Classic Escapes | 7 Days Journey through World Heritages

Day-1

Hanoi – Ha Long Bay

Embark on this incredible seven-day journey through Vietnam’s World Heritage Sites with a cruise through amazing Ha Long Bay.We transfer from our hotel in Hanoi and drive to the departure point where we board a traditional junk to discover this UNESCO listed destination that is often referred to as Vietnam’s ‘eighth wonder of the world.’

The Bay is a spectacular natural wonderland of over 3,000 limestone karsts, cliffs and coves. Ha Long means ‘bay of the descending dragon’ and many of the islands, that reach up to 100 metres in height, with sheer vertical cliffs on all sides, resemble this mythical beast. The evolution of the area has taken millions of years and it has been shaped by a tropical wet climate and constant pounding from waves and wind. Cruises across the Bay take in islands named after their unique shapes such as Turtle Island, Chicken Island and Human Head Island. We enjoy a seafood lunch, with stops to visit some points of interest and go swimming if the weather permits. Dinner at hotels

Overnight Stay in Our are Board

Meal Plan: Lunch & Dinner

Day-2

Ha Long – Hanoi – Night Train To Dong Hoi

Start the day with a revitalising tai chi class on deck as we cruise back to the mainland. We then drive back to Hanoi, with a brief stop to visit But Thap Pagoda. This serene sanctuary was constructed in the 13th century during the Tran Dynasty and rebuilt in the 17th century during the Ly era. It is one of the most popular pagodas in Northern Vietnam and consists of 10 buildings within an expansive religious site. We then make another stop for lunch ahead of our arrival in Hanoi. There is the option to pay for a hotel room for day use.

. Dinner is at a local restaurant. We then transfer to the train station to board an overnight train and we travel in a four-berth shared cabin to Dong Hoi. Please note: During peak travel periods, trains may be packed and this may make it difficult to enjoy a comfortable travel experience. In this case, taking a flight from Hanoi to Dong Hoi is an option.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day-3

Dong Hoi

Bathe in World Heritage listed Phong Nha National Park’s bounty of breath-taking natural beauty. In the morning, we arrive in Dong Hoi by train (or plane depending on the chosen option) and enjoy breakfast at a local restaurant. We then drive to Phong Nha National Park which is famed for its dramatic mountains, lush tropical forests and meandering underground rivers.

It is also home to dramatic limestone karsts and a web of caves, including Hang Son Doong, the biggest cave on the planet, as well as a rich diversity of wildlife, including tigers, elephants and black bears. We take a boat trip along the Son River to visit Phong Nha wet cave and Tien Son dry cave. After lunch at a local restaurant, we drive to Chay Lap, with the afternoon free at leisure to explore the idyllic and spectacular countryside by kayak or bicycle. Dinner at hotel

Overnight Stay in Chai lap

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day-4

Chay Lap – Paradise Cave – Hue

Today we head to historic Hue, the old imperial capital that came to prominence in the 8th century when it was the Nguyen dynasty’s seat of power. It is located on the Perfume River in the country’s central region and it offers a cityscape of ancient temples and French colonial architecture. As a former religious and cultural hub, we have a wealth of sites to explore, including the UNESCO acclaimed Imperial City. After breakfast, we check-out and commence our journey, with a stop to explore Paradise Cave.

Encircled by forested karst peaks, this amazing cave network extends for 31 km. The scale is astounding, with wooden staircases plunging into a huge cathedral-like space lined with stalagmites and stalactites and an impressive collection of 60 million-year-old rock formations. Lunch is at a local restaurant.Our next stop is Hien Luong Bridge which divided North and South Vietnam from 1954 to 1975. We then continue to Hue, arriving at the hotel by the late afternoon, with time at leisure until dinner in the hotel.

Overnight Stay in Hue

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day-5

Hue – Imperial City

Delve into Hue’s rich historical past which stretches back to the 8th century when it was the Nguyen dynasty’s seat of power. After breakfast, we start our exploration with a cruise along the romantic Perfume River to visit Thien Mu Pagoda. This iconic seven-storey shrine sits on Ha Khe Hill and it attracts pilgrims from far and wide. We then continue to the amazing Imperial City, the ancient walled compound where the Nguyen Dynasty ruled the land between 1802 and 1883.

Next, we soak up local life at lively Dong Ba Market and then enjoy lunch at a local restaurant. In the afternoon, we explore the elaborate tombs of emperors Tu Duc and Khai Dinh and experience more local life learning about the production of incense sticks and conical hats in artistic enclaves. In the evening, we have dinner at a local restaurant.

Please note: If travelling in a group, a royal costumed dinner animated with royal court music is a recommended experience.

Overnight Stay in Hue

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day-6

Hue – Hoi An

Soak up stunning ocean views along the iconic Hai Van Pass, a 25 km-long stretch that is Vietnam’s highest road, on the way to charming Hoi An. After breakfast at the hotel, we depart and pass through quaint red-tiled villages, with spectacular vistas that sweep across the sprawling green landscape to the sea. We stop in the coastal city of Danang to visit the Cham Museum.

On arrival in the UNESCO listed destination of Hoi An, we enjoy lunch at a local restaurant before checking-in to the hotel. In the afternoon, we take a walking tour of this historic town which served as a prosperous seaport from the 16th to 18th centuries. We delve into local life at the colourful local market and visit renowned landmarks such as The Old House of Tan Ky, the Fukien Assembly Hall and the 400-yearold Japanese Bridge. We also view the rearing of silkworms for the area’s burgeoning textile industry. Dinner is at the hotel.

Overnight Stay in Hoi An

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day-7

Hoi An – My Son – Da Nang

Take a step back in time at the former capital of the Cham Kingdom and the religious centre of My Son. Our cultural half-day adventure commences after breakfast with a 40 km drive south-west of Hoi An to this amazing UNESCO listed site. This unique culture – which owed its spiritual origins to Indian Hinduism – developed between the 4th and 13th centuries in an area within coastal Vietnam. This is evident through the remains of a series of impressive tower-temples that were the focal point of the Champa Kingdom.

. These structures were constructed over ten centuries of continuous development in what was the heart of the ancestral homeland of the ruling Dua Clan which unified the Cham clans and established the Cham Kingdom. The My Son Sanctuary presents a graphic picture of spiritual and political life during an important phase of the history of South-East Asia and these monuments are without equal in the region. We enjoy lunch at a local restaurant, followed by the transfer to Danang Airport for the onward flight and the conclusion of this amazing and enlightening seven-day cultural exploration of Vietnam’s leading UNESCO sites.

Meal Plan: Breakfast & Lunch

7 Days Journey through World Heritages

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