TOUR INFORMATION
The information below on your itinerary and details are intended to assist you as you consider your travel options for Vietnam with Friends Travel Vietnam. In addition to the detailed itinerary each tour has been supported with some useful information to provide you with an overview of your accommodation & meals, all things as money, passports, visas, vaccinations, insurance, clothing, personal equipment and much more to help you with your travel preparations.

DAY 1 : Hanoi - Bai Tu Long Bay (L/D)

07:30 – 08:00
- Your transfer vehicle will collect you from your hotel in Hanoi and convey you to Halong City. 

12:30    
- You will be taken on our tender from the wharf and make your way out onto the bay to board our luxurious craft, Signature Cruise. You will be welcome aboard and greeted with a complimentary drink. Our Crew will conduct a compulsory safety procedures session and then you are free to check into your cabin and freshen up. Take some time to have a look around the vessel or watch the magical landscape go by.

13:15    
- As we begin to cruise through the bay a special lunch of fresh seafood and an assortment of appetizing favorites will be served. Dining on a luxury junk with fine food and drinks doesn’t come much better than this. 

15:00    
- After lunch we set sail for Bai Tu Long Bay passing the towns of Hon Gai and Cam Pha, extraordinary limestone karst landscapes. Explore Vung Vieng fishing village by local rowing boats to discover the interesting daily lives of its inhabitants. 

16:30    
- Back onboard Signature Cruise Halong Bay’s main craft we will drop anchor for our overnight stay surrounded by incredible landscape

17:30 -18:30    
- Happy hour with special drink menu (Buy one get another one for free)

17:30    
- Our Vietnamese cooking demonstration is a great way to learn how to prepare delicious appetizers and we will guide you through the process.

19:15    
- Relish special Signature Dinner in restaurant.

20:45 – 00:00    
- Your free time to relax with an exotic cocktail or whatever takes your fancy. Our bar has a wide range or wines, beers and liquors and is always a welcome sight for guests after a day on Halong Bay. Order a specialized massage in room.  Choosing with other activities boat cruise such as watch documentary movies, squid fishing or simply relax on our roof top deck under the cover of a star filled sky.

DAY 2 : Thien Canh Son Cave – Bai Tu Long Bay -Hanoi (Light Breakfast/Brunch)

06:30    
- The nicest time of the day on Halong Bay is the morning. Head to the upper deck to participate in our daily Tai Chi sessions. Relax with an early morning cup of tea, coffee or juice anywhere you wish on the boat and watch the never ending miraculous scenery unfold before you.

07:00    
- Light breakfast will be served in our restaurant (pastries, tea, coffee)

07:30 -08:30    
- Enjoy the last stage of your trip in Thien Canh Son cave and islets , which is a wild and mysterious beauty in the middle of the World Heritage. Back to our main board afterwards.

09:30    
- Check out of your cabin as we draw closer to the mainland. After a final early brunch and a last goodbye from our crew at 11:15, you will board our tender and head back to the wharf where you will be met by your return trip vehicle to transfer you to Hanoi.

12:00-12:30    
- Get on shuttle mini bus and get back to Hanoi.

INCLUSIONS

- Welcome drinks with warm/cold tissues
- Entrance fees and sightseeing fees
- Accommodation in luxury air-conditioned en-suite cabin with private Jacuzzi.
- In house English speaking guide
- Full board meals:  01 lunch, 01 dinner, 01 morning snack, 01 brunch. 
- Fresh flowers setup
- Fruits setup in cabin
- Taichi session, bamboo boat in fishing village, cooking demonstration, night squid fishing.
- A bottle of wine in Exclusive Family Suite, Elite Family Suite and Royal Suite Cabin
- Shuttle Bus transfers to and from Ha Long Bay

EXCLUSIONS

- Visa arrangements
- Beauty spa and massage services
- Other beverages, tips and personal expenses
- All other services not clearly mentioned
- V.A.T

PICK UP / DROP OFF 

You will see that the pick up and drop off time are well noted in the cruise itinerary. Generally speaking, almost al cruise trip will start at noontime, thus if you are leaving from Hanoi, you will need to depart between 7:45AM and 8:30AM to meet the cruise schedule. Standard included is a seat on the shuttle bus provided by the cruise service. There are 2 ways to be picked up for your departure, we always pick you up as confirmed by email.

