Southeast Asia & Hong Kong

Embark on a scenic cruise by motorboat through one of the world’s most magnificent landscapes. Ha Long Bay is home to about 2,000 limestone islands rising from the water to astonishing heights. Legend says they were created by dragons who breathed out jewels into the bay to prevent enemy ships from coming ashore. For centuries, fishermen and merchants have navigated this archipelago, a labyrinthine waterway framed by vertical cliffs draped in brush and forest. Board a motorboat and follow in their wake, taking in the views as you travel—the bay was awarded UNESCO World Heritage status in 1994 for its exceptional natural beauty and geological significance. As you join the countless sailors who have explored these waters before, observe the fishermen casting their nets and the soaring heights of karst walls. After your cruise, return to your ship.

Admire the spectacular mountain views on your relaxing drive to the agricultural and cultural village of Yen Duc. Surrounded by mountains and situated along the Kinh Thay River, this village offers typical insight into rural Vietnamese life. Upon arrival, take your seat and watch a wonderful water puppet show performed by local artists. With the puppets exquisitely crafted from the jackfruit tree, the puppeteers enact rural scenes of rice growing and harvesting, evoking a strong sense of agricultural tradition and culture. You will then be warmly greeted into the homes of local villagers and experience aspects of their everyday lives. Learn about their farming methods, harvesting and planting vegetables, fishing, and milling and pounding rice. Bid farewell to your hosts, then return to your ship.

Learn about Vietnam’s history and Buddhist traditions at one of the country’s major religious centers. Embark on a scenic ride from Ha Long port through the lush Vietnamese countryside and the mountainous region of Yen Tu. It was in this idyllic landscape that King Tran Nhan Tong chose to build a monastery after defeating the Mongol invaders in the late 13th century. Visit the Yen Tu Monastery, which for centuries has been a leading light in the development and consolidation of Vietnamese Buddhist practices. Learn more about the lives of the Vietnamese monks at the foot of Yen Tu Mountain and enjoy a warm welcome by one of the monastery’s residents. Enjoy an insightful discussion on spirituality and learn about Buddhist and Zen practices, which emphasize meditation and intuition over ritual worship and the study of scriptures. After your fascinating tour, return to your ship.

Explore one of Southeast Asia’s most iconic locations from the water. Depart your ship with your guide and board a motorboat boat for a relaxing cruise. As you glide along the water, take in the views of the stunning landscape, home to thousands of towering limestone islands topped with lush vegetation. See unique rock formations that have been aptly named, including the “Stone Dog” and the “Incense Burner” as you journey toward the Luon Cave area, where you will board your kayak. Explore the secluded charms of this UNESCO World Heritage Site as you discover the hidden gems that are invisible to larger boats. Paddle along narrow stretches of water, through mysterious caves and around small islets that emerge through the ocean’s surface, before returning to your vessel for the journey back to your awaiting ship.

Explore the beautiful scenery of Ha Long Bay during a cruise through its dramatic landscapes. Meet your guide at Ha Long Port and stroll to the pier, where you will climb on board a motorboat. Start your cruise along the bay, named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994 for its natural beauty and geological significance. Glimpse the thousands of small limestone islands which rise from the deep green waters and pass by famous rock formations with unusual names such as “Stone Dog” and “Incense Burner.” Visit the enormous Sung Sot Cave to see its impressive stalactites, lit by sunlight passing through narrow openings. Next, stop at Titov Beach, where you will have free time to climb up to the island’s highest point for spectacular views of the bay. Alternatively, you may choose to swim or relax at the beach before returning to your ship.

