RED RIVER CRUISE IN VIETNAM
Escape the crowds on an exclusive journey along the mysterious Red River deep into rural Vietnam.
WHY IT’S SPECIAL
The experiences come thick and fast, whether it’s sipping potent sticky rice wine with locals or helping to fashion conical hats from palm leaves.
This is an exciting 10-night voyage on Pandaw’s Angkor Pandaw, navigating four waterways – the Thai Binh, Red, Lo and Da rivers – and dodging barges laden with sand and rocks as you journey from the picturesque limestone karsts that dot Halong Bay to Hoa Binh or vice-versa (Viet Tri is the start or end point during low water between November and March).
You’ll have two nights in Halong Bay, before you enter the river system, spying tranquil towns and villages, sailing past verdant jungle vegetation, paddling through limestone caves and narrow creeks teeming with wildlife. Trips ashore unveil colourful temples and markets and potters plying their trade, or you can take your explorations further and head deep into the countryside on bike rides through narrow lanes.
At the other extreme, there’s a day in Hanoi, where just daring to cross roads buzzing with motor scooters is thrilling enough, and you’ll visit the Hanoi Hilton, where US airmen were imprisoned during the Vietnam War.
YOU’LL NEVER FORGET…
The faces of the local children lighting up as they join you for a fun water puppet show (think fire-breathing dragons and a naughty turtle) in the village of Thanh Ha.
INSIDER TIP
Go during low water, between December and March, to see the Halong Baylike limestone landscape in Ninh Binh.
HOW TO DO IT
Angkor Pandaw is owned by Pandaw and sold in the UK by Fred River Cruises (fredholidays.co.uk; 020 8396 7320), which packages up the cruise with Vietnam Airlines’ direct non-stop flights from the UK to Hanoi. Prices, from £3,299 per person (May 2020 departure), also include a pre-cruise night in Hanoi, transfers and tips for the crew.