Quick Summary: Beka Travel runs day tours and overnight cruises across Halong Bay, with day tours from $34 and overnight cruises from $123. Most day tours and several overnight ships sail the busy main route past Sung Sot Cave and Titop Island; a number of boutique ships instead cruise the quieter Lan Ha Bay side of the same karst system. Compare cabins, routes and prices below.
Halong Bay is Vietnam's best-known natural landmark: a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1994, made up of roughly 1,600 limestone karsts and islets rising out of emerald water in Quang Ninh province. Most visitors join a day tour or a 2-day, 1-night cruise departing from Tuan Chau Harbor or Bai Chay pier, both a 2.5–3 hour drive from Hanoi.
Choosing your Halong Bay cruise
Beka Travel lists 26 overnight cruises on Halong Bay, starting from $123 per person for a standard 2-day, 1-night sailing. Most ships open between $130 and $180; the figure stretches to $1,263 only at the top suite of the largest six-star ship — the gap inside any single ship is driven by cabin class, not by a different itinerary. All 26 below depart from Tuan Chau Harbor or Bai Chay pier and include a cabin, meals on board and at least one cave or island stop.
| Cruise | Price (2D1N / person) | Cabin tiers | Entry → top cabin | What the range reflects |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amanda | $123 – $158 | 6 | Deluxe Cabin → Royal Suite | Lowest entry on the bay; six classes inside a tight $35 spread |
| Amanda Pearl | $130 – $217 | 6 | Junior Cabin → Pearl Triple Cabin | Top cabin is a triple — the ceiling buys beds and space, same route |
| Erina | $135 – $246 | 4 | Suite with Balcony → Presidential Suite | All four cabins are suites; the top tier roughly doubles the entry |
| La Pandora | $135 – $145 | 4 | Suite Balcony (lower deck) → Suite Balcony (upper deck) | Only difference is deck height — $10 across the whole ship |
| Cozy Bay Grand | $139 – $169 | 2 | Deluxe Sea View → Deluxe Balcony | Two cabins only; the extra $30 buys a private balcony |
| Peony | $143 – $300 | 6 | Deluxe Balcony → Family Premium Balcony | 40-guest boutique ship; the top price is a family balcony (space and beds) |
| Genesis Regal | $143 – $205 | 4 | Junior Suite → Premium Suite | Four suite grades within a $62 band |
| Doris | $150 – $215 | 4 | Junior Suite → Honeymoon Suite | 25-cabin ship; the Honeymoon Suite tops the range |
| Dora | $150 – $215 | 4 | Junior Suite → Honeymoon Suite | Four suite grades; Honeymoon Suite at the top |
| Indochine Lan Ha Bay | $150 – $225 | 3 | Junior Suite → Executive Suite | Three suite grades on a Lan Ha Bay route |
| La Casta Regal | $150 – $190 | 4 | Junior Suite → Honeymoon Suite Terrace | Top tier adds a private terrace |
| Rosy | $150 – $190 | 3 | Junior Suite → VIP Suite | Three grades; the VIP Suite tops out $40 above the entry |
| V’Spirit | $150 – $190 | 4 | Junior Suite → Executive Suite | Wooden-junk operator; four suite grades |
| Mon Cheri | $154 – $323 | 6 | Ocean Suite Balcony → President Suite Terrace | Six grades; the President Suite Terrace more than doubles the entry |
| Orchid Trendy | $155 – $235 | 4 | Deluxe Balcony → Exclusive Suite | Four grades, from a balcony cabin up to an Exclusive Suite |
| UniCharm | $155 – $180 | 2 | Deluxe Sea View → Charm Terrace | Two cabins; $25 buys a terrace room |
| Paradise Elegance | $160 – $238 | 4 | Deluxe Balcony → Captain View Terrace Suite | 25m2 entry cabins; the top is a captain-view terrace suite |
| Ambassador | $170 – $325 | 5 | Ambassador Deluxe → Presidential Suite | 120-guest ship; the Presidential Suite lifts the ceiling |
| Orchid Classic | $170 – $240 | 4 | Suite Balcony → Orchid Exclusive Suite | 28-guest all-suite ship; four grades |
