Lan Ha Bay cruise finder: compare every ship side by side

This Lan Ha Bay cruise comparison exists because the same three questions come up with every ship: does it really sail Lan Ha, what is not in the price, and what happens if you cancel. The platforms show a photo, a star label and a "from" price. The answers are in the operators' itineraries and terms, and they differ a lot from ship to ship.

Start with the register below. It lists every ship we track with its class, check-in pier, rating and lowest price per platform, and you can filter it. Then read the tables that follow, one decision at a time: route, pier, budget, inclusions, cabins, children and cancellation. If you would rather have a short ranked list, go to best Lan Ha Bay cruises.

The cruise register

Three things to keep in mind while you filter. Prices are per person, twin share, for the cheapest cabin on the cheapest date a platform shows; they move daily. "5-star" and "6-star" are sales labels: Vietnam's rating for cruise ships is voluntary, goes from 1 to 5 stars, and no ship in the bay has been confirmed to hold an official 4- or 5-star decision. And review scores on generic listings ("5-Star Cruise with Balcony") belong to the agency selling several ships, not to one ship.

Step 1: does the ship really sail Lan Ha?

Many ships sold with "Lan Ha" in the title board at Tuan Chau in Ha Long and sail 1–1.5 hours through Ha Long waters first. That is normal. What matters is where the named stops are. Since 1 April 2026 four licensed overnight routes link the two bays (VnEconomy), so "Ha Long and Lan Ha" is a legal programme now. You still need to read which caves are on which side.

The Dark and Bright caves (hang Sáng – hang Tối, "hang" means cave) are in Lan Ha and visited by bamboo or rowing boat. Ba Hầm lake, Cửa Vạn and Tiên Ông are on the Ha Long side and appear only on ships licensed for that route. The fuller story is in Lan Ha vs Ha Long.

Step 2: where you check in

Most big Lan Ha cruise lines check in at Tuan Chau in Ha Long; a few boats and most Cat Ba day trips start on the Hai Phong side. Check your voucher. At Tuan Chau each line has its own numbered lounge, and the shuttle drops you there.

Hanoi to Tuan Chau takes 2.5–3 hours by road; Hanoi to Cat Ba town 3–3.5 hours by bus and car ferry via Dong Bai (the Cat Hai piers, formerly Got). From Ninh Binh, count about 4–4.5 hours to Tuan Chau. Every pier, with transfer times and prices, is on our piers page.

Step 3: what it costs

The same ship can cost very different amounts depending on where you book. Here are the bands that the platforms and agencies show for a two-day, one-night trip, per person, twin share:

Then compare the platform price with the operator's own rate. A few ships publish one:

The gap is large because platform prices show the cheapest cabin on a cheap date. Always state the date and the unit (per person or per cabin) when you compare. Our budget and luxury guides go deeper into each band.

For these three ships today, Klook is the cheapest place for Azura and Rosy, and Trip.com is slightly cheaper than Klook for Mon Chéri. Cabin type and inclusions may differ between platforms, so open both before deciding.

Step 4: what the fare leaves out

Drinks are almost never included; you settle the bar bill on the second morning. Beyond that, three items change the real price: VAT, the Hanoi transfer and the bay fee.

The bay fee is set by Hai Phong: 400,000 VND per adult for one night, 600,000 VND for two, 650,000 VND for three; children pay 300,000, 500,000 and 550,000 VND. Under 6 is free. The official extract is on the national park board's ticket page.

From Ninh Binh, the Big Bay Group shuttle (Peony, Mon Chéri) costs USD 25 per person each way, about 4.5 hours. See from Ninh Binh.

Step 5: cabins, pools and bathtubs

Cabin counts and launch years below are from the operators' own sites, except where marked "agency".

