Heritage Cruises set to sail in May

Latest Heritage Cruises trip takes guests around Cat Ba Archipelago off the coast of Vietnam’s north.

Heritage Cruises’ four-day Heritage Expedition (www.heritagecruises.com) is especially designed for those who love exploring and immersing themselves in local life, nature, culture, and adventure in discovering the authenticity of the Gulf of Tonkin.

Travelers will have the chance to venture off the beaten track, go kayaking, visit floating fish farms and villages, discover secluded beaches, lagoons, coves and caves, explore Cat Ba Island and Trung Trang Cave, and visit the local market, a fisheries plant, Beo Seaport, Lan Ha floating village, and Lan Ha Bay.

Already operating in Nha Trang Bay and Bai Tu Long Bay under the five-star Emperor Cruises brand, Heritage Cruises is set to launch its first boutique cruise in the Cat Ba Archipelago, in May, offering a great experience to 40 guests aboard a boutique cruiser in the Gulf of Tonkin. Amenities include a luxury spa, movies under the stars, two restaurants, indoor and outdoor lounges, a pool bar and a four-season swimming pool, and 20 suites with picture windows offering ocean views.

On the three-deck ship are 20 suites ranging from 33 sq m to 79 sq m, while food and beverage options include Le Tonkin and Indochine restaurants serving gourmet Vietnamese cuisine. The ship also features an outdoor deck, complete with Vietnam’s first infinity swimming pool on a cruise ship, private cabanas, the Bach Thai Buoi Library, for reading and relaxation.

The White Lotus Spa, offering massages and essential oil treatments, a dry sauna, a fitness center, and a games room, as well as its art gallery and auction center. There will also be a floating exhibition, L’Art de l’Annam, with the first designer art gallery from renowned artist Pham Luc along with the works of other famous Vietnamese artists.

The cruises’ concierge service is a specialty on the vessel, with a one-to-one staff-to-guest ratio ensuring every need is attended to. Apart from daily limousine transfers between Hanoi and Cat Ba Archipelago upon request, the Heritage Cruises team can also arrange for private charter airplanes, helicopters, or seaplanes.

Heritage Cruises derives inspiration for its boutique concept and design from the heritage ships of the patriotic entrepreneur Bach Thai Buoi, who transformed transportation on the waterways of Tonkin in the north of Vietnam in the early 20th century. The first two cruise ships have been named after the Phi Long and Phi Phuong, the very first vessels among 30 owned by Bach Thai Buoi, who has been referred to as the King of Ocean and River Cruises in Vietnam over the last century.

“Travel is all about places, experiences, and memories. We will first sail this brand through the karst seascape of the Cat Ba Archipelago, linking to Van Don, then we will cruise upstream and downstream from the highlands to the capital, Hanoi, and the Gulf of Tonkin over 8 days, following the old river trading waterway, Hanoi-Pho Hien-Van Don. My goal is to gradually build maritime connections from north to south, staying two or three nights in each destination, as part of a 10-14-day expedition.” Added Ha

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