Halong Bay, La Han Bay: 3-Day Luxury Cruise Review

Introduction

Back in April 2023, we spent three weeks exploring Vietnam. At first, we thought we’d travel the whole country, but as we planned, we decided to slow things down and focus on the north and center. That way, we could really enjoy each place instead of rushing through.

We started and ended our trip in Hanoi, the capital, with a quick overnight there when traveling back from Sapa to Halong Bay. Our route looked like this: Hanoi, Sapa, Hanoi, Halong Bay/Lan Ha Bay, Tam Coc (Ninh Binh), Hue, Hoi An, and back to Hanoi.

We also had a special twist on this trip — Tina was 9 to 12 weeks pregnant. It wasn’t always easy, but we still managed to make the most of every stop.

Halong Bay — well, actually Lan Ha Bay — was our third stop after Sapa and Hanoi, and it turned out to be one of the most expensive things we did in Vietnam. But honestly, it was worth every cent. With over 400 cruise ships in the bays, choosing the right one wasn’t easy. We knew we didn’t want a massive boat and preferred something smaller with a real Vietnamese feel, which is why we went with the V’Spirit Cruise.

In this article, we’ll share exactly how our 3-day luxury cruise in Halong Bay unfolded, day by day. If you’re planning your own trip and thinking about sailing these famous waters, this will give you a clear picture of what to expect.

Read: Complete North and Central 3-week Vietnam Itinerary 

Halong Bay

HạLong Bay is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most popular travel destination in northem Vietnam. The name Hạ Long means “descending dragon”.

The bay features thousands of limestone karsts and islets in various shapes and sizes. HạLong Bay is a center of a larger zone that includes Bai Tu Long Bay to the northeast, and Cát Bà Island to the southwest. These larger zones share a similar geological, geographical, geomorphological, climate, and cultural characters.

HạLong Bay has an area of around 1,553 km2 including 1,960–2,000 islets, most of which are limestone. The limestone in this bay has gone through 500 million years of formation in different conditions and environments. The evolution of the karst in this bay has taken 20 million years under the impact of the tropical wet climate.

However, most of the cruise go pricesisly in Lan Ha Bay.

Lan Ha Bay is made up of around 300 karst islands and limestone sea rocks and can be found southeast of Cat Ba Island. As a geological extension of Halong Bay, Lan Ha Bay is equally as beautiful.

Booking the Cruise

The cruise we did and actually most of them aren’t really going to Halong Bay which is a UNESCO World heritage site. Despite the cruise are going to Lan Ha Bay which is actually next to Halong bay.

 We booked the cruise online via a travel agency called “Incredible Asia Journeys”

It was really easy, and communication was really good with them. We exchanged a few emails and in the end opted for the V’Spirit Cruise which was freshly renovated in 2023 making the ship in an amazing shape.

The cost was for 3 days 580 USD for both of us with transfer from Hanoi and to Tam Coc:

• Junior Suite Balcony – Double Sharing: USD 260/person
• Hanoi – Halong Bay Shared Limousine Bus: USD 15/person
• Halong Bay – Ninh Binh (Tam Coc) shared Limousine Bus: USD15/person

And after paying a deposit of 175USD we were set! In terms of timing we booked the cruise the 12^th of April for a cruise departing the 18^th.

There are 2 main type of cruise, 2-day 1-night or 3-day 2 night. We opted for the later and we would recommend it without a second thought. It allow much more time on the cruise making it more enjoyable.

If you do not want to have to deal with a travel agency, you should consider: 

• From Hanoi in 1-day: Halong Bay Cruise with Swimming & Kayak Tour
• From Hanoi in 2-day: 2-Day Halong & Lan Ha Bay
• Combined the cruise with Ninh Binh Tam Coc to save time: 3-Day Ninh Binh, HaLong, & Lan Ha Bay 5-Star Cruise

About the Ship

V’Spirit Cruise is one of the most luxury cruise in Halong Bay and Lan Ha Bay with only 18 cabins all with balcony that offer travellers the best experience.

