Quick answer: Milalux vs Mila Grand comes down to the trip you want. Milalux is a 20-cabin, 47 m iron-hull ship on Halong Bay with warm wood and a nostalgic feel. Mila Grand is a 27-cabin, 60.20 m ship on Lan Ha Bay and Cat Ba, with a Sundeck for up to 130 guests, an outdoor Jacuzzi and a 135 m² President Suite.
Two ships share one booking office, one marina and one standard of service, yet they are not the same cruise. The choice between them is not about which is better. It is about which fits the trip in your head: the classic limestone towers of Halong Bay on a boutique ship, or the quieter waters of Lan Ha Bay and Cat Ba Island on a larger, more open one.
This guide does not rank the ships. It sets out the facts side by side, tells you plainly what each ship does not have, and matches each one to a kind of traveller. If you are still deciding between the bays themselves, our guide to Halong Bay vs Lan Ha Bay covers the geography in more depth.
1. The Short Answer: Two Ships, Two Routes, One Port
Choose Milalux for the classic Halong Bay route on a 20-cabin iron-hull ship; choose Mila Grand for Lan Ha Bay and Cat Ba on a 27-cabin ship with a large Sundeck and Jacuzzi. Both leave from Tuan Chau Marina, and every cabin on both ships has a private balcony.
The table below is the whole decision in one view. Everything in it comes from the ship fact sheet and the published itineraries.
| Decision factor | Milalux Cruises | Mila Grand Cruises |
|---|---|---|
| Route | Halong Bay (3 days 2 nights adds Lan Ha Bay by day boat) | Lan Ha Bay and Cat Ba |
| Cabins | 20 | 27 |
| Ship size | 47 m long, 11 m wide | 60.20 m long, 13 m wide |
| Hull and character | Iron hull, nostalgic rustic charm, warm wood | Classic Indochine styling, warm wood interiors |
| Balcony | Private balcony in every cabin | Private balcony in every cabin |
| Standard double or twin cabin | 22 m² Junior and Senior Suites | 45 m² Junior, Senior and Executive Suites |
| King bed | Not available | President Suite only (round king bed, 135 m²) |
| Jacuzzi | Not available | Outdoor Jacuzzi |
| Sundeck | Yes, used for Tai Chi and sunset | Sundeck for up to 130 guests, with a bar |
| Signature 2D1N stops | Pearl Farm kayaking, Sung Sot Cave, Titov Island | Dark and Bright Cave, Trung Trang Cave on Cat Ba |
| Check-in | Berth G112, opposite Lot 20 | MILA GRAND Private Lounge, Lot 20 |
⚓ On the Water:
Length and beam change how a ship feels at anchor. Milalux measures 47 m by 11 m and Mila Grand 60.20 m by 13 m. The longer, wider hull gives Mila Grand room for a 130-guest Sundeck; the shorter hull is why Milalux feels compact and intimate when you walk from the restaurant to the deck.
2. Milalux Cruises: The Intimate Iron-Hull Ship on Halong Bay
Milalux Cruises is the smaller ship, a 20-cabin iron-hull vessel with warm wood interiors and a nostalgic, rustic character. It suits travellers who want the best-known Halong Bay stops without the scale of a large ship.
Milalux was launched in 2013 and carries a 50-seat restaurant. The cabins sit on two decks and come in four categories: Junior Suite Balcony, Senior Suite Balcony, Family Suite Balcony (connecting pairs) and Royal Suite Balcony. Junior and Senior Suites measure 22 m², and the Family Suite pairs total 44 m². Every one has a private balcony facing the bay.
What the Milalux route looks like
On the 2 Days 1 Night programme, the afternoon starts with kayaking at the Pearl Farm at 14:30, followed by Sung Sot Cave at 16:00. The Sunset Party and a spring roll class follow at 17:45, dinner at 19:30, and squid fishing from 21:00. Day 2 opens with Tai Chi at 06:15, then Titov Island at 07:30, where you can swim from the crescent beach or climb to the viewpoint, and brunch at 10:00 on the way back to Tuan Chau. Our 2 Days 1 Night itinerary has the full timetable.
