Heritage Expedition Cruises 4 Days
“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” Mark Twain said.
Heritage Expedition Cruises 4 Days
Feel and live the destination, don’t just cruise through it. Heritage Expedition is a program particularly designed for those who love exploring and immersing themselves in local life, nature, culture, and adventure to discover the authenticity of the destination.
Venture off the beaten path, go kayaking, discovering secluded beaches, lagoons, coves, and caves. The Heritage Expedition itinerary is the same itinerary as the 3day cruise program, but the extra day gives you the time to discover the Cat Ba Archipelago in depth. We include a day to explore Cat Ba Island, Trung Trang Cave or Quan Y cave, visit the local market.
Cruising is all about personal experiences. With this expedition cruise, we ensure your cruising experience is comfortable and special, with excellent food, friendly staff, an interesting itinerary with many optional activities, excellent service, and attention to detail, elegance, sophistication, and sense of adventure.
Heritage Cruises aims to offer each guest the opportunity to create their own memories with exquisite cuisine, 24 hours room service and fun activities.
This boutique cruise starts at Tuan Chau Marina in Halong city, reached from Hanoi by shuttle bus (optional). At noon, the boat’s team welcomes you aboard and checks you into your exclusive cabin. The first part of the cruise presents the wild beauty of Halong Bay and followed by Lan Ha Bay’s panoramas. A few minutes into the cruise guests are invited to taste Vietnamese dishes at the restaurant. This is just the beginning of four days packed full of highlights ensuring a memorable trip.
After this, guests have a range of options including massages, kayaking, or afternoon tea. In the evening a chef gives a cooking demonstration featuring traditional Vietnamese dishes. After dinner, activities can include board games, squid fishing or watching movie.
The second day is dedicated to leisure including meeting locals and visiting remote villages, hidden coves, and lagoons.
After breakfast on the third day, take the speedboat to the Gia Luan seaport to explore the largest island, Cat Ba. Visit the largest cave on the island, visit local market and beach.
The fourth day starts at sunrise with Vovinam, a Vietnamese martial arts session. It is followed by an exploration of Dark and Bright Cave, After checkout, brunch is served on board while cruising back to Tuan Chau Marina for your onward destination.
Destinations
- Halong Bay – Lan Ha Bay – Cat Ba Island
- Tuan Chau Marina
- Da Chong Islet
- Ba Trai Dao Beach (Lan Ha Bay)
- Viet Hai Village
- Dark and Bright Cave
- Gia Luan Seaport
- Cat Ba Center
- Local Market
- Trung Trang Grotto or Quan Y Cave
Activities
- Cave exploration
- Kayaking or bamboo boat ride
- Swimming
- Cycling
- Walking
- Massages (Extra service)
- Cooking class
- Music entertainment
- Squid fishing
- Vovinam
- Moving watching
What To Bring
- Sunglasses, hat, sunscreen, insect repellent
- Comfortable clothing and swimwear (warm clothes in winter)
- Camera, valid passport
- Sports shoes for climbing, trekking, and walking
- Personal medical supplies
DAY ONE: HANOI – HALONG BAY – LAN HA BAY IN CAT BA ARCHIPELAGO
8:00 – 8:30 Meeting point/or hotel pick-up for trip to Tuan Chau International Marina, Halong City (if you book our shuttle bus).
11:30 – 11:45 Welcome to Heritage Cruises Lounge at No.28B of Tuan Chau International Marina. Please move from the Heritage Cruises Lounge to the speedboat (about 30 – 40 minutes) to the Heritage Binh Chuan Cruises Cat Ba Archipelago.
12:30 Board the Heritage Cruises boat and enjoy a welcome drink as you receive a cruise briefing, safety instructions, and check-in to your suite.
12:40 Heritage Cruises takes you to contemplate the magnificent sceneries made from the limestone mountains of Lan Ha Bay – Cat Ba Archipelago. This bay is untouched and remote, as not many cruise boats use this route.
13:15 Lunch is served at L’indochine Restaurant
15:30 The cruise vessel approaches the Ba Trai Dao (Three Peach beaches) (upon the weather), or Tra Bau area in Lan Ha Bay, a natural frontier between the provinces of Halong and Haiphong. This secret hideaway has beaches, caves, and coves, plus the spectacular natural beauty of about 400 islands. Guests can try kayaking or simply swimming in the crystal-clear waters of the bay.
17:00 Return to Heritage Cruises, enjoy life aboard the vessel or in your suite,
18:00 Activities include afternoon tea and the chef will lead a Vietnamese cooking class
Join our HAPPY HOUR (from 17:00 to 19:00) while enjoying the amazing scenery while watching the sunset over the Gulf of Tonkin.
19:15 A memorable dining experience will be offered at Le Tonkin Restaurant, with local food in an intimate and romantic setting.
19:45 Turn down service
21:30 Enjoy evening views of the bay at the bar on the top deck. Try your hand squid fishing on 1st deck or watch movie, sing karaoke on 3rd deck. The bars are open until late.
Overnight onboard
DAY TWO: LAN HA BAY HIDEAWAY
06:15 Start the day with a session of Vovinam on the sundeck, followed by coffee, tea, and pastries.
07:45 Full breakfast is served at Le Tonkin restaurant.
8:30 Transfer to Viet Hai Village by speedboat or dayboat. Take a bicycle ride or electric car through a rainforest tunnel that leads to local field. Visit a traditional house in a village deep in a national park where you can observe the lifestyle of the local people or visit Tien Duc cave – a cave located deep inside Cat Ba National Park (optional).
Then enjoy lunch in Viet Hai village or on dayboat and enjoy the scenery in Lan Ha Bay.
