Hanoi: 2D1N Ha Long Bay, Lan Ha Bay by Amanda Luxury Cruise

Amanda Luxury Cruise gives you something many Ha Long Bay boats cannot: a private balcony and bathtub in every cabin. The 20-cabin ship sails beyond the busiest Ha Long Bay routes into Lan Ha Bay, with limestone islands, calm water, and a quieter overnight setting. I especially like the roomy Junior Suites and the chance to kayak at Tra Bau, a filming location for Kong: Skull Island.

I also like the polished service details, from welcome tea and a cold towel to the herbal foot bath and well-planned birthday setups. Cruise manager Alex has earned special praise for keeping the trip organized and attentive. The main consideration is the price, about $181 per person, plus the fact that this is a tightly scheduled cruise with early starts and several group activities.

Quick reasons to consider Amanda Luxury Cruise

• Private balcony and bathtub in every cabin, useful for quiet time and scenic morning coffee.
• Tra Bau kayaking and swimming, with a chance to see one of Lan Ha Bay’s film locations.
• 20-cabin ship, giving the cruise a smaller feel than a large resort boat.
• French neoclassical design with Asian details, carried through the dining room and public areas.
• Cooking class, Tai Chi, bamboo boating, and evening entertainment, so the overnight stay has plenty to do.
• Optional Hanoi Old Quarter pickup, making the trip easier if you are staying in central Hanoi.

What the Amanda cruise does well

Amanda Luxury Cruise is designed for people who want Ha Long Bay with a stronger sense of comfort. This is not a basic boat where you only use the cabin for sleeping. The private balcony gives you a place to watch the karsts pass by, while the bathtub adds a hotel-style touch that is unusual on a one-night bay cruise.

The ship has 20 cabins and uses an elegant French neoclassical style mixed with traditional Asian lines. That design choice gives the public rooms a formal feel without making the trip feel entirely European. The ship also offers free use of the Four Seasons swimming pool, which adds another place to relax when you are not on an excursion.

The service is one of the strongest parts of the trip. The onboard team handles meals, activities, room amenities, and special occasions. Birthday and honeymoon arrangements are available, including room decoration, a dining table setup, cake, and a song from the crew. If you are marking an occasion, tell the operator before departure so the setup can be arranged.

The schedule is also well organized. Cruise manager Alex is specifically praised for his care and coordination, while other feedback highlights clean rooms, efficient staff, varied food, and a crew that pays attention to special requests. That matters on a short cruise, where a late transfer or poorly managed excursion can eat into a large part of your only day.

From Hanoi to Tuan Chau Marina

If you choose the Hanoi departure option, pickup runs from the Old Quarter or the Hanoi Opera House area. The scheduled collection window is 7:45 to 8:30 in the morning, and you should be waiting in your hotel lobby about 10 minutes before your assigned time.

The transfer brings you to Tuan Chau Marina, the departure point in Ha Long City. You can also make your own way there and meet the boat at No 12 Tuan Chau Port. Limousine upgrades are available on request, but the standard transfer details should be checked when you book.

At the marina, you check in at a waiting lounge and receive a special tea. This pause is useful because it gives you time to get organized before boarding rather than stepping straight from a road transfer into lunch. Keep your passport or citizen ID handy, since valid identification is required.

The transfer is convenient, but it also makes this a long first day. You leave Hanoi early, reach the marina late in the morning, and do not board the main cruise until around midday. If you prefer slow mornings, arrange your own way to Tuan Chau and stay near the port the night before.

Lunch among Ha Long Bay’s limestone towers

At about 1 p.m., lunch is served as Amanda begins sailing through Ha Long Bay toward Lan Ha Bay. You pass formations such as Finger Islet and Candle Islet, along with the tall limestone towers that make this corner of northern Vietnam famous.

The value of lunch is not just the food. It lets you settle into the boat while the scenery begins outside the windows. The dining setting follows the ship’s French and Asian design, giving the first meal a more formal feeling than a simple buffet stop.

Food is included for lunch and dinner on the first day, followed by breakfast and brunch on the second. The available feedback points to varied choices and fresh ingredients, though drinks are ordered separately. If you have a special dietary need, ask about it before booking rather than waiting until you are on board.

The scenery is the main event here, but remember that a bay cruise is weather dependent. Mist, cloud, or hazy conditions can change how much detail you see in the karsts. The ship still offers a pleasant setting in less clear weather, but do not book this expecting perfect visibility every hour.

