This page is the index of our reviews of Lan Ha Bay cruise operators, Cat Ba day-boat companies, agencies and booking platforms. Each review answers one question: should you book this ship or this company, and through which channel. Here we explain how the market fits together, because the brand on a listing often tells you less than you think.
Our editorial scores are our own. We check operator sites, Hai Phong and Quang Ninh notices and Vietnamese press, and we read prices from GetYourGuide, Klook and Trip.com on the date shown on each page. No operator pays for a review.
How the Lan Ha cruise market works
Most Lan Ha overnight ships are sold by a few groups, each running two or more brands from one office. Most of them check in at Tuan Chau Marina in Ha Long, where each line has a numbered lounge, then sail 1–1.5 hours into Lan Ha or take guests by speedboat to a ship anchored near Gia Luan on Cat Ba. A few smaller boats and most Cat Ba day trips start on the Hai Phong side at Ben Beo. The piers guide has the details.
Star classes are marketing. Vietnam's rating for accommodation vessels is voluntary and runs from 1 to 5 stars; "6-star" does not exist in law, and no ship has been confirmed to hold an official 4- or 5-star decision. Judge a ship by its cabins, its route and recent reviews.
Class
Platform
Nothing with those filters.
| Ship | Boards at | Rating | GetYourGuide | Klook | Trip.com |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elite of the Seas35 cabins · since 2022 | — | 4.9 (2,817) | $125 | — | — |
| Cozy Bay Tropical day cruiseDay cruise | Tuan Chau International Marina | 4.9 (1,916) | — | $38 | $41 |
| Sapphire Cruise21 cabins · since 2018 | Tuan Chau International Marina | 4.8 (1,534) | $338 | — | — |
| La Pandora Cruise | Tuan Chau International Marina | 4.8 (939) | $132 | $104 | — |
| Venezia Cruises10 cabins | Ben Beo pier | 4.7 (873) | $125 | — | — |
| Aspira Cruise5★ · 22 cabins | Tuan Chau International Marina | 4.9 (824) | — | $146 | $180 |
| Taliya CruiseDay cruise · since 2025 | Tuan Chau International Marina | 4.8 (811) | $53 | $43 | $40 |
| Beka Travel day boatDay cruise | Ben Beo pier | 4.8 (670) | $34 | — | — |
| Azura Cruise6★ · 30 cabins · since 2025 | Tuan Chau International Marina | 5.0 (449) | $309 | $176 | $203 |
| Serenity CruisesDay cruise | Ben Beo pier | 5.0 (390) | $70 | $33 | $54 |
| The Halong CatamaranDay cruise | — | 4.9 (303) | $68 | — | $79 |
| Le Journey Cruises | — | 4.8 (173) | $72 | — | — |
| Arcady Boutique Cruise24 cabins | Tuan Chau International Marina | 4.7 (169) | $54 | $148 | $272 |
| Doria Cruise (Doris Grand)5★ | Tuan Chau International Marina | 4.5 (131) | $204 | $152 | — |
| Hera Cruises | Tuan Chau International Marina | 4.8 (124) | $65 | $64 | $58 |
| Captain Jack's boat (Cat Ba)Day cruise | — | 4.6 (122) | $30 | — | — |
| Erina Cruises27 cabins · since 2023 | Tuan Chau International Marina | 4.5 (117) | $158 | $150 | — |
| Amanda Cruises | — | 5.0 (97) | $157 | $183 | — |
| Mon Chéri Cruises42 cabins | Tuan Chau International Marina | 4.8 (91) | — | $192 | $177 |
| Tulip Cruises | Tuan Chau International Marina | 4.8 (82) | $231 | — | — |
| La Regina Grand27 cabins | Tuan Chau International Marina | 4.7 (68) | $132 | $176 | — |
| La Casta Cruise22 cabins · since 2020 | Tuan Chau International Marina | 4.8 (68) | $61 | — | — |
| Mila Cruise | — | 4.6 (25) | — | $145 | — |
| Peony Cruises40 cabins | Tuan Chau International Marina | 4.7 (24) | — | $174 | — |
| Capella Cruise30 cabins · since 2020 | Tuan Chau International Marina | 4.5 (20) | $358 | $472 | — |
| Rosy Cruise5★ · 22 cabins · since 2019 | Tuan Chau International Marina | 4.7 (19) | $201 | $178 | — |
| Amour Cruise22 cabins | Tuan Chau International Marina | 4.5 (17) | $150 | $167 | — |
| Halora Cruises (Metta, Nova) | Tuan Chau International Marina | 4.7 (15) | $259 | $186 | $197 |
| Diana Cruise | — | 4.6 (15) | — | $230 | — |
| Indochine Cruise | — | 4.7 (13) | $60 | — | $175 |
| Celina of the Sea62 cabins | Tuan Chau International Marina | 4.6 (10) | $190 | — | $216 |
| Sena Cruises4★ | Tuan Chau International Marina | 5.0 (8) | $188 | — | — |
| Doris Cruise5★ | Tuan Chau International Marina | 4.3 (5) | $220 | — | — |
| Orchid Cruises | Tuan Chau International Marina | 4.0 (1) | $235 | — | — |
| Orient Legacy Cruise | — | 5.0 (1) | — | $189 | $169 |
| Dora Cruise5★ | Tuan Chau International Marina | — | — | — | — |
