2-day Halong Bay Overnight Cruise From Hanoi

Well it's is an amazing trip, and was very lucky. I was a solo traveler and loved every minute of it, so much incredible food and only had 12 people on our boat and 2 days of great weather which was also lucky as the next tour on the same boat after had 50 and was a thunderstorm coming in. The staff are very friendly and always willing to help , and definitely worth doing the 2 day one night as get to go to the caves with less people about . Definitely recommend to anyone

Unbeatable beautiful scenery, the nature part was stunning. The crew on the ship were all polite. However, back to the people that ran the trips to the cave, etc. This was very poorly organised. We waited far too long to go to bus, then waited a long time to go to boat. Once on the other side we had to hurry, hurry, hurry. We had to go to the cave and be back at the boat in an hour. 30 minutes to climb to the Titop's view point, then you need to be at the meeting spot on time. We sat on the boat for 30 minutes waiting for two people that were late. We felt like cattle lining up in the heat. This was uncomfortable and unfair on the majority of people that followed the rules. Our guide ran around like a headless chicken looking for the missing people. No-one gave us any information and we only found out what was happening when we asked. There was a real lack of communication, disregard for the paying customer. We could not believe that there wasn't a better system in place for contacting the missing people. As I said, the natural scenery could not be faulted, and the crew were very nice but the organisation of the trips needs to be improved.

The two day cruise, i feel is the optimum for Halong bay. The food was amazing. We had requested for vegetarian food and it was given. The crew were amazing and the service was good. The boat itself is a bit old, but comfortable.

We agreed for our pick up at our local hotel because they could not pick us up from our airbnb. The night before our trip, this company decided to change the pick up location from their offices (which was not close to our airbnb location). Not happy. In fact I am terribly disappointed and annoyed with this has been organised.

The company had agreed to pick us up from a hotel and we paid on that basis. When we arrived in Hanoi they told us oh sorry we cant pick you up anymore. Instead we had to make a 20-minute walk to that headquarters with all of our luggage very disappointed.

My friend and I just went on the boat tour of Halong Bay. The staff were beyond friendly and helpful. Pham and Koby were always looking after us. We will miss our time with them! The cave tour was a highlight for us. Pretty amazing. Couldn’t recommend the trip enough. One thing to note is there are two types of boats - the “Party” boat and the “classic” (quieter) boat. Be sure to ask for the one you prefer when you book!

I can recommend this trip, even in foggy and rainy weather conditions. The landscape is just stunning. The 2 day tour activities were well balanced and entertaining and food was excellent. The crew of the Majestic Halong cruise was very nice and correct. Special thanks to Tomtom for taking care of the group in a very professional manner.

We went on the 2 Day Halong Bay Tour, a more expensive one but worth penny. The food was excellent and the room, bus to Halong very good and exclusive. I Can highly recommend this la pinta Cruise (Not a fully packed Partyboat. We were a couple, 54 years..and there were 12 more passangers, couples, who enjoiyed the Time with us. But more important: The Service and tipps of Mr. Dough from Penny-Travel Hanoi were outstanding!

This company offers two options: a party cruise with hostel-style dorms (bring your own meals/food is terrible) and a luxury with doors that don't lock from the balconies. Both follow a similar itinerary. The crew and food on the luxury were wonderful, but it was full of bored children without activities to do. Water is VERY polluted, activities like kayaking were cut short, crew added to the garbage in the water instead of cleaning it. The water is FULL OF GARBAGE and I didn't appreciate being ogled by a large group of crew. Boats were parked among other companies at night, so nighttime photography wasn't possible (too much light).Very expensive and not worth the price!!

We just got back to our hotel in Hanoi after taking this trip. Overall, we had a great time and thought it was very worthwhile. What the trip looks like: It started with bus pick-up at our hotel in Hanoi. We bounced around to a few other hotels to pick up other guests and then we were on our way. The bus ride is about 4 hours long. Halfway through the trip they stop at a large tourist travel stop for 1/2 hour. Most things were overpriced compared to prices you'd pay if you were shopping in the city. Once we arrived at the bay, we took a boat shuttle from the dock to our larger boat. Started off with a very filling lunch, and then cruising. We stopped at a beach where we climbed 400+ steps to a lookout with fantastic views, then had time for a quick swim. Back on the boat to cruise and then to an oyster farm where we learned about oysters and had the opportunity to kayak around the area. Back to the boat to find our spot for the night. In the morning we cruised a bit and then went to a very neat cave where we spent about an hour walking through and taking in the sites. Again back to the boat to cruise back to the main dock. We transferred to our bus and were back on the road. Another stop at a tourist travel stop and then back to Hanoi. There are occasional times where you're waiting outside in the heat (at the travel stop, after hiking/kayaking before you board the bus, after you get off the boat and are waiting for your bus) so be prepared for that. We don't feel this is specific to the boat/company we used, but rather like this across the board. Prices for water/soda/beer on the boat are expensive compared to the city (60k lowest price for beer on board). Bring a large jug of water if you are able, otherwise expect to pay more than normal. Again, we don't feel this was specific to our boat/company. The food was well beyond what we expected. Lunch and dinner had multiple courses so be prepared to eat. The quality was higher than what we thought we would get on a trip like this. A+ for that. They also catered to some vegetarians/vegans that were on the boat as well. Our tour guide Lee was an awesome guide! He had a good grasp of English, was very knowledgeable, and was quite humorous! Thanks, Lee!! Overall we feel like the trip we took was a great experience. Nothing that we experienced was anything we feel like the boat/company could really do anything about (heat, tourist stops, cost). Rather, we believe those things will be similar throughout the industry for this trip. Tipping of the boat staff was available (via envelope on your table for your last meal) but not required. There was no request to tip the guide specifically but we did so when we were dropped at our hotel.

