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 until an evening dinner date with a local family.

When you want to get to know a culture, there’s nothing quite like breaking bread (or spooning rice) with a local family. Expect to fill up on spring rolls, hearty soups, light stir fries and plenty of hot white rice. Get to know the family without worrying about the language barrier, as English-speaking students from the local university will accompany you throughout, teaching you about local etiquette and making sure you avoid making any social faux pas.

                                                                                                                   Included meals: Dinner

                                                                                                     Distance and Activities: 45’ drive

Lace up and take on the capital in this guided morning run,  getting a fresh perspective on Hanoi’s highlights while the crowds are still sleeping with loops around Hanoi’s illustrious lakes, leafy parks, and tree-lined boulevards. Delve into the bustling backstreets of the Old Quarter, hop along the revived train tracks, and reenergize with a halfway coffee stop. Finish the run with a steaming bowl of pho, Hanoi’s favourite breakfast.

Once you’ve had enough to eat, head to the Citadel, a true testament of Vietnam’s strength, resilience, and beauty. Marvel at the ancient architecture while strolling past leafy gardens and learning about the Citadel’s central position of power, of which it maintains even to this day. Then, head over to the superb Vietnamese Women’s Museum, an essential stop on any visit to Hanoi. Explore the heroines of Vietnamese society, especially in regards to ethnic minorities, war, and modern exhibitions before heading back to the Old Quarter for a tasty lunch on one of the most famous food streets in Southeast Asia.

Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Distance and activities: 9km jog – 4h sightseeing tour 

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 Nam Cang village. 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.

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 car ride, sample a traditional herbal bath made by a local Dzao specialist, famous for its medicinal and therapeutic qualities.

Overnight at homestay in Nam Cang village.

Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner 
Distance and activities: 5.5h transfer – 3km village walk

Wake up to the sounds of nature and enjoy a final breakfast cooked by the homestay host before setting off on a day trek through the stunning landscapes of Hoang Lien National Park. Stroll on the quiet road winding through Nam Cang Village and watch as the town becomes a spacious rice valley. A small trail leads you through rice terraces, corn fields, and babbling streams, and maybe even a few locals tending to their crops during the planting and harvest seasons.

Slowly, the hike grows steeper until your arrival at Nam Nhiu Village, inhabited by another Red Dzao ethnic minority tribe, with their beautiful traditionally embroidered outfits and practice of shaving their hair and eyebrows as a sign of respect. Stop for a picnic lunch here and catch your breath.

Continuing on to Sin Chai, you’ll see mountains in the distance and the valley below before stopping at Thanh Phu for your 45-minute transfer by car to the world-renowned Topas Ecolodge, a certified lodge by National Geographic. Check-in to your bungalow with a warm cup of lemongrass and ginger tea, taking in the out-of-this-world views.

Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Distance and activities: 8km hike 

Depending on which race you choose to complete, your day will begin anywhere from 2:00 to 7:30 in order to have breakfast and catch the bus to the starting line. Make sure to bring a small bag with a towel, clean clothes, and money, which you can hand in before the start and receive at the finish line. Your supporters will stay at Topas Ecolodge to cheer you on, as this is where the finish line is!

Enjoy the run through Hoang Lien National Park, an incredible route through remote Sapa Valleys, stunning peaks, and rarely seen ethnic minority villages.  Once you cross the finish line, fuel up on a light vegetarian lunch with soup and bread. The afternoon is yours to relax until the BBQ Buffet Dinner later that evening.

If you opt to run on Day 2 of the race, the day is yours at leisure to sunbathe and splash in the pool, sample delicious cuisine at the restaurant, breathe in the fresh mountain air from your bungalow’s patio, or indulge in some locally-inspired treatments at the wonderful spa on site.

Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner 

Distance and activities: 70k, 42k, or 21k race

Depending on which race you choose to complete, your day will begin at either 4:30 or 6:45 in order to catch the bus to the starting line in Sapa. Make sure to bring a small bag with a towel, clean clothes, and money, which you can hand in before the start and receive at the finish line. Your supporters and runners from yesterday who choose not to run today will all be transported at 9:00 to Sapa, where the race also finishes.

Enjoy the run through Sapa’s magnificent countryside on an incredible route through rice terraces, mountains, and colorful ethnic minority villages.  The Winner’s and Closing Ceremony will be held in Sapa at 10:30.

Return to Topas Ecolodge after lunch and have the rest of the day free at leisure to enjoy the resort’s grounds.

Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Distance and activities: 21k, 15k, or 10k

The day is yours at leisure until a mid-afternoon departure for Hanoi via the Topas Mountain Express. Sunbathe and splash in the pool, sample delicious cuisine at the restaurant, breathe in the fresh mountain air from your bungalow’s patio, or indulge in some locally-inspired treatments at the wonderful spa on site.

Check-in to your Hanoi hotel in the early evening, free to discover Hanoi on your own.

Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, 
Distance and activities: 5.5h transfer

The morning begins with a short 2.5-hour drive to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Halong Bay. Upon arrival to Tuan Chau Island, get your first introduction to this land of fairy-tales and legends as the crow flies with a 25-minute seaplane tour. Soar above pearl farms, hidden islands, floating villages, and see how the water changes from a deep green to bright turquoise the higher you fly.

Once the plane lands, transfer by speedboat to Gia Luan port where your cruise ship and lunch awaits in Lan Ha Bay. Meander through the exotic landscape before pausing for a bamboo boat ride rowed by locals through a grotto nicknamed Dark and Bright Cave, on the border of Halong, Bai Tu Long, and Lan Ha bays. If weather permits, you can take a kayak to discover the area on your own.

Afterwards, take some time for swimming and sunbathing before returning to the ship for a traditional Vietnamese rice wine tasting and cooking instruction, followed by dinner.

Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner 
Distance and activities: 2.5h transfer – 25′ seaplane tour – 2h kayaking and swimming

As the sun rises over the bay, join the ancient practice of Vovinam on the sundeck, a martial art created in Vietnam. 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 a secluded area of Lan Ha Bay where filming for the Hollywood blockbuster Kong: Skull Island took place. Take some time to swim and relax in this stunning area before returning to the ship for a traditional tea ceremony.

After dinner in the ship’s restaurant, retire to your cabin or join a karaoke party at the Navy Club.

Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Distance and activities: 3.5h cycling – 2h kayaking and swimming

Spend your final morning in Lan Ha Bay with a cup of coffee or tea as you watch the sun rise. Participate in another session of Vovinam or lounge in you room until the morning’s activity, a tour to Hoa Cuong Cave, begins. Admire the glittering stalactites and stalagmites and learn about the cave’s history during the Second Indochina War as a shelter for the locals during bomb raids.

Brunch is served as the ship begins its return to port. Upon disembarkation in Hai Phong, return to Noi Bai International Airport for onward booked transportation.

Included meals: Breakfast
Distance and activities: 2h drive