Ha Long Bay Cruise Tips: Why Two Nights Beats One
Our three-day, two-night Hạ Long Bay cruise was a highlight of our 2023 honeymoon in Vietnam.
We sailed with Orchid Cruises on the Orchid Classic 01, a small ship with 14 rooms and 26 passengers. Here’s what we learned, including how a cruise kitchen made gluten and dairy-free eating easy.
1. Book Two Nights, Not One
Our first day was mostly transit: a two-and-a-half-hour drive, an hour waiting at the port, and a 30-minute tender ride before we saw our cabin. Our last morning was breakfast, packing, and a 9:30am checkout. The middle day was the only one without boarding or checkout logistics, and it was our favorite: a full-day excursion to Cat Ba Island, kayaking, and swimming at a nearby beach.
Our advice: Choose two nights if you can. A one-night cruise squeezes the experience between arrival and departure. Two nights gives you a full, unhurried day on the water, and that’s where the magic is.
2. Tell the Crew About Your Allergies, Then Let Them Work
On board, eating gluten- and dairy-free was easy.
At our first buffet lunch, the staff made me two full plates of meat, vegetables, and rice and brought them to our table. At dinner, I could eat every course of a seven-course meal. When dishes called for teriyaki or soy-based sauces, the kitchen mostly swapped in a yellow curry sauce.
Our advice: Share your dietary needs when you book, then confirm them with the crew when you board. Many soy sauces contain wheat, so ask what each dish is made with.
3. Plan Breakfast Around an Early Pickup
Our pickup was at 8:30 am, but most breakfast spots near us didn’t open until 8:00 or 8:30. We found a Starbucks that was open at 7:00 am. It was great for dairy-free coffee, since oat milk was hard to find elsewhere in Vietnam, but every food item there contained gluten. I ended up eating a bowl of pho around the corner instead.
Our advice: The night before, find a spot that opens early and fits your diet. If you’re gluten-free, a rice-noodle bowl of pho worked better for me than a Western café.
4. Upgrade Your Transfer if You Can
Because it was our honeymoon, we were upgraded to a private car to the port. That meant a set pickup time, instead of a pickup window, and a comfortable ride on a toll highway. Our return was a shared six-passenger shuttle with travelers from other cruises.
Our advice: Ask exactly what your transfer includes. A private car means a fixed pickup time and a quieter ride. Either way, plan on most of the morning being travel.
5. Mention What You’re Celebrating
The crew went all out for our honeymoon: a gift set of lotus teacups, towel swans and rose petals on our bed, and a heart-shaped balloon arch over our dinner table. Near the end of dinner, the staff danced out of the kitchen to Whitney Houston’s “I Will Always Love You,” carrying cocktails. I was very embarrassed, but there were lots of photos and videos.
Our advice: Tell your cruise line about honeymoons, anniversaries, or birthdays when you book. Ours went far beyond what we expected.
6. Choose Excursions With the Heat in Mind
We skipped the first afternoon’s cave excursion because of the heat and enjoyed the breeze on board instead. On Cat Ba Island, guests could bike or ride a covered electric cart to the village of Viet Hai, a route of about 6 km with steep stretches. We took the cart, arrived first, and had the free fish foot spa almost to ourselves. The cyclists arrived exhausted.
Our advice: Be honest about your energy in the heat. And if you have back trouble, know that our two-seater kayaks had little to no back support.
7. Swim Within Your Comfort Zone
Swimming off the back of the ship was a highlight: salty, buoyant, refreshing water after a hot day. But no one checked whether guests could swim or counted who got in, and tender boats came and went near swimmers.
Our advice: Swim only if you’re confident in open water, and keep track of your own group. Safety practices here are different from what many American travelers expect.
8. Buy Pearls Only Where You Trust the Source
A cruise director warned us not to buy pearls on excursions because you can’t tell whether they’re real, but recommended a pearl farm shop that the shared shuttles stop at. On our way back, we stopped there, and Lauren found a bracelet that became her honeymoon bracelet.
Our advice: Ask your cruise director where they would shop. Note that a private transfer may skip shopping stops that shared shuttles make.
Planning Your Own Trip to Vietnam?
Ha Long Bay rewards travelers who give it time. From choosing the right cruise length to making sure the kitchen knows your dietary needs before you board, WanderLux Travel can help you plan a Ha Long Bay cruise that feels effortless.
