HALONG PARADISE PRIVILEGE

FIRST DAY

11.00-12.00: Upon arrival at Tuan Chau, luggage check-in at the Paradise Cruises Lounge and Café. Overlooking the marina, take a moment to have a hot drink or light snack.

12.15: Transfer to the Paradise Privilege for check-in Just a short walk from the Lounge, walk directly onto the vessel.

12.45: Embarkation, welcome briefing and departure. Program commences. After being welcomed aboard by your tour guide for the trip and briefed on the day’s proceedings and safety procedures, check into your cabin and take a look around the vessel. Feel free to say hello to the captain.

13.00: Enjoy a traditional Vietnamese lunch.Our chef has crafted a menu reflecting all the delicious flavors of Vietnam including fresh seafood caught in Halong Bay, flavorsome meat dishes and vegetarian options. Enjoy as we sail towards the army of islands and islets.

14.30: Explore Surprise Cave, Halong Bay’s largest.Surprise Cave, an intricate pathway carved through one of Halong Bay’s largest islands with several large chambers, is a must-see during any visit to Halong Bay. Make your way through the cave to discover unusual rock formations and remarkable viewpoints with our tour guide.

15.30: Continue cruising around Halong Bay.The Paradise Privilege will make its way through the Bay, elegantly winding in and out of gaps between the islands and islets.

16.00: Discover SoiSim Island and its sublime beach.The Privilege will stop at one of the lesser-visited islands of Halong Bay with its very own sandy beach. Enjoy a relaxed swim in the calm waters or take the opportunity to take to a kayak before returning to the Privilege for a much-deserved drink or indulge yourself with our onboard spa services- just ask a crew member or your tour guide.

17.30-19:00: Happy Hour!Enjoy a drink on the sundeck with a selected number of our beverages at a reduced price!

19.30: Tuck into a traditional Vietnamese dinner. Continue your exploration of fresh, delicious and nutritious Vietnamese cuisine expertly designed by our executive chef. For something special, consider eating on the sundeck, on the beach or even in a cave (all at an additional fee).

21.00: Evening Activities.Time to really relax and enjoy Halong Bay in the evening. Take a glass of white or red up to the sundeck and experience the Bay at night. Enjoy a film in your room or pick a book from our selection of short stories and classics, join the crew-members for a spot of squid fishing or to experience complete relaxation, talk to the tour guide or a crew-member about our onboard spa services. Overnight onboard.

SECOND DAY

8.30-10.30: Cruise through Ha Long Bay and Bai Tu Long Bay.Halong Bay, the most famous in the gulf, consists of almost 2000 uninhabited islands and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is the most dramatic of all the bays and also sees the largest amount of tourists. Bai Tu Long Bay, though seeing far fewer tourists, is every bit as beautiful as Halong and slightly further from the mainland.

Winter Program

• 10.30: Arrive at Cat Ba Island. Cycle or motorbike through the jungle to get to the village.The winter will see you land on Cat Ba Island, the largest island in Halong bay, to explore by bicycle or motorbike and visit a local village. After transferring to Cat Ba, enjoy a gentle cycle or motorbike ride along a stunning coastal road before turning inland to snake through rice fields surrounded by dense jungle. 5km inland stop at Viet Hai Village to take in the tranquil atmosphere and beautiful surroundings. Our guide will explain about life on the island and you will have the chance to visit the local school and chat to the friendly and welcoming villagers. Return back to the Explorer for a well-deserved lunch.

