Ha Long Bay day cruise with cooking class and bamboo boat

You learn to make Vietnamese spring rolls from the ship's chef while anchored in Lan Ha Bay.

A full-day luxury cruise from Tuan Chau Harbor in Ha Long Bay combines sightseeing with hands-on cooking instruction. Depart at 11am with a welcome drink and premium lunch. Explore Dark and Bright Caves by bamboo boat in the afternoon, swim at Frog Pond in Lan Ha Bay, then join the chef for a spring roll cooking class before sunset drinks and the return to harbor at 6pm. An English-speaking guide is onboard throughout.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Ha Long Bay3h · entry included
2. Lan Ha Bay4h · entry included

Luxury day cruise in Halong and Lan Ha Bay

• Check in at Tuan Chau Marina
• Welcome aboard with lion dance
• Enjoy welcome drink
• Have premium lunch
• Explore Dark & Bright Caves by bamboo boat
• Swim at Frog Pond in Lan Ha Bay
• Join cooking class for spring rolls
• Attend sunset party and happy hour
• Return to harbor

The experience

You arrive at Tuan Chau International Marina before 10:45am for check-in, then board the Hera. A luxury sailboat designed to keep you connected to the water while surrounded by modern interiors. A lion dance greets you at 11am as a symbol of good luck, followed by a welcome drink. By noon you're seated for a premium lunch while the boat moves into Ha Long Bay proper.

The afternoon splits between two kinds of exploration. At 2pm you transfer to a bamboo boat to drift through Dark and Bright Caves at water level, where the limestone walls rise around you in complete quiet. An hour later the ship anchors at Frog Pond in Lan Ha Bay, a sheltered cove with emerald water where you can swim freely, use the water slide back into the sea, or stay on the sundeck. At 4pm the chef invites you into the galley to make Vietnamese spring rolls, not a demonstration you watch, but a technique you learn and practice with your hands, so you leave with both the skill and a dish you made yourself.

The day closes at sunset with tea, coffee, and pastries on deck while the light changes across the water. The boat returns to Tuan Chau Harbor by 6pm. The cruise manager speaks English throughout, and children from age 4 are welcome onboard.

What’s included

• English-speaking guide and cruise manager onboard.
• welcome drink and premium lunch.
• bamboo boat exploration of Dark and Bright Caves.
• swimming access at Frog Pond with water slide.
• hands-on Vietnamese spring roll cooking class with the chef.
• sunset party with tea, coffee and pastries.
• free use of the open-air swimming pool.
• entrance fees for Ha Long Bay and Lan Ha Bay.
• kayaking equipment.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 10:45

Book up to4h before

AgesAdult (9 and older) · Youth (4 to 8 years) · Under 4: can't be booked

GroupUp to 200

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go 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.

Paid on siteUS$ 25

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Low physical effort

Operated by Local Tours HALONG

Is this one for you?Book this cruise if you want to learn a skill, making spring rolls with the chef, rather than only watch the scenery pass. The cooking class is the centerpiece of the afternoon, so it suits travelers who want to bring something tangible home from the bay.

Traveler reviews

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (4 to 8 years). Children under 4 can't be included in the booking.

What time does the boat leave Tuan Chau Harbor and when do I need to arrive?

The Hera departs at 11am from Tuan Chau International Marina. Arrive by 10:45am for check-in. Staff will help you board.

What happens during the cooking class on the boat?

At 4pm the ship's chef teaches you to make Vietnamese spring rolls. You learn the technique hands-on and prepare a dish you can eat or take with you. It's not a demonstration but an actual class where you do the work.

Can I swim in Ha Long Bay during this cruise?

Yes. At 3pm the boat anchors at Frog Pond in Lan Ha Bay, where you can swim in the sheltered water, try the water slide from the ship into the sea, or relax on the sundeck instead.

Is there a guide on the boat who speaks English?

Yes, an English-speaking guide and cruise manager are onboard for the full day to answer questions and lead activities.

What's included in the day cruise price?

Entry fees for Ha Long and Lan Ha bays, a welcome drink, premium lunch, use of the bamboo boat and cooking class, free access to the swimming pool, and kayaking are all included. Beverages beyond the welcome drink, tips, and personal expenses are separate.