We cruise. Itโs certainly one of our responsible journey pleasures. We love the bite-sized stops at a number of locations, the top-notch service and watching the world sail by in consolation. So when once we have been planning our Vietnam vacation it was a no brainer to incorporate a Ha Lengthy Bay cruise.ย
However would it not be that very same as an ocean cruise? And, when evaluating the worth of two nights onboard to the opposite lodging weโd booked, would it not be value it?
Ha Lengthy Bay is certainly one of Vietnamโs vacationer sizzling spots. A whole bunch of vessels rotate across the 1969 jungle-draped limestone islands that appear like the set of a Jurassic Park film.
Itโs acquired a popularity for being a bit crowded and, regardless of being a World Heritage Website for the previous 30 years, having plenty of garbage floating round.
Itโs additionally not low cost to do a cruise. This was the most costly two nights of our fortnight in Vietnam by fairly a margin.
We knew all of this earlier than we booked, so went with our eyes open.
I completely get it that the worth and price of an expertise is subjective. On this put up Iโm sharing what we product of our Ha Lengthy Bay cruise so you’ll be able to resolve whether or not itโs value it for you.
In addition to our cruise itinerary and a evaluation of our ship, Iโm masking a number of useful issues to find out about:
the climate โ we cruised within the peak of the wet season on the finish of July
the floating retailers that may provide you with additional drinks and snacks
transfers to the ships
and the elephant within the bay, the air pollution.
*This put up accommodates affiliate hyperlinks*
Our Ha Lengthy Bay Cruise
The overwhelming majority of Ha Lengthy Bay cruises are offered as both two days and one night time or three days and two nights. We booked a 3 days and two night time cruise with Mon Cheri Cruises which is a part of the Large Bay Group that additionally runs Peony Cruises and Lily Cruises.
The way in which the cruise itineraries work is that you simply be a part of your ship in time for lunch and are off once more earlier than lunch on the day you depart. So should you e book a two day and one night time cruise you actually solely get two half days and an evening.ย
We determined that to benefit from our cruise we wanted greater than 24 hours onboard.
As soon as onboard, every part however our bar invoice was included. A really beneficiant sized breakfast, lunch, dinner and afternoon snacks, plus all of the actions and excursions have been wrapped up within the room fee.
This in itself made the worth tag of ยฃ1,100 or ยฃ137.50 per particular person, per night time appear much more affordable.
Our cruise itineraryย
Most Ha Lengthy Bay cruise itineraries are very comparable in format. Your cruise firm might go to totally different islands however the actions onboard are very comparable.
Right hereโs an outline of our three day and two night time Ha Lengthy Bay cruise with Mon Cheri:
Day 1
8.30am: picked up from our resort in Hanoiโs Outdated Quarter. We paid additional for this service.
11.30am: arrived on the port in Ha Lengthy the place we checked in on the Large Bay Group reception space.
12pm: we boarded a young boat that might switch us to our ship.
12.45pm: we arrived on the Mon Cheri 2 have been we went straight as much as the restaurant on deck three for a welcome transient and buffet lunch.
1.45pm: we have been proven to our cabins whereas the ship relocated.
3.30pm: kayaking and swimming at Tra Bau.
5pm: comfortable hour on the highest deck.
6pm: an indication on the right way to make spring rolls.
7pm: 5 course dinner within the restaurant.
8.30pm: squid fishing.
Day 2 (NB. In the event you e book a one night time cruise then skip this and depend Day 3 as your Day 2)
6am: Tai Chi on the highest deck.
6.30am: buffet breakfast within the restaurant.
8am: we caught a young switch to a day boat that took us on our island tour.
10.50am: arrived on Cat Ba island for a tour of Viet Hai village.
12.30pm: again on the day boat for a 5 course lunch.
1.30pm: kayaking within the Three Peach space.
3.30pm: again on board the day boat to return to Mon Cheri.
4.15pm: arrive again on the cruise ship which had modified location.
5pm: comfortable hour on the highest deck.
6pm: an indication on the right way to make spring rolls.
7pm: 5 course dinner within the restaurant.
8.30pm: squid fishing.
Day 3
6am: Tai Chi on the highest deck.
6.30am: buffet breakfast within the restaurant.
7.20am: journey to Trung Trang Caves (nonetheless our tour was cancelled because of dangerous climate. We kayaked once more as a substitute)
9.30am: try of cabin
9.45am: buffet brunch within the restaurant.
