Cruises / 3 Days / 2 Nights
Ha Long Bay · Overnight cruise
Ten Suites in the Style of the Last Emperor
3 Days / 2 Nights
Ha Long Bay & Lan Ha Bay3 Days / 2 Nights aboard the Emperor Cruises.
An all-suite ship of ten cabins dressed in 1930s French-Indochinese royal style, with hand-painted murals by Pham Luc, a private balcony and jacuzzi bath in every suite, and butler service on the upper grades. Fully refurbished in October 2024.
Where you'll stay aboard.
3 Days / 2 Nights, hour by hour.
What makes it special.
The suites
An all-suite ship of ten cabins, each with a private balcony and a jacuzzi bath, refurbished in October 2024.
The look
Interiors follow Bao Dai French-Indochinese style, with hand-painted murals by Pham Luc through the ship.
Quiet corners
An onboard art gallery and library sit alongside the Heritage Spa, which has a sauna, gym and treatment rooms.
Mornings and evenings
The day starts with Vovinam at sunrise and ends with squid fishing, with cooking demonstrations in between.
Every grade aboard Emperor Cruises, side by side.
| Cabin | Size | Beds | Outlook |
|---|---|---|---|
| State Suite | 1 Double or 2 Single beds | 43 m² plus 7 m² balcony · Main and upper decks · Private balcony · Full ocean view · Jacuzzi bathtub | |
| Signature Suite | 43 m² | 1 Double or 2 Single beds | Main deck · Private balcony · Full ocean view · Jacuzzi bathtub |
| Royal Suite | 1 Double bed | 60 m² plus 10 m² balcony · Upper deck · Private balcony · Full ocean view · Jacuzzi bathtub | |
| Hanoi / Saigon Suite | 35 m² | 1 Double or 2 Single beds | Upper deck · Full ocean view · Jacuzzi bathtub |
Two days or three, on this boat.
2 days, 1 night
An afternoon and evening on the water, a night at anchor and a morning sail out. The length most travellers choose.
3 days, 2 nights
Day two is when the fleets disperse and you reach the further coves - the bay at its most peaceful.
This is the itinerary on this page
Not sure yet
We wrote a longer piece on how the two lengths actually differ once you are on the water.
Other boats on the same water, same length of trip.
See every boat on our Ha Long Bay cruises, or narrow by length: 2 days, 1 night and 3 days, 2 nights.
About this boat, and about cruising the bay.
There are 4 cabin grades aboard Emperor Cruises: State Suite, Signature Suite, Royal Suite and Hanoi / Saigon Suite. Sizes run from 35 m² to 43 m². The full table of sizes, beds and outlook is on this page.
Emperor Cruises sails Ha Long Bay & Lan Ha Bay. If you are still deciding between the bays, our comparison of Ha Long, Lan Ha and Bai Tu Long sets out how they differ in traffic, scenery and how far you travel to reach them.
Embarkation is at Tuan Chau. Boarding starts around 11:30-11:45. The hour-by-hour itinerary above gives the timings for the day.
Both run the same boat and the same cabins. The 3 days / 2 nights adds a second full day, which is when the day boats have gone and the itinerary reaches the quieter water. The 2 days / 1 night covers the headline sights and gets you back to Hanoi a day sooner.
Road transfer from Hanoi takes roughly two and a half to four hours depending on which harbour the boat uses. We arrange the transfer with the cruise as one booking, so the timings match the boarding window rather than leaving you to work them out.
Overnight cruises in Ha Long normally include the cabin, all meals on board, the guided activities in the itinerary above and the bay entrance fees. Drinks, spa treatments and the transfer are the items that vary most between boats. We confirm exactly what is and is not included for this boat in writing before you pay, because it differs by operator and by season.
Ha Long Bay closes to cruise traffic when the harbour authority says so, usually for storms. If that happens we move the date or refund the cruise - you are never held to a sailing that cannot run. Our refund policy sets out the detail.
Yes. Most boats take children of any age and price them in bands rather than as adults, and many have family cabins or connecting rooms. Tell us the ages when you enquire and we will say which boats suit and what each one charges.
Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and allergy requirements are all workable, but they need to be given at booking rather than on the day - the boat provisions before it leaves harbour and cannot restock at sea.
October to April is the settled season, with clear air and cool mornings. May to September is warmer and better for swimming, with a higher chance of a storm closing the bay. Our guide to Ha Long Bay goes into the months in more detail.
We'll build the Emperor Cruises into a complete, private Northern Vietnam itinerary, planned and run for you, with the right cabin and every transfer handled.
Get your free personalised itinerary ›