This was a super good experience start to finish. I was overwhelmed searching through sites and ended up messaging on WhatsApp directly to find our cruise from Minh Binh to Halong. I wanted a modern luxury cruise with a balcony and bath. I just told them what I needed and they arranged it all. Easy ApplePay and cash options. Jessica was super helpful taking care of all our pick up and drop off information. And any other questions I had later. The cruise was beautiful mountain scale with kayaking and a short cave climb. We loved the served dinner and upstairs happy hour too. It was so nice to have a drink up top while we cruised the landscape.
About Activity
What's Included
Includes
- Infinity pool and jacuzzi access
- Welcome drinks and canapés
- Internet wifi in the cabin
- Afternoon tea
- In-room amenities (tea, coffee, mineral water)
- Walkin shower, Hot water, private bathroom, Walkin shower, Hot water, private bathroom
- Dinner
- Breakfast
- Fitness center and Kids Center access
- Service charges and insurance
- Complimentary room setup for special occasions
- All attraction admission fees
- Bilingual tour guides
- Sunrise Vovinam classes
- Activities (kayaking, bamboo boat rides, squid fishing, cooking demonstrations)
- Happy Hour snacks
- Wi-Fi and satellite TV
- All meals (set-menu lunch, BBQ dinner, Vietnamese breakfast, brunch buffet)
- Luxury cabins with private balconies and panoramic views
Excludes
- Drinks
- Transfer not included (transfer extra surcharge 25$/per person 2 ways Hanoi - Halong -Hanoi)
- Additional surcharge on New Year, Christmas and national holidays
- There will be an extra charge in peak season from Oct 1 to April 30
- Government VAT per per person
Departure & Return
Departure Point
- Traveler pick up offered
Itinerary
Day 1
1
Day 1: Embarking on a Journey of Discovery Step aboard the Calista Cruise at Tuan Chau Port and begin your luxury escape with welcome drinks and canapés. Settle into your private balcony cabin, then enjoy a gourmet lunch in the Bayview Dining Restaurant. In the afternoon, explore Ha Long Bay’s natural wonders: pass the serene Pearl Farm, marvel at Sung Sot Cave, and unwind with sunset tea at the Calista Breeze Bar. As night falls, join a Vietnamese cooking demo followed by a BBQ dinner under the stars. End the evening with squid fishing, a massage, or simply relax in your cabin, lulled by the bay’s gentle rhythm.
Choose between kayaking or a bamboo boat ride to discover the serene beauty of Tung Sau Pearl Farm – where the ocean's gems are nurtured
Participate in a cooking class right on the cruise, learning to prepare flavorful Vietnamese specialties
Many tourists suppose that Luon Cave is like a gate opening a wonderland with water and limestone mountains in Halong Bay. Crossing Luon Cave, all the tiredness and exhaustion of tourists are left outside so that they can find their souls connecting with nature. So you will visit Luon Cave by Kayaking or Bamboo boat rowing by local and can see nice view through the cave
Sat at the edge of Halong Bay, Dark & Light Cave can be found in Lan Ha Bay. Lan Ha Bay is a few kilometers away from the more frequently visited caves and closer to Cat Ba National Park, so it may take an hour or two to get here from other caves. Once you arrive, a dazzling combination of white limestone karsts, emerald green waters and the dark mystery of the caves create a wonderful atmosphere making this a trip worth taking. So you will visit the cave by kayaking or bamboo boat about an hour around this area
Bai Tu Long Bay Itinerary 08:00 – 08:30 Pick-up from your hotel in Hanoi Old Quarter. Drive to Ha Long Bay with a short refreshment stop en route. 12:00 – Arrival at the Port Enjoy a welcome drink and cruise briefing. Lunch is served on board as we cruise through the stunning limestone scenery of Bai Tu Long Bay. 15:00 – Kayaking or Tender Boat Relax on the sundeck or kayak for an hour around Cong Do and Cap La, exploring peaceful waters and limestone islets. A tender boat ride is also available. Towels provided. Late Afternoon – Onboard Activities Return to the cruise for a Vietnamese cooking demonstration with our chef. Evening Savor a fresh seafood dinner, then relax at the bar or try squid fishing. Overnight Overnight on the cruise, surrounded by the tranquil beauty of Bai Tu Long Bay.
