Peony Cruise is sold as a Halong Bay cruise, but it spends the night in Lan Ha Bay: check-in at Tuan Chau in Ha Long, lunch while sailing south, anchor near Tra Bau. It is a comfortable, family-friendly balcony cruise. The weak points are transparency (no published fares, two unnamed yachts, conflicting cancellation terms) and a day 2 that is mostly a road trip to a cave.
Our scores
- Route
- 4/5Real Lan Ha night at Tra Bau; day 2 cave is on land, not in the bay
- Cabins
- 4/5Every cabin has a balcony; standard rooms are 25 m²
- Families
- 4.5/5Family cabins of 50 m², kids' play area, babysitting
- Value
- 3.5/5Klook from $174, agency fares lower; drinks and transfer extra
- Transparency
- 3/5No published fares, yachts not named, two cancellation rules
Pros
- All 40 cabins have a private balcony
- Rooftop pool, outdoor jacuzzi, spa and a sky bar
- Entrance and sightseeing fees, cooking demo and insurance included
- Guests already on Cat Ba can join at Gia Luan pier
Cons
- No fares on the official site ("contact us")
- Two yachts, never named: you may not know which hull you get
- Day 2 is a 30-minute road transfer to a cave, then back to port
- Kayaking is listed but falls under the Lan Ha kayak suspension
- 4.5% card fee and corkage on your own drinks
Peony Cruise Halong Bay or Lan Ha Bay?
Both, in the way most big "Lan Ha" lines work. Peony checks in at lounge No. 34, Tuan Chau International Marina in Ha Long (Quang Ninh province). A small support boat takes you out to the yacht around 12:00–12:30, lunch is served while it sails through Ha Long waters, and by mid-afternoon you are in Lan Ha (Hai Phong) around Tra Bau, the main anchorage of the bay. The night is spent in Lan Ha.
There is no Ha Long cave on the official programme. Some agency listings show the Dark and Bright Cave on day 1; Peony's own itinerary does not. If you want the full picture of the two bays, see Lan Ha vs Ha Long and the pier guide.
- 1Tuan Chau International MarinaPierDirections ↗
- 2Lan Ha lagoons (approximate)SightDirections ↗
- 3Gia Luan ferry pierPierDirections ↗
- 4Trung Trang caveCaveDirections ↗
- 5Viet Hai villageVillageDirections ↗
- 6Ba Trai Dao beachBeachDirections ↗
The ships and cabins
Peony is two yachts with 40 cabins between them, every cabin with a balcony. The official site names neither yacht and gives no launch year; an agency page describes one as steel-hulled with 20 cabins. Ask which yacht you are on and check its name on the voucher.
Cabin types on the official site:
| Cabin | Size | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Deluxe with Balcony | 25 m² | 1st floor |
| Premium Deluxe with Balcony | 25 m² | 2nd floor |
| Family Deluxe with Balcony | 50 m² | 1st floor |
| Family Premium Deluxe with Balcony | 50 m² | 2nd floor, up to 5 guests |
| Peony Exclusive Suite | 45 m² | King bed, only two on board |
A bathtub is not listed as standard. On board there is a rooftop pool with loungers, an outdoor jacuzzi, a restaurant for about 55 guests, spa and sauna, a 24-hour bar, a sky bar, and a kids' play area with babysitting. The bar charges corkage if you bring your own wine.
A day aboard: Peony 2 days 1 night itinerary
This is the operator's own 2D1N schedule. Exact times shift with tide and weather.
Hanoi pickup by limousineOld Quarter or the 16 Thi Sach office; transfer costs extra
Check-in at lounge No. 34, Tuan ChauBring your original passport
Support boat to the yachtLunch while sailing to Lan Ha
Tra Bau area: swim, kayak or jacuzziKayak depends on the current rules
Spring-roll cooking demo, sunset
Dinner, then squid fishingSquid fishing is seasonal
Tai chi, then breakfast while cruising to Gia LuanDay 2
Land at Gia Luan pier, 30-minute drive to Trung Trang caveCat Ba island, back by about 09:00
Brunch and check-out
Back at Tuan ChauHanoi in mid-afternoon
Day 2 is half a morning, mostly on land. Trung Trang is a cave in Cat Ba National Park, not a bay sight; for more time on the water, the three-day cruise adds a full day on a separate day boat.