The 3 Days 2 Nights programme repeats Day 1, then spends Day 2 in Lan Ha Bay by day boat, with kayaking near the Trinh Nu and Trong cave area, a long swim stop at Ba Trai Dao beach, and a visit to Me Cung Cave or the Pearl Village. Day 3 returns via Titov Island.
What Milalux does not have
Be clear about this before you book. Milalux has no Jacuzzi, and it does not have king beds: cabins are one double bed or two single beds. If either of those is a requirement, Mila Grand is the ship to choose.
🧭 Good to Know:
The two Milalux Family Suite types are built as connecting pairs, which is why they are popular with multi-generation groups. If you are travelling with two families, ask for connecting cabins when you request your booking so the pairs are held together.
3. Mila Grand Cruises: Space, Sundeck and the Lan Ha Route
Mila Grand Cruises is the larger ship: 27 cabins, 60.20 m long, with Indochine-inspired interiors, a Sundeck for up to 130 guests and an outdoor Jacuzzi. It suits travellers who want more space on board and a route through Lan Ha Bay and Cat Ba.
The ship has cabins on three decks, all with private balconies. The triple cabins measure 54 m² and sleep three adults, the Junior Connecting pair totals 90 m², and the President Suite measures 135 m² with a round king bed. The standard categories measure 45 m²: the Junior Suite on the first deck, the Senior Suite on the second and the Executive Suite on the third.
What the Mila Grand route looks like
On the 2 Days 1 Night programme, guests reach the MILA GRAND Private Lounge at Lot 20 around 11:30, take the tender to the ship at 12:15, and have lunch as the ship enters Lan Ha Bay. At 15:30 they visit Dark and Bright Cave by bamboo boat or kayak. Dinner at 19:00 is served on the Sundeck when the weather allows, or in the second-floor restaurant. Day 2 begins with Tai Chi at 06:00 and continues to Trung Trang Cave on Cat Ba Island, in the Cat Ba Biosphere Reserve.
The 3 Days 2 Nights programme adds a full day by day boat to Viet Hai village, reached by a roughly 30-minute bicycle or electric-car ride, followed by Ba Trai Dao beach. Our guide to cycling in Viet Hai village explains that day in detail.
🌿 Nature Note:
Lan Ha Bay lies beside the Cat Ba Biosphere Reserve, and the Mila Grand route makes that link literal by landing on Cat Ba Island for Trung Trang Cave. The geology is the same limestone karst as Halong Bay, but the landscape is a mix of forested island and open water rather than a single field of towers.
4. Which Ship Fits Which Trip
Match the ship to the trip: Milalux for the classic Halong Bay icons on an intimate ship, Mila Grand for Lan Ha Bay, Cat Ba and shared space on a larger ship. Neither choice is wrong; they answer different priorities.
First visit, and you want the famous stops
Milalux is the more direct fit. Its 2 Days 1 Night route includes Sung Sot Cave and the Titov Island viewpoint, two of the best-known stops on Halong Bay, in a single overnight.
You want a quieter bay and nature
Mila Grand is the closer match. The itinerary takes the ship into Lan Ha Bay, away from the busier cruise lanes, and includes a landing on Cat Ba Island. The second day on the 3 Days 2 Nights route is spent almost entirely off the ship, in a village and on a beach.
Couples marking a special occasion
Both ships work, for different reasons. Milalux offers a private balcony in every cabin and a warm, wooden, intimate interior. Mila Grand adds the outdoor Jacuzzi, the Sundeck and, for a larger cabin, the President Suite with its round king bed. Because Jacuzzi and king bed are available only on Mila Grand, couples who specifically want them should choose that ship.
Families and multi-generation groups
Both ships offer connecting cabins. Milalux has Family Suite Balcony pairs of 44 m² in total, and Mila Grand has Junior Connecting cabins totalling 90 m². Children under 5 sharing a bed with parents travel free, children aged 5 to 10 are charged at 75 percent of the adult rate, and guests from 11 are charged as adults. Our guide to cruising with children covers the practical side.
