Hanoi

Arrive in Hanoi and meet your guide outside the arrivals hall for a private transfer into the city. Check in to your hotel (standard rooms available from 14:00; early check-in can be arranged in advance, subject to a supplement). The remainder of the day is deliberately unstructured so you can settle in after the flight. If you feel like stretching your legs, take an easy, independent wander through the Old Quarter’s narrow lanes near the hotel—an atmospheric first taste of Hanoi’s street life. Optional FastTrack arrival is available to streamline immigration and reduce waiting time, with an airport representative escorting you through formalities.

Hanoi

After breakfast, meet your guide and head west of the historic centre for a half-day that shows a less-touristed side of Hanoi. En route, stop to explore an off-the-map neighbourhood: cross a large covered market, pass along “plants street”, and weave through a maze of alleys that opens onto a distinctive residential quarter of yellow apartment blocks and busy street markets—an evocative glimpse of Hanoi before rapid modernisation. Pause for coffee and people-watching, then continue to the Museum of Ethnology, an excellent indoor-outdoor introduction to Vietnam’s diverse ethnic cultures through artefacts, architecture and everyday objects. Afterwards, return to your hotel.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Hanoi

Nghia Lo

Depart Hanoi mid-morning for the north-western mountains, driving towards Nghia Lo as the scenery shifts from plains to greener uplands. After around four hours, leave the main route for a winding road climbing into Hmong country and the tea-covered slopes of Suoi Giang. Take a late lunch break with a tea tasting, then set out on a gentle but scenic walk: follow a small concrete lane that threads through the tea fields and descends gradually back towards the Nghia Lo Valley. After roughly 8 km, meet your vehicle and transfer a short distance to your lodge. Check in, unwind, and enjoy a refreshing swim if time allows

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Mu Cang Chai

After breakfast, continue north towards the Hoang Lien Son range, where mountain slopes begin to show the sculpted forms of rice terraces (best in season from July to mid-September). Drive to Khau Pha Pass, one of northern Vietnam’s highest and most scenic crossings, then arrive at a community-based project in the valley below. Meet a local family for a hands-on cookery session, followed by a generous home-cooked lunch. In the afternoon, explore the valley on foot with a local guide: walk around 3 km up to a hilltop viewpoint for wide terrace panoramas, then return (3 km) to the village. Continue by road to Mu Cang Chai and settle into a cosy lodge for a relaxed evening.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Sapa

Depart early and head towards La Pan Tan, stopping for panoramic views over one of Vietnam’s most dramatic terraced landscapes. The best way to explore these steep slopes is by riding pillion on scooters with local drivers, giving you close-up access to lanes and viewpoints that cars can’t reach. Spend around two hours weaving through terraces and Hmong villages, with time for photographs and everyday encounters. A home-hosted lunch introduces local flavours and village hospitality. In the afternoon, continue by road towards Sapa, crossing a sequence of high passes including O Quy Ho (“Heaven Gate”), one of the north’s most scenic drives. Arrive at Topas Ecolodge and check in; your onward transfer tomorrow is by the lodge shuttle.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Sapa

Sapa

Wake up in the mountains at Topas Ecolodge, a boutique retreat designed with bamboo-and-wood details inspired by traditional stilt houses, set high above the valleys of Hoang Lien National Park. This morning, set out on an easy cycling loop, following the road for a few kilometres before reaching Lech, a Red Dao village. Park the bikes and take a short walk to visit a local family, gaining a simple, personal insight into daily life and traditions. Continue cycling to Ban Moi, pausing to learn about Red Dao women’s embroidery—an important cultural craft in the region—before returning to the lodge. The afternoon is free to enjoy the views, pool and quiet mountain atmosphere. Cycling: 8km (about 1.5 hrs); walking: 2km (about 30 mins).

Meals Included: Breakfast

Sapa

Travel deeper into Hoang Lien National Park for a full-day walk focused on remote Red Dao villages and quieter trails. Start near Sin Chai and trek through layered mountain scenery—waterfalls, deep valleys and high ridgelines—before reaching Nam Nhiu, where you can meet villagers and learn about daily life rooted in farming. Continue on narrow dirt paths with views across bamboo harvest huts and terraced fields, then follow a calmer riverside stretch into Nam Cang, one of the farthest villages in the Sapa valley. Lunch is served locally in a comfortable riverside setting. In the afternoon, explore village crafts such as paper-making, silver jewellery and embroidery; weather permitting, you may swim in the river before returning to the lodge. Trek: 8.6km, moderate, 3–3.5 hrs (plus transfers).

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Hanoi

Enjoy a slow morning at Topas Ecolodge, with time to make the most of the mountain setting. Take a final short walk for fresh air and views, browse the lodge surroundings, or simply relax by the swimming pool before the journey back to the capital. After lunch at your leisure, board the lodge shuttle for the return to Hanoi, a comfortable drive of around five hours. Arrive in the evening and check in to your hotel, with the rest of the night free for a gentle reset—perhaps a light dinner nearby or an early night ahead of the Halong Bay cruise tomorrow.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Hanoi

Halong Bay

Leave Hanoi mid-morning and drive across the Red River Delta to the coast, arriving at the marina in around two and a half hours. After check-in formalities and a welcome drink, transfer to your cruise vessel and settle into your private en-suite cabin. Lunch is served as the boat glides into the Halong archipelago, where limestone towers rise dramatically from the water. In the afternoon, reach a quieter, less-travelled area of the bay for relaxed exploration—activities vary by season and conditions but may include light excursions or time to swim and unwind. As the sun drops, enjoy the sundeck atmosphere with an aperitif or a cooking demonstration before dinner.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Halong Bay

Start early with an optional sunrise Tai Chi session on the sundeck, a calm way to loosen up as the light spreads across the emerald water. After breakfast, pack what you need for the day and transfer to a smaller day boat while the main ship returns briefly to the wharf for passenger operations. Spend the day cruising deeper into less-visited corners of the bay, with additional activities and short excursions arranged by the crew depending on weather and tides. Lunch is served onboard the day boat, keeping the rhythm easy and unhurried. In the late afternoon, return to the main vessel, with time to freshen up before another sunset over the limestone formations. Dinner is served onboard.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Hanoi

Early risers can again join Tai Chi at dawn, enjoying the quiet bay before the day begins. Continue cruising with a morning excursion—often to one of Halong’s caves—then return to the ship to check out of your cabin. A generous brunch is served as the boat heads back towards the wharf, giving you a final chance to take in the limestone scenery from the deck. Disembark mid/late morning and transfer by road to Hanoi Airport for your onward flight, usually around three hours depending on traffic. Your guide or driver will assist with timing to ensure a smooth connection.

Meals Included: Breakfast