Day 2
2
Day 2: Morning Serenity and Cultural Immersion Greet the day with a sunrise Vovinam martial arts session on the top deck – a uniquely Vietnamese experience that connects body and spirit amid the bay’s breathtaking scenery. A traditional Vietnamese breakfast features local specialties like hand-pounded squid rolls unique to the region. Then, embark on an exploration of Luon Cave, where you can choose between kayaking or being rowed by local fishermen in traditional bamboo boats. Your journey culminates with a special Chef’s Performance Brunch – a culinary experience exclusive to Calista Cruise that sends you off with flavors as memorable as the vistas. Return to Hanoi, stopover on the way for a refreshment break. Arrive in Hanoi around 15 - 15h30pm. End of the trip.
Explore Sung Sot Cave (Surprise Cave) – a majestic natural wonder with million-year-old limestone formations, dazzling and mystical
07h30: Have breakfast and enjoy sunrise on the bay. Option 1- visitingTrung TRang Cave and islets (1 hour) on the Cat Ba island, mysterious beauty in the middle of the World Heritage. Option 2: Kayaking and Swimming at Ao Each area about an hour to discovery more beautiful view here. Then back to cruise for packing your luggage, check out your cabin and join cooking class demonstration. Enjoy lunch while cruising back through Tuan Chau Port. Return to Hanoi & Arrive in Hanoi around 2:30 - 3h00pm. End of the trip.
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 although it is less visited, less inhabited and therefore has the extra appeal of being a more peaceful place.
Bai Tu Long Bay – Day 2 06:00 Optional Tai Chi session on the sundeck as the sun rises over Bai Tu Long Bay. 07:00 Enjoy breakfast while taking in the morning views of the bay. 07:30 Visit Thien Canh Son Cave, known for its impressive stalactites and stalagmites in striking formations. 08:30 Return to the cruise to relax and check out of your cabin. 09:45 Savor an early lunch on board as the cruise heads back through Ha Long Bay. 11:30 Disembark and begin the drive back to Hanoi. 14:30 – 15:00 Arrive in Hanoi. End of your memorable journey through the natural wonders of Bai Tu Long Bay and Ha Long Bay.
Language Offered
Additional Info
Cancellation Policy
Reviews
exceptional . the customer service 💯, transport 💯, food 💯, management and staff 💯, itenarary 💯, activities 💯, cruise ship 💯💯. such a great and unforgettable experience. we enjoyed every minute of it ❤️🙂
We had an amazing time. The food was delicious, and the staff were amazing. Special shout out to Jack, Black, and Johnny. The views were magnificent.
Accommodation was excellent, food very good without being outstanding. The boat was comfortable but very formally run. Excursions were well-planned and run according to time very well. There was a lot of waiting upon return which was frustrating.
Firstly I’d like to say a huge thank you to Jessica my guide via WhatsApp, she has been the best service me and my partner have ever received in our whole life updating us on absolutely everything we needed to know even days before the cruise Jessica deserves a promotion I have never received service as good as hers and I wish I had her every time I booked anything I rate Jessica 12/10 stars! Thank you so much the cruise was amazing Anna our server was fantastic our room was beautiful the whole ship was beautiful and our guide Tom was so friendly and helpful definitely Recommend
The view is very amazing and the halong bay is a very peaceful place. We had lot of luck with the weather wich has made the expérience way more better than we tough. About the cruise and the boat : the food is excellent and the staff is very kind. Everybody smile all the time and are ready to help. The manager Morning is very kind and professional. We will definitly recommend it to other visitors. Thanks for the organisation and to be available all the time to answer questions
Enjoyed the trip today! The room very nice with Balcony and bathtub, the food was great. Great scenery at Halong bay and well worth doing the tour to see it! The tours well structured with the different caves types followed by the optional hike. The tour guide Sunny was funny and knew his facts about the caves and Ha long bay. really enjoyed it and would recommend.
Amazing experiences with the cruise. Kayaking was so interesting and fun.Tour guide was friendly and enthusiasm. Moreover delicious foods. I really loved this experience
This cruise was exceptional! The boat itself was stunning and the food and staff exceeded all expectations. The itinerary is a little quick but overall I would definitely recommend booking, maybe consider the two night stay.