| Era Cruises18 cabins · since 2017 | Tuan Chau International Marina | — | — | — | — |
| Le Théâtre Cruise | Tuan Chau International Marina | — | — | — | — |
| Heritage Binh Chuan (Heritage Cruises)20 cabins · since 2019 | Tuan Chau International Marina | — | — | — | — |
| Heritage Line Ylang10 cabins · since 2019 | Tuan Chau International Marina | — | — | — | — |
| Heritage Line Ginger12 cabins · since 2018 | Tuan Chau International Marina | — | — | — | — |
| La Pinta Cruise | Dong Bai ferry pier (Cat Hai) | — | — | — | — |
| Verdure Lotus Cruise16 cabins · since 2019 | Tuan Chau International Marina | — | — | — | — |
| Azalea Cruise20 cabins · since 2017 | Dong Bai ferry pier (Cat Hai) | — | — | — | — |
| Scarlet Pearl Cruises23 cabins · since 2019 | Tuan Chau International Marina | — | $237 | — | — |
| Paradise Grand39 cabins · since 2020 | Tuan Chau International Marina | — | — | — | — |
| V'Spirit Classic (ex-Adela Boutique, ex-Perla Dawn Sails)18 cabins · since 2018 | Tuan Chau International Marina | — | — | — | — |
| Magenta Cruise26 cabins · since 2019 | Tuan Chau International Marina | — | — | — | — |
| Ocean Cruise9 cabins | Ben Beo pier | — | — | — | — |
| Jade SailsDay cruise | Tuan Chau International Marina | — | — | — | — |
| Cat Ba Expedition day boatDay cruise | Ben Beo pier | — | — | — | — |
| Lyra Grandeur | Tuan Chau International Marina | — | — | — | $228 |
| Stellar of the Seas | — | — | — | — | $304 |
Lowest listed price per person in USD on October 16, 2026; it may be for a different cabin or date than the price on another platform. Star classes are the operators' own labels.
Sister ships: one company, several brands
These links matter when you compare. Sister ships often share a timetable, terms and sometimes a day boat, so the cheaper brand may give you nearly the same trip.
| Group or office | Brands | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Big Bay Group | Peony (2 yachts), Mon Chéri (2 yachts) | same itinerary, same lounge No. 34 at Tuan Chau |
| Lyra Cruise Collection (Vietstar) | Capella, Lyra Grandeur | Capella launched in August 2020, 30 cabins |
| Hera Group | Hera, Amanda, Le Journey | Hera's 2D1N ships sail Ha Long; Amanda and Le Journey sail Lan Ha |
| one office, Lot 38 Tuan Chau | Aspira, Azura | same hotline and timetable; Azura launched December 2025 |
| Pelican group | Orchid Premium, Classic, Luxury, Trendy | no Orchid day cruise exists |
| Heritage Line | Ylang (2 nights), Ginger (1 night) | Violet sails Bai Tu Long, not Lan Ha |
| Heritage Cruises / Lux Cruises Group | Heritage Binh Chuan | not part of Heritage Line, despite the name |
| La Casta Cruise Group | La Casta, La Casta Regal, La Casta Star | La Casta Daily is a Ha Long day trip |
| same company | Elite of the Seas, Stellar of the Seas | Elite has 35 cabins, launched 2022 |
La Pandora shares a phone number and word-for-word terms with Hera Group, and its website also sells Capella. That proves a shared sales office, not shared ownership. See the La Pandora review, the Peony review and the Heritage Binh Chuan review for the three most common mix-ups.
Renamed, unconfirmed and closed brands
Ships in Ha Long and Lan Ha are renamed more often than listings are updated, and agencies sometimes re-point an old page to a new ship while keeping the old reviews.
- Perla Dawn Sails, Adela Boutique and V'Spirit Classic are one 18-cabin ship, launched in July 2018 and renamed V'Spirit on 1 February 2023. See Adela Cruise.
- Lan Ha Legend, a 9-cabin budget boat, is no longer sold; its domain redirects to Vietnam Tonkin Cruise. It is not the same as La Regina Legend. See Lan Ha Legend.
- Doris, Dora and Era are unconfirmed: their own sites are stale or the agencies show a different ship at the old address. Doria is a different ship from Doris, and Erina is a different ship from Era. See Doris and Era.
- Sunlight sails Ha Long only, and Cozy Bay's overnight ship sails Ha Long; Cozy Bay's Lan Ha product is the Tropical day cruise.
- Asia Outdoors, the old Cat Ba climbing company, closed in February 2019. Climbing on Cat Ba is now run by Cat Ba Climbing and Cat Ba Ventures; see Cat Ba Climbing.
Overnight cruise reviews
Every Lan Ha overnight brand on this site has its own review with route, cabins, prices on each platform and our score. The route column matters most: some ships sold as "Lan Ha" spend their 2D1N in Ha Long.
