Ha Long Bay Junk Boat CruiseHalong Bay Junior Suite Cruise: 2 Days in Lan Ha Bay
This halong bay junior suite cruise from BAT Group boards at Tuan Chau Wharf for two days and one night across Ha Long Bay and into Lan Ha Bay. The $146 (per person) from-price buys an air-conditioned junior suite with a private balcony, all meals, kayak tours, a cooking class, night squid fishing and a pool on board. The Hanoi transfer is never included: it costs $25 per person on top. This page works through what the price covers, what the two days actually look like, the route options in Lan Ha Bay and on Cat Ba Island, and which travellers should book a different listing from the Ha Long Bay junk boat cruise comparison instead.
About This Tour
BAT Group boards guests at Tuan Chau Wharf for lunch as the boat crosses Ha Long Bay into Lan Ha Bay, where about 400 karst islands sit beside Cat Ba Island. Day one brings kayaking at Dark and Bright Cave by kayak or bamboo boat, or at Ba Trai Dao or Tra Bau, then a sunset party, a cooking class and dinner at anchor. Day two starts with Tai Chi, then kayaking at Ao Ech or Quan Y or Trung Trang Cave on Cat Ba Island.
The room is the reason to pick this listing: an air-conditioned junior suite with a private balcony is the base cabin, with upgrades to a second-floor senior suite for $10 per person, a VIP Cabin for $65 or the President Suite for $110. All meals, swim stops, welcome drinks and two bottles of water per cabin are in the price. Transportation is not included in any booking option.
$146 per person, down from a struck-through $182. Rated 4.7 from 5,216 verified reviews on GetYourGuide.
2 days and 1 night on the bay, overnight on board.
Check in for the cruise at Tuan Chau Harbor. No hotel pickup in the base price.
Group size not stated. Live tour guide in English. Solo travelers pay an $80 single supplement.
All meals included: lunch on day one, dinner at anchor, breakfast and brunch on day two. Welcome drinks and 2 bottles of water per cabin. Other drinks are extra.
The Hanoi or Ninh Binh shared round-trip transfer is $25 per person. Spa, upgrades, holiday surcharges and tips are extra. Free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure for a full refund, and you can reserve now and pay later.
Check Dates and Availability
Starting times are shown when you pick a date. Cancel free up to 24 hours before departure.
Quick answer The short answer
This halong bay junior suite cruise costs $146 per person for 2 days and 1 night, with a private balcony, all meals and kayaking in Lan Ha Bay. The $25 per person Hanoi transfer is always extra, and solo travelers pay $80 more.
Key takeaways
- See exactly what the $146 covers and what you pay on the day in what the price actually covers.
- The stop list changes with the tide, so read what the day is really like before booking.
- If you want a base suite listed with both a balcony and a bathtub, the Balcony Suite Overnight Cruise starts at $150 with the entrance fee included.
- For a lower price on the same bays, the 2-Day Lan Ha Balcony Cruise is $126 with entry fees included.
What the Price Actually Covers
The $146 from-price covers the cabin, the meals and the activities. It does not cover getting to the harbour, and several extras land on your bill on board.
Included in the $146
The listing includes one night in an air-conditioned junior suite with a private balcony, all meals, swim stops, kayak tours, a cooking class, night squid fishing, welcome drinks, cold towels, 2 bottles of water in each cabin, the guide and the 2-day cruise itself. The boat has a swimming pool, and all activities are optional. Complimentary honeymoon and anniversary decorations are available on request, and a birthday cake is free only if your birthday falls during the cruise.
Not included: spa and massage, the Hanoi or Ninh Binh transfer, holiday surcharges, cabin upgrades, other drinks and tips. Government bay fees are not mentioned in the includes list, so confirm with the operator before you go.
What You May Pay on the Day
Transportation is not included in any booking option. The shared round-trip transfer from Hanoi or Ninh Binh costs $25 per person, and drop-off can differ from the pickup point. A single supplement of $80 applies when one guest books a cabin alone.
