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A white and yellow cruise boat with multiple decks floats in calm blue water with distinctive limestone karst mountains in the background.
A white and yellow cruise boat with multiple decks floats in calm blue water with distinctive limestone karst mountains in the background.
A luxury cabin interior with a white bed, dark wood paneling, and windows showing karst limestone formations at dusk.
A luxury cabin interior with a white bed, dark wood paneling, and windows showing karst limestone formations at dusk.
Two people wearing orange life jackets paddle a blue kayak on calm green water with a rocky shoreline behind them.
Two people wearing orange life jackets paddle a blue kayak on calm green water with a rocky shoreline behind them.
A white multi-deck cruise ship with lights on sails through calm water surrounded by tall limestone karst formations at dusk.
A white multi-deck cruise ship with lights on sails through calm water surrounded by tall limestone karst formations at dusk.
Wide view of Ha Long Bay showing multiple tourist boats anchored among towering limestone karsts and green-blue water, shot from an elevated shoreline viewpoint.
Wide view of Ha Long Bay showing multiple tourist boats anchored among towering limestone karsts and green-blue water, shot from an elevated shoreline viewpoint.
A white cruise boat with dark text on its hull floats among limestone karsts at sunset in calm water.
A white cruise boat with dark text on its hull floats among limestone karsts at sunset in calm water.
A wide-angle view of a cruise cabin with a white-linen bed, teal armchairs, brown curtains and a gold carved wall panel, with a person standing on the balcony outside the open glass doors in misty, white-grey light.
A wide-angle view of a cruise cabin with a white-linen bed, teal armchairs, brown curtains and a gold carved wall panel, with a person standing on the balcony outside the open glass doors in misty, white-grey light.Guest photo via Tripadvisor
A wooden upper deck with white lattice railings, loungers and potted plants overlooks calm green water and misty limestone karst islands under an overcast sky.
A wooden upper deck with white lattice railings, loungers and potted plants overlooks calm green water and misty limestone karst islands under an overcast sky.Guest photo via Tripadvisor
A long dark wooden dining table set with folded white napkins, glasses of orange drink and red flower decorations, flanked by carved dark wood chairs in a cabin with curtained windows and a painting of a junk boat at the far end.
A long dark wooden dining table set with folded white napkins, glasses of orange drink and red flower decorations, flanked by carved dark wood chairs in a cabin with curtained windows and a painting of a junk boat at the far end.Guest photo via Tripadvisor
A wide-angle view of a dark wood-paneled bathroom with a white jacuzzi tub fitted with massage jets and a faucet, and a frosted slatted window or door at the back.
A wide-angle view of a dark wood-paneled bathroom with a white jacuzzi tub fitted with massage jets and a faucet, and a frosted slatted window or door at the back.Guest photo via Tripadvisor
A view through tree branches and leaves of a calm green bay with limestone karst cliffs and a small white boat anchored in the distance under an overcast sky.
A view through tree branches and leaves of a calm green bay with limestone karst cliffs and a small white boat anchored in the distance under an overcast sky.Guest photo via Tripadvisor
A white multi-deck cruise boat with 'Paloma' painted on its hull sits on green water beside a steep tree-covered limestone karst under an overcast sky, photographed from another vessel.
A white multi-deck cruise boat with 'Paloma' painted on its hull sits on green water beside a steep tree-covered limestone karst under an overcast sky, photographed from another vessel.Guest photo via Tripadvisor
A white wooden cruise boat with yellow-lit windows and a Vietnamese flag anchored in calm water at dusk with dramatic limestone karst mountains silhouetted in the background.
A white wooden cruise boat with yellow-lit windows and a Vietnamese flag anchored in calm water at dusk with dramatic limestone karst mountains silhouetted in the background.
A cabin with two twin beds pushed together with white linens, a framed limestone karst picture on the wall, a window with a green EXIT sign, and a wall-mounted air conditioner remote.
A cabin with two twin beds pushed together with white linens, a framed limestone karst picture on the wall, a window with a green EXIT sign, and a wall-mounted air conditioner remote.Guest photo via Tripadvisor
A narrow channel of green water between dark limestone karst cliffs under an overcast sky, photographed from water level.
A narrow channel of green water between dark limestone karst cliffs under an overcast sky, photographed from water level.Guest photo via Tripadvisor
BT-06 · Bai Tu Long Bay

Paloma Cruise

2 days · 1 night · 3 days · 2 nights · 20 cabins · Cross-checked 7 Aug 2026 ↓

Price on request
Check availability

Paloma sails Bai Tu Long, the emptiest of the three bays, from Hon Gai. The two-day trip takes in the cave at Thien Canh Son and the floating village at Vung Vieng; the three-day trip spends a second day further out. The operator, Paloma Cruise, runs its own website and sells both trips directly, and it describes a boat of 20 cabins, 46 passengers and 38 m in length, styled on a traditional boat with wooden details.

