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

Amanda Luxury Cruise gives you the best kind of Ha Long Bay room: one with a private balcony and bathtub, so the limestone karsts are part of your morning and evening rather than scenery you only see from a crowded deck. The 20-cabin ship travels into Lan Ha Bay, where the setting is generally quieter, with kayaking, a cooking lesson, and a night on the water.

I like the generous cabins and the crew’s careful service. Cruise manager Alex has earned particular praise for keeping the trip organized, while the staff have handled birthday decorations, cakes, and special dining setups with real care. The main drawback is time: this is a tightly scheduled two-day cruise, and the Hanoi transfer makes the first and last days fairly long.

Key details before you book

• Private balcony and bathtub in every room: A rare comfort at this price, especially useful when you want quiet time between activities.
• Tra Bau kayaking stop: Paddle or swim near a location associated with Kong: Skull Island and see the bay from water level.
• Lan Ha Bay overnight setting: The cruise includes the quieter extension of the Ha Long Bay area, with a night surrounded by limestone formations.
• Small 20-cabin ship: The boat has a more intimate feel than a large resort-style vessel, though shared activities still follow a fixed timetable.
• Meals and onboard activities included: Lunch, dinner, breakfast, brunch, cooking instruction, afternoon tea, Wi-Fi, sightseeing tickets, service fees, and insurance are covered.
• Hanoi pickup is optional: You can arrange collection from an Old Quarter address, or meet at Tuan Chau Marina if you handle your own transport.

What the $181 price really covers

At about $181 per person, this cruise sits in the affordable luxury range for a two-day, one-night Ha Long Bay trip. That price includes a Junior Suite, four meals, activities, port and sightseeing fees, service charges, insurance, and optional Hanoi Old Quarter pickup if you choose the departure option with transfer.

I find the value strongest for couples and first-time visitors who want comfort without arranging every part of the bay visit themselves. A private balcony and bathtub add more than decoration. You can sit outside with a coffee, watch the karsts pass, or take a quiet bath while the boat is under way. The ship also provides bottled water, tea, coffee, fresh fruit, daily amenities, a welcome drink, a cold towel, and an herbal foot bath.

Drinks beyond the included welcome service are extra, as are massages, Sky Bar beverages, personal purchases, airfare, airport transfers, visa costs, and anything not named in the inclusions. The afternoon happy hour promotion is advertised as Buy 2, Get 1 Free, but that applies to drinks you order, not to the whole cruise.

The value depends partly on how much you use the ship. If you plan to spend most of your time off the boat, the private room may feel like an indulgence. If you care about a comfortable cabin, evening relaxation, and room to enjoy the scenery, it is a sensible part of the price.

Leaving Hanoi for Tuan Chau Marina

The optional Hanoi transfer begins with pickup between 7:45 and 8:30 from an address in the Old Quarter. You should be ready in your hotel lobby 10 minutes before the assigned time. A limousine upgrade is available on request, though its added cost is not included in the stated fare.

The transfer takes you to Tuan Chau Marina, where the meeting point is No. 12 Tuan Chau Port in Ha Long City. At the waiting lounge, you complete check-in and receive a special tea service before boarding. This pause gives you a chance to use the facilities and settle in, but it also means the cruise day starts early.

If you arrange your own transport, you can meet at the marina instead of using the Hanoi pickup. That is useful if you are already staying in Ha Long or want more control over your morning. Pickup is specifically offered from addresses in Hanoi’s Old Quarter and the Hanoi Opera House area, so confirm your exact location before booking.

Lunch among Ha Long Bay’s limestone karsts

The ship sets sail around 1 p.m., with lunch served as Amanda moves through Ha Long Bay and toward Lan Ha Bay. You pass formations including Finger Islet and Candle Islet, along with the tall limestone outcrops that give this part of Vietnam its instantly recognizable character.

The scenery is the main event here, and the route works best when you resist the urge to treat lunch as a simple meal stop. Find a place where you can see outside, keep your camera ready, and take time to watch the formations change shape as the boat moves.

Amanda uses French neoclassical styling mixed with traditional Asian decorative lines. That gives the dining and public areas a more formal mood than a basic day boat. It is attractive without changing the fact that you are still on a working cruise ship, so bring practical shoes and expect a schedule rather than a fully private sailing experience.