Cabin upgrades run $10 per person for the second-floor senior suite, $65 for the VIP Cabin and $110 for the President Suite. The Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve gala dinner adds $40 per person and Lunar New Year adds $5 per person. Massage on board is paid on the spot.
Price Against the Nearby Listings
The table compares this listing with the closest overnight alternatives on the comparison site. All prices are the operator card prices in US dollars. This listing is cheaper than the Balcony Suite Overnight Cruise and dearer than the 2-Day Lan Ha Balcony Cruise and the Infinity Pool Overnight Cruise.
The three other balcony-cabin listings in the table state that entry or entrance fees are included, while this one does not mention them.
| Line | In the price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| This junior suite cruise, $146 per person | Balcony cabin, all meals, kayaking, pool | Transfer $25 per person extra, solo surcharge $80 |
| 2-Day Lan Ha Balcony Cruise, $126 | Balcony and bathtub, all meals, entry fees | Solo travelers pay $90 for a private room |
| Balcony Suite Overnight Cruise, $150 | Balcony and bathtub, entrance fee, all meals | $10 peak season surcharge, transfer $30 to $35 per person |
| Infinity Pool Overnight Cruise, $125 | Balcony cabin, infinity pool, entry fees, all meals | Taxes and peak charges included from recent bookings |
| Bhaya Classic Overnight Cruise, $120 | Cabin, three meals, kayaking, group cap of 10 | Full refund ends 6 days before |
Sources: UNESCO, Ha Long Bay - Cat Ba Archipelago, Ha Long Bay Management Board
Floating houses on a pontoon in a fishing village among the karsts. Photo: Benjamin Smith, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
What the Day Is Really Like
The listing gives no clock times, only the order of the day. Here is how the two days run, with the route options the captain chooses between.
Getting to the Boat
Either take the optional pickup from your hotel in Hanoi's Old Quarter and ride to Tuan Chau Wharf, or meet the boat at the wharf yourself. Tuan Chau International Marina sits on Tuan Chau Island, linked to the mainland by a causeway, and Hanoi to Ha Long runs roughly 150 to 170 km depending on the route, about 2 to 2.5 hours by car or limousine on the expressways. You board a transfer boat to the cruise ship itself, check in with a welcome drink and a cold towel, hear the safety briefing and take a tour of the cruise.
Day One: Across Ha Long Bay and Into Lan Ha
Lunch is served in the onboard restaurant while the boat crosses Ha Long Bay toward Lan Ha Bay, which lies about 45 minutes to 1 hour by boat from Tuan Chau. Then comes the first route choice. Option one is Dark and Bright Cave, explored by kayak or bamboo boat for about an hour, followed by swimming.
Dark Cave is about 100 m long and needs a torch, while Light Cave is shorter and daylight shows at the far end. Option two is kayaking and swimming at Ba Trai Dao Lagoon or Tra Bau Island, with the captain picking the spot based on weather and tide. The Ba Trai Dao beach is reachable only 2 to 3 hours a day because of the tide, so the choice is real, not decoration.
Evening at Anchor
Back on the cruise you get the sunset over the Gulf of Tonkin, the onboard swimming pool, a sunset party or a traditional cooking class, and an optional massage at your own cost. After sunset the captain anchors in a quiet part of the bay for dinner. The night is squid fishing, a movie, music or drinks at the bar.
Day Two: Tai Chi and the Cat Ba Choice
Wake early for Tai Chi on the top deck and a light breakfast. Then the second choice. Option one is kayaking around the limestone islets of Ao Ech in Lan Ha Bay with a swim.
Option two is Cat Ba Island, visiting Quan Y Cave, also called Hospital Cave, or Trung Trang Cave, selected according to local conditions and the cruise schedule. After the activity you check out of the cabin and have brunch on board while cruising back through Lan Ha Bay.
Where It Ends
You disembark at Tuan Chau Wharf and either make your own way back to Hanoi or take the paid transfer service. The listing states no return time. The itinerary and activity locations can change at short notice with weather, tides, local conditions or Port Authority requirements, and the captain selects the safest route.
