The 4-star services on all Lan Ha Bay deluxe cruises are designed with a view of you enjoying life on and off the board. They are the ideal option for couples, families and friends who want to strike a balance between relishing the comfortable amenities of a high-quality floating hotel and getting out into the fantastic landscape that comprises Lan Ha Bay.Â
While luxury cruises tend to focus on a life of opulence on board, the itinerary of a Lan Ha Bay deluxe cruise features excursions in abundance. Life scrolls at a different pace in Lan Ha Bay compared to its busier, noisier neighbour to the north, Halong Bay. Here, we can take our time on flat beaches that separate rocky cliffs from the pellucid water, in fishing villages free of tourists, and in caves where you can feel the space that would have been enjoyed by its earliest inhabitants tens of thousands of years ago.
The choice is still a tough one, however, between any outing into Lan Ha Bay and quality time spent on a meticulously cared-for vessel. The boats that make up the current fleet of deluxe cruises around Lan Ha Bay are all closely inspected and ratified at a 4-star level. This means lavish beds with large sea-view windows inside a cabin with air conditioning and décor that evokes the exotic spirit of the orient. Private bathrooms are sleek and modern, with marble interiors and easy-to-use showers, toilets and sinks.
From the sundeck you can watch Lan Ha Bay’s sparsely populated waters free of boat traffic, with just a few languid cruise ships sharing the lapping waters with humble fishing boats; as is the pace of life for tourists and locals alike. Service is attentive and prompt and you will never be without a smile from the staff, who will become more than servers over any Lan Ha Bay 3-day 2-night or Lan Ha Bay 2-day 1-night tours of this gorgeous, untouched land.
The following is an example itinerary of a 3-day, 2-night deluxe cruise in Lan Ha Bay.
Day 1: Hanoi – Hai Phong – Lan Ha Bay (L/D)
09h00 We will take you straight from Hanoi to Lan Ha Bay via our comfortable shuttle bus.
12h00 A tender boat will ferry you over to your Lan Ha Bay deluxe cruise as it waits proudly in the harbour.Â
12h15 See your cabin for the first time as we board the ship and check in.
12h40 We begin cutting through the lapping waters of Lan Ha Bay, taking in the outstanding geological scenery while dining on a delicious lunch in the dining room.
15h00 The area of Tra Bau will be our first stop. In a secluded bay, this is one of the most secluded parts, providing you with the utmost tranquility as we swim, kayak and unwind on the beach.
17h30 We will have a Sunset Party back aboard your Lan Ha Bay junk boat, where drinks and snacks will be served in the dying light of the bay. A cooking demonstration will reveal some of the secrets of Vietnamese cuisine.
19h30 Local and mainland ingredients will merge on our plates for dinner. Enjoy this in the glistening dining room.
21h30 Movies, board games and squid fishing comprise just some of the activities you can do while staying in Lan Ha Bay overnight.
Day 2: Lan Ha Bay – Viet Hai Village – Lan Ha Bay (B/L/D)
06h00 Greet the day with Tai Chi on the sundeck; this is the perfect activity for ushering in a new dawn across Lan Ha Bay.
08h30 We will board our day boat and cruise over to Cat Ba Island, where we will dock at Viet Hai Village. This is one of the top things to do Lan Ha Bay as the village is rich in both nature and culture. We will take a bike ride around the village and through the rainforest, as well as chat to villagers about life here while sharing some tea with them. (For those incapable of cycling, we have an electric car service that operates at an additional cost)
13h00 Tuck into a wonderful lunch as we begin cruising around Lan Ha Bay once more. The afternoon will be ours to explore Ba Trai Dao (Three Peach Island), an exquisite example of a pristine Lan Ha Bay beach with white sand and many swimming opportunities around the 3 ‘peaches’; three huge, rounded rocks resembling the fruit for which the island is named.
16h00 Returning to your Lan Ha Bay deluxe cruise, our chef will put on a fruit carving demonstration to show you how to make elaborate works of art out of everyday fruit. The Sunset Party heralds the start of Happy Hour, so head to the bar to enjoy sunset in style.
19h30 A romantic dinner will appear as the stars do above us.Â
21h30 Perhaps tonight you would prefer to take it easy in your cabin with a book, though the option of social drinks at the bar are often very tempting.
Day 3: Lan Ha Bay – Hanoi (B/L)
06h00 It is your last chance on the top deck to experience gorgeous pink dawn ascend the limestone towers of Lan Ha Bay. We will accompany this beautiful phenomenon with another Tai Chi session.Â
07h00 A light breakfast will be served downstairs shortly afterwards. We jump into our kayaks and explore the Dark and Bright Caves; these are two of Lan Ha Bay’s best cave systems with differing amounts of light entering each. Both open up onto a luxuriant garden of trees with reaching rock walls encircling a hidden lake.
10h00 Head back to your Lan Ha Bay deluxe cruise for the last time as we indulge in a final lunch while cruising back to the harbour.
11h35 We step off the cruise and board the bus that will take us back from Lan Ha Bay to Hanoi.
For guests coming to experience a new, quieter path through the same stunning scenery that comprises Halong Bay.
For guests looking for 4-star service on a mid-range budget.
For family cruises in Lan Ha Bay, as well as honeymoon cruises and cruises with friends.
For guests looking to find the perfect marriage of a tour on and off the boat.
Incredible Asia Journeys is proud to list the following deluxe cruises of Lan Ha Bay.