13:00 Visit the Cat Ba Archipelago and then go to the Ba Trai Dao beaches (if the weather and tide permit) or crystal-clear water area for swimming and kayaking.
15:30 Return to Heritage Cruises to enjoy cocktails, beer, and fine wine as the sky changes color.
17:30 Enjoy life aboard the vessel or in your suite, and with a cocktail in hand watch the sunset over the Gulf of Tonkin. The chef will lead a Vietnamese cooking class
19:30 Enjoy a fine-dining experience in the main restaurant
21:30 Welcome the night at the bar on the top deck, or try squid fishing. The bars are open late.
Overnight onboard
DAY THREE: EXPEDITION DAY ON THE CAT BA ISLAND, LAN HA BAY
06:15 Start the day with a session of Vovinam on the sundeck, followed by coffee, tea, and pastries.
06:45 Have a light breakfast on board.
Or you can choose a luxurious breakfast, especially served in the swimming pool on the 3rd floor (time from 6:30 – 8:30). Maximum for 2 groups of guests and maximum to 6 guests (with surcharge).
10:00 After breakfast, go by speedboat to the Gia Luan seaport and disembark to explore the largest island in the Gulf of Tonkin, Cat Ba.
10:30 Our driver and tour guide will meet you to drive you into the lush rainforest and scenic karst landscapes where you will stop to visit the largest cave, Trung Trang Cave or the Quan Y Cave close to Cat Ba National Park.
11:30 Head to the center of the island, visit the local market where you can meet locals, enjoy some foods and buy souvenirs.
13:00 Have lunch at a local restaurant in the center of the island.
14:00 You can walk around the Cat Co beaches (optional) before heading back to Gia Luan seaport.
16:00 Your adventure on land and water ends, and you are transferred back to Heritage Cruises.
16:00- 19:00 Free time to enjoy the swimming pool and enjoy a cocktail or glass of wine at the Pool Bar while the sun sets over the bay (afternoon tea, happy hour and cooking class as normal)
19:15 Dinner will be served at Le Tonkin Restaurant.
21:30 Relax at the top-deck bar, watch movie or try your hand at squid fishing. The bars are open late.
Overnight onboard
DAY FOUR: HALONG BAY – HANOI
06:15 Start the day with a session of Vovinam on the sundeck.
06:45 Have a light breakfast on board.
Or you can choose a luxurious breakfast, especially served in the swimming pool on the 3rd floor (time from 6:30 – 8:30). Maximum for 2 groups of guests and maximum to 6 guests (with surcharge).
07:15 Head off in a bamboo boat to explore the Dark and Bright Cave to enjoy the sparkling stalactites on the ceiling and feel the soul of the surrounding nature.
9:00 – 9:30 Return to the boat for checkout
09:30 Enjoy brunch while cruising back to the mainland
10:30 Return to Tuan Chau Marina and disembark for your onward journey
11:30 If you have booked our limousine service, our chauffeur will pick you up to take you to your hotel in Hanoi.
14:00 -14:30 Our chauffeur will drop you off at your hotel. (if you book our shuttle bus)
Notes:
Itineraries may be subject to change without prior notice due to weather, pandemic conditions, or regulation of Port authorities. Wi-Fi is available in the restaurant/bar area, but internet connectivity is limited due to the geography of the bay. Thank you for your understanding.
Inclusions:
- Welcome drink
- Speedboat transfer
- Bike/Electric car for transportation on the island
- Van for transportation on the island
- Fresh seasonal fruit, snacks and nuts, water bottle, tea & coffee in rooms
- All meals included. Four – day/three-night cruise: 3 set lunches, 3 dinners, 3 breakfasts and 1 brunch deluxe.
- Music, bars and art gallery
- Cookery demonstrations
- Vovinam session, games, gym, swimming pool, library.
- Outdoor Lounge, Song Hong Lounge, Pool Bar, Le Tonkin Restaurant & Bar, L’indochine Restaurant & Bar.
- Beach activities such as swimming, kayaking, bamboo boating, caving, squid fishing.
- All cabins with bathtubs & showers, private balcony with full ocean views.
- English-speaking experience manager and cruise director on board.
- Free Wi-Fi
- All sightseeing tickets
- Service charges
Exclusions:
- Transfer service to harbor
- Accommodation pre- and post-cruise
- Air fares
- Personal expenses
- Massages
- Visa arrangements – Heritage Cruises can assist in providing visa services for guests (rate available on request)
- Other services, such as phone calls, medical bills
- Tips and surcharges
- Fuel surcharge (if any)
- Beverages and services not mentioned in the inclusions list or in the program
OR SEND YOUR INQUIRY
All Our Experiences
Heritage Cruises can help travelers take up his challenge with three experiences: Dream Cruise for one day, Discover Cruise for two days, and Explorer Cruise for three days. In addition, we arrange private charters for four- to eight-day expeditions in the Gulf of Tonkin and along the Red River or following the coastline of Vietnam – idea for special-interest or incentive reward groups.
Testimonial
A dream family cruise! Unbelievable experience with fishing, kayaking, and amazing massages. Truly unforgettable. Highly recommend this company—best experience ever! Thank you for an incredible journey!
Lion Moore
A truly beautiful and relaxing cruise! The elegant ship, friendly crew, and stunning Halong Bay made it unforgettable. Special thanks to Ms. Hong, Mr. Quang, and Mr. Diu!
George Gordon
Better than expected! Our Royal Suite was luxurious with a stunning four-poster bed. Excellent food, amazing service, and a must-do experience in beautiful Vietnam. Truly unforgettable!
