Ha Long Bay Junk Boat CruiseOriental Sails Cruise: 2-Day Ha Long Bay Junk
The Oriental Sails cruise is the only listing in the comparison of Ha Long Bay junk boat cruises that describes its boat as a traditional-style junk. It is a 2-day, 1-night trip on Ha Long Bay sold on Viator by A Travel Mate And Trading Company Limited, with one vessel of 18 deluxe cabins and one of 8, furnished in classic Vietnamese style. At $135 per person it sits mid-pack among the overnight options, with three meals, a cooking class, Tai Chi and kayaking in the program. This page covers what the price covers, what it does not, the cancellation tiers and who should book something else. For the full field, start at Ha Long Bay junk boat cruises.
About This Tour
This is a 2-day, 1-night overnight cruise on Ha Long Bay aboard a traditional-style junk. The operator, A Travel Mate And Trading Company Limited, runs one vessel with 18 deluxe cabins and one with 8, both furnished in classic Vietnamese style. The program includes cave visits, swimming, kayaking, Tai Chi and a cooking class, with time to simply sit on deck.
The from-price of $135 per person covers the cabin on a twin or double basis, lunch, dinner, breakfast and a welcome drink. Drinks, personal expenses, gratuities and the Hanoi shuttle bus are not included. The shuttle bus costs $20 per person for both ways, and a compulsory gala dinner on December 31 adds $35 per person. The rating stands at 4.7 from 402 verified reviews.
$135 per person, 2 days and 1 night on board. Drinks, gratuities and the Hanoi shuttle bus are extra.
2 days, 1 night on the bay.
No meeting point is stated. The optional shuttle bus from Hanoi costs $20 per person both ways, with pickups starting about 30 to 60 minutes before departure and the exact time given on reconfirmation.
Up to 20 guests. No guide language is stated by the listing.
Lunch, dinner and breakfast are included, plus a welcome drink. A vegetarian option is available if requested at booking.
Full refund if you cancel at least 6 full days before departure, a 50% refund between 2 and 6 days before, and no refund within 2 days. A valid passport is required on the day.
Check Dates and Availability
Starting times are shown once you check a date. The full refund window ends 6 days before departure, so pick a date you can commit to.
You'll confirm the exact date and time on the secure booking page.
Quick answer Oriental Sails in short
The Oriental Sails cruise costs $135 per person for 2 days and 1 night on Ha Long Bay, with up to 20 guests and a 4.7 rating from 402 reviews. Three meals, a welcome drink, kayaking, Tai Chi and a cooking class are included. The Hanoi shuttle bus is $20 extra for both ways.
Key takeaways
- See what the fare covers in What the Price Actually Covers.
- Walk through the stops in What the Day Is Really Like.
- Want fewer people on board? Compare the Bhaya Classic Overnight Cruise with a cap of 10.
- Browse every option in the Ha Long Bay junk boat cruises.
What the Price Actually Covers
The listing is clear about what sits inside the $135 base and what does not. The table below follows the operator's own inclusions and exclusions.
Included
The price covers overnight accommodation on board on a twin or double basis, lunch, dinner and breakfast, a welcome drink, and the activities named in the description: cave visits, swimming, kayaking, Tai Chi and a cooking class. A vegetarian option exists if you ask at the time of booking. Unused services are not refunded, so if you skip an activity there is no money back.
The boat itself is the selling point. The word junk comes from the Portuguese junco, and traditional junks carry battened sails, flat bottoms and watertight bulkheads. Today's Ha Long cruise boats are mostly engine-powered and sails are often kept for show, but Oriental Sails is the one listing here that still describes its vessel as a traditional-style junk in classic Vietnamese style.
Not Included, and What You May Pay on the Day
Drinks beyond the welcome drink, personal expenses and gratuities are excluded. The Hanoi to Halong shuttle bus is a surcharge of $20 per person for both ways. On December 31 there is a compulsory gala dinner at $35 per person, so a New Year sailing costs more than the headline figure.
