A Journey Through Vietnam, Laos and Thailand

In the morning, you will depart Hanoi for Tuan Chau (a journey of approximately 2.5 hours), where you will embark on your sensational two-night cruise across the breathtaking waters of Lan Ha Bay aboard the Ylang.

After meeting at Heritage Line’s welcome lounge in Tuan Chau Marina, you’ll be transferred to the ship via tender boat. The first highlight of your luxury cruise is lunch, served in the ship’s near-360-degree, light-flooded restaurant. The menu features sumptuous local and international dishes freshly prepared by expert chefs. Afterwards, you can relax on the deck or retire to your cabin to enjoy your private balcony and soak up the stunning vistas of Lan Ha Bay’s innumerable limestone karsts and sparkling emerald waters. You might also choose to enjoy the ship’s wellness offerings, from a selection of soothing treatments to the panoramic on-deck plunge pool.

Sailing to the shores of a small lagoon on Cat Ba Island, you’ll disembark and hop on a bicycle (or e-cart if preferred) for a leisurely pedal along paved roads towards the rural village of Viet Hai. Little has changed here since the ancestors of the 80 households settled on the island centuries ago. Nestled in a valley within the Cat Ba National Park and surrounded by thick forest and dramatic mountains, the village is the epitome of isolated; indeed, the only way to access Viet Hai is by sea. Wander through the village and meet the self-sufficient locals, who cultivate vegetables, fruits and rice and fish out in the bay. Learn about their daily lives, see how they make organic medicine from tree bark and try some of their throat-scorching homemade liquors.

Back on board the Ylang, you’ll continue to an undisturbed point of anchorage in the midst of southern Lan Ha Bay, where the ship will moor overnight. Join an optional tea-tasting lesson to learn about Vietnam’s traditional herbal teas, gaining insight into their different health benefits. Alternatively, unwind with a spa treatment or take it easy in the sauna. For dinner, choose from an array of dishes from a delectable multi-course menu. After dining, you can join a singing bowl meditation session, an ancient Tibetan ritual where the soothing resonance of bronze bowls invokes a state of deep harmony, alleviating stress and promoting a good night’s sleep. You can also opt to take a seat beneath an ocean of stars on the terrace deck or your own balcony and bathe in the mystery and wonders of the cosmos, made even more resplendent by the silhouettes of Lan Ha Bay’s distinct, island-scattered landscape.


Accommodation: Heritage Line Cruises – Ylang.

Start the day early with a morning tai chi session. The Ylang will then lift her anchors and cruise to a place called Frog’s Lake, a secluded area perfect for a refreshing swim in the jade-green bay or a kayaking adventure amongst the tree-topped islets. Back on board, enjoy a hearty breakfast as the ship cruises to an offshore embarkation spot, from where you will transfer back to the welcome lounge at Tuan Chau Marina.

At the marina, you’ll meet with your guide and transfer back to Hanoi for the night.


Accommodation: Capella Hanoi.

After a short transfer from the hotel to a nearby pier, you’ll board a boat and journey across the Mekong River, often shrouded in a fine morning mist. At the pier, you will meet with a local monk who will provide you with detailed information about Buddhism and Lao meditation practises. When you reach shore, climb the 60 or so stairs to reach a temple located in the middle of the forest. Here you can meet some of the local monks and stroll around the peaceful grounds of the temple complex. Give a customary offering to the monks (these vary from food, monk’s robes or a cash donation, depending on what is most required at the time) before learning about the main principles of meditation at the temple. You can then choose to practise meditation close to the temple or deeper into the serene forest. After two hours at the temple, you will return to Luang Prabang, with the possibility to make a stop at a local village en route.

In the early afternoon, you will have the opportunity to learn how to make traditional Lao handicrafts from a local artisan of the Hmong ethnic group. During this half-day workshop experience, you’ll learn how to do Hmong embroidery and Hmong applique (ornamental needlework), taking home a special creation as a souvenir of your travels. The workshop is led by local Hmong artists, with a guide from the Traditional Arts & Ethnology Centre (TAEC) helping translate and provide information on the crafts and the Hmong ethnic group themselves. The experience also includes a 30-minute exhibition tour as well as a delicious meal comprising a selection of ethnic dishes at the centre’s café.


