After meeting at the Heritage Line welcome lounge at the Tuan Chau Marina, take a quick speedboat transfer to your luxurious floating home before starting your unique journey of exploring one of the wonders of nature—Lan Ha Bay and its main island of Cat Ba. Lunch is the first highlight of the cruise, served in the magnificent restaurant, which has approximately 360 degrees of light. Enjoy the superb variety of delectable regional, international, or vegetarian cuisine that the culinary experts have freshly prepared. Take a seat on the terrace deck, your balcony, to unwind and take in the relaxing aura that emerges from the beautiful coastline. While cruising in the early afternoon, there is time to enjoy the vast wellness and spa offerings. Choose your favorite treatment from an extensive spa menu, or take a plunge in the pool with infinity-like vistas.
As you reach the shore of a small lagoon on Cat Ba Island, hop on bicycles (e-cart transfers are also available) for leisurely pedaling along small paved roads towards the Viet Hai village. Little has changed in Viet Hai since the ancestors of the 80 households settled here centuries ago. Situated in a valley within the Cat Ba National Park and surrounded by thick forests and mountains, the locals are isolated from the other villages and towns. The only access is via the sea. The community is self-sufficient, as the residents provide for themselves by cultivating vegetables and fruits in the fields next door, growing rice in the valley, and fishing in the bay. Meeting locals and experiencing their way of life firsthand is a genuinely authentic opportunity. Get a glimpse of local households, see how they make medicine organically from tree bark, and you can also try various homemade liquors.
Back on board, and by the time you set sail northbound, the chef will invite you for an interactive cooking class in the big open kitchen restaurant (or any other alternative onboard activity). Learn about local ingredients as well as the preparation of classic Vietnamese dishes. As the sun sets, you will arrive at the tranquil anchor spot for the night. As night falls gently over the bay, relax and imagine today's activities playing out in your head. You might like to unwind at the bar with a digestif after a fantastic meal or watch a movie in the cinema that will be set up in the dining area later.