The company was founded in 2010 by Nguyen Manh Thuc, who later built a second ship, Mon Chéri, in early 2017, and who calls Paloma his first. Listings put Paloma’s launch at 2009 or 2012; the operator does not publish a year. Either way, this is a boat with years of service behind it. The questions in how old is your boat are worth asking, the most useful being when the cabins were last refurbished. The operator puts the crew at 30.

The cabins

The operator and one listing break the boat into the same four grades, and they nearly agree on the sizes. Eight deluxe ocean-view cabins sit on the first deck at 14 m² on the operator’s figure, 13.5 on the listing’s. Eight premium ocean-view cabins sit a deck higher at 16 m², or 15. Two Paloma suites of 23 m² have a panoramic window. Two family suites of 27 m² take the front of the boat, each with a private terrace, and sleep three adults.

That family suite is the best room aboard, and the only one either source describes with outdoor space. The standard cabins are small: 13 to 16 m² depending on grade and on who measured, with a window. If a balcony matters, book the family suite or look at another boat.

A spa is verified, and kayaking too. One source mentions a jacuzzi. Nothing we read mentions a pool or a gym, which is not proof there is neither, but you should not book expecting them. Nobody publishes the deck count.

The hull is described as wood by two listings, while the operator speaks of a composite shell. Wooden hull or steel sets out what that difference means once you are aboard.

The route

Everything happens inside Bai Tu Long. On the two-day trip lunch is served as the boat heads out past Hon Gai and Cam Pha, with the cave at Thien Canh Son and kayaking in mid-afternoon, then a sunset party and squid fishing after dinner. Next morning starts with tai chi at six. Vung Vieng follows by bamboo boat rowed by villagers, about an hour, with a stop at a pearl farm, and a cooking class back aboard before an early lunch. On the three-day version guests cross by tender to a smaller day boat for the second day and return in the late afternoon, so ask about the transfer if stepping between boats worries you. Our guide to Bai Tu Long cruises covers what the quieter bay gives you.

The operator’s timetable and two listings put the pier at Hon Gai, one of them at 6A Le Thanh Tong street. The operator’s own fact box names the Ha Long International Cruise Port at Bai Chay instead. The two sit on opposite sides of the Bai Chay bridge. Confirm the pier in writing and give it to your driver; which harbour you leave from explains the difference.

What it costs

Nobody publishes a rate sheet for Paloma, so the price is on request. The per-cabin figures we have seen are two seller answers about the family suite for three people. One quoted $510 for the two-day trip and $860 for three days, with the Hanoi shuttle free, and carries no date. The other, answering a guest who asked about a one-night stay in 2018, quoted $530 plus $15 a head for the shuttle. Both are probably years out of date. Ask for the price of a named cabin, for your dates, in writing.

The shuttle bus from Hanoi is an extra on two listings, and so are drinks; spa treatments are extra on one. The operator’s child policy: a child under four shares a bed free, one per cabin; from five to eleven the rate is three quarters of an adult’s with an extra bed; twelve and over pay in full.

We have not yet collected guest reviews for Paloma, so this page carries no score.

Who it suits

Couples, or a family of three in the family suite, who want the emptier bay for a night and will get the cabin grade and the pier in writing. If you have not settled which bay you want, the three differ more than the brochures let on.

Small standard cabins, and thin prices

The entry cabins are small, at 13 to 16 m², and the only grade with outdoor space is the dearest. Add a price record made of two old seller answers and no rate sheet, and the booking needs more questions than most. The other Bai Tu Long boats and the wider small-boat list include operators who publish cabin rates you can check.

