Ha Long Bay Junk Boat CruiseHalong Bay 3 Day Cruise: Lan Ha Bay by Balcony Cabin
This halong bay 3 day cruise from Halongbayluxcruises (Marvel Travel) spends 3 days and 2 nights in Lan Ha Bay with a private balcony and a bathtub in the cabin. The extra day buys a 30 minute bike ride to Viet Hai village and an afternoon at Ba Trai Dao Beach. It carries a 4.7 rating from 40 reviews on GetYourGuide, so the record is thin compared with the same operator's 2-day version. The base price is $301 per person, and VAT, a peak season charge and the Hanoi transfer all come on top. This page breaks down every figure from the listing and compares it with the other Ha Long Bay junk boat cruises so you can judge whether the third day earns its keep.
About This Tour
Halongbayluxcruises (Marvel Travel) runs this 3-day 2-night trip from Hanoi or Ninh Binh through Ha Long Bay into Lan Ha Bay, the bay beside Cat Ba Island with about 400 karst islands. Day one covers Dark and Bright Cave by local boat or kayak, day two moves to a day boat for the Viet Hai bike ride and Ba Trai Dao Beach, and day three visits Trung Trang Cave on Cat Ba Island before the ride back.
The cabin is the selling point: a luxury cabin with a private balcony, a bathtub and 24-hour room service, with all meals on board covering seafood, Western dishes and a vegetarian option. Boarding is at about 12:15 PM on day one and check-out is at 11:00 AM on day three, with drop-off in Hanoi at about 3:00 PM. The listing carries a 4.7 rating from 40 verified GetYourGuide bookings, a small review base compared with the 6,135 reviews on the 2-day Lan Ha balcony cruise run by the same operator.
$301 per person for 3 days and 2 nights, plus mandatory extras listed below
3 days and 2 nights on board, from boarding at about 12:15 PM on day 1 to check-out at 11:00 AM on day 3
Pickup at 8:00 to 8:30 AM in Hanoi Old Quarter for those who book the transfer, or Ninh Binh pickup by email request, then Tuan Chau Port
Group size not stated. English-speaking tour guide
All meals on board: seafood, Western dishes and a vegetarian option. Day 2 lunch may be served in Viet Hai village. Welcome drink included, alcoholic drinks are not
Government VAT of $35 per person, a $25 per person peak charge from October 1 to April 30, transfer $25 per person, single cabin $180 extra, holiday surcharges of an amount not stated, tips and travel insurance
Check Dates and Availability
Live dates and cabin types are shown on the booking platform. Free cancellation applies up to 24 hours before departure for a full refund, and you can reserve now and pay later.
Quick answer 3-day Lan Ha cruise in brief
This halong bay 3 day cruise costs $301 per person for 3 days and 2 nights in Lan Ha Bay, with a balcony cabin, bathtub, all meals and a pool on board, rated 4.7 from 40 reviews on GetYourGuide.
Key takeaways
- The real cost is higher than the headline: add the $35 VAT, the $25 peak charge from October 1 to April 30 and the $25 transfer, as detailed in what the price covers.
- The third day adds Viet Hai village by bike and Ba Trai Dao Beach. If two days is enough, the same operator's 2-day Lan Ha balcony cruise has far more reviews.
- Wheelchair users cannot join this trip, and the day starts early with an 8:00 to 8:30 AM pickup. See who this rules out.
- Want a traditional junk or a quieter bay instead? Compare the Oriental Sails junk cruise and the Bai Tu Long small boat cruise.
What the Price Actually Covers
The $301 headline is not what you pay. The listing prices the transfer inside its Includes list while the header says pickup is included, and VAT is always added, with the peak charge on top from October 1 to April 30, so plan around the figures below from the listing itself.
Included in the $301
The price covers the luxury cabin with private balcony, bathtub, marble bathroom and multi A/C, all meals on board with a vegetarian option, the welcome drink, 24-hour room service, entrance and sightseeing fees, the tender and speedboat transfer, cycling at Viet Hai village, kayaking or bamboo boating, squid fishing, the cooking demonstration, morning Tai Chi, the sunset party and an English-speaking guide. A honeymoon setup or birthday cake is free if you request it by email before the trip.
Not Included, and Charged on the Day
Government VAT of $35 per person is always added. From October 1 to April 30 a peak season charge of $25 per person applies. The round-trip Hanoi transfer is $25 per person even though the header reads pickup included, and Ninh Binh pickup is arranged by email.
