Cruises on the Gulf of Tonkin
Three bays, and somewhere around six hundred vessels licensed between them. We publish the ones whose specifications we can corroborate, sorted into the selections below.
Start with a selection
Luxury Ha Long Bay cruises
Eighteen boats on this bay call themselves five-star. The word is unregulated here, so this page sets out what actually changes as the price rises, and what does not change at all.
14 publishedLan Ha Bay cruises
The quieter bay south of Ha Long, with better swimming and fewer boats at anchor. It also costs you about forty-five minutes more on the road from Hanoi.
28 publishedBai Tu Long Bay cruises
The far northern bay, and the emptiest water of the three. Fewer boats hold licences here, which is the whole appeal and also the whole limitation.
9 publishedBest value Ha Long Bay cruises under $200
Around six in ten cabins advertised on this bay sit under $200 a person. The luxury boats get the coverage; this band gets the bookings.
43 publishedHa Long Bay day cruises
No overnight, back in Hanoi the same evening. It is a long day for a short time on the water, and whether that trade works depends entirely on your schedule.
In progressPrivate boat charter on Ha Long Bay
Whole-boat hire for families, groups and companies. It is less expensive than most people assume once the group passes about eight adults.
In progressFamily cruises on Ha Long Bay
Boats with connecting cabins, a shallow end and crew used to children. Fewer of them exist than the marketing suggests.
In progressSmall cruise boats on Ha Long Bay
Twenty cabins or fewer. The tender to the cave goes in one trip, the brunch queue does not exist, and you will know the crew by the second morning.
20 publishedNew Ha Long Bay cruise ships, 2025 and 2026
Boats launched in the last two seasons. Newer usually means a larger cabin for the money, and an operation that has not yet worked out its own routine.
7 publishedEverything published so far
| Vessel | Bay | Cabins | Launched | Departs | From / person |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ambassador Signature CruiseLH-09 | Lan Ha | 39 | 2023 | — | $80 |
| Aspira CruiseLH-10 | Lan Ha | 22 | 2020 | Tuan Chau Marina | $80 |
| Orchid Premium CruiseLH-21 | Lan Ha | 5 | 2019 | — | $90 |
| Heritage Cruise Binh ChuanLH-31 | Lan Ha | 20 | — | Tuan Chau Marina | $100 |
| Nostalgia CruiseLH-07 | Lan Ha | 10 | 2022 | Tuan Chau Marina | $100 |
| Dragon Legend CruiseBT-02 | Bai Tu Long | 24 | 2014 | Hon Gai Pier | $110 |
| Scarlet Pearl CruiseLH-04 | Lan Ha | 23 | 2019 | — | $110 |
| Victory CruiseHL-17 | Ha Long | 21 | 2007 | — | $110 |
| Amanda CruiseHL-08 | Ha Long | 25 | 2022 | — | $118 |
| Treasure JunkBT-10 | Bai Tu Long | 14 | 2017 | — | $120 |
| Doris CruiseLH-16 | Lan Ha | 24 | 2022 | — | $128 |
| La Regina Royal CruiseHL-05 | Ha Long | 20 | 2018 | Tuan Chau Marina | $128 |
| Signature CruiseBT-05 | Bai Tu Long | 12 | 2013 | — | $130 |
| Halora Nova CruiseLH-34 | Lan Ha | 40 | 2026 | — | $135 |
| Swan CruiseBT-01 | Bai Tu Long | 18 | 2015 | Ha Long International Cruise Port | $135 |
| Calypso CruiseLH-22 | Lan Ha | 20 | 2018 | — | $138 |
| Athena Royal CruiseBT-08 | Bai Tu Long | 22 | 2019 | — | $140 |
| Majesty Prime CruiseLH-23 | Lan Ha | 24 | — | Tuan Chau Marina | $140 |
| Sea Stars CruiseHL-13 | Ha Long | 39 | 2023 | Ha Long International Cruise Port | $140 |
| Doria CruiseLH-28 | Lan Ha | 28 | 2024 | — | $141 |
| Orchid Trendy CruiseLH-29 | Lan Ha | 20 | 2017 | Tuan Chau Marina | $141 |
| Rosy CruiseLH-08 | Lan Ha | 22 | 2020 | Tuan Chau Marina | $141 |
| Aqua of the Seas CruiseLH-13 | Lan Ha | 32 | 2023 | Tuan Chau Marina | $145 |
| Peony CruiseLH-12 | Lan Ha | 20 | 2018 | Tuan Chau Marina | $145 |
| Emperor CruiseHL-03 | Ha Long | 10 | 2017 | Tuan Chau Marina | $147 |
| Au Co CruiseHL-19 | Ha Long | 32 | — | Tuan Chau Marina | $148 |
| Cycad CruiseBT-04 | Bai Tu Long | 24 | 2025 | — | $148 |
| Ambassador CruiseHL-21 | Ha Long | 46 | 2018 | — | $149 |
| Alisa Premier CruiseHL-02 | Ha Long | 22 | 2017 | Tuan Chau Marina | $150 |
| Venus CruiseLH-20 | Lan Ha | 29 | 2023 | Tuan Chau Marina | $150 |
| Elite of the SeasLH-05 | Lan Ha | 35 | 2022 | Tuan Chau Marina | $152 |
| Indochine CruiseLH-06 | Lan Ha | 43 | 2019 | Tuan Chau Marina | $155 |
| La Regina Grand CruiseLH-11 | Lan Ha | 27 | 2019 | Tuan Chau Marina | $155 |
| Paradise Grand CruiseLH-14 | Lan Ha | 39 | 2022 | Tuan Chau Marina | $155 |
| Hermes CruiseHL-07 | Ha Long | 18 | 2022 | — | $160 |
| Mon Cheri CruiseLH-03 | Lan Ha | 18 | 2018 | Tuan Chau Marina | $165 |
| Orchid Classic CruiseLH-30 | Lan Ha | 14 | — | — | $165 |
| Diana CruiseLH-35 | Lan Ha | 56 | — | — | $168 |
| Calista CruiseHL-04 | Ha Long | 38 | 2025 | Tuan Chau Marina | $170 |
| Capella CruiseLH-01 | Lan Ha | 30 | 2020 | Tuan Chau Marina | $190 |
| Larissa CruiseBT-11 | Bai Tu Long | 28 | — | — | $190 |
| Orchid Luxury CruiseLH-32 | Lan Ha | 14 | — | — | $190 |
| Lyra Grandeur CruiseLH-15 | Lan Ha | 33 | 2025 | Tuan Chau Marina | $195 |
| Catherine CruiseHL-01 | Ha Long | 39 | 2023 | Tuan Chau Marina | $205 |
| Prince CruiseBT-07 | Bai Tu Long | 4 | 2009 | Hon Gai Pier | $205 |
| Bhaya Soul CruiseHL-06 | Ha Long | 20 | — | Tuan Chau Marina | $235 |
| Stellar of the Seas CruiseLH-02 | Lan Ha | 22 | 2018 | Tuan Chau Marina | $280 |
| La Regina Legend CruiseLH-24 | Lan Ha | 14 | 2026 | Tuan Chau Marina | $340 |
| Paloma CruiseBT-06 | Bai Tu Long | 14 | 2026 | Hon Gai Pier | $510 |
| Heritage Line VioletHL-18 | Ha Long | 14 | 2026 | — | $615 |