Vietnam: Hanoi & Ha Long Bay Gay Cruise

Chào bạn – welcome to Vietnam! Things kick off with a morning flight from Ho Chi Minh City to Cat Bi, followed by a 1.5-hour drive to Ha Long Bay. There the opulent Au Co – our private yacht – awaits. Sip something tropical while we go over our safety briefing, then lunch is served. We’ll cruise and dine our way to Cua Van, a floating village set amidst towering islands. We’ll board kayaks and bamboo boats to journey amongst the fishing families and their homes. Back at the main vessel you can then soak up the sun or settle into a massage. Happy hour starts at 5PM in the bar and features 2-for-1 drinks. After dinner you may kick back with a movie, or try your hand at squid fishing for a decidedly local experience…these cunning critters only feed at night after all. We’ll moor by Lom Bo Island overnight.

Wake up to a Tai Chi lesson on the sun deck or sleep in until breakfast. We’ll cruise towards Bai Tu Long Bay, where the mountains and islands are just as fabulous but far less populous. Here we’ll visit Ho Ba Ham, a trio of lakes on Dau Be / Calf Head Island that are overlooked by most travelers since they’re only accessible by kayaks and bamboo boats. Back at the vessel lunch will be served as we venture towards a grotto known as Surprise Cave because of the massive, gloriously lit space that waits beyond a miniscule opening. Afterward, swim or hike on Titov Island, named in honour of a Soviet cosmonaut who visited in 1962. At 5PM Happy Hour begins anew with traditional cooking and flower-carving demos on the sun deck to follow. After another delicious dinner, enjoy more movies or squid fishing while we overnight at Ho Dong Tien (which fittingly translates to “Fairy” Lake).

Start your day with more Tai Chi before breakfast while the boat returns to port, or sleep in while we land. From here we’ll visit Luon Cave (by kayak or bamboo boat) before we check out of our rooms, brunch, and disembark. We’ll drive back to Hanoi, check in to our luxurious French Quarter hotel, and unwind. Tonight’s dinner is a short and sweet warm-up to an acrobatic performance by Vietnam’s famed Lune Production.

Immerse yourself in bustling Hanoi with a tour that covers many must-see sights. It begins at the Ho Chi Minh complex, where the revolutionary leader declared Vietnam’s independence in 1945. We’ll visit House 54 and the Stilt House – where he lived – along with the Presidential Palace, which he shunned given its colonial credentials. We’ll also visit the One Pillar Pagoda and Temple of Literature (both built by Emperor Ly Thanh Thong). After a traditional Pho soup for lunch, we’ll head to the Museum of Ethnology, which celebrates Vietnam’s 54 ethnic groups. Before we break for the afternoon we’ll wander through the chaotic old quarter for a quintessential Hanoian experience. This evening we’ll gather for our Farewell Dinner at one of our favourite restaurants of all the tours we offer.

There are no activities planned today. You’ll be transferred to the airport in time for your flight home. Safe travels!