Top 10 Things to Know Before Booking a Halong Bay Cruise
Choosing a Halong Bay cruise looks simple until the listings blur together: one night or two, Halong Bay or Lan Ha Bay, what the price covers, which ship. A few decisions made before you pay shape most of the trip.
This checklist covers ten of them, in the order most travellers meet them. It draws on the current itineraries of Milalux Cruises and Mila Grand Cruises, and points to our longer guides where a topic needs more room.
The main things to know before booking a Halong Bay cruise are trip length (2 Days 1 Night or 3 Days 2 Nights), the ship and route, what the price includes, pier timings, the season, onboard facilities, itinerary pace, recent reviews and how early you book. Milalux Cruises (20 cabins) sails Halong Bay; Mila Grand Cruises (27 cabins) sails Lan Ha Bay and Cat Ba.
Choose the Trip Length, the Ship and the Route
Start with time, then match the ship and route to the kind of stay you want. Two days and one night covers the main sights; three days and two nights adds a full day beyond the ship.
1. Match the duration to your time
A day cruise gives a quick look at the bay but no sunrise, no sunset on deck and no night on the water. An overnight cruise adds all three. The 2 Days 1 Night format fits most first visits: one cave, a kayak or bamboo boat session, sunset, dinner and Tai Chi at dawn. Our hour-by-hour guide to the 2 Days 1 Night cruise shows how that plays out on each ship.
The 3 Days 2 Nights itinerary adds a day-boat day. From Milalux the day boat goes deeper into Lan Ha Bay, with kayaking at Trinh Nu Cave and Roster Cave and a swim at Ba Trai Dao. From Mila Grand it goes to Viet Hai Village, where guests cycle or ride an electric car for about 30 minutes, and then to Ba Trai Dao beach.
2. Decide how much comfort you want
Every cabin on both ships has a private balcony, so the difference between categories is space, layout and views rather than whether you have outdoor space. Milalux suites run from 22 m² to 44 m² for family layouts; Mila Grand suites run from 45 m² to the 135 m² President Suite. See the Milalux cabins and the Mila Grand cabins for each category.
3. Pick your route: Halong Bay or Lan Ha Bay
Milalux sails the classic Halong Bay route. Mila Grand sails Lan Ha Bay and the Cat Ba Archipelago, away from the busiest cruise lanes. The bay is a World Heritage property, with the Cat Ba Archipelago added as an extension (IUCN). Our comparison of Halong Bay and Lan Ha Bay routes goes through the differences in detail.
| Criteria | Milalux Cruises | Mila Grand Cruises |
|---|---|---|
| Cabins | 20 | 27 |
| Length × width | 47 m × 11 m | 60.20 m × 13 m |
| Route | Halong Bay | Lan Ha Bay and Cat Ba |
| 2D1N highlights | Pearl Farm kayaking, Sung Sot Cave, Titov Island | Dark & Bright Cave, Trung Trang Cave on Cat Ba |
| Balcony | Every cabin | Every cabin |
| Character | Iron hull, nostalgic rustic charm, warm wood | Classic Indochine style, Sundeck for 130 guests, outdoor heated Jacuzzi |
⚓ Captain’s Maritime Log:
“Size changes the feel on board. Milalux is 47 m long and 11 m wide; Mila Grand is 60.20 m long and 13 m wide. Both anchor for the night in the shelter of the islands, and the crew and the port authority decide each day whether the programme can run as planned. If departures are banned for weather, the cruise is cancelled free of charge or rescheduled by agreement.”
Know What the Price Includes and When You Move
Cruise packages cover your cabin, meals on board, activities and sightseeing fees, but not the Hanoi to Tuan Chau transfer. Check inclusions line by line, then confirm pickup and return times against your flights.
4. Check what is included in the price
Packages are not identical across operators, so compare the lists rather than the headline. For Milalux and Mila Grand the usual split is:
| Included | Not included |
|---|---|
| Cabin with private balcony | Hanoi to Tuan Chau transfer (Limousine and shuttle are booked as an extra service) |
| All meals listed in the itinerary | Spa and massage |
| Kayaking or bamboo boating, Tai Chi, cooking demonstration, squid fishing (weather and season permitting) | Drinks ordered at the bar and restaurant |
| English-speaking guide and sightseeing tickets | Tips and personal expenses |
| Welcome drink, two bottles of water in each cabin |
Vegetarian menus are available; mention any dietary needs when you book. Our price guide explains how length, cabin, season and children affect the total.
5. Confirm departure and return times
On a 2 Days 1 Night cruise, Milalux guests are collected from Hanoi Old Quarter hotels between 07:45 and 08:45 if they have booked the transfer, check in at about 11:30 and board at 12:00. Mila Grand guests check in at the Private Lounge at Lot 20, Tuan Chau Marina at 11:30 and take the tender at 12:15. On the final day Milalux docks at about 11:30 and Mila Grand guests check out at about 11:00; both itineraries list a return to Hanoi at about 14:30.