Learn about the Bat Trang Pottery Village’s history with ceramics and participate in a hands-on workshop. Transfer to the village, located on the outskirts of Hanoi. When the first emperor of the Ly Dynasty moved his capital to what is now Hanoi, a number of craftsmen followed. Among them were five large pottery-making families, who chose Bat Trang because this location was close to the Red River, giving them easy access to water transportation and white clay. Enjoy a leisurely stroll through charming alleys where local artisans continue their ancestors’ craft. Highlights include a visit to the “Hardship House;” once an old ceramic kiln, it is now transformed into an art pottery workshop. Take a seat in front of your pottery wheel and mold your lump of clay into a personal memento you can take with you. Afterward, enjoy a delicious lunch before returning to your ship.

Spend the night at a boutique hotel and visit the Yên Tử Mountain, a sacred Zen Buddhist site. Discover local culture and history as you try your hand at meditation and traditional Vietnamese crafts, visit a night market and ascend to the peak of the Yên Tử Mountain.

Day 1 – Quang Ninh, Vietnam

Transfer by motor coach to the Legacy Yen Tu Hotel, pausing along the way to enjoy a vegan lunch. Upon arrival at the hotel, you will participate in a Zen relaxation therapy session with a meditation expert. After check-in, you will take part in two guided craft workshops. Learn how to decorate conical hats and make your own Đông Hồ paintings, folk art pieces created using woodblock prints and natural pigments. Following dinner, visit a local night market before returning to your hotel. (L, D)

Day 2– Quang Ninh, Vietnam

Set out early with your guide to watch the sun rise over the peak of the Yên Tử Mountain before returning to your hotel for an authentic Vietnamese breakfast. After, venture out to the mountain once more to ascend its peak. You will complete your journey on foot and by cable car, allowing you to take in the sweeping views from different perspectives as you learn about this sacred Buddhist site. Later, check out of your hotel and cap your excursion with lunch at a local restaurant. (B, L)

Sample authentic Vietnamese flavors as you dine amongst stalactites and stalagmites in the Vung Duc Cave complex. Depart by motor coach to Cam Pha Town. This expansive cave complex is located at the foot of Bàn Cờ Mountain, a place of pilgrimage for locals that is home to several temples. Consisting of five caves overlooking Bái Tử Long Bay, its interior features an array of stalactite formations and cavernous chambers. Explore the caves with your guide before settling in for a dining experience beneath the surface, where you will taste authentic Vietnamese flavors and hear a live performance of traditional music. After, embark on a scenic drive along the Bai Chay Bridge, a cable-stayed bridge that spans the length of the Hạ Long Bay estuary. Take in the views as you journey toward Hon Gai town, pausing for photographs at Dolphin Square, before returning to your ship.

Lace up your hiking boots and embark on a hike through Cát Bà National Park. Begin your journey with a trip by motor coach and ferry to reach Cát Bà Island, home to this ecologically diverse park. Inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2023 alongside the rest of the Cát Bà Archipelago, Cát Bà National Park is home to an array of wildlife, including monkeys, lizards and wild cats. Upon arrival, set out with your guide for a hike through the jungle. Soak up the scenery as you journey along well-maintained hiking trails and travel through varied ecosystems, including tropical evergreen forests, mangrove swamps and coastal wetlands, pausing at viewpoints throughout the park to take in your surroundings from a different perspective. Following lunch at a local restaurant, return to the ferry to begin the transfer back to your awaiting ship.

Discover Hanoi during visits to an ancient temple, the historic Old Quarter and the home of a renowned musician. A two-and-a-half-hour drive from the port takes you to the Temple of Literature, founded in 1070 during the reign of Emperor Lý Thánh Tông. Home to Vietnam’s first university, its five courtyards represent the stages of scholarly life. Continue to the Old Quarter, a maze of narrow streets specializing in an array of crafts, from silversmithing to lantern-making. Pause at a café for a hands-on egg coffee workshop where you will learn the technique behind this beloved Hanoi specialty, then head to a local restaurant for a lunch of Vietnamese dishes. After, continue to the home of Pham Chi Khanh, a renowned musician with a collection of hundreds of traditional instruments. Hear his stories and enjoy a musical performance that echoes Vietnam’s heritage, then return to your ship.