Dora Cruise is usually sold as a Halong Bay cruise, but its programme is all Lan Ha Bay: a beach swim at Ba Trai Dao and a morning bike ride to Viet Hai village, after a check-in at Tuan Chau in Ha Long. Our verdict: a good-looking route on a well-equipped ship, but it is hard to book Dora by name today; the same office's Doria and Tulip ships sell the identical programme with clear listings and real reviews.
Our scores
- Route
- 4/5Ba Trai Dao plus Viet Hai, all in Lan Ha
- Cabins
- 4/5Balconies on all cabins, terrace suites of 45 m²
- Facilities
- 4/5Pool, jacuzzi, spa, gym, mini golf, kids' room
- Transparency
- 2/5No prices, cabin count or policies published
- Booking flexibility
- 2/5Only direct or through agencies
Pros
- Lan Ha only, with Viet Hai cycling included in the 2D1N
- Every cabin has a balcony or terrace
- Family connecting cabins up to 68 m² and a kids' play area
- Pool, four-season jacuzzi, spa and gym
Cons
- No cave on the 2-day programme
- No published prices or cancellation terms
- Not sold under its own name on GetYourGuide or Klook
- An agency now shows "Amour Cruise" at the old Dora page
Dora Cruise ship and cabins
The official site lists a Dora Suite and a Honeymoon Suite, both 45 m² with a private terrace and a bathtub with a sea view, on the third and fourth decks. Below them are Junior and Senior Double, Twin and Triple cabins of up to 32 m², each with a private balcony, plus Family Connecting and Grand Family Connecting cabins of up to 68 m². The inclusions mention a shower and bathtub in every cabin.
On board there is a pool, an outdoor four-season jacuzzi, a spa, a gym, mini golf, an indoor kids' play area and karaoke. The site does not give a total cabin count or a launch year. One agency says 22 cabins and a steel hull, with conflicting build and launch years. The site markets Dora as "truly 5 star", which is a sales label: Vietnam's ship rating is voluntary and runs from 1 to 5 stars only.
Dora, Doria, Tulip and Amour: who sells what
Dora's site uses Tulip Cruise in its footer and booking email, and its office (Lam Ha, Long Bien) is the same as Tulip's and Doria's. Doria, sold on Klook, calls itself "Doris Grand Cruise", and its itinerary pages are the Tulip template with text identical to Dora's 2D1N. So Doria and Tulip run the same route from the same office. That does not make them the same ship as Dora, and we do not say "Doria is Dora".
Two more names to keep apart:
- Doris is a different ship from a different office (23 Hang Voi). See our Doris review.
- Amour. HalongBayTours.com's old Dora URL now shows "Amour Cruise", while its reviews up to December 2024 still mention Dora. That suggests a rename, but it is unconfirmed. Do not confuse it with "Lamour" (2025, 33 rooms) or Klook's "L'Amour", which sails Ha Long.
Dora Cruise route: Lan Ha Bay, no cave
The Dora 2D1N is pure Lan Ha. You check in at the Tuan Chau waiting lounge in Ha Long, take a tender to the ship at Finger Islet, then sail past Turtle and Man Head islets into Lan Ha. The afternoon stop is a swim at Ba Trai Dao ("Three Peaches") beach, often a swim stop when access, tide and weather allow. Day 2 offers Viet Hai village by bicycle or electric car, or a morning on board. There is no Dark and Bright Caves visit on this programme, which is the main difference from Doris, Rosy and Era. For how check-in works at Tuan Chau, see Lan Ha piers.
A day aboard Dora Cruise (2 days 1 night)
As published on the official site:
Hanoi pickupOnly with a booked limousine bus or private car
Check-in at the Tuan Chau waiting lounge
Board at Finger Islet, lunch while sailing
Guided swim at Ba Trai Dao beachKayak subject to the suspension
Cooking class
Sunset party
Dinner, then squid fishing
Tai chi (Day 2)
Viet Hai village by bicycle or electric car, or stay aboard
Check-out, lunch on board
Back at Tuan ChauHanoi about 15:30–16:00
Included: entrance fees, an English or Vietnamese guide, 4 meals, tai chi, cooking class, Viet Hai cycling, swimming, squid fishing and use of the gym, jacuzzi and mini golf. Not included: drinks, the Hanoi transfer and tips. A 3-day version exists. Read more about the village in our Viet Hai guide.