Larger groups and celebrations
Mila Grand’s Sundeck is built for gatherings: it holds up to 130 guests, has a bar, and is used for live music and outdoor events. If you are planning a group celebration, that is the better-suited space.
Short on time
Both ships run 2 Days 1 Night programmes, so a single night works on either. If you can spare a third day, the 3 Days 2 Nights versions of both ships add Lan Ha Bay highlights.
5. Five Questions to Settle It
Answer five questions and the choice usually makes itself. Start with the stops you care about, then check cabin size, the Jacuzzi and the group size.
| Question | If your answer is yes | Ship |
|---|---|---|
| Do you want Sung Sot Cave and Titov Island on a 2D1N trip? | Both are on the Milalux route | Milalux |
| Do you want Dark and Bright Cave and Cat Ba Island? | Both are on the Mila Grand route | Mila Grand |
| Do you need a Jacuzzi or a king bed? | Available on Mila Grand only | Mila Grand |
| Do you prefer a compact, intimate ship? | 20 cabins, 47 m | Milalux |
| Are you travelling in a big group or celebrating? | Sundeck for up to 130 guests | Mila Grand |
6. What Is the Same on Both Ships
Both ships share the same marina, the same booking terms and the same programme of onboard activities. You are not trading comfort for atmosphere; you are trading shape and route.
- Port: both depart from Tuan Chau Marina. Milalux guests check in at berth G112, opposite Lot 20, and Mila Grand guests at the MILA GRAND Private Lounge at Lot 20.
- Balconies: every cabin on both ships has a private balcony.
- Included activities: kayaking or bamboo boat, a cooking demonstration, a Tai Chi session, and squid fishing in season, as listed in the programme.
- Transfers: the Hanoi to Tuan Chau transfer is not included in the cruise price on either ship. It is an add-on to book with your cabin; our Hanoi transfer page gives the pick-up windows.
- Cancellation: the same terms apply; cancelling more than 60 days before departure is free.
- Spa: spa and massage are bookable extras on both ships.
If the season also matters to your choice, our guide to Halong Bay in November explains what to expect on the water.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Milalux or Mila Grand better for a first visit to Halong Bay?
Milalux is the more direct match for a first visit focused on the classic stops. Its 2 Days 1 Night route includes Sung Sot Cave and the Titov Island viewpoint on Halong Bay. Mila Grand is the better match if a first visit also means a quieter bay and a landing on Cat Ba Island.
Does Milalux have a Jacuzzi or king-size beds?
No. Milalux has neither a Jacuzzi nor king-size beds. Its cabins have one double bed or two single beds, and every cabin has a private balcony. The outdoor Jacuzzi and the President Suite’s round king bed are on Mila Grand only.
What is the size difference between the two ships?
Mila Grand is the larger ship. Milalux is 47 m long and 11 m wide with 20 cabins; Mila Grand is 60.20 m long and 13 m wide with 27 cabins. The extra length gives Mila Grand its Sundeck for up to 130 guests and its larger 45 m² suites.
Do both ships sail to the same places?
Not on the 2 Days 1 Night programme. Milalux visits Pearl Farm, Sung Sot Cave and Titov Island on Halong Bay, while Mila Grand visits Dark and Bright Cave and Trung Trang Cave in Lan Ha Bay and Cat Ba. On 3 Days 2 Nights, both ships include a day in Lan Ha Bay with a stop at Ba Trai Dao beach.
Are the cancellation terms different on each ship?
No, both ships follow the same policy. Cancelling more than 60 days before departure is free, with later cancellations charged in steps. If a sailing is cancelled because of a storm or a port authority ban, the cancellation is free, or the date can be changed by agreement.
Can I switch between the two ships after booking?
Ask the reservations team before you pay. Changes depend on the dates and availability on each ship, so we cannot promise a switch in advance. Send your preferred dates to info@milacruises.com and the team will confirm what is open.
Choose Your Ship, Then Choose Your Dates
If your priority is the classic Halong Bay route on an intimate ship, Milalux is the closer fit. If it is Lan Ha Bay, Cat Ba, the Sundeck and the Jacuzzi, Mila Grand is. When you are ready, tell us the ship, the programme length and your travel dates, and the team will confirm availability.
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