phao where guests can walk around the village visiting a host family where musician instruments have been made and repaired for generations. Listen to the owner who plays every instrument within his family run business. You visit local Woodworking Artisans who produce items for local and international markets.

Observe the lively and interesting life on the river before you reach the next destination in the afternoon. Excursion to Thanh Ha Commune with village walk and a private water puppet show set under shade by a beautiful pond of lotus and lilies. Drop anchor near Hai Phong Port, the gateway to Halong Bay. 

Cast off early morning along the river before entering Halong Bay’s amazing island scenery with its 2,000 dramatic limestone islands and extraordinary rock formations dating back 20 million years. Exploring Halong Bay, you stop at the so called “Dark and Bright Cave”. Take a kayak or a local basket boat rowed by fishermen and enter this remarkable cave into an enclosed area similar to a crater. Bats can be heard in the cave and massive stalagmites hang from the ceiling. Continue cruising around Halong Bay until the ship drop anchor in Rang Dua.

You make a stop at Viet Hai Village and continue the journey by mountain bike or electric buggy to visit the village’s vegetable farm and typical village houses. It is a breathtaking trip along a small road winding its way through the limestone rocks. In the afternoon you can continue cruising towards Lan Ha Bay for a visit to a floating fishing house. Weather dependent, you can end the day with cocktails at a beautiful beach in Halong Bay.

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