The La Casta cruise sold as "Halong Bay" is, for its overnight ships, a Lan Ha Bay cruise: guests check in at Tuan Chau in Ha Long and the ships spend the afternoon at Ba Trai Dao and the next morning at Tra Bau, both in Lan Ha. Our verdict: comfortable, well-documented mid-to-upper ships with fair agency prices; know which of the three you are booking, and do not expect a pool.
Our scores
- Route
- 4/5Lan Ha stops on both days; a cave is not guaranteed
- Cabins
- 4/530 m² suites with balcony and bathtub; VIP suites up to 70 m²
- Value
- 4/5agency prices from $125–150 per person
- Transparency
- 4/5full ship data published; no prices; two websites
- Booking flexibility
- 2/5direct: full payment and 100% fee inside 14 days
Pros
- Three ships on the same Lan Ha programme, so dates are easier to find
- Every standard suite is 30 m², with balcony and sea-view bathtub
- 20-person outdoor Jacuzzi, usable in cool months
- Short 25-minute tender from Tuan Chau
- Ship data published per deck and cabin type
Cons
- No pool on any of the ships
- 100% cancellation charge inside 14 days direct
- Dark and Bright Cave only as the bad-weather option
- Missing the tender means paying for a private speedboat
- No prices on the official site
The ships and cabins
La Casta Cruise Group runs three overnight ships. All three check in at the same lounge and sail Lan Ha. Details from lacastacruise.com:
| Ship | Launched | Cabins | Suite types |
|---|---|---|---|
| La Casta | July 2020 | 22 | Junior 30 m², Senior 30 m², Family Triple 40 m², Honeymoon VIP 50 m², President VIP 70 m² |
| La Casta Regal | November 2020 | 24 | Junior 30 m², Senior 30 m², Family Triple 40 m², Honeymoon VIP 50 m² (balcony) or 60 m² (terrace) |
| La Casta Star | not stated | 27 | Junior, Senior, Family Triple, 2 VIP suites at stern and bow, President fore-deck suite |
On La Casta, the Honeymoon VIP suites have a round king bed and a sea-view Jacuzzi, and the President VIP has a private terrace, Jacuzzi and sauna. Standard suites have a balcony and a sea-view bathtub. La Casta's own category list adds up to 23 cabins, one more than its headline figure of 22, so check the cabin type on your voucher rather than the total.
None of the ships has a pool. The selling point is a large outdoor "four-season" Jacuzzi for up to 20 people, plus a spa. If a pool matters, look at Elite of the Seas or Celina of the Sea.
A second website, lacastacruises.com, sells the same ships with a different Hanoi address and a different Tuan Chau lounge number. We could not confirm which is the operator and which is a sales agent; lacastacruise.com has the fuller ship data and the F17 lounge.
The route: Lan Ha, with the cave as a backup
- 1Tuan Chau International MarinaPierDirections ↗
- 2Ba Trai Dao beachBeachDirections ↗
- 3Dark & Bright caveCaveDirections ↗
- 4Viet Hai villageVillageDirections ↗
- 5Van BoiBeachDirections ↗
After check-in at Station 17 on Tuan Chau Island, a high-speed tender takes about 25 minutes to reach the ship. The afternoon stop is Ba Trai Dao ("Three Peaches") beach and a natural lagoon for kayaking or swimming. In bad weather the ship switches to the Dark and Bright Cave (hang Sáng – hang Tối) by bamboo boat. Day 2 morning is Tra Bau. All of these are in Lan Ha (vịnh Lan Hạ).
So the cave is not a fixed part of the 2-day trip: you see it only if the weather rules out the beach. Ba Trai Dao itself is often a swim stop when access, tide and weather allow; its access has been disputed since late 2024. If the cave matters to you, Capella or La Regina Grand visit it as a planned stop.
A day aboard: 2 days 1 night itinerary
Pickup in Hanoi's Old Quarteruntil 08:15; not included in the fare
Check-in, Station 17, Tuan Chauuntil 12:00
25-minute tender to the ship
Lunch
Ba Trai Dao beach and a natural lagoon: kayak or swimbad weather: Dark and Bright Cave by bamboo boat
Happy hour, cooking demo, dinner, squid fishing, karaoke
Tai Chiday 2
Tra Bau: kayak or swim
Brunch
Disembark at Tuan Chau
The full programme is on the official 2D1N page. As on every one-night cruise, day 2 is half a morning.
The 3D2N "Lan Ha – Cat Ba" spends day 2 on a separate day boat: Ba Trai Dao or Van Boi, cycling to Viet Hai village with a fish foot massage, kayaking, and lunch on the day boat. Day 3 is Tra Bau. See 3-day cruises for how this model works on other ships too.