Who This Tour Rules Out
No ages, fitness levels or access rules are stated for this listing, but several features rule people out anyway.
If the Extras Break Your Budget
The from-price of $146 is not the whole cost. Add $25 per person for the transfer from Hanoi or Ninh Binh, and $80 more if you travel alone. If a lower total matters, the 2-Day Lan Ha Balcony Cruise has entry fees included and a solo surcharge of $90, and the Infinity Pool Overnight Cruise includes entrance fees and its pool at $125.
If You Want One Fixed Boat and Itinerary
Reviewers name both Amanda cruises and La Casta Star as the boat they sailed on, so the ship can vary between bookings. The route is also fluid: Ba Trai Dao may be replaced by Tra Bau, and Quan Y Cave by Trung Trang Cave, with the captain choosing on the day. Travellers who want a fixed, smaller ship should look at the Bhaya Classic Overnight Cruise, capped at 10 guests, or the Oriental Sails Junk Cruise, the one listing on the comparison that sails a traditional-style junk capped at 20.
Practical Limits
There is no hotel pickup unless you buy the transfer, so self-drivers must reach Tuan Chau Harbor for check-in. Minimum age, wheelchair access and difficulty are not stated, and no group size is published. Storm closures are decided by the Ha Long Bay Management Board and the Inland Waterway Port Authority, not the operator, and boats have been suspended in past typhoons, so build slack into a tight schedule.
Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before departure, which is a short window compared with the 6-day policies on some Viator listings.
Karst peaks rise above calm water in Lan Ha Bay. Photo: Shyamal, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Getting There and What to Add
You can skip the $25 transfer and reach Tuan Chau yourself, or extend the trip with a night in Ha Long or on Cat Ba.
Hanoi to Tuan Chau on Your Own
Hanoi to Ha Long is roughly 150 to 170 km. The expressway route takes about 2 to 2.5 hours by car or limousine, buses run 2.5 to 3.5 hours, and motorbikes must use the old QL18 road at 4 to 5 hours. Tuan Chau Marina has two ports, with Port 2 the international passenger port used by overnight cruises.
The full route options and fares are set out in the Hanoi to Ha Long Bay guide.
What This Tour Skips
The listing does not name Sung Sot Cave or Ti Top Island as stops, the two best-known sights on the classic day routes. Sung Sot Cave lies on Bo Hon Island with two main chambers and a staircase of about 50 steps, and Ti Top's summit needs a climb of hundreds of steps. If those matter to you, book a day cruise before or after: the Day Cruise with Kayaking visits Sung Sot, Luon Cave and Ti Top from $39, and the sights are covered in the Sung Sot Cave and Ti Top Island guides.
Extending the Trip
The route already reaches Cat Ba Island, so a night there before or after is easy. The Cat Ba Island guide covers the archipelago of 366 to 367 islands, and the Lan Ha Bay guide covers the 400 or so karst islands you cruise through. For a third bay, Bai Tu Long Bay lies northeast of Ha Long and is the least crowded of the three, and the Bai Tu Long Bay Small Boat Cruise covers it in two days from $158.
Start all comparisons on Ha Long Bay junk boat cruises.
Two-Day Itinerary
Clock times are not stated in the listing, so steps are given in phases. Route options depend on tide and weather.
-
Start
Hanoi to Tuan Chau Wharf
Either take the optional Old Quarter pickup or make your own way to Tuan Chau Wharf, then board a transfer boat to the cruise ship.
-
After check-in
Welcome and briefing
Welcome drink, cold towel, safety briefing and a tour of the cruise. Lunch is served in the restaurant as the boat crosses Ha Long Bay toward Lan Ha Bay.
-
After lunch
Dark and Bright Cave, or Ba Trai Dao or Tra Bau
About an hour at Dark and Bright Cave by kayak or bamboo boat, then swimming, or kayaking and swimming at Ba Trai Dao Lagoon or Tra Bau Island. The captain picks the location on tide and weather.
-
Sunset
Sunset, pool and cooking class
Sunset over the Gulf of Tonkin, the onboard pool, the sunset party or a cooking class. Massage is available for purchase.
