Halong Bay & Bai Tu Long: 2-Day La Regina Luxury Cruise

Wood-Paneled Elegance on the Water: Two Days Aboard La Regina

You board La Regina at Halong Harbour, spend two days cruising Bai Tu Long Bay with stops at Thien Canh Son Cave and Vung Vieng fishing village, take a cooking class, kayak or bamboo-boat through local waters, and sleep one night in a cabin with meals included. The fixed itinerary and small-group format mean you don't arrange transport, book activities separately, or worry about timing—the ship handles all of it, and you arrive back at the harbor by late morning on day two.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Halong Bay and Bai Tu Long Bay

• Arrive at La Regina Classic
• Check in and safety briefing
• Lunch in restaurant
• Discover Thien Canh Son cave
• Enjoy sunset and Happy Hour
• Cooking class on sundeck
• Dinner on sundeck or restaurant
• Relax or join squid fishing

Day 2 — Bai Tu Long Bay and Vung Vieng Village

• Taichi on sundeck
• Light breakfast in dining room
• Visit Vung Vieng floating village
• Optional bamboo boat or kayaking
• Return to boat and relax
• Check out and luggage handling
• Brunch in restaurant
• Disembark at harbor

The Experience

The ship pulls away from Halong International Harbour at 11:30, and you're already noticing things—the brass fixtures catching the light, the ornate paintings of Vietnamese queens in the dining room, the kind of detail that doesn't happen by accident. La Regina is a four-deck cruise built to feel like something from another era, except the cabins have air conditioning and the crew knows your name by lunch. You check in with a welcome drink while the safety briefing happens, and then the boat turns toward Bai Tu Long Bay, which is quieter and less crowded than the main Halong circuit. By 1:15 p.m. you're eating your first meal on the sundeck, and the bay is already spreading out around you.

That afternoon, you hike up to Thien Canh Son Cave—bring proper shoes, because the trail climbs and the payoff is the geological history carved into the mountain and the view back down to the water. By 5:30 p.m. you're back on deck for the sunset and the Happy Hour, and then there's a cooking class on the sundeck where you learn to make deep-fried spring rolls, which tastes nothing like the frozen ones you've had at home. Dinner comes next, either inside or outside depending on the weather, and if you want to stay up, there's squid fishing off the reception deck—free, and oddly meditative. You sleep in your cabin that night, the boat rocking gently beneath you.

Day two starts early. Tai chi on the sundeck at 6:30 a.m. if you're awake for it, then light breakfast in the dining room. The main event is Vung Vieng floating fishing village, one of the largest in Halong Bay, where you can either take a bamboo boat or kayak through the village and watch how the fishermen actually live—not a performance, just the daily rhythm of it. You're back on the main boat by 9 a.m., brunch is served while La Regina heads back to the harbor, and you disembark by 11. The whole thing takes two days and one night, which is long enough to feel like you've left Hanoi behind but short enough to fit into a longer trip.

What’s included

• One night cabin accommodation aboard La Regina.
• lunch on day one, dinner on day one, breakfast and brunch on day two.
• welcome drink and hot/cold towels.
• cooking class for deep-fried spring rolls.
• entrance fees to Thien Canh Son Cave and Vung Vieng fishing village.
• kayaking or bamboo boat option at the village.
• squid fishing (optional, free).
• one bottle of water per guest per night.

Good to know

Easy physical levelPublic transport nearbyNot for heart conditionsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by La Regina Cruises

Is this one for you?This cruise works well if you want the main Halong Bay experience without arranging separate transport, guides, and meals—the ship handles all of it, and the two-day format fits neatly between other plans in Northern Vietnam.

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Top questions

What time does the cruise depart from Hanoi?

La Regina departs Halong International Harbour at 11:30 a.m. on day one. Most travelers arrange their own transport from Hanoi to the harbor (about 2.5 hours by car or bus).

Is the cooking class included?

Yes. You learn to make deep-fried spring rolls on the sundeck on the evening of day one, and the class is part of the package.

Can I choose between kayaking and the bamboo boat?

Yes. At Vung Vieng fishing village on day two, you can either kayak or take a bamboo boat through the village. Both options are included.

What's included in the price?

One night in a cabin, all meals (lunch day one, dinner day one, breakfast and brunch day two), welcome drink, cooking class, entrance fees to sightseeing points, kayaking, and one bottle of water per guest per night.

How many people are usually on the cruise?

La Regina is a four-deck ship, so groups are larger than some smaller boats in the bay, but the itinerary and cabin accommodations are designed for comfort rather than crowding.

Is this suitable for families with young children?

Yes, though infants must sit on an adult's lap. The pace is relaxed, and the hiking to Thien Canh Son Cave is optional if you prefer to stay on board.

What should I bring for the cave hike?

Wear sport shoes or hiking boots—the trail to Thien Canh Son Cave climbs, and proper footwear makes a difference. Bring a camera and a light layer in case of wind on the mountain.

When do I disembark?

You disembark at Halong International Harbour at 11:00 a.m. on day two. Brunch is served on board while the boat returns to the harbor.