Aqua Elegance Cruise Ha Long & Lan Ha Bay 3 Days 2 Nights

Itinerary, day by day

Day 1: HANOI – HA LONG BAY – TRA BAU, LAN HA BAY

Morning Pick-up from your hotel in the Hanoi Old Quarter by Aqua limousine bus. The run east to Tuan Chau International Marina takes about two and a half hours on the Hanoi – Hai Phong and Ha Long expressways, with one comfort stop.

Late morning You are met at the Aqua guest lounge at the marina, where luggage and check-in are handled for you, and a tender takes you out to the ship a little before midday.

Midday Welcome drink and safety briefing while the cabin is readied. Lunch is served as the ship clears the harbour and works out through the best-known of the Ha Long rock formations — Stone Dog, the Incense Burner and the Fighting Cocks, the islet that ends up on the postcards.

Mid-afternoon The ship crosses into Lan Ha Bay and anchors at Tra Bau, a sheltered inlet with water clear enough to see the bottom in the shallows. Kayaks go in here and you can swim straight off the ship; neither is compulsory.

Sundown A cooking demonstration of Vietnamese dishes with the head chef, the sunset party by the pool, then dinner in the restaurant. Afterwards the bar is open, there is karaoke, and the crew set a lamp and a line off the stern for squid. Overnight at anchor in Lan Ha Bay.

Day 2: VIET HAI VILLAGE – TAI KEO ISLETS – BA TRAI DAO

After breakfast You transfer to the day boat for a full day in the southern part of Lan Ha Bay. Take what you need with you; you are away from the ship until mid-afternoon.

Morning Viet Hai, a village inside the Cat Ba Biosphere Reserve reached through a gap in the hills. It is five kilometres from the landing to the village — bicycles are provided, and electric buggies are there for anyone who would rather not cycle. Water buffalo, vegetable plots and a handful of houses; the place is farmed rather than staged.

Lunch Vietnamese, served back on the day boat.

Afternoon Kayaking around the Tai Keo islets and a fishing hamlet, or swimming at Ba Trai Dao, the Three Peach beach, which is only above water at certain tides.

About four o’clock Back aboard the ship for the sunset party, with dinner in the restaurant that evening. Second night at anchor.

Day 3: THIEN CUNG AND DAU GO CAVES – TUAN CHAU MARINA – HANOI

First light Tai chi on the sundeck for anyone who wants it, then a light breakfast in the restaurant.

Morning Overnight the ship moves back across into Ha Long Bay proper, and the morning is given to its two best-known caves. Thien Cung — the Heavenly Palace — is a single large chamber of stalactites, lit to pick out the formations the old legend of the Dragon King is told against. Dau Go is next door and much plainer: a big, dry, high-roofed cave named after the stakes said to have been stored here before the Bach Dang victory of 1288. Both are reached by steps up from the landing.

Late morning Back aboard, settle any bar account and leave the luggage outside the cabin door for the crew. Brunch is served as the ship works her way back towards Tuan Chau.

Midday Disembark at Tuan Chau International Marina, where the limousine bus is waiting for the run back to Hanoi.

What's included

Included

Not included

Age pricing

Rates are the starting point for a private quote and move with season, hotel choice and party size. Nothing is charged on this site. Send an inquiry and a designer confirms the exact figure in writing.

Frequently asked questions

• How much is a cabin on Aqua Elegance for 3 days 2 nights?

  From US$286 per person sharing a Junior Suite Balcony in low season (1 May to 30 September) and US$310 in high season (1 October to 30 April). A Grand Suite Balcony is US$368 to US$416, and the President Suite US$465 to US$609. A cabin to yourself starts at US$466. The fare covers the return limousine-bus transfer from the Hanoi Old Quarter, two nights in the cabin, all seven meals, the full day on the day boat in southern Lan Ha Bay, kayaking, the cave entrance fees, the English-speaking cruise guide and every bay fee and tax.

• What does the second night add?

  A full day on a day boat in southern Lan Ha Bay: Viet Hai village inside the Cat Ba Biosphere Reserve, kayaking around the Tai Keo islets and a fishing hamlet, and swimming at Ba Trai Dao. The caves move to the third morning, so you lose nothing from the one-night programme and gain a day the overnight boats never reach.

• Why does this ship visit both bays?

  Aqua Elegance is the only ship in the fleet whose itinerary crosses between them. It anchors overnight in Lan Ha Bay, where the water is quieter and you can swim off the ship, and comes back through Ha Long Bay proper for the Thien Cung and Dau Go caves. Most Lan Ha boats skip those caves and most Ha Long boats never reach the Lan Ha anchorages.

• What are Thien Cung and Dau Go like?

  Thien Cung, the Heavenly Palace, is one large chamber of stalactites lit to pick out the formations the legend of the Dragon King is told against. Dau Go next door is plainer and bigger: dry, high-roofed, and named after the stakes said to have been stored there before the Bach Dang victory of 1288. Both are reached by a flight of steps up from the landing, and the entrance fees are in your fare.

• Do all the cabins have a balcony and a bathtub?

  Yes. All 26 cabins are en-suite with air conditioning, a private balcony and a bathtub, including the entry-level Junior Suite Balcony.

• How do we get from Hanoi to the ship?

  An Aqua limousine bus collects you from the Hanoi Old Quarter in the morning and runs to Tuan Chau International Marina in about two and a half hours on the expressway, with one comfort stop. The transfer is in the fare; if your hotel is outside the Old Quarter, tell us and we will confirm the pick-up point.

• Can we bring children?

  Yes. Children are charged on the age scale shown on this page, as a share of the adult fare in the same cabin and season. The ship has connecting cabins, which are the easiest answer for a family; tell us the ages when you enquire and we will confirm what is available and what it costs.

• Is kayaking compulsory, and can we swim?

  Neither is compulsory. The kayaks go in the water at Tra Bau and you can swim straight off the ship there, or use the pool on deck. Kayaking and swimming are the first things dropped if the sea gets up.

• Is there wifi, and will my phone work?

  There is wifi on board, but the limestone blocks the satellite signal for much of the route and the connection comes and goes. Plan on being out of contact for stretches of the itinerary.

• What happens if a typhoon stops the boats?

  Ha Long is a working port under a harbourmaster who can suspend departures when the weather turns, usually between July and October. If it happens we work the options with the cruise line — a change of date, a different ship, or a refund of what the line releases — and confirm the outcome to you in writing.

• How do we book and pay?

  Send an enquiry and we confirm the cabin and the price in writing within 24 hours. Nothing is charged on this website. To hold the booking we take a 30% deposit by bank transfer or card, with the balance due at least 14 days before you arrive.

• Are there extra charges on certain dates?

  Yes. US$117 per person over 24 and 31 December for the gala dinners the ship makes compulsory on those nights, and US$49 per person over 30 April, 1 May, 2 September and the first three days of Tet. We state these in writing in your quote before you commit.