We cruise. It’s 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 after we have been planning our Vietnam vacation it was a no brainer to incorporate a Ha Lengthy Bay cruise.Â
However wouldn’t it be that very same as an ocean cruise? And, when evaluating the value of two nights onboard to the opposite lodging we’d booked, wouldn’t it be price it?
Ha Lengthy Bay is certainly one of Vietnam’s vacationer sizzling spots. Lots of of vessels rotate across the 1969 jungle-draped limestone islands that appear to be the set of a Jurassic Park film.
It’s received a repute for being a bit crowded and, regardless of being a World Heritage Website for the previous 30 years, having numerous garbage floating round.
It’s additionally not low cost to do a cruise. This was the costliest 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 value of an expertise is subjective. On this put up I’m sharing what we made from our Ha Lengthy Bay cruise so you may resolve whether or not it’s price it for you.
In addition to our cruise itinerary and a evaluation of our ship, I’m protecting a couple of helpful issues to find out about:
- the climate – we cruised within the peak of the wet season on the finish of July
- the floating outlets 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 bought 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 Huge Bay Group that additionally runs Peony Cruises and Lily Cruises.
The best way 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 if you happen to guide a two day and one night time cruise you actually solely get two half days and an evening.Â
We determined that to profit from our cruise we wanted greater than 24 hours onboard.
As soon as onboard, all the things 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 charge.
This in itself made the value tag of £1,100 or £137.50 per individual, per night time appear much more affordable.
Our cruise itineraryÂ
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 here’s an summary 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 Hanoi’s Previous Quarter. We paid additional for this service.
- 11.30am: arrived on the port in Ha Lengthy the place we checked in on the Huge 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 illustration on methods to make spring rolls.
- 7pm: 5 course dinner within the restaurant.
- 8.30pm: squid fishing.
Day 2 (NB. In the event you guide a one night time cruise then skip this and rely 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 illustration on methods 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 as a consequence of dangerous climate. We kayaked once more as a substitute)
- 9.30am: take a look at 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 Bai Worldwide 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 resolution will come all the way down to time and prices for lots of people. However having completed the 2 night time cruise I personally suppose one night time would have been too quick for us.
We went from Hanoi. It took three hours to get to the bay after which one other hour to get onboard. So it’s 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 closing morning of our cruise have been fairly jam-packed with actions. We didn’t have a number of time to chill out.
Our full day (day two) was after we had time to cease, chill out and admire the surroundings.
So, I’d advocate doing a two night time and three day cruise if you happen to can. It’s positively price 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 numerous seating on the highest deck. There was additionally a treadmill and bike in a small indoor health club space and mini golf on deck.
Cabins
We booked adjoining cabins – the Class Connecting Door cabins. There may be 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 after we arrived. Aside from that the rooms have been similar, spacious, clear and effectively adorned.
We liked having the tub with a view. It felt very luxurious.
I might inform the children have been impressed. As quickly as we walked into our cabins they wished me to take pictures.
Cabins include robes, slippers, a TV (I’m unsure while you’d have likelihood to observe it), a paid mini bar, toiletries and seating on the balcony.
Meals
Earlier than we’d 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, contemporary fruits and cake.
Dinner was a 5 course set menu that we have been proven over lunch to test 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 ladies opted for the children menu on the primary night are have been served an enormous plate of breaded hen, spaghetti in tomato sauce and fries. They ploughed by this whereas we ate 4 programs earlier than having the identical dessert.
The following night time the 11-year-old opted for the set menu having checked out our plates longingly the night earlier than.
Breakfast is buffet model once more with eggs cooked to order, toast, cereal, fruit and yogurt in addition to conventional Vietnamese cooked choices.
Prime tip: if you happen to’re on the 2 night time cruise it’s nonetheless price attending to breakfast at 6.30am because the folks on their final day will probably be on the buffet early. We discovered a lot of the cooked meals had been snaffled after 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. Similar to an ocean cruise, it might be onerous 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 we’d count on from an ocean cruise liner.
We had our personal waiter, Mario, who was good with our children. He seen the nine-year-old folding a serviette like a ship – it’s certainly one of her and Mr Tin Field’s occasion tips – and confirmed her methods to make a rose. He additionally helped the 11-year-old with the tough job 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 occurring subsequent and ensuring we have been comfortable.
The passenger turnaround is fairly fast in Ha Lengthy Bay but it surely felt like we have been getting a private service all through.
All-in-all our cruise with Mon Cheri was positively 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.Â
In the event you guide one night time you’re going to get an elective tour off the ship for a couple of hours like a visit to a cave. And if you happen to guide 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 thrice 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 initially of the squid season so didn’t 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 biggest in Vietnam, was cancelled due to the storms which had flooded the entry street. 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 biggest of the islands in Ha Lengthy Bay with a inhabitants of 45,000.
Cat Ba means ‘woman island’, so named as a result of individuals who visited it solely discovered ladies there. Their husbands have been fisherman so have been hardly ever 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 Huge Bay Group’s day boat, Orchid.