Kayaking and swimming at Tra Bau

Around 3:30 p.m., you head to Tra Bau for kayaking and swimming. This is one of the most active parts of the trip and a good reason to pack swimwear, sunscreen, a waterproof phone bag, sunglasses, and shoes that can handle wet surfaces.

Tra Bau is associated with the filming of Kong: Skull Island in 2018. The film connection is a fun detail, but the real appeal is getting close to the water and rock formations. A kayak lets you move at your own pace and see the bay from a lower, quieter viewpoint than the main deck.

Swimming is optional, and you should be comfortable with the conditions before getting in. The supplied information does not state the exact kayaking route, water temperature, or how long you spend in the area, so treat this as a scheduled outdoor stop rather than a private paddling excursion.

Back on the boat from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., you have time to dry off and rest. This break matters. The day begins with a Hanoi transfer, and the combination of transport, sun, water, and sightseeing can catch up with you quickly.

Sunset drinks and a hands-on cooking lesson

The late afternoon program combines relaxation with a short cultural activity. On the sundeck, you can join the sunset party and order drinks during the happy hour promotion. The deck is the natural place to watch the light change across the karsts, though weather can affect how much you enjoy this part.

The onboard chef also demonstrates Vietnamese cooking, with a chance to help prepare traditional dishes such as fried spring rolls. This is not a full market-to-table food tour, but it gives you something to do with your hands and a practical taste of local cooking.

I like this pairing because you can choose your level of involvement. You may take part in the lesson, sit with a drink, or simply use the pause to enjoy the view. The schedule leaves only about 90 minutes, so the cooking activity is likely to be a compact demonstration rather than a long class.

Dinner on the sundeck and an evening aboard

Dinner begins around 7 p.m. on the sundeck. The menu is described as using fresh ingredients and offering a varied selection, and the meals included in the fare are lunch and dinner on the first day, followed by breakfast and brunch on the second.

The dining setting is one of Amanda’s stronger points. The French neoclassical design gives the evening a polished feel, while the bay outside keeps the mood from becoming too formal. If you are celebrating a birthday, anniversary, or honeymoon, special room setups are available. The crew can also arrange a decorated dining table, cake, and birthday song, according to the service details provided.

After dinner, the schedule runs until 11 p.m. You can enjoy a complimentary herbal foot bath, watch the traditional bamboo dance and ethnic fashion show called Heritage Footsteps, or try squid fishing from the deck. Massage and Sky Bar drinks cost extra.

The evening entertainment is useful for anyone who wants more than a quiet night in the cabin, but you are not required to join everything. I would keep the foot bath in mind if you have spent the afternoon kayaking. It is a small comfort, but a welcome one after a busy day.

A private cabin that earns its space

Amanda has 20 cabins, and every room includes a private balcony and bathtub. The included room category is a Junior Suite. It also comes with tea, coffee, bottled water, fresh fruit, and daily amenities.

The balcony is the feature I would value most. Ha Long Bay is not only a sightseeing stop. The pleasure is also in having a slow hour when the boat is moving, the view is outside your door, and you do not need to stand at the rail with everyone else.

The bathtub adds another layer of comfort, especially after the kayaking stop or before dinner. It is worth checking the exact room details when you book, since cabin layouts can differ even within the same category, but the provided room information confirms a private bathtub and balcony in every room.

The ship also offers free access to a Four Seasons swimming pool. The information does not give the pool’s exact location or operating hours, so ask onboard if this is important to your plans. Since the cruise has a full activity schedule, do not assume you will have long pool time unless you make room for it.

Tai Chi and the Dark and Bright Cave

The second day begins early, from 6 to 7 a.m., with Tai Chi on the sundeck. The timing is practical for this setting. Morning light, quiet water, and fewer scheduled distractions make this a calm way to start, though it may not suit anyone who prefers a late breakfast after an evening program.

A light breakfast follows at 7 a.m. The boat continues through the limestone formations before reaching Dark and Bright Cave at about 7:15. You can explore by bamboo boat or kayak, depending on the activity arrangement that day.

This stop offers a different view from Tra Bau. Instead of open water and swimming, you focus on a cave area, rock shapes, and a calmer passage through the bay. A bamboo boat is the easier choice if you want to sit back and look around. Kayaking gives you more independence, but it takes more effort and may not be ideal if you are tired or conditions are unsettled.

