Arrive in Hanoi and meet your driver, who takes you to your hotel. Settle in and rest up for the remainder of the day.

After breakfast, meet up with your guide and driver set out towards Hoan Kiem Lake to see Hanoi's morning rituals. Many Vietnamese, mostly women of varying ages, wake up early and start the morning with some exercise. Typically they do group Tai Chi or aerobics in the park surrounding the lake. It is very interesting to see how the local people start their busy day routine with mindful exercise. Feel free to join them!

Marvel at the French architecture of the buildings and community houses which have been carefully restored by UNESCO. Along the way, stop to taste the local cuisine, including springs rolls and other snacks common in Hanoi. To finish the morning, pay a visit to the Huu Tiep Lake, better known as ‘B-52 lake’, where US B-5 bomber wreckage can be seen.

In the afternoon, head to the Old Quarter to enjoy a local lunch and visit the Temple of Literature. Built in 1076 as Vietnam's first university, this temple was used to educate Vietnam's royalty, mandarins, and other members of the elite class. The university operated for 700 years, and now its gardens and well-preserved architecture offer a fascinating glimpse into Vietnam's past.

Finish your day with a walk along the Hanoi railway tracks, which at times are located just meters away from houses. End the day tasting local draft beers at the typical and well known Bia Hoi. Return to your hotel and enjoy a free evening on your own.
 

This morning after breakfast, you will meet your driver and guide and you will head towards Ky Son Village. Ky Son is located 55km to the west of Hanoi and is a locality of the historic Duong Lam Village, home to many traditional houses of which some are over 200 years old.
 
You will have the chance to join in with lunch preparation and learn more about Vietnamese food.  After lunch, enjoy having your fingers dipped in a fragrant lime bowl and the traditional herbal hand massage. Then, free time for relaxing or further conversation with the host family about local snacks, sharing cultures, and learning about traditional customs. If you want to learn Vietnamese, one of the family members can teach you.

In the afternoon, you will have the chance to ride bikes around the village. This is a great opportunity to get a deep image of Vietnamese culture, farming and daily life. You will also visit the market which is an authentic Vietnamese experience. You can choose to do a short ride of 6 km or a long ride of 12 km round trip:

• Short ride: Take a bicycle ride to discover the Ky Son, Tam Son, Van Minh, and Cham farming communities to and stop at any home you like for a cup of tea. Visit the kindergarten (if open). Chat with local people about their daily life and farming. You can help with plowing or making rice beds, transplanting seedlings, harvesting rice (or cassava, corn, sweet potatoes...) depending on the harvest season.
• Long ride: Take a bicycle ride with local guide to discover the Ky Son, Tam Son, Van Minh, and Cham farming communities, Duong Lam ancient village and visit Mia Pagoda, Mong Phu Communal House... Then bike ride back along the ritual paths of Thang thac village to discover the Ngo Quyen tomb, Phung Hung temple.

 
Return to the Moon Garden and then drive back to Hanoi. The rest of day is free at your own leisure.

This morning set out for your 3.5 hour journey to Ha Long Bay, one of the most spectacular UNESCO World Heritage Areas and the world’s largest marine limestone Karst landscape. On the way, visit Yen Duc Village to enjoying water puppets show. Continue onto Ha Long Bay, and embark your cruise at Hon Gai Harbor.

After check-in, enjoy welcome drinkl, cruise briefing, and set out to the magnificent Bai Tu Long Bay.  Once in the area of Cap La and Tra San, enjoy a chance to paddle around by kayaking or swim near the ship.  In the evening, the ship will cruise back through the bay to its overnight anchorage in Cong Do. Relax and enjoy your evening on the bay.

After breakfast, visit Vung Vieng fishing village by a rustic row-boat, meet the local people and pass through the floating school and fish farms. On to Hon Co Island for swimming or relaxing, and explore the well-hidden Thien Canh Son cave. Return to the ship for lunch and a bit of a rest. In the afternoon, arrive Hon Co Island for swimming and exploring the well-hidden Thien Canh Son cave then back to the ship for a relaxing dinner.

Enjoy the view of the bay while you have breakfast on board. In the morning, you will have some free time for swimming and relaxing as the ship slowly cruises back to the harbor for disembarkation.
 
Arrive back to the Hon Gai Harbor in the early afternoon where your shuttle bus will be waiting you to take you back to your hotel in Hanoi. The rest of the afternoon and evening is free to explore Hanoi on your own.

Enjoy a free morning before transferring back to the airport for your continued journeys.