| Indochine Premium | $170 – $280 | 4 | Junior Suite → President Suite | Four suite grades up to a President Suite |
| Heritage Binh Chuan | $180 – $250 | 4 | Delta Suite → Regal Suite | All-suite heritage ship; every cabin a suite, narrow band |
| Capella | $181 – $570 | 8 | Harmony Family Suite → Owner Suite | Widest ladder — eight grades up to an Owner Suite |
| Aqua Luxury | $200 – $485 | 6 | Superior Balcony → King Balcony | Six grades; a large King-balcony cabin tops the range |
| Catherine | $210 – $335 | 4 | Premier Suite → Grand Suite | Four suite grades; the Grand Suite at the top |
| Orchid Premium | $290 – $415 | 3 | Terrace Suite → Exclusive Suite | Starts at a terrace suite; three grades, high floor |
| Elite of the Seas | $401 – $1,263 | 7 | Elite Junior Suite → Elite President Suite | Six-star ship; the highest floor and ceiling in our fleet — the Elite President Suite is the top cabin we sell |
How is an overnight cruise different from a day tour?
A day tour covers Halong Bay's core sights — usually Sung Sot Cave and Titop Island — in a single day, from $34 per person. An overnight cruise adds a cabin, dinner on board and activities like kayaking, a cooking demonstration or evening squid fishing, from $123 per person. Most 2D1N cruises follow a similar rhythm: boarding at midday, an afternoon of cave and island stops, dinner on board, and a second day of swimming or kayaking before returning to shore.
Where do Halong Bay cruises depart from?
Almost all Halong Bay day tours and cruises depart from Tuan Chau Harbor or Bai Chay pier in Ha Long City, both roughly 2.5–3 hours from Hanoi by road. Beka Travel includes round-trip transfer from Hanoi in every day tour and cruise price shown above.
Booking directly with Beka Travel
Every price above is the per-person starting rate for the standard cabin category; final cost depends on cabin type, travel dates and group size. Book directly with Beka Travel to lock in a cabin, confirm pickup details in Hanoi and get a local team on hand if plans change once you're in Vietnam.
Want fewer boats around you?
Lan Ha Bay, the southern extension of the same limestone system, sits about 90 minutes further from Hanoi via Cat Ba Island — far enough that most Halong day-trippers never reach it. Several of the cruises above already sail into Lan Ha Bay for their quieter stretch; travellers who want to stay there for the whole trip can compare our Lan Ha Bay cruises and tours, which start from $15 for a half-day boat trip.
Frequently asked questions
Is one day enough to see Halong Bay?
A day tour covers the highlights — usually Sung Sot Cave and Titop Island — and is enough for a first look at the bay. It doesn't allow time for kayaking, swimming stops or an overnight anchorage, which is why most repeat visitors upgrade to a 2D1N cruise.
Which Halong Bay cruise has the fewest crowds?
No cruise avoids the bay's busiest anchorage points entirely, since most itineraries pass the same signature sights during peak hours. Boutique ships that route mainly through Lan Ha Bay — such as Peony, Capella or Genesis Regal in the table above — see noticeably less boat traffic than ships running the main Halong channel. See our Halong Bay cruise guide for a full comparison by route and crowd level.
Is Halong Bay or Lan Ha Bay better for families?
Both work for families — Halong Bay's day tours are shorter and easier to plan around nap schedules, while Lan Ha Bay's calmer water is easier for supervising younger swimmers. Cruises on either side run similar family-friendly activities like kayaking and squid fishing, and several ships, such as Amanda, offer connecting cabins built for families.
Last updated: August 11, 2026
