After meeting at Heritage Line’s welcome lounge at the Tuan Chau Marina, we take a quick speedboat for transfer to your luxurious floating home before starting our unique journey of exploring one of the wonders of nature – Lan Ha Bay and its main island of Cat Ba. The first highlight of the cruise is lunch, which we serve in Ylang’s nearly 360-degree light-flooded, elegant restaurant. Enjoy a fine menu of tasty local, international or vegetarian dishes freshly prepared by our culinary team.
Relax on the terrace deck or on your private balcony and soak in the enchanting aura which emanates from the surreal seascape. While we cruise along in the early afternoon, there is time to enjoy Ylang’s vast wellness and spa facilities. Take a plunge in the pool with infinity-like vistas or choose your favourite treatment from an extensive spa menu. As we reach the shore of a small lagoon on Cat Ba Island, we hop on bicycles (electric cart transfers are also available) for a tour along small paved roads towards Viet Hai village. Little has changed in Viet Hai since the ancestors of the 80 households settled here centuries ago. Situated in a valley within Cat Ba National Park and surrounded on all sides by forest and mountains, the locals are isolated from the island’s other villages and towns. The community is self-sufficient, as the residents provide for themselves by working the farms, fishing, or collecting rain water for drinking. Here you have the unique and authentic opportunity to meet the local inhabitants, learn about the fruits and vegetables grown in the valley, have a glimpse of the local households and try some homemade liquors.
Back on board, there is time for you to partake in our activities offered while we set sail to a tranquil place for an overnight mooring nearby. A tea tasting class is held in the Ylang Restaurant where you may learn about Vietnam’s traditional herbal teas and gain insight into their health benefits. Alternatively, let us pamper you with a spa treatment, opt for a foot massage in the privacy of your suite or gaze upon the beauty of the bay during sunset from the terrace deck. For dinner, choose from a diverse selection of dishes on the menu as our chef prepares a delectable multiple course meal. Afterwards, we offer in the Wellness Studio a guided “singing bowl meditation”, an ancient Tibetan ritual which invokes a deep state of relaxation, alleviates stress, and promotes a better night of sleep. One of the best ways to spend the evening is to take a seat under the stars on the terrace deck or on your private balcony to embrace the serenity of this surreal landscape. And if you would like to fully immerse yourself in relaxation, our spa is open until late.