One of the experiences on our dream list was a Ha Long Bay cruise on a junk boat. After some research, we decided to go with Indochina Junk. They are a sustainable company cruising through a quieter part of the bay. Leading up to this trip, we had only ever heard incredible things about seeing this part of Vietnam, and we were so excited to experience this as part of our four weeks in the country.
Our Ha Long Bay Cruise Experience
We picked the Dragon Legend 2 for our cruise. I’m going to be honest – it wasn’t the magical experience we hoped for. But let me explain.
Our original plans with the company were canceled because of a typhoon. One of the things to know before traveling to Vietnam is that the seasons are quite different than in the US. This was a bummer for us because we were scheduled to do this with our friends who were visiting as our final evening before they returned to NYC. We had to reschedule, and they weren’t able to join us. On top of that, Justin was pretty sick when we went. We couldn’t reschedule again, so he just powered through like a champ.
That said, it was still a beautiful place to see, and I think it should be on your itinerary if you’re visiting Vietnam. I just hope you are at 100% when you visit. Also, I appreciate that they are careful about the weather, and the government regulates this carefully, so if your cruise is canceled due to weather – trust me, it’s a good thing. It’s a lot of money to spend to be stuck in rain and rough waters.
OK, let’s get into the good stuff.
The Dragon Legend
The boat was the perfect size. There were 43 passengers on the junk boat. It never felt busy, but we were able to chat with some new friends from Denmark and swap Vietnam tips. The staff was AMAZING, and the rooms were very comfortable. It was one of the best beds we slept on in SE Asia.
Day One on the Ha Long Bay Cruise
The company picked us up at our Airbnb. We rode in a comfortable van for about three and a half hours with one other family. There was a rest stop halfway through with snacks and restrooms. It was a cool way to see more of the countryside outside of the cities.
Once we got to the seaside town, we checked in at the cruise terminal and waited until our group was loaded onto a shuttle to the actual boat. The process was very easy to follow. Once we got on the ship, we had snacks, drinks, and a run down of the itinerary and safety information. Then, we set off.
Activity #1 – Kayaking
On the first day, we had two choices for an activity. You could take the smaller boat to a private beach, or you could kayak your way around the islands a little and then end up at the beach for a few minutes. We kayaked, and it was gorgeous.
The cruise ship encourages the kayakers to clean up trash while in the water, which I loved. Ha Long Bay is in danger because of all the trash floating in from the ocean currents. It’s definitely something to be prepared for because the amount of trash can be shocking and sad.
Sunset & Dinner
Once we were back on the boat, there was a sunset happy hour before dinner. We sat on the top deck and enjoyed a cloudy sunset. There was not another boat in site when we got there.
Dinner was served when the sun went down. I have never had that much food put in front of me. The best thing about Indochina Junk is the attention they pay to any food restrictions. They created a six course vegetarian meal for us that was unbelievable. We tried to eat everything, but our portions were so large. In fact, that was the only feedback we left for them was to reduce the size of portions on the vegetarian meals. We didn’t want to waste any food, but we just couldn’t eat that much.
There was some after dinner entertainment by the crew members and then an early bedtime for us.
Day Two on the Ha Long Bay Cruise
We got up early for a little sunrise and early morning reading. The water was quiet in the morning, and the boat had enough space that we didn’t see anyone. Breakfast was a buffet style with tons of options. We took off from our anchorage and began cruising to our morning activity.
Activity #2 – A Cave Hike
We took smaller boats to an island for a short hike. There was a short climb to a hole in the limestone cliffs and descended into a cave. It was a cool excursion with cool views and another beach. Once we got good and sweaty, we were on our way back to the boat for a quick shower and a final pack. They have you check out of your rooms with about an hour left on your cruise so they can get everything cleaned and turned over for the next group.
Water Puppet Show and Return to Hanoi
On our way back to Hanoi, we stopped for a water puppet show. The drive from Hanoi to Ha Long Bay is about 3 1/2 hours, so it’s nice to have a break to get out and stretch your legs. We loved the water puppet show. It was about 30 minutes long, and there were snacks and plenty of shade to enjoy the traditional show. After that, we boarded our van again for the rest of the quiet ride back. They dropped us right at our Airbnb door before 5 PM.
Is a Ha Long Bay Cruise Worth It?
Like I said, we weren’t feeling 100% on our trip, so it wasn’t the best thing we did in Vietnam. It’s expensive, and we’ve been on a budget the whole time, so I think we were a little disappointed. We wanted to do it with our friends, but it didn’t work out this time. The price for these two nights was about the same amount we paid for two and a half weeks of budget Airbnb stays in the rest of the country.
I think it’s worth the money if you are traveling to Vietnam for a few weeks to see the country. It’s a beautiful area but very busy in certain parts. Do your research beforehand and look for a company that cruises in the quieter and less traveled parts of the bay. Also, make sure the company you use is sustainable. The Bay has a lot of pollution and seriously needs help.
The picture below is from the quiet private beach we visited. We helped clean up while there, but our guide said that the trash problem is HUGE there. There have been conversations about shutting down tourism or restricting visitors to help clean it up. The pollution isn’t from the boats – it’s from the world, and the amount of plastic and waste humans produce. It was heartbreaking to see styrofoam floating alongside the boat on the water.
Indochina Junk was a great company with amazing customer service and a wonderful cruise. I would recommend them to anyone taking the cruise in Ha Long Bay. They have multiple options for cruises. Remember that the time frame includes your travel to and from the area, so the two-day, one-night cruise on Ha Long Bay was only about 24 hours of boat time.
We are also happy to answer any questions you have – just comment below.