Why people book Paloma

Book it if

  • You want the quiet water of Bai Tu Long, with Thien Canh Son and Vung Vieng on a single night
  • You are a family of three and want the 27 m² family suite, the one room on board with its own terrace
  • You like a small boat run by the company that owns it, with a traditional look and around 46 guests at most
Our read

Our view is that Paloma is a sound choice for a quiet night on Bai Tu Long, with the family suite as its best room. The standard cabins are small and the published cabin prices are thin, so get a written quote for a named grade.

Choose your cabin

Deluxe Ocean View8 of 20 cabins

14 m².

14 m²
no published ratewe will get you a numberunknownAsk for a quote
Premium Ocean View8 of 20 cabins

16 m².

16 m²
no published ratewe will get you a numberunknownAsk for a quote
Paloma Suite2 of 20 cabins

23 m², panoramic window.

23 m²Panoramic window
no published ratewe will get you a numberunknownAsk for a quote
Family Suite2 of 20 cabins

27 m², private balcony.

27 m²Balcony ✓
no published ratewe will get you a numberunknownAsk for a quote
Rates are the highest published fare per cabin we found (rack rate, double occupancy unless marked) — treat them as the ceiling, not the floor. Seen on one listing only; the operator publishes no rate card we can cite.

What's in the fare — and what isn't

In the fare

  • English-speaking guide2 sources“English speaking guide”
  • Kayaking2 sources“Kayaking”
  • Welcome drink2 sources“Welcome drink”
  • Bottled water in cabin1 source“02 complimentary bottles of water in the cabin.”
  • Cabin with A/C1 source“Full equipped luxury en-suite cabin with A/C, hot water”
  • En-suite bathroom1 source“Spacious air-con Cabins and en-suite Bathrooms”
  • Entrance & sightseeing fees1 source“Entrance and sightseeing fees”
  • Squid fishing1 source“Fishing equipment”

Not in the fare

  • Drinks & beverages2 sources“Additional drinks”
  • Hanoi transfer2 sources“Shuttle bus Hanoi – Halong – Hanoi”
  • Peak-season surcharge2 sources“Peak season surcharge: $25/person for stay on 24 / 31 December 2017 and 15-18 February 2018”
  • Tips & gratuities2 sources“Tips are welcomed!”
  • Airfare1 source“Air Fare if any”
  • Spa & massage1 source“Spa and massage services.”
  • Travel insurance1 source“Travel Insurance”

Described differently across sources — read both

These item appears on both lists. Sometimes that is a real disagreement; sometimes the two sources are describing different things. We show what each actually said rather than pick one.

Meals on board
Listed as included · 1 source

“All meals onboard”

Listed as extra · 1 source

“Meals not mentioned in the program”

Assembled from the 3 sources we read for this boat, grouped by what each line is about and counted by how many sources list it. Quotes are the sources' own wording. Nothing here replaces the confirmation you get in writing when you book.

Good to know

Who should look at something else
  • You want space in a standard cabin; the two entry grades run from about 13 to 16 m²
  • You want a balcony without paying for the family suite; no other grade has outdoor space
  • You need a cabin price before you enquire; the per-cabin figures we have seen are old seller answers, one of them from 2018
What to ask before you pay
10
10 questions, each one tied to something this boat does not publish. Almost none of the cruise pages we surveyed tells you what to ask. Take this list to whoever quotes you.

The moneyWhere the spread hides

Which cabin class does this price cover, and how big is it?
Rates are published for only some classes. Ask for floor area, deck and class name on the quote.
How much is the Hanoi transfer, and is it shared or private?
Our sources agree it is not in the fare, but none of them publishes the price. Ask for both options — the gap between a seat on a shared van and a private car is usually the biggest single add-on.
What is the single-occupancy supplement?
Not published by any source we read. Common on this coast and often +50% or more.
Child and infant rates?
Not published for this boat by any source we read — the child tables we found are the sellers’ own, identical across every boat they list. Ask for the age bands, not just the discount.

The logisticsThe mistakes that cost a morning

Confirm it is Hon Gai.
The piers serving these bays are roughly twenty minutes apart and drivers do occasionally go to the wrong one.
What time is check-in, and what time is cabin checkout?
No source we read publishes either for this boat. Confirm both when you book, especially if you have a flight on the last day.
Which stops does the 3 days · 2 nights add?
The route list we publish is the union across itineraries; no source says which legs the longer trip reaches. This is usually the reason to take it.