Summer Program

• 10.30: Arrive at VungVieng floating village. Take a rowboat through the hamlet before visiting a pearl farm.The summer means a visit to one of the largest floating villages in Halong bay, a ramshackle collection of buildings that include a school, museum and almost a hundred dwellings where the fishermen and their families reside all year round. This unusual way of living only on water and in relative isolation has encouraged a completely unique culture not seen anywhere else in Vietnam. Transfer from the Explorer to a small rowboat to quietly paddle through the village and interact with the locals who reside here. Stop at the largest floating area, which contains the small school and museum where you can learn about everyday life in the village, how this unlikely situation came about and why the locals are fiercely protective over this unique way of living. Then row to Tung Sau pearl farm and discover the intricate methods of oyster and pearl cultivation. Watch a demonstration from one of the farmers of how they extract the pearl before browsing the finished product for gifts and souvenirs. Return back to the explorer for lunch.
• 12.00: Return to the explorer for lunch onboard while the vessel cruises towards Lan Ha Bay. Small and elegant, Lan Ha Bay is close to Cat Ba Island and also sees only a few visitors compared with Halong Bay.
• 14.30: Anchor at an area of small caves where you can spend time kayaking, swimming or simply remaining on the boat to enjoy the stunning surroundings.
• Any cruise in Halong Bay, come rain or shine, warm or cool, should include the opportunity to be captain of your own boat, which is why we offer an afternoon of kayaking all year round. Climb straight from the Paradise Explorer down to the two-man kayaks and navigate yourself on the remarkably calm waters through intricate cave systems and get up close to the rigid rocks that hide under a blanket of jungle-green, all the while majestic hawks circle above. Pass through a small cave to reveal a spectacular circular pool surrounded by striking mountains and dense jungle. Feel free to take the plunge and have an unforgettable swim in what must surely be one of the most jaw-droppingly beautiful swimming spaces in the world. If lucky you may even spot a spider monkey or two. 
• 16.00: High tea served while cruising back to shore- the perfect opportunity for one of our onboard spa treatments.Be spoiled with our high tea- a selection of freshly baked pastries and cakes served with tea or coffee at just $8/person.
• 16.30: Transfer back to the Paradise Privilege. Back to the Privilege to enjoy a pre-dinner drink or a treatment from one of our onboard therapists.
• 17.30-19:00: Happy Hour!Another chance to enjoy a drink on the sundeck with a selected number of our beverages at a reduced price.
• 19.30: Traditional Vietnamese dinner.Your last chance to experience Vietnamese cuisine at it’s finest.
• 21.00: Evening Activities.Yourlast evening to enjoy Halong after an active day of exploration on the Paradise Explorer. Films, books and squid fishing are available, or treat yourself to a spa service. Overnight onboard.

THIRD DAY

07.00-07.30: Tea and coffeeserved with pastries.Wake up bright and early to make the most of your morning in Halong Bay.

07.30: Kayak or swim around the natural masterpiece (locations vary)The morning is devoted to swimming and kayaking your way around Halong Bay. Dive into the emerald green waters and splash around in the calm stillness of the morning. Take this chance to captain your own vessel and take to a kayak- glide through the waters at your own pace. If you don’t feel like swimming or kayaking, feel free to sleep in or enjoy the bay from the sundeck.

08.30: Return to the Privilege for a delicious breakfast.Back to the Privilege dining room for a breakfast with both Vietnamese and International options available.

09.30-10.00: Check-out and settle your bill.Check-out of your cabin and be ready to disembark at 10am as we sail away from the islands and islets of Halong Bay back towards Tuan Chau.

10.00: Arrive back at Tuan Chau. After arriving back to Tuan Chau, walk back to the Paradise Cruises Lounge and Café for a drink or snack before transferring back to Hanoi.

Tour Price:

• From 01st Jan to 31st April, 2014 and from 01st Oct to 31st Dec, 2014: US$ 2718 / 6 pax
• From 01st May to 30th Sep, 2014: US$ 2449/ 6 pax

Tour includes:

• Lunch and Dinner on Day 1
• Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner on Day 2
• Breakfast on Day 3
• Selected refreshments throughout the cruise 
• 2 bottles of mineral water
• Bicycle rental/motorbike and driver on Cat Ba Island
• Boat and rower in VungVieng floating village
• English Speaking Tour Guide (other languages available at an extra cost)
• Insurance and Tax

Tour excludes:

• Airfares, Round Trip Hanoi - Halong - Hanoi by shuttle bus: 36 USD per adult
• High Tea on the paradise Explorer ($8/person)
• Kayak rental fee ($20/person)
• Any extra beverages
• Any extra activities not clearly mentioned above
• Spa services 
• Tips and gratuities
• All other services not clearly mentioned above

Good for: Those who want to experience Legendary Halong Bay in luxurious crusie. 

 HALONG PARADISE PRIVILEGE

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