Last Updated on 2026 年 4 月 4 日 by Ching
This article is tailored for vacation travelers who value quality accommodations, want to avoid tourist crowds, and seek the ritual of “bathing at sea while watching the ocean.” Discover the five-star cruise Erina Cruise in Lan Ha Bay, featuring luxurious rooms with private balconies and large floor-to-ceiling window bathtubs.
Planning a trip to Vietnam but lost in the hundreds of Halong Bay cruise recommendations?
Want to enjoy the magnificent scenery of a World Heritage site but worry about the crowds and outdated facilities on traditional Halong Bay routes? This time, we chose Erina Cruise, a new ship with five-star facilities, sailing on the quieter and clearer waters of the “Lan Ha Bay” route.
This article will fully unpack our 3-day, 2-night relaxing itinerary with Xiao Ding.
From the stunning rooms with private balconies and bathtubs to the onboard dining reviews and kayaking to explore hidden spots, if you’re looking for a quality, unhurried Halong Bay cruise trip, Erina Cruise is definitely the top choice for high value!
Not sure which bay to choose?
How to choose a Halong Bay cruise route? (Halong Bay vs. Lan Ha Bay vs. Bai Tu Long Bay) Full analysis of differences
Why did we choose Erina Cruise?
With hundreds of Halong Bay cruises to choose from, many fear old ships, crowded conditions, and significant price differences, unsure how to judge quality…
Xiao Ding and I were also troubled for a long time before departure, reading Halong Bay cruise reviews on Dcard and PTT, and finally decided to use the criteria listing method to filter our options.
If you also find it difficult to make a choice, I suggest listing out the points you care about first!
Our criteria for choosing a cruise in Ha Long Bay:
- Rating: 5-star cruise. Since it’s a rare visit to Ha Long Bay, we want to fully experience the cruise journey.
- Route: Prefer Lan Ha Bay to avoid the crowds in Ha Long Bay.
- Facilities: The room should have a balcony and a bathtub (want to experience soaking while watching the view on the cruise XD).
- Itinerary: We want 3 days and 2 nights to completely relax without feeling rushed.
- Budget: Hope to keep it under $15,000 for two people (but I see that by 2025, the price has increased to about $20,000).
Erina Cruise meets all the criteria, and the photos on Booking and KKday are stunning. From the day I booked the Ha Long Bay cruise, I’ve been incredibly excited!
Erina Cruise Room Tour
We stayed in a room with a private balcony, where you can see the view of Ha Long Bay as soon as you open the balcony door.
The space is much larger than expected. Just looking at the photos above, you wouldn’t think this room is on a ship, right?
The large floor-to-ceiling windows face the sea view, and the bed is moderately firm and very clean.
The best part is this floor-to-ceiling window next to the bed. Pulling open the curtains as soon as you wake up in the morning feels incredibly dreamy.
The most important thing about the bathroom is that it has a bathtub!
Although I don’t remember if the water pressure was stable (too tired from playing and fell asleep after the bath), soaking in the tub while watching the sea is simply a life pleasure.
Is the food on Erina Cruise good?
Before departure, I read online reviews, and many people said the food on Ha Long Bay cruises was terrible, so I didn’t have high expectations.
It turned out to be surprisingly good XD, considered above average.
Of course, you can’t compare it to a restaurant, but it’s the ‘buffet on a ship’ you can imagine, with both Vietnamese and Western dishes. Breakfast even includes freshly made egg dishes and pho.
Overall, it was better than expected, and there’s no need to worry about going hungry, only about eating too much.
You could say there are almost always snacks and drinks available.
What was more interesting is that when we went, it happened to be the Mid-Autumn Festival, and the cruise company prepared mooncakes for everyone. Eating mooncakes and admiring the moon on the ship was a very special experience!
Erina Cruise Three-Day Two-Night Voyage Log
Set Sail! Glide into the magical scenes of the movie King Kong
Venture into the Hidden Realm! Switch to a day boat to explore the Deep South Bay Area
可選：騎單車或搭電動車遊覽原始村落
跳水、游泳或在秘境沙灘日光浴
Traverse the caves and bid farewell in the morning light of Lan Ha Bay
搭乘當地竹筏 (Bamboo Boat) 穿越壯觀洞穴
The Erina Cruise itinerary is very packed, but we’re mainly here for a vacation! So I was initially worried it might be too exhausting XD
Thankfully, although the schedule looks full, the actual experience is very relaxed.
The biggest highlight is definitely the second day, because by staying an extra night, we had the chance to explore hidden gems rarely visited by tourists.
Day 1: Set sail! Paddle into the scenes of the movie ‘Kong: Skull Island’
11:30 Take the shuttle bus to the port.
Honestly, I was a bit disappointed on the first day because of the bad weather, as the photos of Ha Long Bay online always show blue skies and white clouds.
It rained all the way from Hanoi, and although the rain stopped at the port, it was still quite overcast.
12:30 Board the Erina Cruise via a shuttle boat.
As soon as we boarded, the crew warmly offered us welcome drinks, instantly giving a real sense of ‘vacation’!
13:00 Buffet lunch time
After boarding, we first had lunch. During this time, the ship’s manager introduced the vessel and handed out room keys. We stayed in room 307 on the third floor.