A private single cabin costs $180 extra. Christmas, New Year and national holidays carry a surcharge of an amount not stated. Tips, travel insurance and alcoholic drinks are also your own cost, and a valid passport is required on the day.
| Line | In the price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Cabin with balcony and bathtub | Yes | Marble bathroom, multi A/C, 24-hour room service |
| All meals on board | Yes | Seafood, Western dishes, vegetarian option. Alcoholic drinks are not |
| Entrance and sightseeing fees | Yes | Per the listing's Includes |
| Government VAT | No | $35 per person, always added |
| Peak season charge | No | $25 per person from October 1 to April 30 |
| Hanoi or Ninh Binh transfer | No | $25 per person, though the header says pickup included. Ninh Binh pickup by email request |
| Single cabin | No | $180 extra |
| Holiday surcharge | No | Christmas, New Year and national holidays, amount not stated |
| Tips, insurance, alcoholic drinks | No | Listed under exclusions |
Sources: UNESCO, Ha Long Bay - Cat Ba Archipelago, Ha Long Bay Management Board
A small boat below a green cliff on the southeast coast of Cat Ba Island. Photo: Jakub Hałun, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
What the Day Is Really Like
Three days follow the listing's own itinerary, which the operator notes is for reference only and subject to change.
Day 1: Hanoi to Lan Ha Bay Via Dark and Bright Cave
The limousine bus collects guests who booked the transfer in Hanoi Old Quarter between 8:00 and 8:30 AM and drives to Ha Long, arriving at Tuan Chau Port at 11:30. A speedboat transfers you to the cruise at 12:15, where a welcome drink and a cruise manager briefing open the trip. At 13:00 the boat cruises toward Lan Ha Bay over lunch.
At 15:30 you reach Dark and Bright Cave, explored by local boat or kayak, with a swim afterwards. At 17:30 comes the sunset happy hour and a spring roll cooking demonstration, dinner at 19:00, then squid fishing and board games.
Day 2: Viet Hai by Bike, Ba Trai Dao Beach
Tai Chi starts the day on the sundeck around 6:00 AM with breakfast at 7:30. At 8:00 you board a day boat for Viet Hai fishing village, arriving at the pier at 9:30 for 30 minutes of biking on a paved road past a lagoon, up a slope and through a tunnel cave to the village. Lunch at 12:30 is served in the village or on board.
At 15:00 the boat reaches Ba Trai Dao Beach, where the listing says the water is clean enough to see the bottom on sunny days and safe for swimming and kayaking. You return to the main boat at 16:00 for leisure time until dinner. Note the tide: guides report the Ba Trai Dao beach is reachable only about 2 to 3 hours a day, so the stop depends on conditions.
Day 3: Trung Trang Cave and the Road Back
Tai Chi at 6:00 AM, a quick breakfast at 6:45, then a 30 minute transfer from Gia Luan to Trung Trang Cave on Cat Ba Island inside the Cat Ba World Biosphere. At 9:30 you are back on board to check out, lunch is served at 10:00 as the boat returns to harbour, check-out is at 11:00 and the bus leaves Tuan Chau at 11:50. Drop-off in Hanoi Old Quarter or Ninh Binh is at about 3:00 PM.
Who This Tour Rules Out
The listing is explicit about limits, and the format itself excludes some travellers.
Stated Limits
The listing says the trip is not suitable for wheelchair users and requires a valid passport. Pets are not allowed. No minimum age, fitness level or group size is stated, though the Viet Hai ride involves 30 minutes of biking up a slope and through a tunnel cave, so non-cyclists should ask the operator about alternatives before booking.
Format Limits
This is a three-day commitment with an 8:00 to 8:30 AM start and a roughly 3:00 PM finish in Hanoi, and the road to Tuan Chau is a long bus ride before you reach the boat. 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 storms. If a third day is too much, the same operator's 2-day Lan Ha balcony cruise covers the bay in two days with over 6,000 reviews.
If you want the quietest water, the Bai Tu Long Bay small boat cruise sails the least crowded of the three bays. For a single day out of Hanoi, the day cruise with kayaking is the most reviewed option on the site. Kayaking rules in Lan Ha Bay changed, so confirm the day's kayak spots with the operator.
Solo travellers should note the $180 single cabin fee.
Cat Co beach and its hillside hotels on Cat Ba Island. Photo: Saaremees, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Getting There and What to Add
The cruise boards at Tuan Chau, and everything around it you can arrange yourself if you skip the transfer.
Hanoi to Tuan Chau Port
Tuan Chau International Marina sits on Tuan Chau Island about 12.5 km southwest of Ha Long city, joined by a causeway, and Hanoi to Ha Long runs roughly 150 to 170 km depending on route. By car or limousine the expressway trip takes about 2 to 2.5 hours, buses 2.5 to 3.5 hours. The cruise's own limousine transfer costs $25 per person and picks up in the Old Quarter at 8:00 to 8:30 AM, or by email request in Ninh Binh.
If you drive yourself, arrive before the 11:30 port arrival window and plan for the 12:15 speedboat. More detail is in the Hanoi to Ha Long Bay guide.
Adding Days Before or After
The itinerary does not list Sung Sot Cave or Ti Top Island, so you can add them separately: Sung Sot Cave on Bo Hon Island has two main chambers and is reached by about 50 steps. A night in Ha Long city before or after breaks up the driving, or stay on Cat Ba Island, about 150 km from Hanoi and home to Cat Ba National Park, established in 1986. See the Cat Ba Island guide.