GetYourGuide2D1N
Hanoi: 2D1N Elite Lan Ha & Ha Long Cruise with Infinity Pool
4.9 (2,817)
from $125Check dates
GetYourGuide2D1N
Hanoi: 2 Days Ha Long, Lan Ha Bay 5-Star Cruise with Balcony
4.8 (6,140)
from $126Check dates
GetYourGuide2D1N
Hanoi: 2 Days Lan Ha Bay Cruise with Meals & Activities
4.7 (873)
from $125Check dates
Klook2D1N
2D1N Ha Long & Lan Ha Bay Cruise Tour by La Pandora Cruise
4.8 (939) · 4K+ booked
from $104Check dates
GetYourGuide2D1N
Hanoi: 2 Days Lan Ha & Halong Bay 5-Star Cruise with Balcony
4.7 (5,234)
from $146Check dates
GetYourGuide3D2N
Hanoi: 3 Days Ninh Binh, Ha Long & Lan Ha Bay 5-Star Cruise
4.8 (2,115)
from $225Check dates
Prices checked on October 16, 2026
Day cruises and Cat Ba operators
Day cruises come in two kinds: large day ships from Tuan Chau (Taliya, Jade Sails, Hera's day ship, Cozy Bay's Tropical) and smaller boats from Ben Beo on Cat Ba (Serenity, Beka Travel, Cat Ba Expedition). The day cruises guide compares them; the reviews below cover each company.
- Taliya opened in February 2025: a 199-seat ship with a pool, from Tuan Chau.
- Serenity Premium and Grandeur leave Ben Beo and are sold by Cat Ba Express; there is no separate Serenity website.
- Jade Sails is sold direct at USD 119 plus 10% VAT, including the Hanoi limousine.
- Beka Day Boat is a GetYourGuide title, not a company: the boat belongs to Beka Travel, a wooden day boat for up to 25 guests.
- Cat Ba Expedition runs day boats from Ben Beo at 900,000 VND, plus 4% online.
Agencies and booking platforms
HalongBayTours.com is the booking brand of Blue Dragon Tours, a licensed Hanoi tour operator. It lists over 100 multi-day cruises and 53 ships on its Lan Ha page; its prices usually exclude the Hanoi transfer. Read our HalongBayTours.com review.
Other agencies you will meet:
- HalongBayCruises.com is titled "Official Website of Halong Bay Cruises" but belongs to Southeast Asia Travel Company, a private agency.
- Halong Hub is a Hanoi concierge founded in 2016 that sells a curated fleet of 20 ships and says it charges the operators' published prices.
- BestPrice is a Vietnamese online travel agency with offices in Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi and Hai Phong.
- Vietnam Travel Group is based in Ho Chi Minh City, not Hanoi.
- cruisehalong.com was not online when we last checked.
On the platforms: GetYourGuide has the most Lan Ha listings, many sold by agencies under generic titles, and often free cancellation up to 24 hours before. Klook sells most cruise brands under their own names and shows booked counts. Trip.com carries a few ships the others do not sell in English. Prices for the same ship differ by platform; the GetYourGuide vs Klook review shows where each is cheaper today, and how to book explains cancellation and transfers.
| Platform | Listing | Rating | Price | Where |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Klook | 2D1N Ha Long & Lan Ha Bay Cruise Tour by La Pandora Cruise · 2D1N | 4.8 (939) | $104 Lowest | See on Klook |
| GetYourGuide | From Hanoi: 2-Day Halong and Lan Ha Bay La Pandora Cruise · 2D1N | 4.7 (49) | $171 | 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.
How we review operators
Each review gives an editorial score from 1 to 5, built from the route (is it really Lan Ha), cabins, value, transparency and booking flexibility. It is not an average of guest reviews. Where we could not confirm a fact, such as a launch year that only an agency quotes or a rename an operator has not announced, the review says so instead of guessing. Where a brand is no longer sold, the review tells you what to book instead.
Lan Ha Bay cruise operators FAQ
Which company operates the most Lan Ha Bay cruises?
No one publishes fleet market shares. Several groups run two or more brands each: Big Bay Group (Peony, Mon Chéri), Hera Group (Hera, Amanda, Le Journey), Pelican (Orchid) and the Lyra Cruise Collection (Capella, Lyra Grandeur).
Is Heritage Binh Chuan part of Heritage Line?
No. Heritage Binh Chuan belongs to Heritage Cruises (Lux Cruises Group). Heritage Line runs Ylang and Ginger on Lan Ha.
Are there 6-star cruises in Lan Ha Bay?
Not officially. Vietnam's rating for cruise ships is voluntary and stops at 5 stars. "6-star" is a marketing label.
Is halongbaycruises.com the official site of the Ha Long cruises?
No. Despite its title it is a private agency, part of Southeast Asia Travel Company.
What happened to Perla Dawn and Adela cruise?
They are the same 18-cabin ship, renamed V'Spirit Classic on 1 February 2023. It still sails Lan Ha from Tuan Chau.