10.45am: disembark and return to the port on the tender boat.
11.30am: we arrived again at port and after a brief wait have been proven to our non-public switch bus to Noi Baiย Worldwideย Airport in Hanoi. We paid additional for this service.
Check out my Vietnam Story Highlights on Instagram for extra from our cruise and our 14 days in Vietnam.
One night time or two night time Ha Lengthy Bay cruise?
This choice will come all the way down to time and prices for lots of people. However having executed the 2 night time cruise I personally suppose one night time would have been too brief for us.
We went from Hanoi. It took three hours to get to the bay after which one other hour to get onboard. So itโs a protracted day of journey and doing the identical once more the subsequent day would have been an excessive amount of.
We additionally discovered that the primary afternoon and last morning of our cruise have been fairly jam-packed with actions. We didnโt have quite a lot of time to calm down.
Our full day (day two) was once we had time to cease, calm down and recognize the surroundings.
So, Iโd suggest doing a two night time and three day cruise should you can. Itโs undoubtedly value it.
Our ship: Mon Cheri 2
Our 5 star luxurious cruise ship, Mon Cheri 2*, had 20 balcony cabins, a restaurant, an infinity pool and a bar with plenty of seating on the highest deck.ย There was additionally a treadmill and bike in a small indoor fitness center space and mini golf on deck.
Cabins
We booked adjoining cabins โ the Class Connecting Door cabins. There’s additionally an Class Household Balcony cabin which has a wardrobe-style divider between the rooms however not a door.
The beds in our two rooms have been configured as a double and twins once we arrived. Aside from that the rooms have been similar, spacious, clear and properly embellished.
We beloved having the tub with a view. It felt very luxurious.
I may inform the children have been impressed. As quickly as we walked into our cabins they wished me to take images.
Cabins include robes, slippers, a TV (Iโm undecided once youโd have probability to observe it), a paid mini bar, toiletries and seating on the balcony.
Meals
Earlier than weโd even left the port our cruise host, Jasmine, had requested if we had any dietary necessities and we have been requested once more onboard.
Our first meal was a buffet lunch with loads of seafood, salads, rice, noodles, recent fruits and cake.
Dinner was a 5 course set menu that we have been proven over lunch to verify we have been OK with all of the dishes. By now we knew the meals was wonderful so we have been comfortable to eat something put in entrance of us.
The women opted for the children menu on the primary night are have been served an enormous plate of breaded rooster, spaghetti in tomato sauce and fries. They ploughed by way of this whereas we ate 4 programs earlier than having the identical dessert.
The subsequent night time the 11-year-old opted for the set menu having checked out our plates longingly the night earlier than.
Breakfast is buffet fashion once more with eggs cooked to order, toast, cereal, fruit and yogurt in addition to conventional Vietnamese cooked choices.
High tip: should youโre on the 2 night time cruise itโs nonetheless value attending to breakfast at 6.30am because the folks on their final day might be on the buffet early. We discovered a lot of the cooked meals had been snaffled once we arrived simply earlier than 7am.
There was nonetheless a lot to fill the tiny areas in our tummies after the feast the night time earlier than. Identical to an ocean cruise, it might be arduous to really feel hungry on a Ha Lengthy Bay voyage.
The crew
All the crew have been extremely pleasant and useful all through our cruise and the service was precisely what weโd anticipate from an ocean cruise liner.
We had our personal waiter, Mario, who was sensible with our children. He seen the nine-year-old folding a serviette like a ship โ itโs certainly one of her and Mr Tin Fieldโs occasion methods โ and confirmed her the right way to make a rose.ย He additionally helped the 11-year-old with the tough activity of de-shelling a tiger prawn.
Our cruise host Jasmine was round from the time we arrived on the port till the second we disembarked, telling us what was taking place subsequent and ensuring we have been comfortable.
The passenger turnaround is fairly fast in Ha Lengthy Bay nevertheless it felt like we have been getting a private service all through.
All-in-all our cruise with Mon Cheri was undoubtedly definitely worth the price ticket.
Cruise actions
The actions included in Ha Lengthy Bay cruises are largely the identical: kayaking, swimming, cooking demonstrations and squid fishing.ย
In the event you e book one night time you’ll get an elective tour off the ship for a number of hours like a visit to a cave. And should you e book two nights you get an elective full day tour, like our journey to Cat Ba Island, plus the half day tour.
