Best Luxury Cruise in Lan Ha Bay, Vietnam: The Hidden Gem Alternative to Halong Bay

No, that is not a typo. Yes, I am talking about cruising in Lan Ha Bay, Vietnam, not its more well-known neighbor, Halong Bay.

Most people who visit Northern Vietnam have a cruise through Halong Bay, denoted a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994, on their bucket list of destinations – and rightly so. I visited Halong Bay in 2011 and was awestruck by the beautiful-beyond-belief scenery before my eyes.

But Halong Bay has become a victim of its success. Word has gotten out about this ethereal bay and it is now on the verge of being overrun by tourists. That’s where Halong Bay’s little sister Lan Ha Bay comes in…

Why Lan Ha Bay?

Lan Ha Bay is essentially an extension of Halong Bay, but technically part of a different province. It is aesthetically and geologically equivalent to Halong Bay; you will find the same turquoise blue water studded with towering, jungle-clad limestone karsts.

Whereas Halong Bay stretches across 1500 kilometers and is home to thousands of limestone karsts, Lan Ha Bay is only around 75 kilometers with 300 islets. This means that Lan Ha Bay has a higher number of islands per square kilometer than Halong Bay! And also makes it a bit more intimate…

Since Lan Ha Bay is located further away from mainland Vietnam, it takes a bit more effort to reach and therefore detracts would-be daytrippers from Hanoi from visiting. Its inaccessibility, if you will, makes the area feel very serene and untouched, and unspoiled by tourism.

Combining its more isolated location with the fact that Lan Ha Bay has flown relatively under the tourist radar to date means that it is MUCH less crowded than its world-famous neighbor, even in the high season. If you know me then you know that I would MUCH rather visit a hidden gem than a crowded tourist attraction any day!

Which Cruise to Take?

I did an extensive amount of research on various cruise companies once I decided I wanted to visit Lan Ha Bay. I came across a few companies that looked like good options, but there was one that stood out above the others in my mind and that was Heritage Line. Lucky for me, they graciously agreed to host me!

Heritage Line considers themselves to be “collectors, artisans, and hosts” rather than a standard tour company. Their mission is to create refined river voyages that “bring untold stories to life with the perfect mix of comfort, adventure, culture, tradition, authenticity, and extravagance.”

I know, I know. It sounds like some flowery words were just strung together in a hyperbolic way to dramatize a river cruise. Well, let me tell you this – Heritage Line is true to their word and deliver on their promise! The vessel is exquisite. The food is divine. The activities are a great mix of adventure and relaxation. And the staff could not be kinder or friendlier! And did I mention the views are breathtaking?

Ginger the Graceful

I had the opportunity to join Heritage Line’s 2-day, 1-night culinary-themed “Hidden Worlds” itinerary aboard the Ginger vessel! (Heritage Line also offers a 3-day, 2-night wellness-themed “Senses of Lan Ha” itinerary in Lan Ha Bay aboard the Ylang vessel.)

Each ship in Heritage Line’s fleet is uniquely crafted to complement the particular region’s heritage and is impeccably-decorated in a theme befitting the region. Nicknamed “Ginger the Graceful” after the native flower in the region, the ship is decorated elegantly in a traditional Indochinese-Vietnamese style with warm timber floors, mosaic-tiled bathrooms, and silver-leaf ceilings. The paintings and embroidered fabrics adorning the walls depict ancient Vietnamese sagas and poems. But, the ship also manages to exude a contemporary and clean aesthetic at the same time!

One of the main draws of Heritage Line, for me, was the small size of their boats. Ginger has only 12 staterooms (all suites) onboard, ensuring there are no more than 24 guests at a time. Each suite has a small sitting room, incredibly comfortable king-size bed, and a marble bathroom with either a clawfoot tub or private jacuzzi. The best feature of the staterooms, in my opinion, is the wall-length glass doors that open up to a private balcony!

The other amenities on the ship are also top-notch. The terrace deck is replete with inviting chaise lounge chairs and a gigantic 360° jacuzzi hot tub. And the Lady Ginger spa is a calming corner of the ship where guests can indulge in a variety of treatments and massages.

But the highlight of the ship is the light-flooded dining room. It is outfitted with an open kitchen area in the center so guests can watch the culinary masters at work. The floor-to-ceiling windows lining the walls enable guests to enjoy the fantastic scenery while dining. And the bar is the perfect place for a sundowner during the “blue hour.”

Itinerary: Day 1

The start of the journey began upon arrival in Heritage Line’s Welcome Lounge in Tuan Chau Marina. We were warmly welcomed by the staff and presented with a cold towel and a hot cup of tea to sip while we waited for all guests to congregate. Then, since Lan Ha Bay is located further off the mainland, we were first transferred from the marina via speedboat to Ginger the Graceful, our floating home for the weekend.

Upon boarding the vessel, we were greeted with a welcome glass of bubbly (my favorite!). We were given a mandatory safety briefing in the dining room before retiring to our rooms to unpack our luggage which had been brought on board separately.

Back in the dining room, we were treated to the first scrumptious (5-course!) meal of the journey. Lunch started with a hot and sour soup with shrimp, followed by a banana flower salad with scallop and caviar, and then a spring roll trio appetizer.

I opted for the seafood medley for my main course, which consisted of artfully-presented shrimp, scallops, squid, salmon, oysters, and mussels served with sticky rice and vegetables. I finished off the meal with fresh fruit for dessert but banana flambe with longan soup was also an option. And of course, all during lunch, we were able to enjoy the panoramic views of Lan Ha Bay passing by!