🧭 Cruise Director’s Insider Tip:
“Treat 14:30 as the earliest Hanoi arrival, not a promise to the minute, because road traffic varies. Plan flights or trains for the evening. Pack proper shoes for Sung Sot Cave on Milalux, as the climb can be wet, and keep your booking confirmation handy for check-in at the lounge.”
Weigh the Season, the Facilities and the Pace
Autumn and spring bring the calmest, clearest conditions; summer is hot with a risk of storms. After weather, look at what the ship offers on deck and how much time the itinerary leaves you between stops.
6. Consider the season
Vietnam’s official tourism site lists September to November as the best period for Ha Long, with autumn and spring offering calm, clear weather for cruising, and warns that summer is hot and can bring storms (Vietnam Tourism). Winter is cooler and often misty, better for a quiet, atmospheric trip than for swimming. Our season-by-season guide to the best time to visit Halong Bay covers each month.
7. Look at the onboard facilities
Decide what matters in the evenings. Both ships run an evening programme around sunset, and both offer a spa that is booked and paid for separately. Mila Grand adds a Sundeck for up to 130 guests and an outdoor heated Jacuzzi; Milalux offers a bar, a sundeck and a film or board-game evening in the cabin.
8. Review the itinerary carefully
A good itinerary has a few well-chosen stops and time to rest between them. On Day 1 of the Milalux 2D1N, for example, the day runs: lunch at 12:30, Pearl Farm and kayaking at 14:30, Sung Sot Cave at 16:00, sunset at 17:45 and dinner at 19:30. That is a full day with room to breathe. Programmes can change with weather and sea conditions.
Read Reviews and Book at the Right Time
Read recent reviews for service, food and cleanliness, then book early for holidays and summer. Free cancellation applies only when you cancel more than 60 days before departure.
9. Read reviews from other travellers
TripAdvisor and Google Reviews are the most useful places to check. Look for patterns: how guests describe the crew, the quality of meals, the condition of the cabins, and how the excursions ran. Check that the review is about the ship you are booking.
10. Book early for peak dates
Public holidays, summer and the year-end season are popular, and booking one to two months ahead gives you a wider choice of cabins. Travel and medical insurance is a separate decision; the US CDC suggests considering medical evacuation cover for trips in Vietnam (CDC). The cancellation terms below apply to both ships.
| Cancellation window | Charge |
|---|---|
| More than 60 days before departure | Free |
| 60 to 31 days | 50% of the booking |
| 30 to 15 days | 75% of the booking |
| Fewer than 15 days, or no-show | 100% of the booking |
| Cruise cancelled for storms, bad weather or a port ban | Free, or rescheduled by agreement |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How many days do I need for a Halong Bay cruise?
Two days and one night is enough for a first visit. It gives you a cave, kayaking or bamboo boating, a sunset and a sunrise on the bay. Choose three days and two nights if you want a full day away from the ship, with Lan Ha Bay and Ba Trai Dao on Milalux or Viet Hai Village on Mila Grand.
Is Halong Bay or Lan Ha Bay better for a first cruise?
Both show the same limestone-island scenery, so it comes down to the highlights you want. Milalux sails Halong Bay with Sung Sot Cave and Titov Island on its 2D1N. Mila Grand sails Lan Ha Bay with Dark & Bright Cave and Trung Trang Cave, away from the busiest lanes.
Is transport from Hanoi included in the cruise price?
No, the Hanoi to Tuan Chau transfer is not included. It is an extra service that can be booked with the cruise, including Limousine transfers. The drive takes roughly two and a half hours by expressway, according to Vietnam’s tourism board, and pickups are arranged from the Hanoi Old Quarter.
Can I cancel for free?
Yes, if you cancel more than 60 days before departure. Later cancellations carry a charge of 50%, 75% or 100% depending on how close the date is. A cruise cancelled because of storms, bad weather or a port authority ban is free of charge or can be rescheduled by agreement.
What do children pay?
One child under 5 sharing a bed with parents is free, and children aged 5 to 10 pay 75% of the adult rate. Guests aged 11 and over pay the adult rate. With two children under 5 in one cabin, the first is free and the second pays 50% of the adult rate.
Continue Reading
- Halong Bay Cruise Price Guide: What Affects the Cost – what changes the price of a Halong Bay cruise.
- Best Time to Visit Halong Bay: A Season-by-Season Guide – which season suits your trip.
- 5 Reasons to Choose a Halong Bay Cruise Over a Resort Stay – why a cruise beats a resort on the bay.
Start Planning Your Voyage
Choose your cruise length, the 2 Days 1 Night itinerary or the 3 Days 2 Nights itinerary, then read the frequently asked questions and reserve a Mila Grand cabin or a Milalux cabin online.
Ready to Choose Your Ship and Dates?
Once you have the answers to these ten points, the rest is availability. Check live dates and cabin categories on the Milalux reservation page or choose Mila Grand if the Lan Ha Bay route suits you better.
