Cruises · Ha Long and Lan Ha Bay
We live on Cat Ba, at the edge of Lan Ha Bay. We see which ships anchor where, which crews keep their promises and which routes stay quiet after four in the afternoon. This is the short list we book for our own guests.
Two bays, one seascape
Most cruise pages blur the two. They are joined, but they feel different, and the ship you pick decides where you wake up.
The southern part of the same limestone seascape, next to Cat Ba Island. Around 400 islands, beaches you reach only by boat and a fraction of the traffic. Ships usually board at Tuan Chau and cross into Lan Ha after lunch.
Good for Quiet anchorages, kayaking, swimming off the boat
The famous northern half, listed by UNESCO since 1994 and joined with Lan Ha in 2023 as one bay of 1,133 islands. Bigger caves, bigger ships, and more company on the water, especially in the middle of the day.
Good for The classic caves and viewpoints, the shortest drive from Hanoi
The short list
Lan Ha Bay
Tuan Chau to Lan Ha Bay
A five-star ship that boards at Tuan Chau and spends its night in Lan Ha Bay, with a balcony on every cabin and a morning in Viet Hai village.
Lan Ha Bay
Tuan Chau to Lan Ha Bay
The bigger sister of Dora on the same Lan Ha route, with more suite choices, a jacuzzi on deck and a morning in Viet Hai village.
Lan Ha Bay
Tuan Chau to Lan Ha Bay, via Bright Cave
The newest and largest ship on our Lan Ha list: 62 suites from 45 m², a rowing boat into Bright Cave and a morning paddle at Tra Bau.
Ha Long Bay
Tuan Chau around Ha Long Bay
A large, newer ship on the classic Ha Long route, with suites from 40 m² to a 200 m² villa, an outdoor pool and Halal certified kitchens.
Ha Long Bay
Tuan Chau through Ha Long Bay
The biggest ship on our list: two sister ships with a saltwater pool, kids club and spa, sailing the classic Ha Long caves route from Tuan Chau.
Ha Long Bay
Bai Chay to Ha Long Bay
A large, polished ship from Bai Chay port that keeps to classic Ha Long Bay: Luon and Sung Sot caves, Ti Top Island and dinner with a live band.
No ship on our list for this bay yet. Message us and we will tell you what we would choose.
Side by side
| Ship | Night in | Boards at | Programs | Cabin types | From |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dora Cruise | Lan Ha Bay | Tuan Chau port, Ha Long | 2 days, 1 night · 3 days, 2 nights | 7 | Ask |
| Tulip Cruise | Lan Ha Bay | Tuan Chau port, Ha Long | 2 days, 1 night · 3 days, 2 nights | 8 | Ask |
| Celina of the Sea | Lan Ha Bay | Tuan Chau marina (lot 41A), Ha Long | 2 days, 1 night · 3 days, 2 nights | 5 | $170 |
| Catherine Cruise | Ha Long Bay | Pier 42, Tuan Chau port, Ha Long | 2 days, 1 night · 3 days, 2 nights | 4 | Ask |
| Grand Pioneers Cruise | Ha Long Bay | Tuan Chau International Marina, Ha Long | 2 days, 1 night · 3 days, 2 nights | 10 | $230 |
| Ambassador Cruise | Ha Long Bay | Halong International Cruise Port, Bai Chay | 2 days, 1 night · 3 days, 2 nights | 5 | $335 |
From our own pier
If you are already on the island, our own small boats leave from Beo pier, ten minutes from the house. Smaller, simpler, and the day is ours to plan.
One night at anchor inside Lan Ha Bay. Kayak in the afternoon, sleep on the water, wake to flat calm and limestone on every side.
Quiet sideOne full day on the quiet side of the bay. Paddle into lagoons, swim off an empty beach, eat lunch cooked on board.
Two bays, one dayBoth bays in one day. Cruise the quiet Lan Ha channels in the morning, cross into Ha Long, with a cave, a kayak and lunch cooked on board.
PrivateThe same quiet Lan Ha route as our small group day, with the boat, the guide and the schedule kept for your group alone.
No checkout, no surprises
Message us on WhatsApp with your dates, the number of guests and any cabin you liked. We reply with what is really free that night, not a generic price list.
We ask the ship to hold the cabin and send you the ship, cabin, route, price and payment terms in writing. Nothing is charged before you agree.
Your host checks in the evening before you board and the evening after. If the weather closes the bay, we help you move the night or get your money back under the ship's rules.
Before you choose
If you want quiet water, kayaking and swimming, choose a ship that spends the night in Lan Ha. If seeing the famous caves of Ha Long matters more, choose a Ha Long route. Many ships now cross both in two days.
One night gives you an afternoon, a sunset, a sunrise and a morning activity. It is enough for most guests. Two nights buys a slow full day in the middle, which is when the bay feels empty.
Yes, and this is where we help most. Most ships return to Tuan Chau around noon. We can meet you there with the car ferry transfer to Cat Ba, so you skip the long drive back and stay a few nights with us.
The harbour authority closes the bay in bad weather, mostly between July and September. Ships then move your date or refund under their written policy. We send you that policy before you pay and help you rebook.
The price is the ship's own price, never higher. What you get from us is a family on Cat Ba who has seen these ships in the bay, tells you the honest drawbacks and stays reachable on WhatsApp before and after.
From our journal
Every cruise page sells the same photos. Almost none explains what a day trip really buys, why the second day on the water is the quiet one, or who should sleep ashore. A host family's honest comparison.
Every travel site has a weather table. Almost none of them are written by people who live here. This one includes the months we don't push, because knowing when not to come is worth more than a discount.
A boat photo tells you what the deck looks like, not how many strangers share it or where the boat is allowed to go. Here are the six questions we ask on every boat before we sell a single seat on it.
Ask a family on Cat Ba
One message with your dates and number of guests is enough. We reply with the cabins still open that night and our honest pick.
We usually reply within minutes, 7am to 11pm daily.