The concept of the V’Spirit Cruise is a combination of a the classic style of a junk cruise and a modern cruise with luxury facility. The V’Spirit Cruise looks like a junk boat, but it is a steel cruise with luxury facility that offers an amazing experience and safety in luxury.

Check our Google Map of Vietnam

When to Visit

Halong Bay can be visited year-round, but each season offers a different experience, and the weather can really change the feel of your cruise.

• Spring (March to May) – Warm and pleasant, with temperatures between 20°C and 28°C (68°F to 82°F). This is one of the best times for a Halong Bay cruise, with clear skies and calm waters.
• Summer (June to August) – Hot and humid, with temperatures ranging from 25°C to 35°C (77°F to 95°F). It’s the season for bright blue skies but also the highest chance of heavy rains or even tropical storms.
• Autumn (September to November) – Another ideal time to visit, with mild temperatures around 22°C to 30°C (72°F to 86°F) and generally dry weather.
• Winter (December to February) – Cooler and drier, with temperatures from 14°C to 20°C (57°F to 68°F). Expect more mist and fog, which gives the bay a moody, atmospheric feel but can limit visibility.

If you want the best mix of good weather and fewer crowds, spring and autumn are your safest bet.

The Rooms

Let’s start with the room we booked on the Halong Bay / Lan Ha Bay cruise — the Junior Suite Balcony, which is actually the most affordable option on the cruise.
It’s a spacious 26m², tastefully decorated, and fitted with a comfortable queen-size bed. The bathroom is surprisingly big, with a shower, toilet, and even a bathtub.

Our favorite feature, though, was the private balcony. It’s small but perfect for sitting with a drink and taking in the views as the boat glides through the bay. Inside, you’ll find a minibar, kettle, complimentary water, a small wardrobe, and even two life jackets. The bathroom comes with all the amenities you might need, so you can just unpack and relax.

Food onboard

Before boarding the cruise on Halong Bay, we had requested vegetarian meals, and the crew really delivered. Everything we ate on the V’Spirit was fresh, flavorful, and honestly, sometimes more than we could finish.

Breakfasts were simple but satisfying, with enough variety to start the day right. Dinners were a whole different story — multi-course feasts that kept coming dish after dish. In the afternoons, after the cooking class, a small buffet of fresh fruit and pastries was set out. It was a lovely touch, and the fact that it was complimentary made it even better.

3-Day Luxury Cruise in Halong Bay Itinerary

Day 1:

• 08:15 – 08:45 | Pick-up
• 11:45-12:00: Welcome to V’Spirit Cruises lounge at Tuan Chau International Habour.
• 12:00 – 12:30: Transfer to V’Spirit Cruises by a smaller boat.
• 13:00: Lunch at The Dawn Restaurant while V’Spirit Cruise takes you through some of the most breathtaking sceneries from Halong Bay to its secretive “neighbour” called Lan Ha Bay.
• 14:45: Explore Bright cave on a traditional rowing bamboo boat with locals
• 17:00: Cooking demonstration to get to know Vietnamese cuisine and create your own special flavors.
• 17:30-18:30: Lounge time at the bar
• 19:00: Dinner at the restaurant.
• 21:00: Enjoy evening views of the bay on the top deck, join some game show at the top deck bar to get some nice local gifts. Optional: Try your luck with squid fishing.

Day 2:

• 06:15: Tai Chi session on sundeck.
• 7:00: Light breakfast.
• 8:00 – 8:30: Transfer to the day tour cruise
• 09:00: Arrival at Cat Ba Island, you’ll choose to take a ride by bicycle or electric car to Viet Hai village.
• 11:30 Return to the day tour cruise and lunch.
• 14:00: Fish farms at Viet Hai pier and kayak.
• 15:00: Transfer to Ba Trai Dao, it’s time for more swimming.
• 16:30: Back to the cruise
• 17:30-18:30: Time to take a shower or enjoy the bathtub.
• 19:00: Dinner at the restaurant.