3 days 2 nights
On the 3D2N, day 2 is on a day boat deeper into Lan Ha: bike or electric cart to Viet Hai village, lunch aboard, then a lagoon and the Ba Trai Dao ("Three Peaches") area, often a swim stop when access, tide and weather allow. Back on the yacht around 16:30; day 3 repeats the cave morning.
Since the June 2026 collision near Van Boi, every passenger in Lan Ha must wear a certified life jacket from boarding and throughout the trip, including on tenders. Expect the crew to enforce it.
Peony Cruise price and what is included
Peony quotes in USD per cabin but publishes no figures: the official site says "contact us". The easiest public price is on Klook, where the Peony 2D1N is from $174 per person, rated 4.7 from 24 reviews with 600+ booked. HalongBayTours.com, a Hanoi agency, lists Peony from $148. Peony is not sold under its own name on GetYourGuide.
Included on the 2D1N: cabin, welcome drink, four meals (seven on the 3D2N), entrance and sightseeing fees, English-speaking guide, activities, the cave visit and travel insurance.
Not included:
- Hanoi transfer (agency price about $35 return per person)
- Drinks beyond the welcome drink, spa, tips
- A gala-dinner surcharge of about $50–60 per person on 24 and 31 December and over Tết (Lunar New Year)
- A 4.5% fee when you pay by card; cash in USD must be notes from 2006 or newer
Children: one child under 4 sharing the parents' bed is free (one per cabin); children of roughly 5–11 in an extra bed pay 75%; 12 and over pay the adult rate. Peony's own pages give 10, 11 and 12 as the cut-off in different places, so confirm your child's band before paying.
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Peony Cruises on Klook →Prices checked on October 16, 2026
Generic "5-star balcony" listings
GetYourGuide sells big Lan Ha products under generic titles such as "5-Star Cruise with Balcony", which do not name the ship. Lounge 34 at Tuan Chau as the meeting point means Peony or Mon Chéri; our booking guide shows what else to check.
How to book and cancel
Peony's direct terms are strict and contradict each other: the terms page has a tiered table (free beyond 15 days, 100% inside 3 days), the itinerary page says 100% from 14 days plus a 4.5% bank fee on refunds. Through a platform you get the platform's terms instead; Klook's vary per activity. Compare them in GetYourGuide vs Klook.
Weather cancellations are decided by the port authority, not by Peony. Cancelled before departure means a 100% refund; cut short means you pay for what you used (a 3D2N cut to one night is billed as 2D1N). Peony flags May–July for short-notice cancellations; the national storm season runs June–November. Leave a buffer day before an international flight. Policy details: https://www.peonycruises.com/faqs.html
From Cat Ba or Ninh Binh
Already on Cat Ba? Wait at Gia Luan pier 12:30–13:00 and a boat takes you to the yacht (surcharge), which saves the long trip to Ha Long. From Ninh Binh, Peony's limousine costs USD 25 per person each way, leaves 07:00–07:30 and takes about 4.5 hours. More in how to get there.
What travelers should check
Agency scores are high (9.7 on HalongBayTours.com), but reviews rarely say which yacht they were on. Before paying, check the yacht name on the voucher and what replaces kayaking on your date.
Alternatives to Peony
- Mon Chéri: same operator, same pier, same itinerary, slightly larger suites. If Peony is full, it is the natural swap.
- Elite of the Seas: a bigger ship with published rack rates and a free shared limousine; on GetYourGuide from $125.
- Capella: a step up in price with the Dark and Bright Cave by rowing boat on day 2.
For the full field, see best Lan Ha cruises and luxury cruises.
Peony Cruise FAQ
Does Peony Cruise go to Lan Ha Bay or Halong Bay?
It checks in at Tuan Chau in Ha Long, sails through Ha Long waters at lunch and spends the night in Lan Ha near Tra Bau. Day 2 lands at Gia Luan on Cat Ba for Trung Trang cave.
Where does Peony Cruise depart from?
Lounge No. 34, Tuan Chau International Marina, Ha Long. Check-in is around 11:30. Older listings that say "Got pier" are out of date.
How much is Peony Cruise 2 days 1 night?
The operator publishes no prices. Klook sells it from $174 per person; drinks, the Hanoi transfer and holiday gala dinners are extra.
Are Peony Cruise and Mon Chéri the same company?
Yes. Both are Big Bay Group brands with the same pier and the same programme. The difference is the yachts and cabins: Peony has 40 cabins on two yachts, Mon Chéri 42.
Is kayaking included on Peony Cruise?
It is listed, but kayaking in Lan Ha has been officially suspended since November 2024. Ask in writing what you will do instead on your date.