Kayaking at Tra Bau

The afternoon excursion takes place around 3:30 p.m. at Tra Bau. You can kayak or swim, depending on the conditions and your preference. The area is known as a filming site for Kong: Skull Island, which gives the stop a pop-culture connection, but the real appeal is the quiet water and limestone scenery.

Kayaking lets you set your own pace and get closer to the rock formations than you can from the main ship. It is also the most active part of the first day, so bring swimwear, sunscreen, a hat, sunglasses, and a waterproof phone bag. Flip-flops or sneakers are useful for moving between the ship and the water.

This stop is not a long independent expedition. It is a scheduled cruise activity, so you will need to return within the time allowed. That is typical for an overnight bay cruise, but it may disappoint you if you want hours of unsupervised kayaking.

After Tra Bau, you return to the ship between 5 and 6:30 p.m. This is a good window to use your balcony, visit the Four Seasons pool, or simply shower and rest. Having a private bathtub makes this pause more comfortable, especially after swimming or kayaking.

Sunset, cooking, and dinner on deck

The late afternoon brings a sunset party on the sundeck, with a happy hour promotion of buy two drinks and get one free. Drinks are not included in the cruise price, so this is an optional extra rather than part of the package.

The cooking demonstration is more hands-on than a quick chef presentation. You learn to prepare a Vietnamese dish such as fried spring rolls, then get a taste of a familiar local staple in a new setting. It is a short activity, but it adds a useful connection to Vietnamese food beyond the meals served to you.

Dinner begins around 7 p.m. and is served on deck when conditions allow. The setting is one of the more memorable parts of the cruise, with the ship’s formal design, open water, and limestone silhouettes around you. Fresh ingredients and a varied menu are part of the dining promise, while drinks remain an additional cost.

I would treat dinner as a social part of the trip rather than a private restaurant meal. You are on a small ship, and the schedule brings people together for meals and activities. That works well if you enjoy an organized atmosphere. It is less suitable if you want total privacy or a completely flexible evening.

A calm evening on the bay

After dinner, the cruise offers several ways to spend the night. You can take part in a complimentary herbal foot bath, watch the Heritage Footsteps bamboo dance and ethnic fashion show, or try squid fishing from the deck.

The foot bath is a small but thoughtful touch after a busy day. The cultural performance provides entertainment without requiring another transfer, while squid fishing gives you something simple to do under the night sky. The Sky Bar and massage services are also available, but you pay extra for them.

The bay is quiet at night, and the private balcony becomes particularly useful here. Several cabin descriptions point to open views and a feeling of being surrounded by nature rather than by boats directly in front of the room. That is one of the better reasons to choose an overnight cruise instead of a day trip.

Do not expect a late-night party cruise. The schedule is built around rest, and the next morning starts at 6 a.m. If you want to enjoy the entertainment, then sleep, you will need to manage your time carefully.

Tai Chi and the Dark and Bright Cave

The second morning begins with Tai Chi on the sundeck from 6 to 7 a.m. The early hour is not for everyone, but it gives you a quiet start while the bay is still calm. You can skip it and use the time for sleep, although you will miss one of the best opportunities to enjoy the open deck before breakfast.

A light breakfast follows at 7 a.m. The morning excursion then visits the Dark and Bright Cave at around 7:15. You can explore by bamboo boat or kayak, depending on the option available that day.

The cave visit focuses on rock formations and sheltered water rather than a long walk through an underground passage. The bamboo boat is the easier choice if you want to sit back and look around. Kayaking gives you more control and a closer view, but it requires more physical effort.

This is an early excursion, and that timing has both advantages and drawbacks. You reach the site before the day feels fully busy, but you also have little time for a leisurely breakfast. Pack your camera and waterproof phone protection, since the water-level setting makes splashes possible.

Brunch and the return to Tuan Chau

A final brunch is served between 10:45 and 11:30 while the ship returns toward port. It is included, along with the first day’s lunch and dinner and the second day’s breakfast.

The transfer boat returns you to the waiting area at Tuan Chau Marina between 11 and 11:45. The cruise then ends back at the meeting point. If you are continuing to Hanoi, leave room for the journey and possible road delays when planning a flight, train, or afternoon activity.

The return is efficient, but the cruise does not give you much free time on the second morning. The main excursions are finished early, and the last meal takes place while the ship heads back. That is normal for a two-day, one-night schedule, but it is worth knowing if you prefer a slower final morning.