<p>We had a great time with our tour guide Ha. She was friendly, knowledgeable, funny and helpful. The boat was nice and our deluxe twin cabin was clean and comfortable. The food exceeded expectations and variety was good. The bay was beautiful although crowded. We enjoyed kayaking and the views</p>

<p>Our guide was wonderful (Nugn)? The crew onboard were very nice and the food was good. The scenery was absolutely incredible but the number of boats and tourists were overwhelming at times. Overall, would highly recommend.</p>

We got the balcony room for a little more money, which in first seemed to be very luxury but in tue nicht it was very very loud, because of the generator was running all night long (our beds were even vibrating). Therefore we didn't sleep the whole night. Also the spots are very touristic and you have to pay additional of money for drinks. To sum it up, It is a nice and cheap way to see the halong bay as long as you don't choose the balcony room and don't Drink too many drinks ;-) anyway, the staff was very very nice and very funny, too.

Pros: timely pickup, guide was knowledgeable on the tours, food was GREAT, and of course Halong Bay is beautiful Cons: Bedbugs found on bed causing some havoc afterwards, very untimely: waited over an hour to leave waiting for a group, then waited an hour on board waiting to disembark, then spent >40 min at a tourist stop making us late to get back; tour guide left us after dinner so the non-English crew members couldn’t figure out that I wanted bait to try squid fishing and lots of missing pages on karaoke... you’re basically left on your own.

<p>This boat trip was really lovely. Both the hospitality and itinerary were on point. It was perfect for the amount of time in the area. The staff was very nice, and the food was tasty. The only reason I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 is because the boat/rooms could use a bit of a facelift. It was older and more worn out then I expected. However, all the boats in the area sort of have the same vibe so I don't think you can find a better one. Fair warning- it has a cute but cheesy romantic theme on the boat so if you are looking for a party boat, check out their other boats instead.</p>

We had a wonderful cruise from the beginning till the end. It was so relaxing. The staff were wonderful as was the food and accommodation. We could not fault it..we would recommend this cruise to everyone.

<p>Excellent guide, pick up on time, new and comfortable shuttle bus, authentic on boatd meals.</p>

<p>Delivered just as promised. Victor, the tour guide, was superb and contributed to our having a great time. Only glitch related to our not knowing we needed to bring our passports but that got ironed out with transmitted photos.</p>

<p>Loved this tour. Our tour guide Victor was on the ball and very funny.</p> <p>Our boat manager was very kind and proactive. Lovely deluxe room with balcony, boat was beautiful, kayaking and tai chi were great fun. The itinerary had the perfect amount of things to do, with a good amount of downtime. </p> <p>Would be great to have had all local Vietnamese meals on board, as that's what we're there to experience : felt the food was a little too western.</p>

<p>Sadly the weather kept us from staying overnight, but the company tried their best to accommodate. There was some confusion as we wanted to stay the night in halong bay city, but hotel was booked for us in the middle of nowhere and we weren’t able to cancel. We were refunded for part of trip!</p>

Had a really tranquil time on this cruise. There was many things to do, visit cave, kayak and swim. Food was fresh and divine. Probably would want an extra day should you want to slow the pace as it was very timetabled and structured.

<p>Just wow! Totally worth every penny!! The rooms are fantastic (and actually pretty big!). The staff goes way above and beyond. And, of course, Halong Bay is spectacular.</p>

<p>2 days really is all you need. The food was delicious and the tour was perfect. Perfect balance between relaxing and exploring. Don't forget to have a nice hot cup of Vietnamese coffee to go with the view.</p>

<p>Had an overnight cruise staying on the Oasis Bay which was a lovely ship, older but nicely maintained. The spa at the bow of the ship was a nice, relaxing touch. The crew were wonderful and couldn't do enough for you. There was a slight problem with our cabin booking but they were reasonably quick to sort it out and ensure we were happy. For the money you pay which is not really that much, it is worth upgrading to a balcony cabin. We went Kayaking on the first afternoon which was amazing and true to a previous review I had read about this trip, went the opposite way to which most of the boats go so we had the area all to ourselves. There was only a total of 19 people on the boat which I thought was better than being on one of the bigger ships. On the 2nd morning, went to Hang Sung Sot cave system. Very crowded in the first 2 chambers but the 3rd chamber is so massive that the crowd thins out and it becomes more enjoyable. The caves themselves are spectacular. Our tour guide, Quy Cookie Monster was fabulous. Her English was the best we came across in Vietnam. Her concern for the groups' safety and enjoyment during activities was apparent and her knowledge of the area was excellent. What impressed me the most was her obvious passion for the beauty and preservation of the bay. The only 2 things I can say as a con is: Overnight cruise is not long enough as the 2nd day is really only a half day so the trip seemed too short. 2 nights would be way better. We were so used to eating awesome street food in Hanoi so the meals just seemed a bit sub-par and bland.</p>

