Mon Chéri Cruises is sold as a Halong Bay cruise, but the night is spent in Lan Ha Bay, south of Ha Long. It is run by Big Bay Group, the company behind Peony, and the two brands share one pier, one office and a word-for-word identical itinerary. What you choose between is the ships: Mon Chéri has slightly more cabins, much bigger top suites and a certified halal kitchen.
Our scores
- Route
- 4/5Real Lan Ha night at Tra Bau; day 2 cave is on land
- Cabins
- 4.5/5All balcony; suites from 35 m² up to a 90 m² terrace suite
- Families and diets
- 4.5/5Connecting and family cabins; halal kitchen
- Value
- 3.5/5From $177–192 per person; drinks and transfer extra
- Transparency
- 3.5/5No fares published, but a clear weather-compensation scale
Pros
- Every cabin has a sea-view balcony; many suites are 40 m² or more
- Connecting-door cabins of 70–80 m² for families
- Halal kitchen with a certificate (the company's claim)
- Rooftop pool and jacuzzi; Cat Ba guests can join at Gia Luan
Cons
- No prices on the official site
- 100% cancellation fee inside 14 days when booked direct
- Day 2 is a road trip to a cave on Cat Ba
- Kayaking is listed but falls under the Lan Ha kayak suspension
- 4.5% card fee; sky bar and drinks extra
Mon Chéri cruise Lan Ha Bay or Halong Bay?
The night is in Lan Ha. You check in at lounge No. 34, Tuan Chau Marina, the Big Bay Group terminal in Ha Long, take a small tender to the yacht at 12:00–12:30, and eat lunch while sailing south to Tra Bau, the main anchorage of Lan Ha. Mon Chéri's own FAQ names the Hai Phong port authority for overnight permission, which fits: you board in Quang Ninh and sleep in Hai Phong waters.
Some agency pages and an older guest review still say Mon Chéri leaves from "Got pier" in Hai Phong. That ferry pier closed in March 2024, and the official itinerary checks in at Tuan Chau. See the pier guide for how the two sides connect.
- 1Tuan Chau International MarinaPierDirections ↗
- 2Lan Ha lagoons (approximate)SightDirections ↗
- 3Gia Luan ferry pierPierDirections ↗
- 4Trung Trang caveCaveDirections ↗
- 5Viet Hai villageVillageDirections ↗
- 6Ba Trai Dao beachBeachDirections ↗
Ships and suites
Mon Chéri runs two yachts with 42 cabins between them, all with a sea-view balcony, plus a rooftop pool. The official site does not name the yachts or give a launch year; agency cabin counts of 18 or 43 do not match the operator's 42. Check the yacht name on your voucher.
| Cabin | Size | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Ocean Suite Balcony (also triple) | 35 m² | Main deck |
| Elegance Suite Balcony (also triple) | 40–45 m² | 2nd deck |
| Mon Chéri Suite Terrace | 55 m² | Terrace |
| Elegance Family Balcony | 70 m² | 2nd deck |
| Ocean / Elegance connecting door | 70–80 m² | Two linked cabins |
| President Suite Terrace | 90 m² | Stern |
Compared with Peony, the entry cabin is bigger (35 m² against 25 m²) and the terrace suites go much larger. A bathtub is not stated as standard. The kitchen holds a halal certificate from the Halal Vietnam Association, according to the company; tell them when you book.
Mon Chéri 2 days 1 night itinerary
Hanoi pickup by limousineExtra charge
Welcome at lounge No. 34, Tuan ChauOriginal passport needed
Tender to the yacht, lunch while sailing to Lan Ha
Tra Bau: swim, jacuzzi or kayakKayak depends on current rules
Spring-roll demo, happy hour two-for-one
Dinner, then squid fishingSeasonal
Tai chi, breakfast while cruising to Gia LuanDay 2
Road trip of about 30 min to Trung Trang caveCat Ba island, back by about 09:00
Brunch and check-out
Back at Tuan ChauHanoi mid-afternoon
There is no Ha Long cave on this programme; the cave is Trung Trang in Cat Ba National Park. The 3D2N adds a day on a separate day boat to Viet Hai village by bike or electric cart, lunch aboard and a lagoon swim near Ba Trai Dao, back at 16:30. Ba Trai Dao is often a swim stop when access, tide and weather allow. For a full extra day in the bay, that is the version to book; see three-day cruises.