No hotel pickup is included as standard, and the listing states no bay entrance fee either way, so confirm at booking what fees apply on your date. The cancellation tiers also matter: the full refund ends 6 days before departure, unlike the 24-hour free cancellation on many day cruises.
| Line | In the price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Cabin, 1 night | Yes | Twin or double basis, deluxe cabin in classic Vietnamese style |
| Lunch, dinner, breakfast | Yes | Vegetarian option on request at booking |
| Welcome drink | Yes | Other drinks are not included |
| Kayaking, Tai Chi, cooking class, cave visits | Yes | The activities named in the description |
| Hanoi shuttle bus | No | $20 per person for both ways |
| Gala dinner on December 31 | No | Compulsory at $35 per person on that date |
| Drinks, personal expenses, gratuities | No | Paid on board or on shore |
| Bay entrance fee | Not stated | The listing does not state whether it is included |
Sources: UNESCO, Ha Long Bay - Cat Ba Archipelago, Ha Long Bay Management Board
Sunset colours over the karsts of Ha Long Bay. Photo: Takeshi Aida from Hong Kong, Hong Kong, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
What the Day Is Really Like
The listing describes the program rather than a minute-by-minute schedule, so treat the phases below as the shape of the 2 days, not a fixed timetable.
Getting to the Boat
If you book the shuttle bus, pickups start about 30 to 60 minutes before departure and the exact time arrives on reconfirmation. The ride from Hanoi to the Ha Long harbours covers roughly 150 to 170 km and takes about 2.5 to 3.5 hours by road. No meeting point is stated for guests who make their own way, so ask the operator where to board when you reconfirm.
Day One on the Water
Once on board, the junk sets out into Ha Long Bay, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Lunch is included on board. The afternoon brings the activities named in the description: a cave visit, swimming, and kayaking, which is allowed only in the designated zones set by the bay authorities.
Evening is dinner on board, with the night spent at anchor in a deluxe cabin.
Day Two and the Return
Tai Chi and a cooking class are part of the program, and the listing does not give their timing. Breakfast is included before the junk heads back to the harbour. No return time or return point is stated, so confirm the arrival details with the operator.
If you take the shuttle bus, the bus covers the Hanoi to Ha Long run in both directions.
We Found an All-Inclusive Boat Experience in Halong Bay | Oriental Sails
A traveller vlog of the Oriental Sails cruise, from boarding to the cabins and meals. Third-party video by Centtwinz Travel. This site did not shoot it and has no relationship with the creator.
Who This Tour Rules Out
The listing states several exclusions and limits outright. Read them before you book, because this junk is not the right boat for everyone.
Who the Listing Flags
The listing flags people with a physical or sensory disability, people over 80 and people over 120 kg, and also names anyone with symptoms of hallucinations, sleepwalking, fear of enclosed spaces or epilepsy. Travellers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness. Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller and infants sit on an adult's lap, so very young children are allowed.
The Practical Limits
There is no hotel pickup in the base price, so you either pay the $20 shuttle or arrange your own transport. The cancellation terms are strict by comparison: many day cruises offer free cancellation 24 hours out, while this one ends the full refund 6 days before and takes 50% between 2 and 6 days. Storms close the bay regardless of operator, as when all overnight boats were suspended for Storm Wutip, and the listing does allow cancellation for bad weather.
If any of that puts you off, look elsewhere. The Bhaya Classic Overnight Cruise caps the group at 10 guests. The 2-Day Lan Ha Balcony Cruise offers 24-hour cancellation and a private balcony. For the quietest water, the Bai Tu Long Bay Small Boat Cruise sails the bay northeast of Ha Long. Or compare every Ha Long Bay junk boat cruise on the homepage.
A tour boat loading kayakers below green karsts on Ha Long Bay. Photo: Vyacheslav Argenberg, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Getting There and What to Add
If you skip the $20 shuttle, you can reach the harbour yourself, and the two days leave room to add sights the program does not name.
Hanoi to the Harbour on Your Own
Many Ha Long Bay cruises board at Tuan Chau Marina on Tuan Chau Island, linked by causeway and roughly 150 km from Hanoi. This listing states no meeting point, so confirm the harbour with the operator. Driving takes about 2 to 2.5 hours on the expressway, with some guides quoting 2.5 to 3.5 hours by bus.
Buses and limousines from Hanoi run at fares from around 180,000 VND, and a private car costs from about 1,200,000 VND one way. Tuan Chau Marina has two ports, with Port 2 handling overnight cruises. However you travel, a current valid passport is required on the day.
What to Add Before or After
The itinerary names cave visits but not which caves, so if Sung Sot Cave is on your list, read the Sung Sot Cave guide: it lies on Bo Hon Island. The same goes for Ti Top Island, covered in the Ti Top Island guide. To extend the trip, an extra night in Ha Long city or on Cat Ba Island works well, and Lan Ha Bay south of Ha Long makes a good second cruise.
