Day 1 Hanoi – Halong (L – D)
7.45 - 8.15 Our English-speaking Guide will pick up guests from hotels at Hanoi Old Quarter, if using Gray Line shuttle service
12.15 Embark at Tuan Chau Marina. Enjoy complimentary drink at Gray Line reception terrace
12.30 Easily get on Gray Line by private auto pier, and then Crew, who will serve you along the trip, warmly welcomes you. Welcome drink is served following Cruise manager’s briefing. Check in to your reserved cabin and take a rest.
13.30 Enjoy a nice set-menu lunch. By local flavors in each dish, it vitally helps to recuperate after a 4-hour-car drive. In the meantime, Gray Line goes ahead to the Bay’s center.
After lunch, you are free to relax on sundeck. While the light of afternoon decreases slightly, hundreds of islands with different shares definitely amaze you by its natural beauty. What Gray Line makes your trip different is not the sights of Halong, but the line that you are on. It is the best to watch unparalleled sceneries of Halong in slow motion.
15:00 By tender, visit Titop Island. Free choice of activities such as sunbathing, swimming and especially conquering the peak of the biggest island in Halong that is named of a Russian space hero and taking panoramic photos of Halong bay in the afternoon
15.40 Arrive at OngCam floating house by tender – one of few existing houses (belong Lan Ha Bay) left after the regulation of Management to relocate the traditional floating village to mainland. You will discover the area’s tranquility by kayaking – an indispensable water activity in Halong, for those who love challenging themselves or sitting on bamboo boat, for those who love being gentle and sophisticated, to admire breathtaking scenes. No matter what you choose, you will have a very quick look at the evidence of floating village to understand how they survive in simple forms of floating houses. Centrally, the activity offers the serenity of escape, particularly in the late afternoon. From a distance, few small junks drift off into the sunset slowly. What cool and poetic moment!
17:30 Go back Gray Line boat for relaxation at dusk. Enjoy a mini sunset party with complimentary seasonal fruits and finger foods. To get memorable sunset moment, you should order some Halong-styled glasses of cocktail by joining buy-one-get-one-free offer, made by our skillful bartenders. It is the best time to have unforgettable photos!
18.30 Join in cooking class on the sundeck. Gray Line’s chef shows you how to make Spring Roll - an authentic specialty, which is voted for World's 50 best foods by CNN. Then you could do it yourself and taste it right after to see how good your skill.
19.30 A sophisticated dinner that gives you an appetite will be dedicatedly served in romantic ambience, especially with BBQ fresh seafood and a variety of Vietnamese and Western foods.
21:00 Free choice of evening activities: watching film at the outdoor bar; playing board, guitar and card games; going fishing squid on tender. Enjoy squid cooked after fishing if you are lucky!
22:00 Overnight at the quietest sleeping area, End of the first day in Halong
Day 2 Halong - Hanoi (B - L)
06.30 Awaken you (on desire) at dawn for morning exercise with body warm up, Tai Chi Quan… on sundeck or being ready your camera while Dawn breaks over the sea.
07.30 Have a light breakfast with coffee, tea and bakeries at Gray Line restaurant
08:30-16:00 Our Day boat and local Guide will take you to a little-known part of Halong. Gray Line now brings the real local experience to our guests by trying to be the local fishermen and doing as they do daily. Base on the weather and tide condition, the Guide will give out the best arrangement for three main activities in flexibility of timing:
1, You have an opportunity to learn how to go fishing on small fishing boat; trying to use fishing gears and experience how hard their life are… under guidance from a real local fisherman, whose face is sunburned because of their hard living. This is the foremost essential activity created by Gray Line Halong cruise.
2, Much more time to do the kayaking in secret area of the Bay with free style. The first day might be not enough, but the second is entirely to unleash expectation of those who are passionate about kayaking. Swimming, sun bathing, relaxing…on a small private beach also make you love Halong more.
3, By visiting Pearl farm and tour guide’s experience, they will feast your eyes lively. You will take a deep look at a typical pearl farm on Halong Bay and will know more about how to make real pearls from nature creatures in Halong.
From going fishing to practicing typical activities as locals do daily, all of them are the best and the core value that Gray Line wish you to get insights of the local life there. You may understand and love Halong Bay, not only by the beauty of nature, but the beauty of fishermen who keep vitality for many years in Halong Bay.
16:30 You might be tired with full of beautiful moments and real experience. Time to get back Gray Line Cruise and recapture your energy
17.30 Relax and enjoy sunset with fresh fruits on sundeck. The buy-one-get-one-free promotion will be run one more time. Do not miss it.
18.30 Join in cooking demonstration on sundeck. Learn how to make fresh or fried spring rolls and mix fish-sauce
19.30 The second fabulous BBQ dinner impresses you while mellow sounds of sea and music come together
21:00 Enjoy your last evening on Halong Bay by drinking, playing games, going fishing and relaxing in your own way
22.00 End of the second day with a sound sleep in peace of the natural heritage site
Day 3 Halong - Hanoi (B - L)
06.30 Awaken you (on desire) at dawn for morning exercise with body warm up, Tai Chi Quan… on sundeck or enjoy beautiful spectacles that a blazing sunrise breaks the clouds of the island on the bay!
07.30 Have a light breakfast at Gray Line restaurant
08.30 Explore Me Cung (Maze) cave. This least known cave locates on a remote island, which is rare in cave-lake seascape. Climb up several rugged stone stairs to admire the miracle of stalactites in a very complex structure, then gradually to the west overlooking a great lake considered as a royal garden surrounding by natural mountain walls, seemingly isolated on the bay. Its water looks blue all year round and breathtaking from high above. Moreover, values of nature and archeology of the cave as well as the life of local ancient people in thousand years ago will be revealed by Gray Line’s professional tour guide.
09.30 Come back the cruise. Time to check out your cabin, but not the end. Gray Line runs on another route back to the marina that offers amazing pictures of Mother Nature showing full of typical islets in Halong Bay. It must be a big part of your journey. Let us enjoy!
11:00 Farewell lunch is deliciously served at restaurant and say ‘’goodbye’’ to Gray Line’s crew, who serve you during the trip.
11:45 Disembark at Tuan Chau Marina. Relax at Gray Line reception room. Go back to Hanoi. End of services. The timing to reach Hanoi is about from 16.00-16.30 with normal traffic condition.
NOTE:
- All timing above are estimated, the exact timing will be given by Tour Guide in that day
- Cruise itinerary and schedule are subject to change due to weather, tide levels and operating conditions
- All activities in itinerary are included, just ignore some of them if you would love to have more relaxation
- Things to bring along:
- Original passport (must bring to check in)
- Camera
- Sun glasses, hat
- Sun cream
- Hiking shoes