Dora Cruise price and booking options
Dora publishes no prices, child policy or cancellation terms, and it is not sold under its own name on GetYourGuide or Klook. One agency listed it from $142 per person before the page switched to Amour.
The same programme is easy to book through the sister ships:
| Platform | Listing | Rating | Price | Where |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Klook | Doria 2D1N Cruise: Ha Long Bay & Lan Ha Bay · 2D1N | 4.6 (74) | $152 Lowest | See on Klook |
| GetYourGuide | Hanoi: 2 or 3 Days Lan Ha Bay by Doria/Tulip 5 Star Cruise · 2D1N | 4.5 (131) | $204 | See on GetYourGuide |
Lowest adult price per person in USD, checked on October 16, 2026. Cabin type, dates and what is included differ between listings: open each one before you pay.
Doria on Klook is from $152 with 74 reviews; the Doria/Tulip listing on GetYourGuide is from $204 with 131 reviews, and the Tulip 2/3-day cruise is from $231. Klook is the cheaper channel for Doria today; check that the cabin type matches before comparing.
GetYourGuide2D1N
Hanoi: 2 or 3 Days Lan Ha Bay by Doria/Tulip 5 Star Cruise
4.5 (131)
from $204Check dates
GetYourGuide2D1N
2/3-Day Lan Ha Bay Tulip 5* Cruise Hiking,Biking,Kayaking
4.8 (82)
from $231Check dates
Klook2D1N
2D1N Halong & Lan Ha Bay Tour by 5 Stars Rosy Cruise, Ha Long
4.7 (19) · 200+ booked
from $178Check dates
Prices checked on October 16, 2026
What travelers say about Dora
Recent reviews under the Dora name are few, and some now sit on a page for another ship. Since Dora, Doria and Tulip share a programme, reviews of the route itself (Ba Trai Dao, Viet Hai) carry over; reviews of the cabins and food do not. Check that recent reviews name the ship on your voucher.
How to book and cancel
With no written policy on the Dora site, a platform booking gives you the clearer terms. Klook sets cancellation per activity, and GetYourGuide cruise listings usually allow free cancellation up to 24 hours before; check each product. Direct bookings with Lan Ha operators typically charge fees from 30 days out and 100% inside 7 days. Storm cancellations are ordered by the port authority, not the cruise line; refunds follow the platform or operator terms. Have your passport details ready 24 hours before sailing. Step by step in how to book.
Alternatives to Dora Cruise
- Doria or Tulip: same office, identical Lan Ha programme, bookable on Klook and GetYourGuide.
- Rosy: 22 balcony suites, Dark and Bright Caves on Day 2.
- Venezia: a similar beach and Viet Hai route on small boats starting from Cat Ba.
- Elite of the Seas: a larger, steel ship with many reviews.
All ships side by side on the Lan Ha Bay cruises hub.
Is Dora Cruise still operating?
It is unconfirmed. The official site is current, but one major agency now shows a ship called Amour at its old Dora page. Ask the seller for the ship's name in writing before you pay.
Does Dora Cruise go to Halong Bay or Lan Ha Bay?
It checks in at Tuan Chau in Ha Long and then sails a Lan Ha programme: Ba Trai Dao beach and Viet Hai village. There is no cave stop on the 2-day trip.
Is Dora the same as Doria Cruise?
They are sold by the same office and follow an identical itinerary, but they are separate brands with different cabin lists. Doria, which calls itself "Doris Grand", is the one you can book on Klook.
How much is Dora Cruise for 2 days 1 night?
The operator publishes no price. The same programme on Doria starts at about $152 per person on Klook.
Is kayaking included on Dora Cruise?
It is listed, but kayaking in the Cat Ba bays has been officially suspended since November 2024. Expect a swim or bamboo boat instead unless the operator confirms a designated kayak area.