If it goes wrongNobody publishes this — get it in writing

What happens if the port closes for weather?
The provincial authority closes the port and every boat stays in. No source publishes this operator’s policy. Ask whether it is a refund or a date change, in writing.
Which cancellation ladder applies to your booking, and what deposit?
We found 7 different ladders across our sources for boats on this coast — free cancellation ends anywhere from 15 to 30 days out. It depends on who you book through, not on this boat. Get yours in writing before the deposit.
Is a cave closure refunded or substituted?
Caves close at short notice here. Substitution is normal; a refund is not. Worth knowing which you are agreeing to.
We do not host guest reviews yet, and we will not reprint a score we cannot audit. This list is what we would want in their place — take it to whoever quotes you, us included.
Boarding times and the cancellation ladder

The boat's own timings

No source we read publishes check-in or checkout times for Paloma Cruise. Ask when you book — on this coast checkout is usually between 09:30 and 11:00, and the difference decides whether you get a last morning on the water.

Cancellation — not a property of this boat

We checked every cancellation ladder in our sources. They differ by who you book through, not by which boat you sail: the same boat carries different terms on different listings. So we will not print one and call it Paloma Cruise's policy.

Across the 7 distinct ladders we found, free cancellation ends somewhere between 15 and 30 days before check-in. After that the fee climbs to 100%.

See the 7 ladders we found
  • More than 30 days ahead 0%30-11 days ahead 15%10-7 days ahead 30%Under 7 days 100%
  • More than 30 days ahead 0%29-15 days ahead 25%14-7 days ahead 50%6-3 days ahead 75%
  • More than 15 days ahead 0%15-10 days ahead 50%9-3 days ahead 75%
  • More than 15 days ahead 0%14-10 days ahead 50%9-4 days ahead 70%
  • More than 30 days ahead 0%30-7 days ahead 20%6-3 days ahead 50%Under 3 days 100%
  • More than 21 days ahead 0%7-20 days ahead 30%3-7 days ahead 50%
  • More than 30 days ahead 0%30-7 days ahead 10%6-3 days ahead 50%Under 3 days 100%

Get the ladder in writing from whoever quotes you, before you pay a deposit.

Where it goes — 4 published stops
  1. Bai Tu Long Bay
  2. Thien Canh Son Cave
  3. Cap La area
  4. Vung Vieng floating fishing village

Stops as published across the sources we track. Operators reorder them with the tide and the weather, and the provincial authority can close a cave at short notice.

How many cabins does Paloma Cruise have?

The operator and one listing give 20 cabins; another listing gives 16. We show the most widely reported figure and recommend confirming it with the operator before you pay.

When was Paloma Cruise launched?

Listings give 2009 and 2012. The operator says the company was founded in 2010, and its owner says Paloma was his first ship, before his second, Mon Chéri, was built in early 2017. We show the most widely reported figure and recommend confirming it with the operator before you pay.

What is the hull of Paloma Cruise made of?

Two listings describe a wooden boat; the operator describes a composite hull shell. We show the most widely reported answer and recommend confirming it with the operator before you pay.

Which pier does Paloma Cruise leave from?

Hon Gai. The piers serving these bays are roughly twenty minutes apart and drivers do occasionally go to the wrong one, so name it when you arrange your own transfer.

What do you not know about this boat?

No source we checked publishes: decks, pool, gym. A further 3 figures rest on a single source. We would rather say that than fill the gap with a guess. If the operator sends us the figures we will publish them and date them.

Specifications · cross-checked 7 Aug 2026

Sheet BT-06
Corroborated · 4 figuresTwo or more of the sources we read publish it
Bay ⓘ
Bai Tu Long Bay
Departs from ⓘ
Hon Gai
Spa
Yes
Kayaking
Yes
Single source · 3 figuresOnly one of the sources says so — confirm before you rely on it
Guests at capacity ⓘ
46
Length overall ⓘ
38
Jacuzzi
Yes
More than one figure published · 3We show every value we found rather than pick one — hover the ⓘ
Cabins ⓘ
20varies
Launched ⓘ
Not publishedvaries
Hull ⓘ
Wood or compositevaries
Unknown · 3 figuresNobody publishes these, and we would rather say so than guess
Decks ⓘ
Not published
Pool ⓘ
Not published
Gym ⓘ
Not published

Read for this boat: operator, source-1, source-2, source-3 — one dot per source, filled when that many publish the figure. 3 figures rest on a single source — confirm before relying on them. 3 figures have more than one published value — hover the ⓘ. How we verify

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