We have been joined by passengers from the opposite Huge 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 weren’t 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 we’d have be up on deck having fun with some solar.
The water was largely 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
Once 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 wasn’t on our aspect and biking wouldn’t have been snug or protected.
It was a little bit of a disappointment till we noticed among the hills. However what wonderful views.
On the village we have been instructed about among the uncommon wildlife on the island, the langur, which is a primate solely discovered right here after being hunted to close extinction. We didn’t spot any throughout our go to – they’re clearly good climate animals.
We additionally tried native wine, noticed a standard house and had our toes nibbled by fish in a pond. It was all very touristy however attention-grabbing never-the-less.
Tip: in case you are occupied with shopping for pearls throughout your time in Vietnam then Cat Ba island is the place to do it. Plenty of Vietnam’s 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 essential preparation of lunch. I’d truthfully 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 we’d cleared plates stuffed with crispy hen, stir fried beef and shrimp salad it was time to kayak close to a reasonably little fisherman’s 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 night’s actions.
If I’ve tempted you to do that Ha Lengthy By a cruise right here’s the place to test 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 manner or guide a switch together 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 ‘luxurious limoscene’. These are 10 seater mini buses which we discovered to be good however not pristine.Â
One of many reclining seats on the bus that picked us up wouldn’t sit straight once more as soon as laid again. And the wifi and USB plugs on the return bus didn’t work.Â
The service was punctual however on the way in which again our driver didn’t appear to have the ability to maintain a gradual velocity. 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 you’ve completed any analysis concerning the bay you’ll have heard it has a air pollution downside. We knew this earlier than our journey and nonetheless wished to expertise this wonderful 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.Â
This was nice enjoyable however the ladies commented on the garbage we noticed floating by.
Once we received within the water after kayaking there was no seen garbage.
Nevertheless, on our final morning in precisely the identical location the water was clearly not so clear. The crew didn’t 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 items, litter and plastic containers. One of many largest items of garbage I noticed was a half sunk inflatable dingy.Â
I’m no marine skilled however the waste isn’t simply created by tourism within the bay. It’s being pushed on the tide from past the islands too.Â
What we didn’t see was any effort to scrub it up. Nevertheless, a few of our fellow passengers had been on a cruise right here earlier within the yr and stated there was quite a bit much less garbage then. So perhaps one thing is being completed about it at totally different instances.
Our cruise ship had refillable glass bottles within the cabins however they didn’t share a lot about anything they did to cut back plastic waste or assist the surroundings.
Floating outlets – enjoyable however persistent
One thing else we’d heard about when researching our cruise was the small boats that strategy cruise ships to promote passengers drinks and snacks.Â
These are a enjoyable novelty till you realise what number of there are. In the event you’re sat in your balcony they may come over to ask in order for you beers or wine, usually in fast succession.
We purchased a couple of beers and a few crisps on our first day and rapidly learnt you must haggle the value. Whereas all the things is basically low cost, we realised the 200,000 VND (about £6) we’d paid for 5 cans of beer was greater than we might have paid onboard.
Are you able to get pleasure from Ha Lengthy Bay within the wet season?
You may see from my footage that we didn’t have a number 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 it’s not simply rain. Actually, you may get typhoons in the summertime months. Issues didn’t get that dangerous for us but it surely 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.
A number of 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 following day a crew member instructed us among the bigger ships wanted to evacuate their company to the shore throughout {a partially} massive storm a couple of weeks earlier than.
Fortunately it wasn’t that dangerous throughout our cruise however the climate did have an effect on our actions. We weren’t 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 different actions to maintain us entertained.
We’ve had entire ports cancelled whereas on ocean cruises so get it that plans have to alter generally.
However in case you are coming to Ha Lengthy Bay for an exercise that requires good climate (or you may’t grin and bear the rain) decide dates outdoors the moist season.
Abstract: is a Ha Lengthy Bay cruise price it?
In the event you’ve 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 proven fact that this cruise ate up a number of our vacation funds, we liked it.
We have been wowed by the pure fantastic thing about Ha Lengthy Bay. The hovering islands lined in tumbling greenery that plunges into turquoise water have been like nothing we’ve seen earlier than.
It was a beautiful expertise to kayak across the coves, even after we have been joined by artifical garbage slicks.Â
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 received nothing however wonderful service, residing as much as the identical requirements as ocean cruises.
The ship actually did run like a effectively oiled machine, which is not any imply feat with the each day turnover of company. However fairly than feeling like we have been on a manufacturing line, we felt like we acquired a private service due to the attentive crew.
So sure, we thought our cruise was completely price it and are very proud of our resolution to guide two nights.
Have you ever been on a Ha Lengthy Bay cruise? What did you suppose?
In the event you’d like to seek out out extra about our cruise and the remainder of our 14 day Vietnam itinerary take a look at my Instagram Tales. There’s 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 value you pay.