The early cave visit also helps protect your time. You see another key area before the final meal and return to port, rather than spending the whole morning only on the ship.

Brunch, checkout, and the ride back

Between 10:45 and 11:30, you have a final brunch as Amanda returns toward port. A transfer boat takes you back to the waiting area at Tuan Chau Marina between 11 and 11:45, where the cruise ends at the original meeting point.

This final stretch is not a sightseeing stop, but it gives you one last chance to use the deck and watch the karsts pass. Keep your passport or citizen ID with you, along with your phone, medication, and other essentials, rather than packing everything away before the transfer boat.

The published timing overlaps slightly around brunch and the transfer, so the exact sequence may depend on the day’s operating schedule. Plan your onward transport with some breathing room instead of booking a tight connection immediately after the stated end time.

Service, group size, and the overall feel

Amanda is a relatively small ship with 20 cabins, and small-group availability is offered. That should feel more personal than a very large cruise, but it does not mean every activity is private. Kayaking, cave visits, demonstrations, and entertainment follow the shared cruise schedule.

Service is a major part of the experience. Cruise manager Alex is singled out for keeping the operation punctual, clean, and well organized. The staff are also prepared for celebrations, which makes this a strong choice for a birthday or anniversary if you notify the operator ahead of time.

English and Vietnamese are the available guide languages. The tour is not suitable for people over 70, so older passengers should check the operator’s conditions before booking, especially if they hope to kayak, swim, or join the early morning schedule.

Free Wi-Fi is included, but the bay is best enjoyed with your phone down for a while. Use it for directions, photos, and urgent messages, not as the main reason to choose this trip.

What to pack and who should choose it

Pack swimwear, sunscreen, sunglasses, a hat, flip-flops or sneakers, a waterproof phone bag, and valid identification. You will want shoes that are practical for the marina, ship, and water activities.

This cruise suits you best if you want:

• A polished overnight boat with a private balcony and bathtub
• A mix of scenery, water activities, food, and evening entertainment
• Optional transport from Hanoi’s Old Quarter
• A celebration-friendly setting
• A two-day schedule that covers Ha Long Bay and Lan Ha Bay without requiring separate bookings

It may not suit you if you want a slow, unstructured sailing trip. The transfer begins early, activities are timed closely, and the cruise includes several shared events. If you dislike fixed meal times or organized entertainment, a private boat or shore-based stay may give you more freedom.

Should you book Amanda Luxury Cruise?

I would book Amanda if cabin comfort matters as much to you as the scenery. The combination of a private balcony, bathtub, four included meals, kayaking, cave visits, and Hanoi transfer makes the $181 price reasonable for a carefully planned overnight trip.

Choose it especially for a couple’s celebration or a first visit to Ha Long Bay. Ask about special room and dining arrangements before departure, and allow extra time after the return to Tuan Chau Marina. Skip it if you need an easygoing timetable, have mobility concerns, or want a longer stay in each place.

The best reason to choose Amanda is simple: you get a proper room, not just a seat on a sightseeing boat, while still reaching the water-level experiences that make the bay memorable.

FAQ

How long is the Amanda Luxury Cruise experience?

It is a two-day, one-night cruise, with the published activity duration shown as 8 hours to 2 days depending on the selected option and schedule.

Where does the cruise start and finish?

The cruise starts and ends at No. 12 Tuan Chau Port in Ha Long City. A transfer boat returns you to the waiting area at Tuan Chau Marina at the end.

Is pickup from Hanoi included?

Pickup is available as an optional service from addresses in Hanoi’s Old Quarter and the Hanoi Opera House area. You should be ready in your hotel lobby 10 minutes before the scheduled pickup.

What room is included?

The package includes a one-night stay in a Junior Suite with a private balcony and private bathtub. Amanda has 20 cabins.

Which meals are included?

You receive lunch and dinner on the first day, followed by breakfast and brunch on the second day. Drinks are available on request.

Are kayaking and bamboo boating included?

Activities include kayaking or bamboo boating at Dark and Bright Cave, as well as kayaking and swimming at Tra Bau. Sightseeing tickets and service fees are included.

What languages are available?

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

Is the cruise suitable for people over 70?

The activity is listed as not suitable for people over 70 years old. Anyone close to that age should confirm suitability with the operator before booking.

What is the cancellation policy?

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. The reserve-now, pay-later option is also available.