Mon Chéri cruise price: Klook vs Trip.com
The operator quotes in USD per cabin and publishes no figures. On the platforms today:
| Platform | Listing | Rating | Price | Where |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trip.com | Mon Chéri Overnight Cruise: Explore Lan Ha Bay with Tra Bau Kayaking & Trung Trang Cave · 2D1N | — | $177 Lowest | See on Trip.com |
| Klook | 2D1N Ha Long & Lan Ha Bay Cruise Tour by Mon Cheri Cruise · 2D1N | 4.8 (91) | $192 | See on Klook |
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.
Trip.com is $15 cheaper per person ($177 against Klook's $192), but its listing has no reviews yet, while Klook's has 91 reviews averaging 4.8 and 1K+ bookings. Cabin type and inclusions can differ between the two, so compare them line by line before picking the lower price. Mon Chéri is not sold under its own name on GetYourGuide.
Included on the 2D1N: four meals (seven on the 3D2N), entrance and sightseeing fees, an English-speaking guide, tai chi, squid fishing, swimming, jacuzzi and travel insurance. Extra: the shuttle, drinks, sky bar surcharge, spa, tips, and a 4.5% fee for card payment. Children under 4 stay free (one per cabin) and children of about 5–11 in a separate bed pay 75%; older children pay the adult rate, so confirm the cut-off age.
Klook2D1N
2D1N Ha Long & Lan Ha Bay Cruise Tour by Mon Cheri Cruise
4.8 (91) · 1K+ booked
from $192Check dates
Trip.com2D1N
Mon Chéri Overnight Cruise: Explore Lan Ha Bay with Tra Bau Kayaking & Trung Trang Cave
No reviews yet · 12+ booked
from $177Check dates
Klook2D1N
2D1N Ha Long & Lan Ha Bay Cruise Tour by 5-Star Peony Cruises
4.7 (24) · 600+ booked
from $174Check dates
Klook2D1N
Azura 2D1N Luxury Cruise: Ha Long Bay & Lan Ha Bay Tour
5.0 (449) · 2K+ booked
from $176Check dates
Mon Chéri Cruises on Klook →Mon Chéri Cruises on Trip.com →Prices checked on October 16, 2026
Booking, cancellation and storms
Direct bookings are strict: free more than 14 days before sailing, 100% after that or for a no-show, and a 4.5% bank fee is deducted from refunds. Platform bookings follow the platform's terms, which are often far more flexible; see GetYourGuide vs Klook and how to book.
Storms are where Mon Chéri is more open than most. Its FAQ promises a full refund if the authorities cancel before departure, and the itinerary page publishes a compensation scale of USD 25 to 120 per guest depending on what you had already received (lunch, the shuttle, hours in the bay). Ask how it applies to your booking. Mon Chéri flags May–July for short-notice cancellations; the national storm season is June–November, so keep a buffer day. Terms: https://monchericruises.com/mon-cheri-cruises-2-days-1-night.html
Joining from Cat Ba or Ninh Binh
From Cat Ba, wait at Gia Luan pier 12:30–13:00 for a boat to the yacht (surcharge). From Ninh Binh, the operator's shuttle picks up in Tam Coc or Trang An for USD 25 per person each way, about 4.5 hours. More routes in how to get there.
Alternatives
- Peony: same operator and programme, 40 smaller cabins; on Klook from $174.
- Azura: launched December 2025, sold on Klook from $176 with strong early reviews.
- Capella: pricier, but day 2 is the Dark and Bright Cave by rowing boat instead of a land trip.
- Elite of the Seas: from $125 on GetYourGuide, with drinks at meals.
All ships side by side: best Lan Ha cruises.
Mon Chéri Cruise FAQ
Is Mon Cheri Cruise in Halong Bay or Lan Ha Bay?
It checks in at Tuan Chau in Ha Long and spends the night in Lan Ha near Tra Bau. Day 2 lands at Gia Luan on Cat Ba for Trung Trang cave.
Are Mon Cheri and Peony the same company?
Yes, both belong to Big Bay Group, with the same pier, office and itinerary. Mon Chéri has 42 cabins and larger suites; Peony has 40.
How much does Mon Cheri Cruise cost?
The operator publishes no prices. Today it is from $192 per person on Klook and from $177 on Trip.com for 2 days 1 night, drinks and transfer extra.
Does Mon Cheri Cruise serve halal food?
The company says its kitchen holds a halal certificate from the Halal Vietnam Association. Mention it when booking.
Where does Mon Cheri Cruise depart from?
Lounge No. 34 at Tuan Chau Marina, Ha Long. Check-in is around 11:30. Guests on Cat Ba can join at Gia Luan pier.