We did the 2 Day 1 Night cruise on the La Casta Regal boat. The staff were really nice and the ship was beautiful. It was lovely having our own little balcony off our room. The views were great and the food was also quite good. We got to go kayaking a couple times which was fun, but just once would have sufficed. We didn't realize that only the people doing the 3 day 2 night option would get to do the cave and floating market. So that was disappointing. Also the "cooking class" was pretty basic. They show you how to roll spring rolls and we didn't see them get cooked and never ate them. This cruise is more for the sights and environment of a nice cruise than the actual activities. Enjoyed it overall.
Glad we chose this cruise for our Halong Bay tour! Actual squid fishing was out of season, but they did demonstrate it still! The room was PERFECT. Comfortable bed and great tub! Food was good too! Loved this trip!
It was hugely disappointing to discover the boat looked nothing like the grand photos that are shown on the website. The boat is old, dirty and needs some maintenance. The photos looked like a 5 star accommodation, when in reality it felt like 3 stars at best. The photos were completely misleading, it is disappointing that practices like that are allowed and used at Viator. I would not re-book and would definitely not recommend. Positives about the tour include the itinerary which is great and we were kept busy the two days. Staff and our lead guide were fantastic. Attentive, knowledgeable and friendly.
Perfect way to see the sights of Halong Bay. The staff very friendly and helpful. They only started the 2 day cruises after 2 years of COVID lockdown and all staff had done a terrific job to keep all passengers happy. The food was amazing and plentiful.
The best trip after 2 years stay at home, Halong Bay is beautiful and fress, would like stay few more days but no time. Thanks all crews strong support and helpful, food, guide,staff all excellent. hight recomment.
We has very best time 2 days 1 night on boat, the Guide Mr Dinh very friendly and givefull information about trip, one of think keep in our memories is about the meals is excellent, in this time Covid-19 so we still in Vietnam and we do travel around Vietnam, but Halong bay is the best time with us in Vietnam. Thanks all staff member
Our cruise was on the "Victory" which was an excellent boat, full of character and with plenty of outdoor space from which to enjoy the stunning scenery. Our surprisingly spacious, cabin was very clean with big windows to look out over the water. The nice bathroom included a hot shower with decent flow. Food was pretty good, all served at the table and with an emphasis on sea food. However they took note of vegetarian and other dietary requirements from the start. Drinks were a bit expensive. The Bay was stunning and we enjoyed kayaking and a cave visit but found the "fishing village" trip over touristy and intrusive and it was sad to see a shop selling pearls where a school used to be. Squid fishing and spring roll making were also on offer. Wifi was OK, but patchy as you'd expect in that environment. Our guide was excellent - friendly and helpful throughout. However some of the other staff were not as good eg when I ordered a drink from one of them, he was rather off-hand and made it clear he was going to finish his cigarette before he served me! It wasn't really a 2-day trip, more 2 half days, arriving at lunch time and on the last day we were given lunch at 10am and off the boat by 11am! Despite several small negatives, cruising around Ha Long Bay on this boat was a wonderful, relaxing experience and we felt the package including activities and transfers between Hanoi, offered good value.
The rooms are very nice and comfortable nice view from windows, very clean , food was excellent, guide very friendly, so beautiful view of Bai Tu long bay.
All was excellent. Rate was very reasonable. Excellent staff. If they can make a la carte meal follow personal then it will be event more perfect
This cruise was wonderful..with the small boat it felt like a private trip .. the food was above the top ..boat was clean and cozy .. kayaking fabulous.. our guide Nam was very knowledgeable.
We had a great time on the boat. Lots of picture opportunities. Our guide Nam was great and very knowledgeable!!
Ding dong took care of us very nicely. Staff is very polite nd food is excellent. They arranged vegetarian food for us nd also they guided us
My friend and I booked this last minute, it turned out great! We were between doing a day or night one and we’re very happy we did this night one. Great facilities, great service, and the activities were fun! The bay was beyond beautiful. Ding, our cruise guide, was so accommodating and kind! Very considerate, very warm, and all around a great tour guide. We’re both vegetarian and they were very accommodating about that as well. Would definitely recommend this cruise-especially for people looking for an affordable night cruise!