Day 3:

• 06:15: Tai Chi session on sundeck.
• 7:00: Light breakfast on board.
• 7:30-8:45: Explore the Tra Bau area by kayaking, get closer to the rocky islands and admire the stunning nature of the bay.
• 9:00: Return to the cruise, check-out.
• 9:30: Enjoy a last luxury Set menu brunch at the restaurant while cruising back to Tuan Chau port.
• 11:00: Disembark at Tuan Chau port and end of the Halong Bay cruise.

The Cruise Day by Day

Day 1 – Going there

We started the day early with breakfast at 6:30, taking our time to enjoy the view from the restaurant. It was a buffet spread with a mix of local dishes and familiar international options.

By 8:10, we headed downstairs to start the cruise journey. Our minibus was already waiting, along with our guide, Jimmy. After picking up another group of four, we were 14 in total. A small bottle of water was handed out, and they asked about any dietary restrictions — we reconfirmed our vegetarian meals.

On the drive, Jimmy shared some interesting facts about Vietnam. We learned that Halong Bay first opened to tourists in 1993, that it once had 530 boats but now has around 400 after COVID hit, and that the bay is home to floating villages with around 1,500 residents. He also told us about Halong’s pearl farms, a local specialty, and even shared a few practical details like Vietnam’s VAT (10%) and the emergency hotline (113).

Around 10:20, we made a 40-minute stop at a large rest station with clean toilets, a café, and pearl shops showcasing the region’s famous oysters. From there, it was about another hour to reach the harbour at Dao Tuan Châu — a half-built “ghost town” of abandoned construction projects left behind after COVID.

By 11:15, we were at the marina where our bags were tagged. At 11:35, the V’Spirit transfer boat arrived. Once previous passengers disembarked, we boarded along with the rest of the group — 26 of us in total — and set off at 12:05 toward the bay.

Day 1 – Arrival on the V’Spirit

By 12:45, we arrived on the V’Spirit (our HaLong Bay cruise really started) and headed straight to the dining area for a warm welcome and a quick safety briefing. Our room keys were handed out, and our luggage was already waiting outside our doors.

Lunch followed right after — a buffet with plenty of variety. Since we’d requested vegetarian meals, we were also served a few extra dishes directly at the table, including sautéed bok choy, corn soup, and sautéed tofu with tomatoes. Everything was tasty and more than enough to fill us up.

After lunch, we took some time to relax in our room, explore the boat, and watch the smaller boats passing by, some of them selling snacks and drinks to cruise passengers.

Day 1 – Rowing Boat

Around 14:55, we boarded a smaller boat with life jackets and headed out toward the Bright and Dark Cave, arriving about 10 minutes later. From there, we hopped into traditional wooden rowing boats in groups of six.

The rower took us through the peaceful waters, gliding under the cave’s low arch and into a quiet lagoon surrounded by towering limestone cliffs — a truly serene spot.

By 16:15, we were back on the small transfer boat, and just ten minutes later, we stepped back onto the main cruise ship, ready to unwind before the evening activities.

Tip: We use the DJI Action 4 to film our vlogs — compact, durable, and perfect for capturing every adventure.

Day 1 – First evening

Once back on the boat, it was time for a swim off the rear deck — though the water looked a bit too murky for our liking, so we skipped it and took the drone out instead. While flying, we met a friendly Australian traveler who had just come from a 10-day NGO trip in Nepal and was stopping in Vietnam on his way home.

By 17:30, it was spring roll cooking class time. It turned out to be surprisingly simple, and of course, we had to taste our own creations. Afterward, we headed up to the upper deck, grabbed a cold beer, and enjoyed some fresh fruit as the sun began to set. For those wondering — the 4G signal out here was actually pretty good. At this time, I think we were in Lan Ha Bay.

Tip: We never travel without our DJI Mini 3 PRO drone anymore — it’s totally worth having to capture places from a whole new perspective.

Day 1 – Dinner

Around 18:15, we headed back to our cabin for a quick shower before dinner. By 19:00, we were seated in the dining area, and the feast began. The food was incredible — beautifully presented, full of flavor, and served in generous portions. Honestly, half of what we were given would have been more than enough, but everything was so good that we couldn’t help but keep going back for more.

