We have always wanted to go to Halong Bay as it is a natural wonder of the world, and of course was featured in a James Bond movie years ago!

We booked a Ginger Cruise with Heritage Line Cruises, and seriously you could not fault it in any way. As always Trails of Indochina had everything organised to perfection. We were picked up by our driver and guide in Hanoi and transferred by car to Halong Bay, which is a reasonable distance taking about 3 hours.

But once we arrived the crew took over and gave us a 2 day trip of a lifetime.

We arrived on board the Ginger and were taken to our beautiful cabins. We chose a Private Signature Suite and we were not disappointed. The room was just delightful and the bathroom was stunning.

We were served the most delicious lunch on board as we set sail around Lan Ha Bay.

Lan Ha Bay is part of Halong Bay and has only recently been opened to the public.

The cruise is a time for relaxation, but if you are feeling a little more active you can either use the plunge pool or relax with a massage. We enjoyed sitting on the deck and enjoying the beautiful scenery.

During the course of the first afternoon we visited the small village of Viet Hai located on Cat Ba Island. You can either hop on bikes and ride around the village or be transported by car if you feel less active. We enjoyed meeting the local inhabitants and seeing their homes and lifestyle.

Dinner for the evening was another gastronomic delight supplemented by fine wines, watching the sunset and enjoying the tranquility and peace of the bay.

The following morning a Tai Chi class is offered for those wishing to participate in some exericse. Also on offer is the opportunity to kayak on the beautiful tranquil waters of Tra Bau.

Once back on board a hearty breakfast is served before we commence our journey back to the pier.

We strongly encourage travellers to check out the Heritage Line Cruises. What a wonderful experience it was for us, and something that will stay with us forever. Enjoy our photos!

Travel Tips

  • Take your swimming costume with you because you can either swim in the pool on board, or swim in the bay.
  • There is a small shop on board the Ginger with some quite lovely local products.

Travel Alerts

  • There are no travel alerts for this journey.

Travel Adventures

  • If you have the time we suggest taking a longer journey so that you can not only enjoy life on board more, but it will allow you to see more of this amazing natural wonder of the world.