Accommodation: Rosewood Luang Prabang.

Today you will begin your three-night cruise down the Upper Mekong River towards Northern Thailand, passing through stunning riverine scenery and snippets of local life as you sail towards the Laos-Thailand border aboard the luxurious Anouvong by Heritage Line Cruises.

Departing from Luang Prabang, the ship will drift upstream towards the Pak Ou Caves while an onboard guide delivers an engaging lecture on the intricate tapestry of the diverse ethnic groups that live along Laos’ portion of the mighty Mekong. Arriving at the caves, you will disembark to explore these two mystical grottoes, whose gaping caverns shelter around 4,000 sacred Buddhist statues and images. After exploring the lower cave, you have a choice of two riveting excursion options: an adventurous kayaking tour along the tranquil Nam Ou River or a visit to the nearby village of Ban Muang Keo, renowned for its traditional silk weaving and whisky distillation. In the village, you can also meet a local “medicine man” who will discuss how he crafts traditional remedies sourced from the surrounding Mekong ecosystem.

Later in the afternoon, the ship will moor for the night and you’ll disembark to explore the 200-year-old village of Ban Khok Phou, which is mostly inhabited by people of Lao ethnicity, many of whom farm in the rolling green mountains. Develop an insight into their daily lives before taking part in a traditional Baci ceremony, a heartfelt Lao ritual led by local elders whereby blessings are bestowed for your onward journey. Should time permit, you can ascend to a small temple to savour a moment of quiet contemplation with a local monk. Following this, you can enjoy a delicious cocktail on a sandbank followed by a sumptuous barbecue dinner amid the astonishing beauty of the Lao mountain scenery.

Cruise itineraries will differ depending on season.


Accommodation: Heritage Line Cruises – Anouvong.

Rise with the sun for an invigorating yoga class on deck. As the Anouvong floats gracefully upstream, you can take part in a bamboo weaving workshop and craft your own bamboo basket.

For travellers cruising between July and October, the next stop in your Mekong voyage will be Pakbeng, home to Laos’ most sustainable and ethical elephant sanctuaries. In its pristine jungle setting, you can encounter some of the majestic creatures that live here, which have been rescued from the harsh conditions of the logging industry. You’ll learn about the sanctuary’s deep commitment to elephant conservation and observe as the elephants lumber through the thick forest. If time permits, you’ll head to a nearby hilltop that offers a stunning vantage point overlooking the town of Pakbeng and the surrounding landscape. At the top, you’ll find a Buddhist temple dating to the former Lan Na Kingdom – many of the other temples in the region were destroyed during conflict with the Kingdom of Thailand some 300 years ago. In the afternoon, the Anouvong will continue its journey upriver, anchoring near a sandbank. Enjoy an aperitif as the setting sun tinges the Lao hinterland in a reddish hue before sitting down for a final dinner on the terrace deck.

For those travelling between November and April, you will enjoy breakfast on board before disembarking the Anouvong to continue your journey up the Mekong River by traditional longtail boat. This is due to the rising water levels and rushing rapids further up the river. You’ll continue upstream to the village of Khok Ek, where you can meet three of Laos’ distinct ethnic groups – Hmong, Lao Loum and Khamo – and learn about their daily lives and cultural differences. Lunch will be served aboard the longtail boat as it meanders towards Pakbeng, where you will be able to visit the ethical elephant sanctuary and visit the hilltop if time permits. After this enchanting excursion, you’ll check into Le Grand Hotel & Resort, which offers captivating vistas over the town and the river below. Dinner will be served at the hotel restaurant.


Accommodation: Heritage Line Cruises – Anouvong / Le Grand Hotel & Resort.

During your stay at the Anantara Golden Triangle Elephant Camp & Resort, you will have access to a wealth of benefits as part of the Golden Triangle Luxury Explorer Package.

These include:

A ticket to the Opium Museum (once per person).

One activity per person for each night stayed, choosing from: Elephant Camp Experience, Golden Triangle Excursions, Spice Spoons Cooking Class, 60-minute spa treatment, 60-minute private yoga and 60-minute private Pilates.


Accommodation: Anantara Golden Triangle Elephant Camp & Resort (or alternative hotel of equal standard).