What the cabins and facilities mean for your stay

The included accommodation is a Junior Suite with a private balcony and bathtub. Every room has these two features, along with tea, coffee, bottled water, daily amenities, fresh fruit, and a welcome setup.

The balcony is the most useful feature. You can step outside without going to the public sundeck, which makes it easier to enjoy quiet moments, read, or watch the karsts before breakfast. The bathtub is more of a comfort bonus, but it gives the cabin a proper hotel feel.

The ship also offers free Wi-Fi and access to the Four Seasons swimming pool. Wi-Fi quality can vary on a bay cruise, so I would not rely on it for important work or large downloads. Use it for basic contact and trip updates, and enjoy the chance to be less connected.

The vessel is new and has a polished appearance, but the trip still has the practical limits of a boat. You will share public areas, follow a fixed schedule, and pay separately for personal expenses, beverages, massage, Sky Bar purchases, airfare, airport transfers, and visa costs.

Is $181 per person fair?

At about $181 per person, this is not the cheapest way to see Ha Long Bay. It is also more than a basic day boat, but the price includes a private Junior Suite, balcony, bathtub, four meals, scheduled excursions, sightseeing tickets, service fees, insurance, Wi-Fi, the cooking class, and the herbal foot bath.

The value improves if you use the included activities and choose the Hanoi pickup. You are paying for an overnight setting, not only transportation across the bay. The private cabin features are a real advantage for couples, honeymooners, and anyone who finds a shared sundeck too busy.

The price may feel less worthwhile if you do not care about a bathtub, private balcony, or onboard entertainment. In that case, a simpler day trip could suit you better. For a special occasion, however, the room decorations, cake, decorated dining table, and crew participation can make the extra cost easier to justify.

Who should choose this cruise?

I would point this trip toward couples, first-time Ha Long Bay visitors, and people who want comfort without booking a very large ship. It also suits anyone who likes having a full program, since each part of the stay has a planned activity.

The cruise works well for birthdays, anniversaries, and honeymoons because special room and dining arrangements are available. Families may also appreciate the pool, cooking activity, kayaking, and evening options, although the operator lists the activity as not suitable for people over 70.

You should think twice if you dislike early mornings, organized group schedules, or paying extra for drinks and optional services. The two-day format is compact, so you will be moving from transfer to check-in, lunch, kayaking, dinner, cave visit, and brunch with little empty time.

Should you book Amanda Luxury Cruise?

Book it if you want a comfortable overnight stay with a balcony and bathtub, plus a good mix of scenery, food, and light activities. The strongest reasons are the private cabin features, attentive organization, smaller 20-cabin format, and the quieter route through Lan Ha Bay.

Choose another option if your priority is the lowest possible price, a long independent kayaking session, or a completely unstructured schedule. For everyone else, $181 per person is a reasonable package price when you count the room, meals, excursions, tickets, and optional Hanoi transfer.

The best booking choice is to reserve early if you are celebrating an occasion, request the special setup in advance, and bring swimwear plus waterproof protection for your phone. Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before departure, and reserve now, pay later is offered, which helps if your Hanoi plans are still taking shape.

FAQ

How long is the Amanda Luxury Cruise trip?

The standard itinerary lasts two days and one night, with the cruise ending back at Tuan Chau Marina on the second day.

Where does the cruise start?

The cruise starts at No 12 Tuan Chau Port in Ha Long City. Hanoi Old Quarter pickup is available with the Hanoi departure option.

Is Hanoi pickup included?

Pickup from addresses in Hanoi’s Old Quarter is available for the Hanoi departure option. Pickup timing is generally between 7:45 and 8:30 in the morning.

What accommodation is included?

You stay one night in a Junior Suite with a private balcony and private bathtub aboard Amanda Luxury Cruise.

What meals are included?

The package includes lunch and dinner on day one, followed by breakfast and brunch on day two.

Are drinks included?

Drinks are available on request and are not included as part of the listed meal package.

What activities are included?

Included activities include kayaking or bamboo boating at Dark and Bright Cave, kayaking at Tra Bau, a cooking class, afternoon tea, Tai Chi, and evening entertainment.

Is the Four Seasons swimming pool included?

Yes. Access to the Four Seasons swimming pool is included at no extra charge.

What languages are available?

The live tour guide service is available in English and Vietnamese.

Can I cancel the booking?

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. Reserve now and pay later is also available.