Halong Bay & Red River Pandaw Cruise

Fly from Auckland to Singapore with Singapore Airlines. (Other options are available).

Fly from Singapore to Hanoi with Singapore Airlines.

On arrival in Hanoi you will be met and transferred to your hotel by private car.

You will be collected from your hotel in Hanoi and transferred to Halong Bay, with a lunch stop en-route.

Cast off in the late afternoon with a welcome cocktail for an evening sail, dropping anchor in a sheltered bay amidst the beautiful island scenery of Halong Bay.

The RV Angkor embarks on a morning sail around Halong Bay.

Halong Bay consists of more than 1,500 dramatic limestone islands and extraordinary rock formations, dating back 20 million years.

Stop at Viet Hai Village and explore on mountain bike or electric buggy, visiting the village’s vegetable farm and typical village houses. It is a beautiful trip along a small road, winding its way through the limestone rocks.

In the afternoon continue cruising towards Lan Ha Bay for a visit to a floating fishing house.

Weather dependent, end the day with cocktails at a beautiful beach in Halong Bay - bring your swimwear!

The exploration of Halong Bay continues with a visit to 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.

Depart Halong Bay and enter the river to drop anchor near Haiphong.

In the afternoon, Pandaw's chef will share his skills in fruit carving and demonstrate how to create Vietnamese spring rolls.

Observe the lively and interesting life of the Kinh Thay river, a key commercial waterway.

Meet your guide in the dining room for a lecture on Vietnam, its history, geography and the boat people.

Enjoy an afternoon excursion to Thanh Ha Commune with a village walk and a private water puppet show set under the shade by a beautiful pond of lotus and lilies.

Return to the ship and continue cruising until late evening, dropping anchor midstream.

This morning sail on the Lower Red and Day Rivers.

In the afternoon visit Dien Xa Bonsai Village where you can walk to the bonsai village and meet with local artists and share their bonsai experience.

Continue the cruise on the Day River towards Ninh Binh City.

In the morning visit Tam Coc, taking a rowing boat ride to visit the so call "Halong on land" in Ninh Binh.

In the afternoon visit the quaint village of Pham Phao where you can walk around the village visiting a host family where musical instruments have been made and repaired for generations.

Listen to the owner who plays every instrument within his family run business.

Visit local Woodworking Artisans who produce items for local and international markets.

In the morning sail upstream on the Red River to Phat Diem Cathedral to visit the famous stone cathedral of Pat Diem before continuing on the Red River to Hanoi.

Pandaw will drop anchor in the bustling city of Hanoi, where you have a city tour organised.

You'll see the notorious Vietnam war prison known as the Hanoi Hilton, the Temple of Literature where Confucius did his thinking and the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum.

Enjoy an afternoon walking tour of Hanoi including a visit to a coffee shop where you can 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.

In the morning visit Bat Trang ceramic village then sail through day from Hanoi up the Red River to Viet Tri - not the most picturesque of towns, but an excellent base for going deeper into Highland Vietnam.

Go ashore to visit a timeless Arcadian Vietnam where emerald green rice paddies are punctuated by limestone rock formations. Of particular interest are the Thay and Tay Phuong Pagodas.

Take an afternoon excursion to a carpentry village, famous for exquisite carvings and wood work techniques.

Arrive in Vinh Phuc in the evening.

In the morning go ashore to visit the UNESCO praised village of Duang Lam.

In the afternoon, visit the carpenter and smith village of Ly Nhan before sailing upstream on the Upper Red River to Viet Tri.

Enjoy traditional dances on board.

Disembark after breakfast and visit the conical hat making village of Gia Thanh.

By bus continue to Hung Lo Temple.

Lunch will be served at a local restaurant, followed by a transfer to the Pan Pacific Hotel.

You will be transferred from your hotel to the airport by private car.

Fly from Hanoi to Singapore with Singapore Airlines.

Fly from Singapore to Auckland with Singapore Airlines.

Arrive back in New Zealand.