Amanda Cruise – Luxury Unique Halong Bay Cruise (2D1N Tour)

Halong Bay is at its best when you wake up on the water, and this two-day Amanda Cruise gives you that chance without requiring much planning. From Hanoi, you get the bus ride, meals, cabin, cave visit, kayaking, and onboard activities in one package.

I like the easy door-to-door arrangement and the chance to spend the evening on the bay rather than rushing home after a day trip. I also like the small touches, including Tai Chi at sunrise, a herbal foot bath, and dinner on the upper deck when conditions allow.

The main drawback is the schedule. You spend nearly three hours each way on the road, and the cruise carries up to 50 people, so this is a group experience, not a quiet private sailing.

Key points to know before booking

• Sleep on the bay: Your deluxe sea-view cabin includes a private shower bathroom.
• Hanoi transfers are included: Pickup runs from Old Quarter hotels or Hanoi Opera House.
• Sung Sot Cave is the main shore visit: You explore one of Halong Bay’s largest and most famous caves.
• Water activities are covered: Kayaking or a bamboo boat is included, along with equipment.
• Meals are built into the price: Breakfast, dinner, and two lunches are provided.
• The group can reach 50 people: Expect a social cruise with shared transport and organized activities.

Why this two-day cruise works better than a day trip

At $205 per person, Amanda Cruise is not the cheapest way to see Halong Bay. But the price covers far more than a boat ride. You receive round-trip transport from Hanoi, one night in a sea-view cabin, four main meals, entrance fees, a guide, kayaking or a bamboo boat, and scheduled activities.

That matters because Halong Bay sits well outside Hanoi. A day tour gives you only a short window among the limestone islands. Here, you arrive around midday, cruise through the afternoon, sleep aboard, and see the bay again early the next morning. The overnight stay gives the trip a calmer rhythm, even though the overall schedule remains fairly busy.

I would think of the price as a convenience package. You do not need to arrange a bus, reserve a cabin, buy cave tickets, or work out how to get back to Hanoi. You do need to pay separately for drinks, personal expenses, and tips, so keep some extra money available.

The cruise is booked, on average, about 23 days ahead. That suggests you should not leave it until the last moment, especially if your Hanoi dates are fixed.

Leaving Hanoi between 8:00 and 8:30

Pickup is offered from hotels and stays inside Hanoi’s Old Quarter between 8:00 and 8:30 in the morning. If your accommodation is outside that area, the meeting point is Hanoi Opera House at 1 Trang Tien Street.

The transfer to Halong Bay takes nearly three hours and includes one short break. This is useful for a rest stop, but it also means the first and last days include a fair amount of road time. I would avoid scheduling a major Hanoi activity immediately after the return, since drop-off is expected between 2:30 and 3:00 in the afternoon.

The bus transfer is one of the strongest practical features of the package. Halong Bay is easy to reach with organized transport, but arranging a good connection yourself can add cost and hassle. Here, the same transfer service handles both directions.

The morning pickup is early but reasonable. Have breakfast before departure or bring something small, since the first full meal listed for the cruise is lunch.

Tuan Chau Island and the first welcome aboard

The group reaches Tuan Chau Port around 11:30 to noon. At the waiting lounge, the cruise staff handle check-in before you board Amanda Cruise.

Once aboard, you receive a welcome drink and a cold towel. These details are small, but they help after the long drive from Hanoi. You then check into your cabin as the vessel leaves Tuan Chau Marina.

The exact sailing route can vary, and the schedule describes the afternoon as a cruise through Halong Bay. This is the time to settle into the cabin, take photographs, and watch the limestone formations pass by. You may also have time for the included kayaking or bamboo boat activity, depending on the day’s operating schedule.

Because the cruise includes several group activities, you should expect announcements and fixed meeting times. That is helpful if you want an organized day, though less suitable if you prefer to make every decision at your own pace.

The deluxe sea-view cabin

Your accommodation is a deluxe cabin with a sea-view window and a private shower bathroom. The window is important. Halong Bay is a place you want to see from more than one deck, and a cabin with a view gives you another way to watch the water and karst formations.

The cabin is included in the $205 price, so you are not paying a separate hotel bill in Hanoi or Halong Bay for this night. Still, keep expectations sensible. The term luxury refers to the cruise format and included service, not necessarily to the space or finish of a high-end city hotel.

The cruise manager and English-speaking crew are available onboard. Feedback about the staff is especially warm, with Thomas-Tuyen praised for clear explanations and an entertaining manner. Another staff member made a strong effort to speak Japanese, which may be useful for some passengers, although English is the stated guiding language.

Kayaking, bamboo boats, and the value of being on the water

Kayaking or a bamboo boat is included, along with the needed activity arrangements. This is one of the best parts of the trip because Halong Bay looks different from water level than it does from the cruise deck.

You can expect the activity to add movement to an otherwise scenic cruise. It also gives you a closer view of the cliffs and quiet coves included in the route. The supplied details do not specify the exact kayaking location, duration, or whether every passenger chooses the same option, so listen for the crew’s instructions onboard.

The cruise also includes a cooking class and a photo-hunting activity. These are light, social activities rather than formal lessons. I see them as useful ways to fill the afternoon and meet people in the group, particularly if weather limits time outside.

Bring a phone or camera, but protect it around the water. The tour includes scenery worth photographing from the deck, cabin window, kayak, and cave route.

Dinner on the upper deck

Dinner is included, as are breakfast and two lunches. Other beverages are not included, so check the onboard drink prices before ordering several rounds.

When weather permits, dinner may be served on the upper deck in the open air. That setting is one of the more memorable features of the cruise. Eating outside while surrounded by Halong Bay gives the overnight stay a sense of occasion that a land-based hotel cannot match.