Two practical points. Steel or wooden hull matters to some travelers: wooden hulls are still legal, and both 2026 incidents in the two bays involved wooden boats. Elite (steel double hull) and Rosy (steel) say so on their own sites; for others ask "steel hull? year built?". And a bigger ship is not always better: Celina carries up to 180 guests, Venezia's small boat at most 10.

Step 6: children and cancellation

Child fares follow a common pattern (under 4 free, one per cabin; 4 or 5 to 11 at 75%; 12 and over adult), but several ships cut the age earlier.

Direct booking is stricter than the platforms. GetYourGuide shows free cancellation up to 24 hours before on most listings, and many offer reserve now, pay later; Klook's rules differ per activity. That flexibility is the honest reason to book through a platform. Read GetYourGuide vs Klook for the differences.

Storm cancellations are ordered by the port authority, not the cruise line, mostly from June to November. Refunds follow the operator's or platform's terms; a typical operator rule is a full refund if the trip is cancelled before sailing. Plan a buffer day before an international flight. Month by month in best time to visit.

Activities: what every ship can and cannot offer

Kayaking in the Cat Ba bays has been under an official suspension since November 2024, re-confirmed in late 2025 (VnExpress). Some ships offer it only in a designated area or replace it with a bamboo boat, tender or swim. Ask the operator in writing; most itineraries still list it. Details in kayaking.

Since June 2026 every passenger on Lan Ha passenger boats must wear a certified life jacket from boarding and throughout the trip, with a crew safety briefing (Tiền Phong). Expect to wear one on every tender and bamboo boat.

Beyond that, the programmes fall into a few templates:

• Dark and Bright caves by bamboo or rowing boat: Capella, Elite, Azura, Aspira, Rosy, Sena, Scarlet Pearl, La Regina Grand, Celina, Heritage Binh Chuan.
• Trung Trang cave on Cat Ba by road: Peony, Mon Chéri, Orchid Classic and Trendy.
• No cave, Viet Hai and beaches instead: Venezia, Heritage Line Ginger.
• A real three-day trip: the middle day is on a separate day boat to Viet Hai, often shared with guests from other ships. Many "3-day" listings are one day in Ninh Binh plus one night aboard. See three-day cruises.

How to check the real ship behind a listing

Watch for renamed ships with old reviews too. Perla Dawn became Adela and is now V'Spirit Classic; Lan Ha Legend no longer sails under that name; the Doris and Dora agency pages now show other ship names. Our operators overview explains each case.

Klook2D1N

2D1N Halong & Lan Ha Bay Cruise Tour by Aspira Cruise

4.9 (824) · 6K+ booked

from $146Check dates

GetYourGuide2D1N

Hanoi: 2 Days Lan Ha Bay Cruise with Meals & Activities

4.7 (873)

from $125Check dates

Klook2D1N

Azura 2D1N Luxury Cruise: Ha Long Bay & Lan Ha Bay Tour

5.0 (449) · 2K+ booked

from $176Check dates

5★

GetYourGuide3D2N

Hanoi: 3Day 5-Star Cruise Ha Long, Lan Ha & Viet Hai Cycling

4.8 (594)

from $266Check dates

6★

GetYourGuide2D1N

Hanoi: 2–3 Day Lan Ha & Halong Bay 6-Star Cruise w/Balcony

4.9 (526)

from $179Check dates

GetYourGuide2D1N

From Hanoi: Ha Long & Lan Ha Bay 2-Day Cruise with Meals

4.8 (454)

from $133Check dates

See everything on GetYourGuide →See everything on Klook →Prices checked on October 16, 2026

Quick matches

• First cruise, mid budget: Aspira or Elite of the Seas.
• Newest cabins: Azura.
• Family with small children: Peony or Mon Chéri; avoid Heritage Line (no under-5s).
• Already on Cat Ba: Venezia from Ben Beo, or a day boat; see day cruises.
• Lowest price with a named ship: La Pandora.
• Small, quiet ship and money is no issue: Heritage Line Ginger or Ylang.

FAQ