HOTEL / STAY: 
- Pick up zone only from Hanoi Old Quarter
- From hotel or stay
- Please wait at the lobby 

* Client will be responsible to confirm their stay in Hanoi Old Quarter, if not confirmed your stay for pick-up you will be required to come to our meeting point at 7:30AM, we always reconfirm your pick up details departing time by email

MEETING POINT:
- From "Friends Travel Vietnam's" office
- Address Hanoi Old Quarter at 62 Hang Buom street. 
Important:
Not being on time or being present is seeing as non-shown up!

The cruise trip will return to the harbor by 11 AM or 12 PM on the last day of the trip and you can expect to reach your hotel in Hanoi or our office between 4:00 and 4:30PM. 

Keep in mind to arange and plan your travel accordingly to your itinerary. For example if you arrive at Hanoi airport at 9:30AM, it will be too late for a cruise departing on the same day. Similarly, any onward flight or train trip from Hanoi will need booked to be later than 7PM so that you can avoid all the hassle involved.
Please ask for advice if needed or if you are not sure about it.

WHAT TO BRING

Most of the cases, Halong Bay will be a side trip from your grander voyage to Vietnam. If possible, leave your luggage with a hotel (if trusted) and bring only day pack with you to best enjoy the trip. Take into account that you will need to carry them onto the shuttle bus, then onto the deck, then from the deck back to land. The lighter you pack, the better. Below are a few tips for you to pack smartly.

Travel documents: These are essential and you may be denied boarding without valid documents such as passport and visa. 

Clothes: You will need at least 3 set of clothes: for casual day wear, for evening wear and for swimming if you plan to do so. If you travel between May and October, it is fine to bring shorts and skirts and short sleeve shirts. For the rest of the year, bring extra sweaters since Halong Bay can get quite cold. In December and January for example, bring some light jackets.

Water bottles: Although the cruise will have water ready for you, some shuttle bus will not have them. Keep yourself hydrated all through out the trip to best enjoy it. Please note that water will not be complimentary.

Footwear: Sandals and walking shoes are both fine though the frequent exposure to water may make your feet wet and stinky with high capacity shoes. Sandals, on the other hand, may make you feel uncomfortable walking insides the caves or when you climb the rock to the top of some grotto's.

Electronic device: Camera is another essential item on your to-pack list. Charge the battery to full before you leave Hanoi and always leave them charged when you are in the cabin. There are so many things in Halong Bay to capture photos of and you do not want to miss the opportunity. Bringing the laptop or expensive device with you to Halong Bay may be better than leaving them at the hotel back in Hanoi. Always keep an eye on your personal belongings to minimize the risks. Unless otherwise noted, all cruises on our website are equipped with wifi facility for you to keep in touch with friends and relatives.

Others: A raincoat will be helpful in rainy summer months. The cruise will have umbrella ready but it does not hurt to bring your own. Sunglasses and sunscreen also work great for the sunbathing moments on the top deck of cruise and junks. Bring your medication if required by doctor. If you are seasickness, stock up on pills. Waterproof backpack.

What not to bring:

Below are what you should not bring with you on board – some are prohibited by the cruise:
Firearms, in-flammables, sharp objects, Illegal drugs and substances, Irons, hot plates and kitchenware, Alcoholic beverages, Pillows, Blankets & Towels those are already provided on board.

WEATHER CONDITIONS HALONG BAY

DIETARY OR SPECIAL FOOD REQUEST
In order to take care of your special food request we would like you to inform us by email in advance. info@friendstravelvietnam.com

ADVANCED REGISTRATION WILL BE REQUIRED 
Please provide us your passport information (name, date of birth, passport number, visa validity) prior to departure.