Went on this tour to Halong bay and it was definitely worth it. The scenery was so beautiful and the staff was so friendly. Nam was an excellent tour guide and I highly recommend this tour to anybody. You’ll get plenty of delicious meals and they have happy hour for drinks which they extended all night for us. Just FYI, swimming is not allowed in the bay. Overall the experience was great.
Nam and his crew ensured we were all comfortable and safe throughout our trip. He and his crew provided lovely facts and information about Ha Long Bay that made us appreciate it even more. The staff on board cooked amazing meals and took care of us very well. Thank you again Nam and everyone on board!
Would highly recommend for anyone looking to see the beauty of Halong Bay. The crew were brilliant, extremely friendly and very helpful. Our local tour guide Mr Nam was very helpful. He went into great detail and explained everything to us perfectly.
Very friendly staff on board the cruise which make you feel comfortable and welcome from the second you step on. Facilities are perfect and very clean. All round great day out, views were unreal.
This trip was wonderful from start to finish A thank you to TU VU for assisting us to make the reservation , he was very efficient We were collected from Hanoi and transferred to Bai Tu Long ..this is the less touristy region of Halong with far fewer boats. Michael our guide was exceptional..he was funny, charming,witty and spoke fantastic English, in saying that..all the crew were amazing, the bar man was extremely efficient and lots goes on behind the scenes where other staff do a miraculous job to make this trip run so magnificently. My teenage boys do not eat fish and they were catered for although we did pre arrange this in advance. The food onboard was outstanding. The kayaking trip was awesome just before sunset. The scenery was stunning. Even the cookery class was fun. Floating under the stars catching squid with bamboo rods at 9pm pure bliss. The trip to the floating village was enjoyable. This trip represents great value for money, full board and drinks are reasonably priced. This is a smaller boat with just 8 cabins so always plenty of room on the sun deck. The only negative is the WiFi isn’t great but who needs WiFi anyway ! Words cannot express how much we enjoyed this trip...it really was magnificent THANK YOU TO ALK THE STAFF AND MR TU VU IN RESERVATIONS This trip was wonderful from start to finish A thank you to TU VU for assisting us to make the reservation , he was very efficient We were collected from Hanoi and transferred to Bai Tu Long ..this is the less touristy region of Halong with far fewer boats. Michael our guide was exceptional..he was funny, charming,witty and spoke fantastic English, in saying that..all the crew were amazing, the bar man was extremely efficient and lots goes on behind the scenes where other staff do a miraculous job to make this trip run so magnificently. My teenage boys do not eat fish and they were catered for although we did pre arrange this in advance. The food onboard was outstanding. The kayaking trip was awesome just before sunset. The scenery was stunning. Even the cookery class was fun. Floating under the stars catching squid with bamboo rods at 9pm pure bliss. The trip to the floating village was enjoyable. This trip represents great value for money, full board and drinks are reasonably priced. This is a smaller boat with just 8 cabins so always plenty of room on the sun deck. The only negative is the WiFi isn’t great but who needs WiFi anyway ! Words cannot express how much we enjoyed this trip...it really was magnificent
Truly mesmerising and panoramic views with world class facilities and amazing crew, who made my trip a very memorable one. I would really like to thank Mr Nam, our tour guide for making this trip more enjoyable with his knowledge and interesting facts. We also visited ancient Vung vieng floating village and spent some quality time learning cooking and kayaking. Thank you again for making this memorable one, truly #Vietnam
The White dolphin boat company was booked for us by our travel agency. It seems they are doing this for some years now. Rightfully so. Our little (8p) boat was very cosy, nice and clean with comfortable rooms and beds and separate bathrooms per room. The team on board is very kind and helpful and just wants you to have a splendid experience in Ha Long Bay. The cook is a man who takes pride in what he presents. The same goes for Nam, our guide, who will make sure you get everything out of the bay experience.
Visited with my boyfriend and parents. Micheal the host was great. We had a great visit. Ha long bay is beautiful and we visited so quiet parts. Tasty food and the bit staff were really friendly. Well worth a visit. Boat a little tired but it didn’t matter. Bring ear plugs as the generator is a little noisy in some of the cabins.
Would really recommend this trip! The tour guide Michael is amazing, we really loved him and the food was good and really enough! The kayakking was amazing and the staff on the boat was also really friendly. Cooking class was also fun :)
The crew were passionate about making sure we had a good time. Highlights for us were the kayaking through the caves and the row through the fishing village. The food on deck was amazing and you won’t go hungry. The staff were all amazing, friendly and good for a laugh. Would recommend this tour to anyone!
