These cruise ships operate on Ha Long Bay in Vietnam, providing a luxury sleepaboard experience with hotel-like amenities. The cruises here are good for travelers resident in Hanoi, Vietnam: expect an 8:00am pick-up at your Hanoi hotel (a three-hour shuttlebus or car ride to Ha Long Bay follows) and boarding at 12 noon at the earliest. The cruises mentioned here offer a variety of itineraries, ranging from overnight cruises to multiple-night voyages ranging across the Gulf of Tonkin.
Alternatively, tourists who want to spend the night next to the Bay (but not on it) may check into a number of Ha Long Bay hotels in the vicinity.
Emeraude Classic Cruises
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The first luxury ship in Ha Long Bay is still an act to beat, with the most comfortable accommodations featuring hardwood floors, colonial brass fans, and rich décor. Air conditioning and other amenities are more reminiscent of a luxury hotel room than a cabin. The cruise is held aboard a ship built to resemble a steam paddle wheeler from the late 19th century. (Go back in time to the beginning of this ship class: The History of Steamboats.)
- Star Rating: ★★★★ (compare rates|buy direct)
- Address: 46 Le Thai To Street, Ha Long, Vietnam
- Phone: +84 439 351 888
Halong Classic Sail
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The three-storey cruise boat has seven cabins with fan, hair dryer, and shower. Kayaking and other leisure services available, and personal service including room service and concierge are ready to serve. Bar and pub on board.
- Star Rating: ★★★ (compare rates)
- Address: Bai Chay Tourist Wharf, Ha Long, Vietnam
- Phone: +84 912 317 553
Bhaya Cruises
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Bhaya Cruises take place on a luxury boat with only 20 cabins, maintaining exclusivity and privacy while on board. Guests enjoy the Ha Long Bay view through a picture window in each cabin. European linen and duvets complete the cabin picture. Dining Room treats cover a variety of Western/Vietnamese fusion dishes.
- Star Rating: ★★★★ (compare rates)
- Address: 47 Phan Chu Trinh Street, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi, Vietnam
- Phone: +84 4 3944 6777
Indochina Sails
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Indochina Sails cruises on Ha Long Bay with six new junks, each with room for 30. Larger boats offer a buffet breakfast and dinner. From morning Tai Chi on the sundeck to kayaking in the bay, adventure outings and other diversions available upon request.
- Star Rating: ★★★★ (compare rates|buy direct)
- Address: 27A6 Dam Trau, Hanoi, Vietnam
- Phone: +84 4 3984 2362
Ha Long Emotion Cruise
Image © Mike Aquino, licensed to About.com.
A 1910-style tourist boat with 28 air-conditioned cabins marks the Ha Long Emotion experience: luxurious accommodations with private bathrooms, library, expansive top deck, buffet meals, and water sports available upon request.
- Star Rating: ★★★★ (compare rates)
- Address: Suite 514. 4F Building, Trung Hoa Street, Cau Giay District, Hanoi, Vietnam
- Phone: +84 4 3783 4288
Paloma Cruise
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A four-deck Chinese junk with 16 fully equipped cabins marks the Paloma Cruise experience. Other amenities on board include a bar with soft seating and flat-screen TV, spa, a gourmet restaurant, an open-air dining area, and sundeck. Kayaking and snorkeling subject to availability of equipment.
- Star Rating: ★★★★ (compare rates)
- Address: 33 Pham Ngu Lao Street, Hoan Kiem Dist, Hanoi, Vietnam
- Phone: +84 4 3933 2255
Halong Galaxy Cruise
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The Galaxy Cruise offers nine cabins, divided into Double, Twin, Triple, Honeymoon and Connecting room classes. Each cabin is air conditioned, with en suite bathroom with bathrobe. Restaurant serves seafood, and the ship's bartender serves both the restaurant and the upper sundeck's "Moonlight Bar".
- Star Rating: ★★★★ (compare rates)
- Address: 12A/22 Ly Nam De Street, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi, Vietnam
- Phone: +84 4 3926 2318
Annam Junk
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Annam Junk has five traditional-style tourist ships in their fleet, ranging from a compact five-cabin ship to an eleven-cabin junk. All cabins have large windows offering expansive views of Ha Long Bay, with amenities like en suite bathrooms, air-conditioning and minibar. Guests can enjoy activities like kayaking, cooking classes, even squid fishing.
- Star Rating: ★★★★ (compare rates)
- Address: Suite 2405, Building 25 T1, Hoang Dao Thuy Street, Thanh Xuan District, Hanoi
- Phone: +84 4 3533 3305
Ha Long Poseidon Sail
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The Poseidon is an eight-cabin junk offering several classes of accommodation. The Poseidon's deluxe cabins have standing balconies. Cabins have artwork imported from Bat Trang in Vietnam, while textiles incorporate silk from the Van Phuc "silk village". The top deck is 2,100 square feet large, and holds a bar and barbecue (weather permitting for the latter).
- Star Rating: ★★★★ (compare rates)
- Address: 3rd floor, 125 Hong Ha Road, Ba Dinh District, Hanoi, Vietnam
- Phone: +84 4 37171 444
Ha Long Glory Cruise
Image © Mike Aquino, licensed to About.com.
Glory Cruise's fleet of two junks (the Glory I and the Glory II) offer rooms with a bundle of amenities including in-cabin television, safe, and air conditioning. Laundry service/dry cleaning and water sports equipment rental available upon request.
- Star Rating: ★★★★ (compare rates)
- Address: 2nd floor, 60 Nguyen Truong To Street, Hanoi, Vietnam
- Phone: + 84 4 3927 5797