We actually loved the actions included in our cruise. The chance to kayak 3 times was a vacation spotlight for my children. Cat Ba island was stunning and definitely worth the go to on day two to study extra about life within the bay.
We have been cruising in the beginning of the squid season so didnโt have a lot success dangling our rods however the children nonetheless loved making an attempt.
Sadly our journey to Trung Trang Cave, which is the most important in Vietnam, was cancelled due to the storms which had flooded the entry street.ย It was a disgrace to overlook it however we have been all content material to have a bit extra time to kayak.
Tour to Cat Ba island
On day two of our cruise we have been up and breakfasted by 8am prepared for our tour to Cat Ba island, the most important of the islands in Ha Lengthy Bay with a inhabitants of 45,000.
Cat Ba means โwoman islandโ, so named as a result of individuals who visited it solely discovered ladies there. Their husbands have been fisherman so have been not often on land.
The tender that had introduced us from the cruise port and had been towed behind the ship got here again into service to take us to the Large Bay Groupโs day boat, Orchid.
We have been joined by passengers from the opposite Large Bay boats Mon Cheri 1 and Peony and even a short by our information, Karl.
It was a little bit of a aid that we werenโt spending the entire day on the tender as a result of it was raining closely. Orchid had a eating room, indoor lounge and solar deck in addition to bogs and showers.
The voyage to the island took almost three hours so we’re capable of sit again, play video games and skim our books. If the climate had been higher weโd have be up on deck having fun with some solar.
The water was principally flat however the final 20 minutes have been bumpy as we got here round to the jap finish of the island and into the open sea.
Viet Hai village
After we reached the dock on Cat Ba we should always have had the choice to cycle 5km to the village of Viet Hai or take a extra leisurely golf buggy journey. However the climate wasnโt on our facet and biking wouldnโt have been comfy or secure.
It was a little bit of a disappointment till we noticed a few of the hills. However what superb views.
On the village we have been instructed about a few of the uncommon wildlife on the island, the langur, which is a primate solely discovered right here after being hunted to close extinction. We didnโt spot any throughout our go to โ they’re clearly good climate animals.
We additionally tried native wine, noticed a conventional house and had our toes nibbled by fish in a pond. It was all very touristy however attention-grabbing never-the-less.
Tip: if you’re all in favour of shopping for pearls throughout your time in Vietnam then Cat Ba island is the place to do it. A whole lot of Vietnamโs pearls are produced right here so that you get a greater value than on the mainland.
After Viet Hai we returned to Orchid. It has its personal galley for the all vital preparation of lunch. Iโd actually been anticipating a sandwich bag such as you may be given at a resort. However as a substitute we had one other freshly ready 5 course meal served by our waiter for the day, Ducky.
As soon as weโd cleared plates filled with crispy rooster, stir fried beef and shrimp salad it was time to kayak close to a fairly little fishermanโs temple.
We had almost an hour within the water earlier than it was time to catch the tide again to Mon Cheri 2 in time for the children to have a swim within the pool forward of the nightโs actions.
If Iโve tempted you to do this Ha Lengthy By a cruise right hereโs the place to verify availability and costs for Mon Cheri cruises*.
Switch to Ha Lengthy Bay
Most individuals becoming a member of a Ha Lengthy Bay cruise arrive from Hanoi, which is about three hours away with a consolation break. You can also make your individual method or e book a switch along with your cruise firm. For ease, we requested Mon Cheri to choose us up from our resort in Hanoi.
Mon Cheri Cruises provide non-public or group transfers by โluxurious limosceneโ. These are 10 seater mini buses which we discovered to be good however not pristine.ย
One of many reclining seats on the bus that picked us up wouldnโt sit straight once more as soon as laid again. And the wifi and USB plugs on the return bus didnโt work.ย
The service was punctual however on the best way again our driver didnโt appear to have the ability to preserve a gradual pace. He repeatedly took his foot off the accelerator making the three hour journey very juddery.
This was by far the ropiest a part of our cruise expertise however nonetheless not horrible.
Verify costs for taxis from Hanoi to Halong*.
Air pollution in Ha Lengthy Bay
In the event youโve executed any analysis in regards to the bay youโll have heard it has a air pollution downside. We knew this earlier than our journey and nonetheless wished to expertise this superb place.
