Orchid Cruise is one of the few Lan Ha brands with a whole fleet, and the right Orchid depends on your budget: Trendy is the value pick, Classic and Luxury the mid-luxury ships, Premium a five-suite ship for a small group. Our verdict: well-documented ships with balconies and bathtubs throughout and VAT included, held back by a strict 30-day cancellation policy and almost no presence on the big booking platforms.
Our scores
- Route
- 4/5Ao Ech, Tra Bau, Trung Trang cave; Luxury 3D2N also Ha Long
- Cabins
- 4.5/5all balcony and bathtub; 28–65 m² depending on ship
- Value
- 4/5VAT and fees included; agency prices from $160
- Transparency
- 4/5detailed ship pages; unclear prices on the site
- Booking flexibility
- 3/5free cancellation only 30+ days out when booked direct
Pros
- Steel ships; every cabin with balcony and bathtub
- VAT, sightseeing fees and insurance included
- A choice of four ships under one office and one lounge
- Strong review scores on HalongBayTours.com (9.6–9.9)
Cons
- Direct cancellation: 50% from 29 days out, 100% inside 7 days
- No child policy published
- Hardly sold on GetYourGuide or Klook under its own name
- No pool on any Orchid ship
The Orchid ships and cabins
All four ships are steel, with a Jacuzzi and open bar on the sundeck; none has a swimming pool. The official site lists:
| Ship | Cabins | Cabin types and sizes |
|---|---|---|
| Orchid Trendy | 20 | Exclusive Suite 45 m², Premium Deluxe 28 m², Deluxe 28 m², family 56 m² |
| Orchid Classic | 14 | Exclusive Suite 45 m² (round king bed, Jacuzzi bathtub), Premium Suite 36 m², Suite 36 m², family 72 m²; Indochine-style wood interiors |
| Orchid Luxury | 14 | same cabin list and sizes as Classic |
| Orchid Premium | 5 | Exclusive Suite 65 m², Premium Terrace 48 m², Terrace 45 m², family combinations 90–96 m² |
Every cabin on every ship has a balcony and a bathtub. Orchid Luxury's cabin specification is identical to Classic's; whether it is a twin ship or a refitted Classic is not stated. The site's introduction mentions six boats but names only these four.
No launch years appear on the official site. Agencies give November 2016 for Orchid Classic. One agency also says Orchid Trendy was formerly Azalea Cruise (with 24 cabins, against Trendy's official 20); Orchid does not confirm this. If you were searching for Azalea, read our Azalea Cruise page.
Is there an Orchid day cruise? Not today. The official "find a cruise" page lists only 2D1N trips (Premium, Classic, Trendy, Luxury) and 3D2N trips (Classic, Trendy, Luxury). For a day on the water, see Lan Ha day cruises.
The route: Lan Ha or Ha Long?
Every Orchid ship checks in at the Lot 32 lounge, Tuan Chau International Port, in Ha Long. What happens after that depends on the trip.
Classic and Trendy 2 days 1 night: Lan Ha. The ship sails through Ha Long waters into Lan Ha, with a kayak stop at Ao Ech (Frog Lagoon) and an overnight at Tra Bau. On day 2, guests go ashore on Cat Ba by bus to Trung Trang cave in Cat Ba National Park, a cave of about 300 m. That is a land visit, not more time on the bay.
Luxury 3 days 2 nights: both bays. Day 1 visits Tien Ong cave and Cua Van fishing village by locally rowed bamboo boat. Both are in Ha Long Bay. Day 2 is a day-boat trip to Viet Hai village (bicycle, electric car extra) and the Dark and Bright caves by kayak or bamboo boat, both in Lan Ha. Day 3 has a kayak stop at Ao Ech.
If you want only Lan Ha, take Classic or Trendy. If you want a taste of both bays on one ship, Orchid Luxury 3D2N is one of the few itineraries that does it. Our Lan Ha vs Ha Long guide explains the difference.
A day aboard: Orchid Trendy and Classic 2D1N
Hanoi bus pickup07:50–08:20, not included in the price
Check-in at Lot 32, Tuan Chau11:00–11:30, speedboat to the ship, buffet lunch while cruising into Lan Ha
Kayak at Ao Ech (Frog Lagoon)where allowed; then overnight at anchor at Tra Bau with cooking demo, happy hour, dinner, squid fishing or a movie
Day 2: bus to Trung Trang cave, Cat Ba National Parkafter early tai chi
Back at Tuan Chau11:00–11:30, brunch on board before
Orchid Cruise price: direct and on the platforms
The official site quotes rates in US dollars per room per night, but shows no price for Classic, Trendy or Premium. The Orchid Luxury 2D1N and 3D2N pages both display "From: $890" for every October date, which looks like a placeholder rather than a real fare. Ask for a quote with the dates and cabin type.