Check our Google Map of Vietnam

Day 1 – Squid fishing

By 20:30, dinner had wrapped up, and we headed to the back of the boat to try our hand at squid fishing. We didn’t manage to catch anything ourselves, but someone else did, which kept the excitement alive. After a bit of fun, we made our way back to our cabin and called it a night, ready for the next day’s adventures.

Day 2 – Morning

We started the day early, waking up around 6:15 to join the 6:30 Tai Chi session on the upper deck. It was a refreshing way to warm up in the morning, though with about a dozen of us there, it was tricky to follow the instructor if you were at the back.

By 7:00, it was time for what they called a “light breakfast” – coffee, tea, milk, soy milk, toast, croissants, cucumbers, jams, and even shrimp salad. Not bad, but definitely on the lighter side. We wrapped it up with a coffee and tea on our terrace, soaking in the peaceful morning views of Lan Ha Bay.

We usually travel with Airalo eSIMs, but when we need unlimited data for work, we go with Holafly.

Day 2 – Tour boat

At 8:20, we set off on the day tour boat. Once on board, the crew asked about any food restrictions and handed out towels before stopping to pick up more passengers arriving on smaller boats. We headed upstairs to the open deck, enjoying the fresh air as we cruised towards the next stop. Tina ordered a watermelon juice, which arrived without asking – making it seem complimentary – but turned out not to be, something that caught quite a few people off guard.

In total, there were 39 of us on the day boat. The guide shared details about the program and the area, noting that Halong Bay is home to 1,956 islands, with about 1,100 of them named. He also mentioned that the best time to visit is September to October. Drinks like juices, sodas, and beers were available for purchase. Between stories about Vietnam’s history, he even shared a bit of his own life, including how he was a war refugee and is now banned from joining the country’s only political party, the Communist Party.

Day 2 – Cat Ba Island

Around 10:10, we reached Cat Ba Island, where the next stop was Viet Hai village. You can either hop on a tuk-tuk or cycle there – we went for the bicycles. The ride took about 15 minutes through some beautiful scenery, though being in a group meant frequent stops to wait for everyone, which slowed things down a bit.

Eventually, we let the group ride ahead and enjoyed the path at our own pace, taking in the surroundings. We caught up with them later at the tour operator’s shop and restaurant in the village, where we got more insights about Cat Ba Island and its way of life.

Check our Google Map of Vietnam

Day 2 – Viet Hai

Next came a fish foot massage – one of those odd yet fun travel experiences where tiny fish nibble at your feet. It feels strange at first but quickly turns into a good laugh.

After that, we stopped at a traditional house to see how people used to live on the island and learn more about Vietnamese customs and daily life.

By around 11:30, it was time to hop back on the bikes, ride back to the port, and board the boat for the next leg of the trip.

Day 2 – Lunch

At noon, the boat pulled away from the port and anchored just a short distance away for lunch. We shared a table with a lovely Polish family of three and had a great chat. The meal itself was heavy on fried dishes and, like many meals in Vietnam, came in generous portions — perhaps a bit too generous. We would have preferred fewer plates but better quality.

By 12:45, we were back on the move, and within 15 minutes we arrived at a small floating fish farm, ready to see how seafood is raised in the bay.

Day 2 – Kayak

Around 1 pm, we hopped into kayaks and paddled around the bay for about 30–40 minutes. It was peaceful and gave us a closer look at the limestone cliffs and calm waters.

Back at the floating farm, we spotted butterfly fish and the local favorite, grouper fish — which, fun fact, are often kept as pets here.

By 2 pm, we left the farm and cruised for about 20 minutes to a small area with beaches where swimming was possible. Unfortunately, the water wasn’t the cleanest, so we skipped it and just enjoyed the view instead. We stayed for about half an hour before heading back toward our main boat.

Along the way, we grabbed one watermelon juice and two bottles of water for 120,000 VND — though honestly, it would have been nice if water had been included.

By 3:35 pm, we were back on our cruise. The Polish family we’d met earlier had a bit of a surprise — their boat didn’t have enough passengers, so they were transferred to another one and only knew its name when boarding.

Check our Google Map of Vietnam

Day 2 – Evening

Once back on board, we took the chance to freshen up — shower, bath, and all — while soaking in the bay views right from our cabin.