After lunch, it was time for the first activity of the day, an off-shore excursion to the remote village of Viet Hai on Cát Bà Island, the largest in the archipelago. We took an open-air electric cart across the island to the village where only 80 households remain. Here we were given a brief overview of the geographical layout of Lan Ha Bay and tasted a variety of locally fermented rice wine, including one made with a cobra snake! Afterward, we burned off the rice wine by biking from the village back to the pier. We biked through the jungle-clad middle of the island and along a serene, waterfront path whose quaint road was just recently renovated.

Back on board, we had a bit of downtime before the live cooking class in the dining room! Glass of wine in hand, we watched the chef prepare a fresh, green papaya salad with shrimp while the ship’s host narrated and explained the ingredients to us. It was my first time having green papaya salad and it was so light and refreshing!

For dinner, we were treated to another delicious 5-course meal. We began with a mushroom soup bursting with umami, followed by a smoked duck salad, and then a salmon tartare and avocado appetizer.

For the main course, I had the beef filet with a red wine reduction and steamed vegetables. And for dessert, we had Opera cake, a coffee-soaked sponge cake layered with buttercream and topped with a chocolate ganache.

After dinner, there were options to fish for squid and watch a movie in the dining room-turned-cinema. However, I indulged in a Basalt hot stone full-body massage in the Lady Ginger spa instead. I was already exhausted (in a good way) from the full day of activities on- and off-board and this was the perfect way to cap off the night. I’m pretty sure I dozed off in my state of complete relaxation and essentially sleep-walked back to my cabin and crawled into my comfy bed for the night!

Itinerary: Day 2

The second day of the Hidden Worlds journey began bright and early with a sunrise session of Tai Chi outside on the terrace deck. This was my first time doing Tai Chi and I loved learning the meditative movements with the impressive backdrop of Lan Ha Bay’s limestone karsts.

Afterward, I enjoyed some coffee and croissants on my private stateroom balcony. I was already in a relaxed state from the Tai Chi and the view added to the serenity. I could seriously have sat on my balcony and stared at that scenery all day long and have been completely content.

But alas, I had to break my relaxed spell to take part in the next activity of the morning – kayaking! We spent about an hour kayaking through the limestone karsts I had been watching from a distance. It was magnificent to see the behemoths up close and we also had the chance to watch some local fishermen collecting their daily catch.

Back on board, some guests opted to jump off the main deck into the bay and swim for a bit. While VERY tempted to do so myself, I opted instead to take advantage of the gigantic hot tub on the terrace deck. The best part, aside from the jaw-dropping aforementioned views of the bay, was that I had it all to myself! 

After showering and packing my luggage, it was back to the dining room for one final meal. Brunch was served as the ship made its return voyage. It consisted of a vast spread of both Vietnamese and Western dishes. A variety of egg dishes and noodle soup were also available on-demand.

I spent the remaining time on the boat in a lounge chair soaking up the sun which had been delinquent on making an appearance the prior day. And, just like that, it was time to board the speedboat back to the Heritage Line reception lounge on the mainland, reluctantly saying goodbye to Ginger the Graceful.

How to Get to Lan Ha Bay

Lan Ha Bay is a popular side trip from Hanoi and is located about 134 kilometers (roughly a 2.5-hour drive) from the nation’s capital. The best way to get from Hanoi to Lan Ha Bay is to coordinate a transfer through your cruise vendor. A round-trip shuttle bus transfer from Hanoi’s Old Quarter to Heritage Line’s Welcome Lounge at the Tuan Chau Marina near Halong City costs 44 USD as of this writing. Private transfers to/from Hanoi or Cat Bi Airport can also be arranged.

When to Visit Lan Ha Bay

The best time to visit Lan Ha Bay largely depends on personal preference. There are pluses and minuses to all seasons. When choosing travel dates, you should take into account your tolerance for heat and humidity as well as your preferred activities.

Low Season (May – September): Visiting in the summer months means the weather will be extremely hot and humid (average temperatures of 28-30°C/82-86°F, but can reach 35°C/95°F). There is a higher likelihood for sunny days during the summer, but it is also monsoon season, which means highly variable weather and potential trip cancellations due to monsoon rains. The summer season is ideal for swimming and diving but is less ideal for land-based activities such as cycling or climbing. Due to this being the low season, prices will be slightly less expensive during these months. There will be fewer international visitors in the summer; however, this is still a popular time for domestic travelers to visit the area.

High Season (October – April): Visiting in the winter months brings cooler temperatures and less humidity (average temperatures of 17-23°C/63-73°F). There are fewer sunny days in the winter and fewer monsoon storms, but a higher chance of clouds and fog. The brisk, refreshing water may not beckon you to go for a swim in the winter months, but the cooler weather will make other activities more enjoyable. Because this is the high season, you can expect to pay slightly higher prices. There will be more international visitors during these months in Halong Bay, but Lan Ha Bay is generally quiet year-round.

That said, visiting during the shoulder seasons of February through April (Spring) or October through December (Autumn) may be your best bet for drier weather and pleasant temperatures.

What to Pack for a Lan Ha Bay Cruise

No matter what time of year you decide to visit Lan Ha Bay, there are a few packing essentials that apply to all seasons:

Have I convinced you to put Lan Ha Bay on your list of must-see Vietnam destinations?

Thank you to Heritage Line for welcoming me on their “Hidden Worlds” cruise aboard Ginger in Lan Ha Bay, Vietnam. As always, all thoughts, opinions, and effusive compliments are my own. For more information, please refer to my Disclosure Policy.

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