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VIETNAM
LAKES TO LANTERNS
19th February 2027 - 4th March 2027
VIETNAM - LAKES TO LANTERNS
19th February 2027 - 4th March 2027
1ST DEPARTURE
11th March 2027 - 24th March 2027
2ND DEPARTURE
HANOI - HA LONG BAY - NINH BINH - HOI AN - DA NANG
Vietnam has a way of surprising you.
One moment you’re sipping coffee in a bustling Hanoi laneway, the next you’re cruising through the limestone peaks of Ha Long Bay, cycling through rice paddies in Ninh Binh or wandering lantern lit streets as the sun sets over Hoi An.
Over 14 unforgettable days, we’ll experience the very best of Northern and Central Vietnam. Think breathtaking scenery, incredible food, fascinating culture, beautiful accommodation and enough free time to explore, relax or simply soak it all in at your own pace.
What truly makes Vietnam extra special is its people. Warm, welcoming and endlessly resilient, you’ll be met with genuine smiles, heartfelt hospitality and the kind of kindness that leaves a lasting impression.
We’ll share stories over long lunches, discover hidden gems, cruise emerald waters, explore ancient towns and create memories that are even better when shared.
Beautiful experiences, wonderful women and a destination you’ll fall completely in love with.
Welcome to Vietnam with Soul Sister Holidays.
Information
Lakes to Lanterns Departure Dates:
Information
Lakes to Lanterns Departure Dates
2nd Departure
Thursday 11th March 2027 ~ Wednesday 24th March 2027
OPEN (only 2 spaces available)
1st Departure
Friday 19th February 2027 ~ Thursday 4th March 2027
SOLD OUT
The Journey
Hanoi - Ha Long Bay - Ninh Binh - Hoi An - Da Nang
OPEN
TWIN SHARE ~ AUD $2990 PER PERSON
PRIVATE ROOM SUPPLEMENT ~ AUD $890
Pricing
A $500 deposit is required to secure your space.
Twin Share - $2990
Private Room Fee +$890
Inclusions
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3 nights in Hanoi ~ 4 star Hotel in the heart of the Old Quarter in Hanoi
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1 night on Ha Long Bay ~ Luxury cruise
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3 nights in Ninh Binh ~ Home Stay, Tam Coc
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4 nights ~ in Hoi An ~ 4 star Hotel centrally located
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2 nights ~ Da Nang ~ 4 star Hotel
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Limousine bus Private Transfer ~ Hanoi to Ha Long Bay
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Limousine bus private Transfer ~ Ha Long Bay to Ninh Binh
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Limousine bus Private Transfer ~ Ninh Binh to Hanoi Airport (Noi Bai)
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Flight ~ Hanoi to Da Nang ~ Minibus transfer from airport to Hoi An
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Minibus transfer Hoi An to Da Nang
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Minibus transfer Da Nang Hotel ~ Da Nang Airport
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All Transfers to attractions as per the itinerary
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Breakfast daily, main meals as per the itinerary
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Thang Long Water Puppet Show
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Hanoi street food and Train Street guided tour
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Hanoi Women's Museum
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Ninh Binh guided tour including Trang An boat ride, Mua Cave & Bich Dong Pagoda
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Guided immersive Bay Mua Coconut Forest tour, lantern making, coffee class, cooking class, coconut boat ride
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Shore beach club day at An Bang beach - inclusions as per itinerary
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Hai Van Pass motorbike guided tour (a minibus will be available if preferred).
Exclusions
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International Flights
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Travel insurance (mandatory for all travelers)
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Visa and entry requirements
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Meals and snacks not specifically mentioned in the itinerary
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Personal expenses
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Optional activities or excursions
Accommodation
Itinerary
Day 01
Arrival in Hanoi
Arrive in Hanoi, Vietnam, and meet at our hotel. Settle in, unpack and take your time to find your feet. There is space this afternoon to rest or wander the streets nearby at your own pace.
Afternoon
Welcome Dinner at Bun Cha Ta in Hanoi, a 2026 Michelin Bib Gourmand winner loved for its quality and value. Bun cha is the city’s signature dish, grilled pork with noodles, herbs and dipping broth, and this is one of the best places to try it. Vegetarian options are available.
Evening
Day 02
The Heart Of Hanoi
Daytime
Embark on a walking street food guided tour. Explore hidden alleyways that only the locals know about. Visit family owned restaurants to taste traditional Vietnamese cuisine. Visit train street to watch the train go by whilst sipping on your choice of Vietnamese coffee in a Train Street cafe.
Late Afternoon
We head to the Thang Long Water Puppet Show, a traditional Vietnamese art that goes back hundreds of years, with puppets dancing on the water to live music and folk stories.
Day 03
Explore Hanoi
Morning
Guided visit to the Vietnamese Women’s Museum, one of the most loved museums in the country and. With a guide to walk you through it, you follow the lives of Vietnamese women through marriage, family, war and the street sellers who still shape daily life in Hanoi today. Told through real voices and real stories.
Afternoon/Evening
Explore the Old Quarter streets, there is so much to see and do. Grab a massage, stroll around the beautiful Hoan Kiem Lake and grab an ice cream. The shopping is fantastic, with plenty of bargains to be had. The streets are always bustling.
Day 04
Day 05
Morning - Afternoon
Hello Ninh Binh
After breakfast we will disembark our cruise boat and hop onboard our luxury limousine bus to take us to Ninh Binh. Expect snacks and singalongs throughout our journey of 3.5 hours.