<p>Our guide, Ricky, was superb. He was thoughtful, conscientious, and made sure we didn't get lost.<br/> We were pleased to have travelers in a similar age group rather than rowdy,smoking, beer drinking group. As it turned out, 12 of the 14 passengers spoke no English. Ricky spoke no Chinese. With humor and professionalism he smiled, made an effort to learn a few key phrases. Fortunately, my husband served happily as the translator. The food was good though a bit too much fried food. The beds were comfortable. Drainage in the bathroom could have been better. All in all we loved our time but feel it really isn't 2 days on Halong Bay. It's more like 24 hours if you don't count the bus trip and tourist stops. I felt the cost was high.</p>

<p>The actual tour didn't match the itinerary that was listed when I booked, however it did uphold the promise of timing everything so that you weren't always following the crowds - a big bonus! Our guide, Thanh, was great fun, really attentive and worked tirelessly to keep us all entertained and happy. The boat was very comfortable and the food was absolutely fantastic. Halong Bay itself is beautiful - albeit slightly marred by the hundreds of tourist boats chugging noisily around and kicking out pollution and rubbish. If I was to do this again I'd be looking for an eco-friendly version!</p>

<p>Very professional staff. Only 12 passengers on the boat. Great service. Endless food.<br/> Highly recommend this tour.<br/> Boat operated by a local tour operator.</p>

The 2-day tour of Halong Bay is much shorter than expected through the whole ride, but this trip is very worthwhile. From Hanoi I took the bus to the ship and then started straight away with program. I started a kayak tour of the bay. This is absolutely worth seeing and great. There was also immediate food and entertainment. Drinks, however, are paid extra. In the evening we had a course in Spring Rolls making and a Vietnamese drinking course with coconut schnapps. After that exchange with other guests was possible - is really fun. They came from all over the world. The next morning we went to a cave for a visit. The rooms are nice and the crew incredibly friendly. Our guide, Viktor, was terrific. It was two great days!

To begin with I will say that with the little that is done on the second day and all the time that is lost to the fool, I think that with a day would have been enough, unless it happens to you as I do and you are excited to sleep there. The place is beautiful, the excursion leaves a lot to be desired, maybe we had no luck with the guide either, who didn't talk barely and explained absolutely nothing about what we were going to do, and the supposed cooking and squid fishing course... anyway, I'll save the comments. The second day, after making the early excursion to the cave, we had to leave our room very soon, eat and leave the boat to give them time to have it prepared for the next ones, with the consequent loss of time of those who were leaving, because the buses had not yet arrived. The icing came as the one-on-one guide was taking our phones to write a good review about the excursion. For integrity with this website I have been forced to delete it, because I find it unfair that other people trust comments written by the guides themselves...

Organization made by Than Thuy of Farestour. There were only 18 tourists on Garden Bay junk. Fairy tale... the staff were versatile on this boat and we felt like a group of friends as there were not many of us. The scenery was beautiful, whether at sunset or sunrise. The food was very sought after, in short, everything was beautiful...

These halong bay cruises are well organized, but everything is millimetered to the minute! Meals, outings, cabin to be vacated early in the morning... That plus the myriad boats (unduly called "junks", but they are only motorboats) all more or less similar and all going to exactly the same places, you have understood that the discrepancy is important compared to the romantic clichés that all agencies sell you. A tip: bring your beers or your bottle of wine: everything is 4x more expensive on these boats than on land...

Great nature experience, super organized they unfortunately have to share with thousands of like-minded people from all over the world.It is still worth it, if the water quality suffers considerably from the crowds

We made the trip as a family with 2 children (7 and 12 years) . Everything was well organized, we had two very nice rooms with balcony that were connected. We felt very comfortable on the boat. The food was very good and also on extra requests (vegetarians) was well received. Our highlight was paddling towards the end of the 1. Day. Overall, we liked it great, but the program is already crammed, especially on Feb. Day we could have done without the detour to the beach to start the morning more comfortably. You'd probably have to book a 3D2N tour for that. Our travel companion Lee was very nice and helpful and was available to us for any questions, his English was also good for non-natives to understand.

Departed from the old quarter of Hanoi after about 2 hours of travel in a comfortable van .. we arrived at the boarding in Halong bay .. Attentive staff and our boat quite small but equipped with everything., solarium, rooms with balconies, very good food. The landscape is very beautiful in complete relaxation. The cruise allows you to visit the quarries, get to Tito hill .. and enjoy kayaking and swimming in the dirty waters of the bay.

A superior quality of life inside the boat, incredible scenery. I went around Vietnam but this ride remains one of my best memories thank you