-
Evening
Dinner at anchor and squid fishing
The captain anchors in a quiet section of the bay for dinner. Squid fishing, a movie, music or the bar fill the night.
-
Early morning, day two
Tai Chi and breakfast
Tai Chi on the top deck at sunrise, then a light breakfast in the restaurant.
-
Day 2
Ao Ech or Cat Ba caves, then brunch
Kayaking and swimming at Ao Ech, or Quan Y Cave or Trung Trang Cave on Cat Ba Island, chosen by local conditions. Check out, brunch on board, disembark at Tuan Chau Wharf and return to Hanoi by your own means or the paid transfer.
Pros and Cons
An honest read of this listing against the others on the comparison site.
What we genuinely like
- A private balcony is standard even in the base junior suite, at $146 with all meals
- Kayaking, swimming, a cooking class, Tai Chi and night squid fishing are all in the price
- The boat has a swimming pool
- Free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure and reserve now, pay later
- Two route choices each day mean the captain can work around tide and weather
The honest downsides
- The transfer is never included, at $25 per person for the round trip, and solo travelers pay $80 extra
- The boat varies: reviewers name both Amanda and La Casta Star, so you cannot book a specific ship
- No group size is stated
- Sung Sot Cave and Ti Top Island are not on the route
- Holiday surcharges stack up: $40 per person for the Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve gala dinner and $5 for Lunar New Year
Who it's NOT for: Not for travellers who want a small traditional junk, a guaranteed named ship, the classic Sung Sot and Ti Top stops, or an all-in price with the Hanoi transfer and bay fees included.
Questions About This Cruise
How much does the halong bay junior suite cruise cost in total?
The from-price is $146 per person for 2 days and 1 night. Add the $25 per person shared round-trip transfer from Hanoi or Ninh Binh, and $80 more if you take the cabin alone. The full breakdown is in what the price covers.
Is the Hanoi transfer included?
No, transportation is not included in any booking option. The shared round-trip transfer from Hanoi or Ninh Binh is $25 per person, and you can also drive yourself to Tuan Chau using the routes in the Hanoi to Ha Long Bay guide.
Which places does the cruise actually visit?
Day one offers Dark and Bright Cave by kayak or bamboo boat, or kayaking at Ba Trai Dao or Tra Bau. Day two offers kayaking at Ao Ech or Quan Y or Trung Trang Cave on Cat Ba Island. The day-by-day detail is in what the day is really like, and the bays are covered in the Lan Ha Bay guide.
Can I upgrade from the junior suite?
Yes. A second-floor senior suite costs $10 per person extra, the VIP Cabin $65 and the President Suite $110. The Balcony Suite Overnight Cruise lists a 32 square meter junior suite with a private balcony and a bathtub as its base room.
What is the cancellation policy?
Cancel up to 24 hours before departure for a full refund, and you can reserve now and pay later. That 24-hour window is shorter than the 6-day policies on listings such as the Bhaya Classic Overnight Cruise, so book the trip you are sure about.
Does the boat have a pool and what if the weather turns?
Yes, the boat has a swimming pool, and all activities are optional. The itinerary can change at short notice with weather, tides or Port Authority requirements, and bay closures are decided by the management board, as explained in the Halong Bay weather guide.
Is this the right overnight cruise for me?
It suits travellers who want a balcony cabin, all meals and Lan Ha Bay kayaking at $146 and who will budget for the transfer and solo surcharge. If you want entry fees included at a lower price, compare the 2-Day Lan Ha Balcony Cruise or browse all Ha Long Bay junk boat cruises.
What Travelers Said
Andy was a great guide. I have enjoyed my time a lot. Will definitely recommend Amanda cruises.
Bruce was brilliant at communicating the itinerary and his enthusiasm and jovial nature made it a really fantastic trip
Everything was very well organized. The food was very tasty, and we had a beautiful room!
Prices, availability and terms are set by the operator and confirmed at checkout.
We may earn a commission if you book through one of our links, at no extra cost to you. Full affiliate disclosure