Xin Chao and welcome to Vietnam! Upon arrival to Hanoi’s Noi Bai International Airport, a Topas representative will welcome you to the land of the ascending dragon before heading straight to your hotel in the heart of the city. The day is at leisure to discover Hanoi on your own, wandering the crooked alleys of the iconic Old Quarter and the promenade around Hoan Kiem Lake.

Included meals: N/A
Distance and Activities: 45’ drive

After an early morning breakfast, sit back and relax aboard the Topas Mountain Express, a plush minivan outfitted with snacks, water, and Wi-Fi that covers the five-hour journey from Hanoi to Topas Riverside Lodge. Arrive just in time to enjoy a local lunch prepared by the resident family.

In the afternoon, visit the attached village of the Dzao, famous for their exquisite embroidery and botanical knowledge. Peer in on silver jewelers and families creating paper from rice for spiritual reasons and if you’re brave enough, jump into the refreshing waters of the river running next to Topas Riverside Lodge.

Dinner is served in the communal style associated with Vietnamese families, all at once and among friends. If you’re a bit sore from the activities of the day, sample a traditional herbal bath made by a local Dzao specialist, famous for its medicinal and therapeutic qualities.

Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Distance and Activities: 5.5h drive – Village Walk: 3km

Explore the remote mountains and jungles of the surrounding area of Hoang Lien National Park today as you hike through rice terraces and small villages to a remote Black Hmong tribe. Your guide will act as a window to the rich multicultural lives of the ethnic minorities in the area and share insightful knowledge of cultures and customs.

Uncover the Hmong way of life before moving onto another Dzao village where you will stop for lunch. Make your way back to Topas Riverside Lodge in the afternoon and rest on the open-air wrap-around balcony until dinner time and a comfortable night’s sleep.

Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner 

Distance and Activities: 13km rice terrace and village hike

Discover the jungle on a gentle hike this morning. See where the villagers plant cardamom along with other herbs and spices that can fetch a good price in the local markets, and make your way to the local stream, dipping your toes in or going for a final swim.

Return to the capital, Hanoi, on the Topas Mountain Express, arriving in the early evening to your hotel.

Included meals: Breakfast and Lunch
Distance and Activities: 8km jungle walk – 5.5h drive

Depart Hanoi after a leisurely breakfast for a 2-hour drive east to the port city of Hai Phong. From Hai Phong, board your cruise for an epic voyage through Lan Ha Bay, the pristine little sister of the popular (and crowded) tourist destination, Halong Bay.

Check in to your cabin and get accustomed with your cruise ship. Tuck into an onboard lunch while sailing between the limestone karst formations the region is known for.

Spend the afternoon deep within Cat Ba National Park, hiking through Trung Trang Valley to Trung Trang cave, a 2000-year-old cavern filled with stalactites and stalagmites.

Return to the ship for some downtime, enjoying a traditional Vietnamese cooking class and a delicious dinner onboard before retiring for the night in your comfy cabin.

Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Distance and Activities: 2h drive – Sightseeing walk

As the sun rises over the bay, join the ancient practice of Tai Chi on the sundeck, a martial art known for its health benefits and meditational use. After working up an appetite, sit down for a delectable breakfast as the boat docks at Viet Hai pier, the only way to reach Viet Hai Village as there are no roads connecting it to the rest of Cat Ba Island.

Cycle along well-made paths for 3.5 km (there’s an electric buggy available if you would rather survey the jungle landscape at a comfortable pace) to reach the village. Spend time getting to know the history and traditions of the Vietnamese people who live there, enjoying a lunch before setting off for Van Boi, a secluded beach area where you have time to swim, sunbathe, and kayak.

After dinner in the ship’s restaurant, retire to your cabin or stay for a showing of Top Gear: Vietnam Edition, to see a familiar site at the episode’s finale.

Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Distance and Activities: Full-day swimming and kayaking

Savor your last morning in Vietnam with a final bowl of pho and an excursion via bamboo boat to the Dark and Bright Cave, one of Halong Bay’s most atmospheric water caves.

Look out for monkeys on the tree-lined shores, sometimes visible on the rock faces or swinging from the branches before returning to the cruise ship for last-minute photos.

Disembark for a transfer to Noi Bai International Airport for your onward flight.

Included meals: Brunch
Distance and activities: 2h drive