We had the most amazing trip with the white dolphin cruise. The staff and the activities were wonderful and the food was delicious! The sleeping accommodations were very clean and had a romantic atmosphere. The boat itself was very beautiful as well. The deck was covered with fake grass and there were a lot off plants which gave it a very natural look. We want to thank the crew and our guide Nam for this wonderful tour.
Michael, the tour guide, is the most professional one to maximize our experience there. He explained everything in detail and punctually. He led us to have the Vietnam Spring Roll cooking class, the kayaking, the squad fishing, and so much on. Our family is extremely satisfied to have the very positive experience.
The cruise staff was very courteous and warm. Our guide Nam was very helpful at all times and had full knowledge of the places he took. Would like to visit again in the future. 😊
Our stay was a comfortable one. The food was great and the breathtaking locations that we were taken to. Our guide, Mr. Nam was nice and knew everything about the place. he patiently told us everything and cleared all or doubts. The staff on board was also very friendly and helpful. They took care of all of our needs and acted according to our requests. They were extremely organized, there was absolutely no hassle or last-minute tension. It felt like what a holiday should feel like. It was worth every penny spent.
La croisière est très bien organisée mais elle est hyper touristique; ne vous attendez pas à être seuls dans la baie. Les activités sont questions les. Tout le monde fait la même chose au même moment… pas géant. Cela ne me laissera pas un souvenir mémorable. Un peu cher pour le package.
att få uppleva en dröm jag haft i många år. god mat och trevligt sällskap. bra service av personalen. god mat och en underbar solnedgång
Great scenery, great ship and very friendly staff. All in all a success. Only the excursions are less exciting than expected.
The kids loved the Kayaking ride. I recommend taking this trip in summer to enjoy the beach.
A nice memory that this trip to Tu Long Bay: we were there four (couple + 2 children 7 and 5 years old) with four other tourists, boat not privatized but big enough for all. Very pleasant staff, Ding guide really super nice, English and able to joke with all, adults as well as children. Fun activities: kayaking, visiting a cave, fishing village, cooking on the boat. It lacks an activity for all in the evening, maybe the discovery of a Vietnamese board game... Clean, functional cabins. Just one downside on meals: too much, there is a lot of waste. As for European children, Vietnamese food is not always to their liking so just a small bowl of rice with nothing would suffice! But they were delighted with the fries for the last meal! Thanks to all the crew for their kindness and help getting the girls on and off the boat. I highly recommend this company.
The cabin is beautiful and the food rich. Visiting the cave and the kayaking tour were a lot of fun. The scenery is breathtaking. The "cooking class" we found a bit disappointing. In 5 minutes, a prefabricated mixture was wrapped in rice paper, i.e. spring rolls were made. That's it... Also, one was under time pressure all the time and stated times were not observed. For example, you should appear at the tender at 7.30 am and at 7.15 am you were already rang where you were staying. That was a little stressful. Nem, our guide could have been kinder. He rather "leaned down" the lead without a joke or a smile. That was a pity, but it's probably the case when you're on this tour all the time...
The boat although not very modern was quite satisfactory and was all clean. The food in general was good. The excursions and the kayak tour were quite pleasant. The guide was very friendly and the crew of the boat helpful. The organization also went very well as well as the communication after the reservation. Although the reservation indicated that it had drinks included, the only drinks were 2 bottles of water (reusable glass bottles so I don't know where the water came from). All the rest was paid per portion (including tea and coffee at 2.5€ each). So we were negatively surprised at the end of the trip with this bill to pay. But overall I liked the experience.
Very nice cruise, small junk almost private, the meals were very good. Nickel bedding, there was even a small bed for our baby. All this in a little corner of paradise
I approached this experience without any expectation, without knowing what to expect. But when I got to the boat and consonant contacted our guide Nam, I felt this could be an excellent experience. And that ended up happening. Excellent meals, excellent activities and good facilities for the practiced price.
Excellent cruise, unique scenery, impeccable activities organization, very friendly staff, delicious and hearty meals, very good evening spent with bartender Michael. To do absolutely!
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