Food also receives strong praise in the available feedback. One passenger specifically described the meals as very good, while another noted the friendly service and enjoyable food. The exact menu is not provided, so do not book this expecting a particular dish or dietary arrangement unless you confirm it in advance.

The evening may include entertainment from staff, with Dan the Man and Hanna singled out for making the onboard program fun. The mood sounds social rather than formal. If you want a quiet night, you can retreat to the cabin or find a calmer spot on the boat, but the group program remains part of the experience.

Sunrise Tai Chi and the second morning

The second day begins early. Tai Chi starts on the sundeck at 6:15, followed by a light breakfast from 6:30 to 7:00 with coffee, tea, cake, and fruit.

This is an early start, but it makes sense in Halong Bay. The water is at its quietest in the morning, and the sundeck gives you a clear place to watch the bay wake up. You do not need to be experienced at Tai Chi. It is offered as a gentle group activity and a pleasant way to begin the day.

The breakfast is light rather than a full late-morning meal. If you need a substantial breakfast, the schedule may feel a bit spare, though another meal follows later in the day.

After Tai Chi and breakfast, you visit Sung Sot Cave at about 7:30.

Sung Sot Cave, the trip’s main sightseeing stop

Sung Sot Cave is described as one of the largest and most beautiful caves in Halong Bay. The visit lasts about an hour and gives the cruise a clear sightseeing focus beyond simply viewing the islands from the water.

The cave visit involves walking through a natural attraction rather than staying aboard. Wear practical shoes and expect an organized group pace. The supplied information does not give details about stairs or walking distance, so anyone concerned about mobility should ask the operator before booking.

Early timing is useful. The morning visit leaves room for the rest of the ship schedule and avoids making the return to Hanoi too late. It also means you should keep your belongings ready before breakfast rather than treating the morning as a slow checkout.

Entrance fees are included. That is another small cost removed from the day and means you can concentrate on the visit instead of sorting out tickets.

The final hours aboard Amanda Cruise

After Sung Sot Cave, you return to the boat between roughly 8:30 and 9:30. The next few hours are reserved for rest, photographs, and time around the ship.

You may relax in your room, use the prepared herbal foot bath, sunbathe on the sundeck, take more pictures, or shop for souvenirs onboard. This slower block is welcome after the early cave visit. It also gives you one last chance to enjoy the bay before returning to port.

The herbal foot bath is a pleasant extra, but it should not be the main reason you book. The strongest reasons remain the overnight cabin, scenery, included meals, and organized transport.

The cruise returns to Tuan Chau Marina around 11:45 to noon. From there, the transfer heads back to Hanoi, with drop-off at the same Old Quarter hotels or stays between 2:30 and 3:00.

Group size, pace, and who should book

The maximum group size is 50 people. That is large enough for a lively shared experience and small enough to keep a set program moving, but it will not feel private. Expect shared transport, group announcements, scheduled meals, and organized sightseeing.

I would recommend Amanda Cruise if you want:

• An easy overnight introduction to Halong Bay
• A tour with Hanoi transport already arranged
• A sea-view cabin and included meals
• A mix of scenery, kayaking, cave sightseeing, and onboard activities
• A social cruise with entertainment and a friendly crew
• A clear two-day schedule rather than an independent sailing plan

I would hesitate if you want a small boat, a quiet luxury retreat, or a flexible route with no fixed timetable. The long road transfer also makes this less appealing if you have only one free morning in Hanoi or dislike organized group travel.

The cancellation terms are worth noting before payment. You can receive a full refund when you cancel at least six full days before the start time. Cancellation two to six full days ahead allows a 50 percent refund, while cancellation less than two full days before departure is nonrefundable. Changes inside those cutoffs are not accepted.

Should you book Amanda Cruise?

Book this cruise if you want Halong Bay made easy. The $205 cost is reasonable for an overnight package that includes the Hanoi shuttle, cabin, meals, cave admission, water activity, guide, and onboard program. The strongest value comes from combining transport and accommodation with the bay experience in one booking.

Skip it if your idea of luxury means seclusion, a small group, or total control over the schedule. For most first-time visitors who want a practical overnight cruise, Amanda offers a well-rounded two-day plan, with especially appealing touches in the open-air dinner, sunrise Tai Chi, sea-view cabin, and helpful crew.

FAQ

Where does the tour start?

Pickup is offered from hotels or stays inside Hanoi’s Old Quarter between 8:00 and 8:30 in the morning. If you are outside the Old Quarter, the meeting point is Hanoi Opera House at 1 Trang Tien Street.

Where does the tour end?

The activity ends back at the same Hanoi meeting area. Drop-off at Old Quarter hotels or stays is expected between 2:30 and 3:00 in the afternoon on Day 2.

How long is the transfer from Hanoi to Halong Bay?

The drive takes nearly three hours and includes one short stop for a break.

Is accommodation included?

Yes. The package includes a deluxe sea-view window cabin with a shower bathroom for one night.

Which meals are included?

Breakfast, dinner, and two lunches are included. Other beverages are not included.

Is kayaking included?

Yes. The package includes kayaking or a bamboo boat, along with the listed activity arrangements.

Is Sung Sot Cave included?

Yes. The entrance fee and visit to Sung Sot Cave are included in the schedule.

What other activities are offered?

The cruise includes Tai Chi, a cooking class, and a photo-hunting activity. A herbal foot bath is also prepared for the second morning.

How many people can join the cruise?

The maximum group size is 50 people.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes, if you cancel at least six full days before the experience start time. Cancellation two to six full days ahead allows a 50 percent refund, while cancellation less than two full days before the start time is not refundable.