On our first afternoon we kayaked round a smaller island within the Tra Bau space in Lan Ha Bay to the south of Ha Lengthy.ย
This was nice enjoyable however the women commented on the garbage we noticed floating by.
After we acquired within the water after kayaking there was no seen garbage.
Nonetheless, on our final morning in precisely the identical location the water was clearly not so clear. The crew didnโt provide swimming as an exercise this time.
Because the cruise continued we noticed extra garbage slicks. It was miserable. The junk is a mix of damaged home goods, litter and plastic containers. One of many largest items of garbage I noticed was a half sunk inflatable dingy.ย
Iโm no marine professional however the waste isnโt simply created by tourism within the bay. Itโs being pushed on the tide from past the islands too.ย
What we didnโt see was any effort to wash it up. Nonetheless, a few of our fellow passengers had been on a cruise right here earlier within the 12 months and stated there was loads much less garbage then. So perhaps one thing is being executed about it at totally different occasions.
Our cruise ship had refillable glass bottles within the cabins however they didnโt share a lot about the rest they did to cut back plastic waste or assist the atmosphere.
Floating retailers โ enjoyable however persistent
One thing else weโd heard about when researching our cruise was the small boats that strategy cruise ships to promote passengers drinks and snacks.ย
These are a enjoyable novelty till you realise what number of there are. In the event youโre sat in your balcony they’ll come over to ask in order for you beers or wine, usually in fast succession.
We purchased a number of beers and a few crisps on our first day and shortly learnt you must haggle the worth. Whereas every part is actually low cost, we realised the 200,000 VND (about ยฃ6) weโd paid for 5 cans of beer was greater than we might have paid onboard.
Are you able to take pleasure in Ha Lengthy Bay within the wet season?
You possibly can see from my photos that we didnโt have quite a lot of solar in Ha Lengthy Bay. The wet season is at its peak in July and August and we have been there slap bang in the course of it.
And itโs not simply rain. In reality, you may get typhoons in the summertime months. Issues didnโt get that dangerous for us nevertheless it was stormy. The rain was torrential from the primary night time till late morning on the day we left.
However we nonetheless had a superb time.
Among the lightening was actually spectacular. We have been woken up by an enormous clap of thunder on our first night time and watched the flashes for a couple of minutes earlier than returning to mattress.
The subsequent day a crew member instructed us a few of the bigger ships wanted to evacuate their visitors to the shore throughout {a partially} giant storm a number of weeks earlier than.
Fortunately it wasnโt that dangerous throughout our cruise however the climate did have an effect on our actions. We werenโt capable of cycle on Cat Ba island and our tour to the Trung Trang caves was cancelled.
All excursions are marketed as climate dependant and the crew supplied various actions to maintain us entertained.
Weโve had complete ports cancelled whereas on ocean cruises so get it that plans have to alter typically.
However if you’re coming to Ha Lengthy Bay for an exercise that requires good climate (or you’ll be able toโt grin and bear the rain) choose dates exterior the moist season.
Abstract: is a Ha Lengthy Bay cruise value it?
In the event youโve learn this far you in all probability already know what my reply is.
Regardless of the climate, regardless of the air pollution, and regardless of that incontrovertible fact that this cruise ate up quite a lot of our vacation funds, we beloved it.
We have been wowed by the pure great thing about Ha Lengthy Bay. The hovering islands lined in tumbling greenery that plunges into turquoise water have been like nothing weโve seen earlier than.
It was a beautiful expertise to kayak across the coves, even once we have been joined by artifical garbage slicks.ย
We have been actually impressed by our expertise on Mon Cheri 2. From the second we arrived on the port to the second we disembarked we acquired nothing however wonderful service, residing as much as the identical requirements as ocean cruises.
The ship actually did run like a properly oiled machine, which isn’t any imply feat with the each day turnover of visitors. However moderately than feeling like we have been on a manufacturing line, we felt like we acquired a private service because of the attentive crew.
So sure, we thought our cruise was completely value it and are very pleased with our choice to e book two nights.
Have you ever been on a Ha Lengthy Bay cruise? What did you suppose?
In the event youโd like to search out out extra about our cruise and the remainder of our 14 day Vietnam itinerary try myย Instagram Tales. Thereโs three devoted to this journey.
Disclosure: this put up accommodates affiliate hyperlinks marked with *. In the event you click on on certainly one of these and make a purchase order I’ll earn some fee. This doesn’t have an effect on the worth you pay.