Arrive in Ninh Binh (Tam Coc) to meet our Homestay family. Check in, settle in and enjoy Vietnamese home cooking for dinner.
Afternoon - Evening
To Ha Long Bay
Morning
We travel to Halong Bay, Vietnam, by limousine bus, around two and a half hours through the countryside.
Afternoon & Evening
We board our cruise and settle in. Lunch and dinner on board, activities and incredible scenery to enjoy as we sail out among the limestone islands.
Day 06
Ninh Binh Tour
Morning/Afternoon
Explore Ninh Binh - Guided tour.
Enjoy a boat ride on the Trang An Unessco River, visit Bich Dong Pagoda, and climb Mua Cave for a panoramic sunset view. Includes lunch.
Evening
Home stay dinner on the lake followed by an optional stroll to the Tam Coc night market close by to lap up the atmosphere and browse local handmade crafts.
Day 07
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Caves by Boat, Embroidery by Hand
After a relaxed Home Stay breakfast we visit Van Lam village in Ninh Hai, Vietnam, right next to the boat pier. The village has been doing hand embroidery and lace for around 700 years, a craft passed down through the women of the village. Watch the artisans at work, see a piece come together stitch by stitch, and browse their embroidery to take a piece home.
Morning
Afternoon
Home Stay lunch on the lake. Take an optional bike ride through the rice fields to explore and enjoy your spectacular surroundings.
Day 08
South To Hoi An
Morning
After breakfast our luxury limousine bus will arrive to transport us to Hanoi airport for our flight to Da Nang, where a bus will meet us to take us on to our hotel in Hoi An.
Afternoon & Evening
A free night to settle in.
Day 09
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Coconut Boats, Cooking, Coffee & Crafts
Morning
Explore Ancient Town, visit the tailors, leather makers, jewellers and markets of Hoi An. This is the place to have something made. This is the time to place custom orders to ensure they are made before leaving Hoi An.
Afternoon
Spend the afternoon filled with traditional immersive experiences. You will be picked up from our hotel to visit Bay Mau Coconut Forest where you will enjoy a basket boat ride, Discover the daily life of a local fisherman. You will then head to a local restaurant in the forest to take part in a Vietnamese coffee brewing experience, followed by a lantern making class. To finish off the day enjoy a cooking class with a Vietnamese chef, where you will learn to prepare traditional Vietnamese dishes which you will enjoy in the cosy restaurant in at the heart of Bay Mau Coconut Forest.
Day 10
Luxury Beach Day at the Shore Club
All Day
After breakfast, pack your beach bag. We are heading 10 minutes away to the Shore Club where your VIP cabana awaits. Included are lunch and a cocktail or mocktail. Book a beachside massage, lie back in your cabana and let the day drift, or walk along the beach and explore An Bang. Stay for a few hours or stay for the day.
Day 11
Hoi An
Morning
Pick up your tailoring and leather goods and explore at your own pace.
Browse the markets, grab a massage or sit by the river for a coffee or lunch.
Afternoon
Free afternoon to explore, shop, be pampered or simply sit by the Hotel pool with a cocktail.
Evening
Explore the famous Hoi An night market Perhaps dine in one of the many restaurants overlooking the river filled with lantern boats with the backdrop of Ancient Town. This is truly a sight to behold.
Day 12
Da Nang With A
Bang
All Day
Today we will say an early goodbye to Hoi An. We will be picked up by our Easy Riders for an unforgettable motorcycle tour of the Hai Van Pass. (Our luggage will be picked up and delivered to our accommodation in Da Nang)
Ride one of the most beautiful coastal roads in the world as described by "Top Gear" They went on to describe the Hai Van Pass as a "deserted ribbon of perfection".
The Hai Van Pass winds high above the sea between Hue and Da Nang, with sweeping ocean views and misty mountain bends.
There will be stops along the way including a visit to the Lady Buddah, lunch on Lang Co beach, a waterfall swim and other cultural and natural wonder moments.
You will travel as a passenger behind an experienced local rider, so you can relax and soak in the scenery.
A day loaded with adventure, a lot of beauty, and a story you will be telling for years.
(A minibus will be available if preferred)
Day 13
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Da Nang Your Way
All Day
Da Nang is made for shoppers. Spend the day shopping, hunting hidden gems. Visit the tourist markets and the one only the locals know about. If you love thrifting you will be in heaven.
A suggested shopping guide will be provided to everyone.
This is also a day to indulge on a dime. Wander the Ngũ Hành Sơn District where you will find, great eats, arguably the best coffees in Vietnam, hair salons, nail bars, beauty salons, masseurs, street entertainers and plenty of other fabulous finds.
Day 14
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Departure
Morning
We have come to the end of your Soul Sister Holiday. We will have breakfast together, say our goodbyes and make our way to our next destination,
Important Information
Fitness Level - Medium
This tour is ideal for travellers with a moderate level of fitness . Expect regular walking throughout the day, extended periods on your feet and a variety of terrain including uneven pathways and roads, gentle hills and extremely busy roads to cross. You'll travel by minibuses, boats small and large, private transfers and motorcycle, You should be comfortable boarding and disembarking different forms of transport independently while keeping pace with the group. While there are opportunities to relax and enjoy Vietnam's beautiful scenery, there are days that are moderately active.
Activity Factors:
✔ Regular walking
✔ Sightseeing
✔ Uneven pathways and roads, gentle hills and stairs
✔ Busy roads to cross confidently
✔ Multiple transport types including minibuses, trains boats and motorcycles
✔ Extended periods standing
✔ Walking
✔ Luggage managed independently when required