Halong Bay Luxury Cruises

Sun deck is the best place for smoking

All cruises in Halong Bay apply the same rules for smoking onboard to protect guests’ health and safety due to wooden materials and easy-fire-catching objects on the vessels. Here are some notes for you before get on any boat:

- You are not allowed to smoke inside cabin, restaurant and anywhere inside the ship.

- Private balcony, restaurant balcony and sun deck are places smoking is good to go. Bear in mind to close the door nearby if you smoke in your cabin or restaurant balcony to avoid affecting other people around.

Ha Long Bay

World Heritage 1st recognition: Aesthetic value

On 21st of December 1991, the Government of Vietnam approved the development of a dossier on the Ha Long Bay landscape to submit to the World Heritage Council for consideration of the World Natural Heritage. In 1993, the scientific record of Ha Long Bay was completed and moved to UNESCO for review. During the process of completing the dossier, UNESCO has sent delegations of specialists to Quang Ninh to investigate, survey, guide, study and evaluate the dossiers on the spot. The Halong Bay dossier is accepted for consideration at the of the World Heritage Council’s 18th meeting.

On December 17th 1994, during the 18th session in Phuket - Thailand, the World Heritage Committee recognized Ha Long Bay as a World Natural Heritage site with a world-class value for aesthetics, in accordance with the International Convention for the Protection of the Natural and Cultural Heritage of the World.

World Heritage 2nd recognition: Geomorphological & geological values

In early 1998, the Ha Long Bay Management Board proposed that Dr. Tran Duc Thanh at the Institute of Oceanography in Hai Phong (nowadays is the Institute of Marine Environment and Resources of the Vietnam Academy of Science & Technology) conducted research and evaluation of geological values and the ability to submit UNESCO recognizes Halong Bay as a World Heritage Site according to geological criteria. The results of the study show the high feasibility of submitting to UNESCO for recognition of Ha Long Bay Geological Heritage and need to study the details of karst geomorphology.
After a long process of inspection and assessment, on December 2nd 2000, based on the International Convention on the Protection of Natural and Cultural Heritages and the results of examination of Halong Bay geological records, at the 24th Conference of the World Heritage Council based in Cairns, Queensland, Australia, the World Heritage Council has recognized Ha Long Bay as the second World Heritage Site of geological value with two globally significant values of geology and geomorphology.
To enjoy Halong Bay’s aesthetic value and geomorphological & geological values, let’s come and experience overnight cruise for a full contemplation of the UNESCO World Heritage.

>> Read full story about Ha Long Bay

Cruise in Vietnam is quite different from other countries. Cruise boats are small, from only 1 to around 30 cabins.

There are two kinds of boat, traditional wooden junk boat and modern steel boat.

Most of cruises are located in Halong Bay - The World Heritage Site. Some are in the South of Vietnam and one in Red River.

The leading cruises in Vietnam:
1. Paradise Cruise: Leading luxury cruise in Halong Bay. Their main markets are US and EU.
2. Indochina Junk: luxurious and mid-range cruise in Halong Bay. Their main markets are  Asia countries.
3. Bhaya Cruise: luxurious and mid-range cruise in Halong Bay. Their main markets are the same with Paradise Cruise.

In Halong Bay, there are 3 common intineraries: day cruise, 2 day 1 night cruise (the most common) and 3 day 2 night cruise.

If you want to save your money, cruise in Halong Bay in the summer, it is the lowest season. The highest season is winter.

Have a look at cruise boats and itineraries of the leading luxury cruise. I like traditional wooden junk boats, they are so cool. What is about you?

Paradise Elegance

Paradise Luxury

Paradise Peak

La Vela Premium

La Vela Classic