If three days of karst leaves you wanting more water, read about Bai Tu Long Bay, the quietest of the three bays, or browse things to do in Halong Bay.
Day by Day Itinerary
Clock times come from the operator's listing, which notes timings can shift with weather and tides.
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8:00-8:30 AM
Old Quarter pickup
The limousine bus collects guests who booked the $25 transfer in Hanoi Old Quarter and drives to Ha Long, arriving at Tuan Chau Port around 11:30.
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12:15 PM
Speedboat to the cruise
Arrive Tuan Chau Port at 11:30, transfer by speedboat at 12:15, welcome drink and safety briefing, then the boat starts cruising to Lan Ha Bay.
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3:30 PM
Dark and Bright Cave
Explore the cave area by local boat or kayak, then swim near the cruise before the 5:30 PM sunset happy hour, cooking class, 7:00 PM dinner and squid fishing.
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Day 2 morning
Viet Hai village by bike
Tai Chi and breakfast, then board the day boat at 8:00 AM, arriving at Viet Hai pier at 9:30 AM for 30 minutes of cycling past a lagoon, over a slope and through a tunnel cave.
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Day 2 afternoon
Ba Trai Dao Beach
Lunch at 12:30 in the village or on board, then at 3:00 PM the boat anchors at Ba Trai Dao for swimming and kayaking, returning to the main boat at 4:00 PM.
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Day 3 morning
Trung Trang Cave
Tai Chi at 6:00 AM, breakfast at 6:45 AM, then a 30 minute transfer to Trung Trang Cave on Cat Ba Island inside the World Biosphere reserve.
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Day 3 midday
Check-out and return
Back on board at 9:30 AM, lunch at 10:00 AM, check-out at 11:00 AM, bus at 11:50 AM, drop-off in Hanoi Old Quarter or Ninh Binh at about 3:00 PM.
Pros and Cons
An honest read of the listing, with the fixes attached.
What we genuinely like
- The only 3-day trip in this comparison, adding Viet Hai village by bike and Ba Trai Dao Beach
- Balcony cabin with bathtub, pool on board and all meals including a vegetarian option
- Free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure, and reserve now pay later
- Honeymoon setup and birthday cake free on request, 24-hour room service
The honest downsides
- The true cost is above $301: VAT of $35 per person is always added, with the $25 peak charge from October 1 to April 30 and the $25 transfer if you book it
- Only 40 reviews, thin proof next to the same operator's 2-day cruise with 6,135
- Not suitable for wheelchair users, and the Viet Hai stop requires 30 minutes of biking
- A long road transfer each way, with an 8:00 to 8:30 AM pickup and a drop-off around 3:00 PM, and storm closures are decided by the bay authorities, not the operator
Who it's NOT for: Not for wheelchair users, non-cyclists, travellers who cannot spare three days, or anyone who wants a booking backed by thousands of reviews.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does this halong bay 3 day cruise really cost?
The base is $301 per person, then the listing adds $35 VAT per person, a $25 peak charge per person from October 1 to April 30 and a $25 transfer per person, all set out in what the price covers.
Is three days better than two in Lan Ha Bay?
The third day adds Viet Hai village by bike and Ba Trai Dao Beach. If two days is enough, the 2-day Lan Ha balcony cruise from the same operator costs less and has far more reviews.
What if a storm closes the bay?
Suspensions are decided by the Ha Long Bay Management Board and the Inland Waterway Port Authority, not the cruise, as explained in the Halong Bay weather guide, and free cancellation applies up to 24 hours before departure.
Do I need to be fit for the Viet Hai bike ride?
The ride is 30 minutes on a paved road with one slope and a tunnel cave, and the listing states no fitness requirement, though it notes the trip is not suitable for wheelchair users, so ask the operator about alternatives if that applies.
Is lunch and kayaking included?
Yes: all meals on board with a vegetarian option are included, and kayaking or bamboo boating is in the price, though kayak spots depend on what the bay authorities allow, as covered in the Lan Ha Bay guide.
Can I join from Ninh Binh instead of Hanoi?
Yes, pickup and drop-off in Ninh Binh are offered by email request, and the listing allows pickup in Hanoi with drop-off in Ninh Binh. For sights near the bay, see things to do in Halong Bay.
Is this boat a traditional junk?
The listing calls it a 6-star cruise and does not describe a junk. The Oriental Sails junk cruise is the listing on this site that calls its boat a traditional-style junk.
What Travelers Said
Great experience, great staff and great food! Beautiful room as well would absolutely recommend!
A very great experience. It's definitely 100% worth doing the three-day tour every time. (That's what I say, and I was skeptical beforehand 😉)
the kindness of all the staff. The service on the boat was great. The activities offered are very well organized. Thanks to Hao for passionately sharing his knowledge and anecdotes about the beautiful Lan Ha Bay. Thanks to Sun for being there, being kind, and explaining things during the different table services. Thanks to Lucie for the food classes. She's an excellent facilitator.
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