The view outside the window gradually changed from the port to the magnificent limestone islands.
15:00 Activity – Kayaking
Arrive at the Tra Bau area, where you can choose to relax in your cabin on the boat (after all, it’s been a long drive from Hanoi to Ha Long) or go kayaking in this serene sea.
We opted for a two-person kayak, gliding across the calm waters, which was actually quite fun!
Unfortunately, it started raining again halfway through QQ
17:30 Sunset Party
After returning to the boat for a rest and a bath, the rain stopped just in time, leaving a hint of sunset glow.
It’s also happy hour on the boat.
The snacks are mainly small cookies and fruits, but paired with the stunning sea view, it really helps you unwind completely!
18:00 Vietnamese Spring Roll Class
At six o’clock sharp on the deck, the chef will personally demonstrate how to wrap Vietnamese spring rolls. You can eat them right after making them; they’re delicious with thin wrappers and plenty of filling.
I found this event very interesting; it’s a delightful, novel, and fun experience.
Afterwards, it’s time for dinner. You can also join the night fishing activity, but I didn’t catch anything XD
Day 2: A Day of Deep Exploration into Hidden Secrets
This is why I highly recommend the 3-day, 2-night trip! Large boats can’t enter these shallow areas, so today we’ll switch to the “Day Boat” for our adventure.
06:00 Taichi Class
Early risers can practice Taichi on the deck with the instructor; the air is incredibly fresh… but we couldn’t get up at all!
Sleeping in and waking up naturally for breakfast seems more practical.
If you’re a morning person, feel free to try it out. Practicing Taichi at sea seems like a unique experience.
08:20 Switch to Day Boat:
We set off towards the southern seas, and along the way, the guide will introduce the day’s itinerary.
It stopped raining from the second morning, and the sun gradually peeked out from behind the clouds!
The day boat is smaller, with the deck filled with loungers. We lay on them, gently rocked by the waves, and it’s so comfortable that you might easily fall asleep.
10:00 Arrive at Viet Hai Village
This is the highlight of the itinerary! You can tour this small Vietnamese fishing village in two ways:
- Biking: Most Western travelers choose this, as it looks super healthy and sunny.
- Riding a golf cart (electric vehicle): That’s right, Xiao Ding and I chose this in a heartbeat XD.
Sitting in the car, enjoying the breeze and scenery is so comfortable. Why choose biking???
A guide will take us around this small island and introduce the past and present lifestyles of the islanders in the village center.
12:00 Lunch on the boat
Enjoy lunch on the boat during the day.
13:15 Ba Trai Dao (Three Peach Island) Beach Fun
This is the most beautiful natural beach area in Lan Ha Bay, with crystal-clear waters.
Spend an afternoon here enjoying activities like swimming, sunbathing, diving, and canoeing.
And at this time, the weather cleared up beautifully! I felt incredibly lucky, especially since the day before was gloomy and rainy. I couldn’t believe the next day offered such stunning scenery! I’m also grateful we chose the three-day, two-night itinerary.
I absolutely love this place; it’s truly a hidden gem. There are no other boats, just us and this breathtaking view, which never gets old.
16:30 Return to the Erina Cruise mother ship
The evening follows the same itinerary with a sunset party, dinner, spring roll making, and a fire dance performance.
Day 3: Exploring caves and bidding farewell with reluctance
07:20 Dark & Bright Cave
This is the most iconic attraction in Lan Ha Bay.
Take a ride on a locally rowed Bamboo Boat, where the boatman guides us through low limestone caves.
Inside, a hidden paradise awaits—a tranquil lake surrounded by cliffs.
09:30 Check-out
Pack your luggage and return the room key to the front desk.
10:00 Brunch
The last meal before disembarking, enjoy a hearty meal before taking a small boat back to the port.
The entire trip felt just right—not rushed, not boring. You can relax and watch the sea while experiencing many different activities.
Is the Halong Bay Cruise—Erina Cruise recommended?
If you’re still deciding which ship to choose or how many days to spend, my honest advice is:
- Definitely choose 3 days 2 nights: The Day 2 ‘Lazy Man’s Fishing Village Tour’ and uninhabited sea area itinerary are the highlights of the entire trip, which those on a 2 days 1 night trip will miss out on.
- Who is Erina Cruise suitable for: Ideal for those who love modern style, value room comfort, and enjoy photography—perfect for girls, couples, or families.
Book the Halong Bay Erina Cruise
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Not at all! Ha Long Bay is an inland sea with a surface as calm as a mirror. The journey is very smooth, and you can hardly feel any movement.
Each room is equipped with power outlets (usually the two-round or flat-pin sockets common in Vietnam, compatible with Taiwanese plugs), and there are USB charging ports by the bedside, making it very convenient to charge devices without needing an adapter.
The room rate usually includes three meals and all itineraries. Additional charges typically apply for: drinks ordered at the bar and SPA massages. As for tips, Vietnam has a tipping culture. Upon checkout, you can leave a token of appreciation in the ‘tip box’ (usually recommended at around 50,000 – 100,000 VND per person per day), or give it to the butler/service staff who took special care of you.
Wifi is available, but the signal is very unstable, generally only suitable for sending text messages. Streaming videos may not work. In certain dead zones at sea, the connection may be completely lost.
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