Two days, one balcony, two bays

About this experience

You board at Tuan Chau Marina in Ha Long, not on Cat Ba. Lunch is served while the ship crosses Ha Long Bay, and by mid-afternoon you are at Dark and Bright Cave on the Ha Long - Lan Ha border or in the Tra Bau lagoons. The second morning stays on the Lan Ha side too: a cave on Cat Ba or a paddle around Ao Ech. Roughly speaking, the sailing is Ha Long and the doing is Lan Ha.

The listed price covers the cabin, every meal on board, entry fees and the activities. The bus from Hanoi is not in it: the round trip costs $25 per person extra (Ninh Binh pickup works too). Drinks are extra, solo travellers pay $90 for a single cabin, and Christmas, New Year and national holidays carry a surcharge. Per the listing, taxes are included on bookings made from 26 June 2026.

Kayaking is on the itinerary, but kayak rules in Lan Ha have changed several times since late 2024, and on some days crews switch to a rowed bamboo boat at the caves. Treat the kayak as likely, not promised. The ship takes up to 60 guests, which makes for a lively dining room rather than a quiet one.

• Private balcony cabin with a bathtub, air conditioning and two bottles of water a day
• Dark and Bright Cave by kayak or bamboo boat, or kayaking in Tra Bau
• Spring roll cooking class at sunset and night squid fishing
• Tai chi on the sundeck at sunrise
• Trung Trang or Quan Y cave on Cat Ba, or a paddle through the Ao Ech lagoon
• Pool or jacuzzi on board, room service all day

How the day runs

1. Day 1 · 08:00Bus from Hanoi

   Optional limousine pickup in the Old Quarter (07:00 from Ninh Binh). About 2.5 hours to Tuan Chau with one 20-minute rest stop. Booked as a $25 extra.

2. Day 1 · 12:00Board and lunch

   A tender runs you from the marina to the ship: welcome drink, safety briefing, cabin check-in, then a buffet lunch as the ship heads out across Ha Long Bay.

3. Day 1 · afternoonCave or lagoon

   Option 1: about an hour at Dark and Bright Cave by kayak or bamboo boat, then a swim from the ship. Option 2: kayaking and swimming among the islets of Tra Bau in Lan Ha.

4. Day 1 · sunsetSpring rolls and squid

   Tea or coffee on the sundeck, a spring roll class with the chef, a seafood dinner, then the Panorama Bar or a line over the side for squid.

5. Day 2 · sunriseTai chi, then Cat Ba or Ao Ech

   Tai chi and a light breakfast. Then Trung Trang or Quan Y cave on Cat Ba Island, or kayaking through the lagoons around Ao Ech with a swim if you like.

6. Day 2 · 15:00Brunch and back

   Check out, brunch while sailing back to Tuan Chau. Transfer guests reach the Hanoi Old Quarter around 15:00, Ninh Binh around 16:00.

What's included

Who it suits

What guests say

Tips before you book

• Add the $25 bus at checkout unless you already have a driver. Getting to Tuan Chau by noon on your own takes planning.
• Pick option 2 (Tra Bau) on day 1 if you care most about paddling. Dark and Bright Cave is the one more likely to become a bamboo-boat ride.
• Put allergies and diet notes in the booking. Guests say the kitchen follows them closely.
• Bring cash or a card for the bar: drinks are not in the price.
• Pack your passport or ID card. The listing asks for it on the day of travel.

Read next:

• Best Lan Ha Bay cruise
• Lan Ha Bay vs Halong Bay
• Swimming and kayaking

Frequently asked questions

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