Bai Tu Long Bay: 6-Star Cruise from Hanoi & Fishing Village

The fisherman at Vung Vieng knew exactly where the limestone cliffs caught the light

You board in Hanoi, spend your first afternoon kayaking or bamboo-boating through a fishing village, hike to a mountain cave on day two, and return to the city by late morning. The cruise includes all meals, drinks, activities, entrance fees, and an English-speaking guide, so you're not arranging transport, tickets, or guides separately. Two nights aboard a 6-star ship designed in Indochine style, away from the mass-tourism routes of standard Ha Long Bay cruises.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Vung Vieng Village and onboard activities

• Pick-up from Hanoi hotel
• Transfer to Sunworld International Harbor
• Arrive and relax at harbor
• Board cruise by tender boat
• Welcome drinks and safety briefing
• Check-in to cabin
• Buffet lunch cruising limestone landscapes
• Visit Vung Vieng Fishing Village
• Kayak or bamboo boat ride
• Return to cruise and relax
• Happy Hour with canapés and high tea
• Photos in traditional Vietnamese costumes
• Fine-dining Vietnamese set dinner
• Relax onboard with traditional music

Day 2: Thien Canh Son Cave and departure

• Morning Tai Chi session
• Light buffet breakfast
• Explore Thien Canh Son Cave
• Set sail towards harbor
• Check-out at reception
• Authentic Vietnamese brunch
• Disembark at Ha Long Cruise Port
• Return trip to Hanoi

The experience

The pickup from your Hanoi hotel starts early (between 7:30 and 8:30), and the drive to Sunworld International Harbor takes you out of the city noise into a different rhythm. By noon you're boarding the Cycad Cruises vessel, a 6-star ship designed with Indochine-inspired interiors that feel less like a floating hotel and more like stepping into a colonial-era retreat that somehow has a swimming pool and a fitness room. Welcome drinks arrive, the safety briefing happens, and then lunch is served while the boat moves through the limestone landscape. The first afternoon is the real draw: you kayak into Vung Vieng Fishing Village or take a bamboo boat rowed by a local fisherman who's been doing this for decades. He doesn't perform. He just rows, and you watch the water and the cliffs and the way the light hits the karst formations. Back on deck by 5pm, there's happy hour, canapés, high tea, and if you want it, a chance to wear traditional Vietnamese costume for photos.

Day two starts at 6:30am if you're willing. Tai Chi on deck, weather permitting, followed by a light breakfast. The main event is Thien Canh Son Cave, a hike up a mountain to a cave rich in geological history. Bring proper shoes and a camera because the views from the top are the kind you'll look at for years. The boat sails a different route back toward Ha Long International Cruise Port, and by 9:45am you're eating an authentic Vietnamese brunch before disembarking at 11am for the return drive to Hanoi. The whole thing is two nights, three days, and the itinerary deliberately avoids the standard Ha Long Bay routes: Bai Tu Long Bay is less crowded, and the Cycad Cruises schedule builds in time to actually sit with what you're seeing instead of rushing between photo stops.

What makes this different from the dozens of other cruises in the region is the detail: fine-dining Vietnamese dinners, not buffet-only; an in-house English-speaking guide; entrance fees and insurance already included; a mini traditional folk show in the evening. Kayaking is part of the package, not an add-on. The boat itself is small enough that you're not sharing deck space with 500 other tourists, and the Indochine design (teak, colonial colors, thoughtful spacing) means the ship doesn't feel like a floating resort. You're paying for the ship and the itinerary, not for the name or the promise of luxury theater.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup from Hanoi and transfer to Sunworld International Harbor.
• welcome drink and safety briefing.
• cabin check-in.
• buffet lunch on day one.
• visit to Vung Vieng Fishing Village with kayaking or bamboo boat experience.
• happy hour, canapés, high tea, and traditional Vietnamese costume photos.
• fine-dining Vietnamese dinner.
• optional Tai Chi on day two.
• light breakfast.
• Thien Canh Son Cave exploration and hike.
• authentic Vietnamese brunch.
• entrance fees and insurance.
• in-house English-speaking guide.
• mini traditional folk show.
• access to swimming pool and fitness room.
• return transfer to Ha Long International Cruise Port.

Options for this experience

4 options

5-star, 2 days and 1 night, without transferGuide in English · 11:30Standard Cabin with 1 bed, 2 living areas, 1 dining space

5-star, 2 days and 1 night, with transferGuide in English · 08:00Standard Cabin with 1 bed, 2 living areas, 1 dining space; pickup is included

6-star, 2 days and 1 night, without transferGuide in English · 11:30Junior Suite featuring a balcony, 1 bed, 2 living areas, 1 dining space

6-star, 2 days and 1 night, with transferGuide in English · 08:00Junior Suite with a balcony, 1 bed, 2 living areas, 1 dining space; includes pickup

You see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates & prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 08:00 and 11:30

AgesAdult (11 and older) · Child (5 to 10 years) · Infant (under 5): free

GroupUp to 50

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 4 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller friendlyInfant seats availablePublic transport nearbyNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by CYCAD CRUISE

Is this one for you?Right for travelers leaving Hanoi who want a two-night cruise away from the crowded Ha Long Bay routes, with meals, activities, and guides already arranged: the fixed itinerary and included transfers mean you're not coordinating transport, tickets, or dining separately.

Traveler reviews

4.93★★★★★★★★★★

224 verified traveler reviews

5 ★214

4 ★8

3 ★0

2 ★0

1 ★2

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (5 to 10 years); Infant (under 5): free.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

How long is the drive from Hanoi to the harbor?

The pickup happens between 7:30 and 8:30am, and you arrive at Sunworld International Harbor by noon, giving roughly 3.5 to 4.5 hours of travel time depending on traffic and your hotel location.

What's included in the cruise price?

Welcome drink, all meals (buffet lunch, fine-dining dinner, Vietnamese brunch), high tea, kayaking, entrance fees, a mini traditional folk show, an English-speaking guide, fitness room and swimming pool access, and insurance.

Is the fishing village visit a real working village or a tourist show?

Vung Vieng is a working fishing village. You visit by kayak or bamboo boat rowed by a local fisherman, not as part of a staged performance.

What time does the boat return to Ha Long port on day two?

You disembark at Ha Long International Cruise Port at 11:00am on day two for the return drive to Hanoi.

Is Tai Chi on day two mandatory?

No, it's optional and starts at 6:30am. The session is canceled if it rains.

Do I need to bring anything special for Thien Canh Son Cave?

Yes, wear sports shoes suitable for hiking and bring a camera. The cave is located atop a mountain with geological history and views from the summit.

Is the cruise wheelchair accessible?

Yes, the cruise is wheelchair accessible and public transportation options are available nearby. However, it is not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries or poor cardiovascular health.