Ha Long and Lan Ha Bay 2 Day 5-Star Cruise with Balcony Hanoi

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Overview

This two-day, one-night cruise takes you from Hanoi into Ha Long Bay and the quieter waters of Lan Ha Bay aboard a 5-star ship. You sleep in a private balcony cabin with an ocean view and a bathtub, eat every meal on board, and spend the days kayaking, swimming, joining a cooking class and watching the limestone islands change colour at sunset and sunrise. Pickup in Hanoi and all entrance fees are included, so it suits couples, families and anyone who wants a relaxed overnight on the bay.

Highlights

One night in a private balcony cabin with an ocean view and a bathtub
Swimming pool or jacuzzi on board and all-day room service
All meals on board: breakfast, buffet lunch and set dinner, with vegetarian options
Kayaking, swimming, squid fishing, tai chi and a cooking class
Cruise both Ha Long Bay and the quieter Lan Ha Bay
Pickup in Hanoi, a tour guide, a welcome drink and all entrance fees included

Full Description

Ha Long Bay, the classic limestone seascape

Ha Long Bay is the best-known stretch of Vietnam's northeast coast, a UNESCO World Heritage Site of around 1,600 limestone islands rising from calm green water. A Ha Long Bay overnight cruise lets you see it at the times when most day visitors have gone: in the low light of late afternoon, at sunset and in the misty hush of early morning.

The bay lies about two and a half to three hours east of Hanoi by road, which is why staying a night on board is popular with travellers who want more than a rushed day trip. The best time to visit is spring and autumn, when the skies are clearer. In winter the bay can be misty and cool, but it is atmospheric and quieter.

Lan Ha Bay, quieter waters beside Cat Ba Island

Lan Ha Bay lies south-east of Ha Long Bay, beside Cat Ba Island, and shares the same kind of karst scenery with far fewer boats. It has hundreds of islets, secluded beaches and clear, sheltered water that is ideal for kayaking and swimming. In 2023 UNESCO extended the World Heritage listing to include the Cat Ba archipelago together with Ha Long Bay.

Cruising both bays gives you the famous view and the calmer one in the same trip. For a Lan Ha Bay cruise from Hanoi, this route is easy because our transfer handles the long drive. Ask the guide about the local floating fishing communities, which you may see from the water.

Life on the 5-star cruise ship

On this cruise you have a private balcony cabin with air conditioning, an ocean view and an en-suite bathroom with a bathtub. The ship has a sundeck with a swimming pool or jacuzzi, a restaurant, and all-day room service. Two bottles of water are placed in the cabin each day, and a welcome drink of a soft drink, tea or coffee is served when you board.

All meals on board are included: a buffet lunch, a set dinner and breakfast, with vegetarian options. Extra drinks are not included, and single travellers pay a supplement for a private room. If you are celebrating a birthday or honeymoon, tell us before the trip so the crew can prepare a cake or a cabin set-up.

Things to do on board and in the bay

Between meals the schedule is easy. You kayak through sheltered lagoons and around the bases of the cliffs, swim from the ship or a beach, and join a cooking class where the crew shows you how to prepare a Vietnamese dish. After dark there is squid fishing from the deck, and at dawn a gentle tai chi session on the sundeck as the sun rises over the karst.

The order of activities changes with the weather, tide and the ship's route, and the crew will explain the plan at the welcome briefing. Everything listed on this page is included, and all entrance fees and tickets are covered.

Itinerary

Pickup in HanoiWe collect you at around 8:00 AM and drive east to the harbour, a journey of roughly two and a half to three hours.
Boarding and welcome drinkCheck in, settle into your balcony cabin, hear the safety briefing and enjoy the welcome drink.
Lunch and cruisingA buffet lunch on board while the ship sails through the limestone islands of Ha Long and Lan Ha Bay.
Kayaking and swimmingPaddle through sheltered lagoons and swim from the ship or a beach in the afternoon.
Sunset, cooking class and dinnerWatch the sunset from the sundeck, join the cooking class and have a set dinner, followed by squid fishing.
Tai chi and breakfastA gentle morning tai chi session on the sundeck, then breakfast on board.
Check-out and returnLeave the ship after a last stretch of cruising and transfer to Hanoi, arriving in the afternoon; exact times depend on the ship.

What's included

2 days and 1 night on a 5-star cruise
Private balcony cabin with ocean view, air conditioning, private bathroom with bathtub and daily bottled water
Swimming pool or jacuzzi on board and all-day room service
Tour guide
Welcome drink (soft drink, tea or coffee)
All meals on board (breakfast, buffet lunch, set dinner, vegetarian options)
All entrance fees and tickets
Kayaking, swimming, tai chi, squid fishing and a cooking class

Not included

Extra drinks
Surcharge for solo travellers in a single room
Extra transfers from Ninh Binh or other cities
Tips

Not suitable for

Wheelchair users, because of ship stairs
Guests with serious mobility difficulties
Travellers who dislike sleeping on a boat or are prone to seasickness on longer sailings

Meeting point

Pickup in Hanoi is at around 8:00 AM, and the exact pickup point is confirmed after booking by email or WhatsApp. Transfers from Ninh Binh or other cities are not included in this option and can be arranged on request.

Important information

Bring swimwear, sunscreen, a hat, light clothes and a warm layer for the evening and morning.
Bring your passport or ID card, which the ship may ask to see at check-in.
Tell us in advance about dietary needs, a birthday cake or a honeymoon cabin set-up.
The order and timing of activities depend on the weather and the ship, and the itinerary may change.
Extra drinks and tips are not included; single travellers pay a supplement for a private single room.
Ha Long Bay can be misty in winter and crowded in summer and at weekends.
Book early: overnight cruise places sell out, especially at peak times.

Good to know

Frequently Asked Questions

Straight answers to what travellers ask us most, before they book.

How much does the Ha Long and Lan Ha Bay cruise cost?

The price depends on your dates and the number of adults and children, and the booking panel on this page shows the current price, adult and child. Single travellers pay a supplement for a private single room.

Is hotel pickup included?

Yes, pickup in Hanoi at around 8:00 AM is included, and the exact pickup point is confirmed after booking. Transfers from Ninh Binh or other cities are not included.

How long is the cruise?

It is a two-day, one-night cruise. You leave Hanoi in the morning of day one and are back in Hanoi in the afternoon of day two, depending on the ship's schedule.

Which meals are included?

All meals on board: a buffet lunch, a set dinner and breakfast, with vegetarian options. Extra drinks are not included.

What is the difference between Ha Long Bay and Lan Ha Bay?

Ha Long Bay is the famous, busier bay. Lan Ha Bay is beside Cat Ba Island with the same karst scenery but fewer boats, more beaches and clearer water. This cruise visits both.

Is the cruise suitable for children?

Yes, children are welcome and enjoy the swimming pool, kayaking and beaches. Child rates depend on age and are shown in the booking panel, and younger children need supervision on deck and in kayaks.

What should I wear and bring?

Swimwear, sunscreen, a hat, comfortable clothes, a warm layer for the evening and your passport or ID card.

Can I book for today or tomorrow?

Sometimes, if there are places, but overnight cruises fill up and it is best to book several days ahead.

Does the cabin have a balcony and bathtub?

Yes, this option gives you a private balcony cabin with an ocean view and a private bathroom with a bathtub.

Can I arrange a birthday cake or honeymoon set-up?

Yes, request it before your trip and the crew will prepare a cake or a cabin set-up.