Included: meals, kayak, cooking demo, tai chi, squid fishing, swimming, English-speaking guide, service fee, sightseeing fees, insurance on board and VAT. Excluded: the Hanoi transfer (a luxury van can be booked) and massage. Card payments carry a 4.5% fee.
On the platforms, GetYourGuide sells Orchid Trendy 2D1N from Hanoi from $235, with one review so far. HalongBayTours.com lists Orchid Classic from $160 (9.6 from 515 reviews), Orchid Trendy from $160 (9.7 from 318) and Orchid Premium from $360 (9.9 from 131). Orchid is not sold under its own name on Klook. Agency prices usually exclude the Hanoi transfer; the GetYourGuide listing departs from Hanoi, so compare like with like.
What travelers say
Orchid's scores on HalongBayTours.com are high across the fleet, from 9.6 for Classic to 9.9 for Premium, with more than 960 reviews between the three ships listed. Because the four ships differ in size and cabin size, read reviews for the exact ship you are booking. Check whether recent guests mention kayaking at Ao Ech or a bamboo boat instead.
How to book and cancel
Direct cancellation (fewer than 4 rooms): free 30 days or more before departure; 50% at 15–29 days; 70% at 7–14 days; 100% inside 7 days. Groups pay more.
Weather: if the authorities cancel before you leave Hanoi, you get a full refund. If the cancellation comes after you arrive in Ha Long, you pay for meals, transfer and any day boat used. Sailing bans are ordered by the port authority, not by Orchid.
Children: no policy is published; on most Lan Ha ships under-4s are free and children up to 11 pay about 75%, but ask Orchid. Bring your original passport, since operators register every guest.
The 30-day free window is strict compared with platform listings that allow free cancellation up to 24 hours before. If your dates are not fixed, a platform booking is safer. See how to book a Lan Ha cruise.
Alternatives
- Peony and Mon Chéri, the other Tuan Chau ships with a Trung Trang cave visit on day 2: Peony review.
- Aspira, all-balcony suites with a pool, from $146 on Klook: Aspira review.
- Elite of the Seas, a larger ship with an infinity pool and flexible GetYourGuide booking: Elite of the Seas review.
Compare the class in luxury Lan Ha cruises or all ships in the cruise list.
GetYourGuide2D1N
Hanoi: 2D1N Elite Lan Ha & Ha Long Cruise with Infinity Pool
4.9 (2,817)
from $125Check dates
GetYourGuide2D1N
Hanoi: 2–3 Day Lan Ha & Halong Bay 6-Star Cruise w/Balcony
4.9 (526)
from $179Check dates
GetYourGuide2D1N
2-Day Luxury Lan Ha Bay 5★ Cruise Private Balcony & Bathtub
4.9 (259)
from $181Check dates
Klook2D1N
Azura 2D1N Luxury Cruise: Ha Long Bay & Lan Ha Bay Tour
5.0 (449) · 2K+ booked
from $176Check dates
Orchid Cruises on GetYourGuide →Prices checked on October 16, 2026
Does Orchid Cruise go to Lan Ha Bay?
Yes. The Classic and Trendy 2D1N trips sightsee in Lan Ha (Ao Ech, overnight at Tra Bau) with a land visit to Trung Trang cave on Cat Ba. The Orchid Luxury 3D2N also visits Tien Ong cave and Cua Van in Ha Long Bay.
What is the difference between Orchid Trendy and Orchid Classic?
Trendy has 20 cabins of 28–56 m²; Classic has 14 larger suites of 36–72 m² with Indochine-style wood interiors. Both have balcony and bathtub in every cabin and follow the same 2D1N itinerary.
Where does Orchid Cruise depart from?
From the Lot 32 lounge at Tuan Chau International Port in Ha Long. Check-in is 11:00–11:30.
Is there an Orchid day cruise in Lan Ha Bay?
Not at the moment. Orchid's official site lists only two-day and three-day overnight trips.
How much is Orchid Cruise for 2 days 1 night?
GetYourGuide sells Orchid Trendy from $235 from Hanoi. Agency prices start around $160 for Classic and Trendy and $360 for Premium. Orchid's own site gives rates on request.
Is Orchid Trendy the old Azalea Cruise?
One agency says so, but Orchid has not confirmed it, and the cabin counts differ (24 vs 20).