The guides to Lan Ha Bay, Cat Ba Island and Bai Tu Long Bay cover the three bays and how they differ.
- Read the Hanoi to Ha Long Bay guide for the road options in detail
- Check Halong Bay weather before locking in a date
Two Days, Stop by Stop
Clock times are not stated beyond the pickup window, so the steps below follow the order of the operator's description.
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Start
Pickup or arrival at the harbour
Shuttle bus pickups in Hanoi start about 30 to 60 minutes before departure, with the exact time given on reconfirmation. Guests who decline the $20 bus arrive at the harbour independently.
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Day 1
Board the junk and cruise out
You board a traditional-style junk with cabins in classic Vietnamese style, one vessel with 18 deluxe cabins and one with 8. Lunch is included on board.
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Afternoon
Cave visit, swimming and kayaking
The program includes a cave visit, a swim stop and kayaking. Kayaking runs only in the zones the bay authorities designate, and life jackets are mandatory on the water.
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Evening
Dinner and night on board
Dinner is included. The junk anchors for the night and you sleep in a deluxe cabin on a twin or double basis.
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Day 2
Tai Chi on deck
Tai Chi is part of the program, and the listing does not say when it runs.
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Morning
Cooking class and cruising
A cooking class is part of the program, and the listing does not give its timing.
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Last half day
Return to the harbour
No return time or point is stated. The trip ends back at the harbour, with the shuttle bus returning those who booked it to Hanoi.
Pros and Cons
An honest balance for a $135, 2-day overnight trip.
What we genuinely like
- The only listing in the comparison that calls its boat a traditional-style junk with cabins in classic Vietnamese style
- Three meals and a welcome drink included, with a vegetarian option on request
- Kayaking, Tai Chi, a cooking class and cave visits are all in the program
- A 4.7 rating from 402 verified reviews on Viator and Tripadvisor
- Capped at 20 guests
The honest downsides
- The full refund ends 6 days before departure, far stricter than the 24-hour terms on most day cruises
- The Hanoi shuttle bus is $20 per person extra and no hotel pickup is included
- A compulsory gala dinner on December 31 adds $35 per person
- Drinks beyond the welcome drink, gratuities and personal expenses are all extra
- The listing flags people over 80, over 120 kg and people with physical or sensory disabilities
- No return time, return point or guide language is stated
Who it's NOT for: Not for travellers who need free cancellation inside 6 days, hotel pickup in the base price, or step-free access.
Oriental Sails Cruise: Questions
How much does the Oriental Sails cruise cost?
The from-price is $135 per person for 2 days and 1 night. The Hanoi shuttle bus adds $20 per person both ways and the December 31 gala dinner is a compulsory $35 per person. Compare it with the other Ha Long Bay junk boat cruises on the homepage.
Is kayaking included on this junk cruise?
Kayaking is named in the description as part of the activities covered by the price. Kayaking on the bay is allowed only in designated zones and life jackets are mandatory. The things to do in Halong Bay guide covers the activities in more detail.
Does the Oriental Sails cruise include hotel pickup in Hanoi?
No hotel pickup is included in the base price. The optional shuttle bus from Hanoi costs $20 per person for both ways, with pickups starting about 30 to 60 minutes before departure. The Hanoi to Ha Long Bay guide lists the alternatives.
What is the cancellation policy?
Full refund if you cancel at least 6 full days before departure, 50% between 2 and 6 days before, and no refund within 2 days. Unused services are not refunded. The trip can be cancelled for bad weather, and the Halong Bay weather guide explains the storm closures.
Which bay does this cruise sail in?
Ha Long Bay, in Quang Ninh province. If you would rather sail the quieter bay to the northeast, the Bai Tu Long Bay Small Boat Cruise covers that water, and the Bai Tu Long Bay guide explains the difference.
How does this junk compare with other overnight cruises?
It is the only listing here described as a traditional-style junk, at $135 with up to 20 guests. The Bhaya Classic Overnight Cruise caps the group at 10, and the 2-Day Lan Ha Balcony Cruise adds a private balcony and 24-hour cancellation. See all Ha Long Bay junk boat cruises options in one table.
Who should not book this tour?
The listing flags people with a physical or sensory disability, people over 80, people over 120 kg and anyone with the named conditions, and asks for at least moderate fitness. Travellers needing step-free access should check the Halong Bay luxury cruise guide instead.
Prices, availability and terms are set by the operator and confirmed at checkout.
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