Later, we headed to the upper deck just as one of the small floating shop boats pulled alongside. Someone from our boat tried buying a few things: 1.5L of Coca-Cola was first offered at 200,000 VND, then 150,000 VND — still more expensive than on the cruise itself. Beer was going for 50,000 VND before any bargaining, so not exactly a bargain.

We decided instead to enjoy a Halong beer and a ginger beer from the bar. Today, there wasn’t much of a 4G signal, and the onboard Wi-Fi wasn’t great — but once the boat moved a little, the 4G came back to life.

Day 2 – Dinner

Dinner was, once again, a feast — beautifully prepared with more dishes than we could ever finish. We tried to ask for fewer plates, but it wasn’t really an option. For the crew, making sure guests have more than enough food seems to be part of the experience.

That evening, we ended up chatting with an Australian couple at our table. They’d travelled extensively and even spent time living in Switzerland. This cruise was their holiday before heading to Singapore for business meetings, and it was nice sharing stories over such a generous meal.

Day 3 – Morning

We woke up naturally around 5:45, stretched a little in the room, and made our way to the upper deck for the 6:30 Tai Chi session. It was peaceful at first, just us and a small Brazilian group, but more people gradually joined in.

By 7:00, it was time for the light breakfast — fresh fruit, scrambled eggs, a glass of watermelon juice, and a good coffee to start the day while enjoying the calm of the bay.

Day 3 – Chilling

It was a hot morning, and for once the sun was out, cutting through most of the haze. Instead of heading out for another round of kayaking, we decided to just relax on the upper deck and soak in the views.

One downside quickly became obvious — the bay is heavily polluted, with debris drifting in from abandoned floating villages.

Before leaving, it was time to settle the bill: 220,000 VND for drinks and 9,720,000 VND (about 405 USD) for the cruise, plus a 291,600 VND credit card fee.

Day 3 – Brunch

Around 9:45, brunch was served. We were expecting a buffet, but it turned out to be a full set menu, much like dinner. The food was delicious once again — though, as with most meals on the cruise, it was more than we could possibly finish.

We usually travel with Airalo eSIMs, but when we need unlimited data for work, we go with Holafly.

Day 3 – Return to port

After brunch, around 10:50, we transferred to a smaller boat, dropping two passengers off at Cat Ba Island before continuing to the port, where we arrived at 11:45. Once there, a staff member directed us to wait for about 20 minutes for our shuttle back to Hanoi.

The first shuttle left straight away, but we were told ours would be along shortly. Eventually, the guy said “10 minutes” and disappeared, leaving us with two other passengers waiting for the same bus — so we figured we were in the right spot. While waiting, we grabbed a 1.5L bottle of water for 40,000 VND.

Read: The best things to do in Tam Coc, Ninh Binh

Day 3 – Halong Bay to Tam Coc

Around 12:15, we boarded a VIP-style bus, which waited a bit for more passengers before leaving at 12:25 to pick up a few more people. By 12:38, we were finally on our way. At 13:38, we made a 20-minute stop for food and toilets — plenty of snacks were on offer, and we grabbed four bananas for 20,000 VND. The place was busy, with lots of buses pulling in.

At 16:10, we reached the city center of Ninh Binh, where a tour guide stepped on board to check if anyone had booked transfers directly to their accommodation. We had, so he asked us to wait for another van. By 16:30, the van arrived, dropped off two people along the way, and by 16:45, we were at our accommodation.

Read: Complete North and Central 3-week Vietnam Itinerary 

Where to Stay in Tam Coc

• (€): Tam Coc Wonderland Bungalow: A charming and budget-friendly option with a relaxed atmosphere and easy access to the main attractions.
• (€€): HaLi Home: A mid-range stay offering a cozy, homely feel, friendly hosts, and great views of the surrounding countryside.
• (€€€): Tam Coc Garden Resort: A beautiful luxury retreat surrounded by lush greenery and rice fields, perfect if you want to treat yourself to peace, comfort, and stunning views.

Here are all your accommodation options in Tam Coc