La Casta cruise price
The official site publishes no prices. Where to compare:
- HalongBayTours.com, a Hanoi agency, lists La Casta Regal from $125 and La Casta from $150 per person (Hanoi transfer not included).
- GetYourGuide sells "2-Day 6-Star La Casta Ha Long & Lan Ha Bay Cruise" from $221 per person from Hanoi. It has no reviews yet and does not say which of the three ships you get; ask the supplier before paying. "6-star" is a sales label: Vietnam's voluntary rating for accommodation vessels stops at 5 stars.
GetYourGuideDay trip
La Casta 5-Star Daily Cruise: Lan Ha Bay (Buffet Lunch)
4.8 (68)
from $61Check dates
GetYourGuideDay trip
Ha Long Bay Day Cruise by La Casta with Buffet Lunch
5.0 (1)
from $86Check dates
GetYourGuide2D1N
From Ha Noi: 2-Day 6-Star La Casta Ha Long & Lan Ha Bay Cruise
No reviews yet
from $221Check dates
La Casta Cruise on GetYourGuide →Prices checked on October 16, 2026
The fare includes the suite, entrance and sightseeing fees, kayak, bamboo boat, guide, all listed meals, insurance, Wi-Fi and the Jacuzzi. Drinks, transfers, spa and tips are extra. Full payment is due 14 days before check-in, and you need your passport or ID at check-in. Late arrivals who miss the tender pay for a private speedboat.
La Casta Daily: Ha Long, not Lan Ha
La Casta Daily is a steel-hulled day boat. The operator describes an 8-hour Ha Long trip: Sung Sot cave, Luon cave by kayak or bamboo boat, and Ti Top island, with a Jacuzzi for 15. One GetYourGuide listing is titled "La Casta 5-Star Daily Cruise: Lan Ha Bay" (from $61, 4.8 from 68 reviews), while another sells "Ha Long Bay Day Cruise by La Casta" from $86. Read the stops on the listing before you book: Sung Sot, Luon and Ti Top mean Ha Long. For day trips that clearly stay in Lan Ha, see Lan Ha day cruises.
What travelers should check
The overnight GetYourGuide listing has no reviews yet, and the agency scores (9.6 for Regal from 143 reviews, 9.5 for La Casta from 112 on HalongBayTours.com) use a method the agency does not publish. Before booking, confirm three things: the ship name (La Casta, Regal or Star), whether the afternoon will be Ba Trai Dao or the cave, and what kayaking is allowed. Our how to book guide has a fuller checklist.
How to book and cancel
Direct, La Casta asks for full payment 14 days before check-in, and cancelling within 14 days costs 100%. On GetYourGuide most cruise listings allow free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start; check the window on the product. That gap is the main reason to book through a platform. See GetYourGuide vs Klook.
Storm cancellations are ordered by the port authorities, not by the cruise line, and refunds follow the seller's terms. From June to November keep a buffer day before flights; see best time to visit.
Check La Casta datesfrom $221Affiliate link: if you book, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Alternatives
- La Regina Grand: 27 balcony suites from Tuan Chau Lot 24, with the cave as a planned stop.
- Rosy: 22 suites with balcony and bathtub, launched 2019.
- Capella: 30 cabins, Dark and Bright Cave on day 2.
- Scarlet Pearl: 23 cabins, check-in at Tuan Chau 41B.
All Lan Ha ships are compared in our cruise list.
FAQ
Does La Casta cruise go to Lan Ha Bay?
Yes, the overnight ships do: Ba Trai Dao on day 1 and Tra Bau on day 2. La Casta Daily is a Ha Long day trip.
What is the difference between La Casta and La Casta Regal?
La Casta launched in July 2020 with 22 cabins and a President VIP suite of 70 m²; Regal launched in November 2020 with 24 cabins, including two terrace suites of 60 m². Both have 30 m² standard suites and a Jacuzzi instead of a pool.
Where does La Casta cruise depart from?
Station 17 (F17) on Tuan Chau Island in Ha Long, followed by a 25-minute tender to the ship.
Does La Casta have a swimming pool?
No. The ships have a large outdoor Jacuzzi for up to 20 people and a spa.
How much is La Casta Regal cruise?
The operator does not publish prices. A Hanoi agency lists Regal from $125 per person; GetYourGuide sells a La Casta 2D1N from Hanoi from $221 per person.
Can I cancel a La Casta cruise?
Direct bookings are charged 100% within 14 days of check-in. Platform listings set their own terms, often free cancellation up to 24 hours before.
