Ha Long Bay Cruises

Our experience of

Halora Nova Cruise

We've hosted guests aboard the Halora Nova and been over her ourselves. She's new, she works the quieter Lan Ha Bay, and the thing guests raise first is the crew - polished but genuinely warm, the sort who treat you like a friend rather than a booking.

The cabins are a good size, all with private sea-view balconies, and the value for how new and well-kept she is comes up again and again. The kitchen surprises people: much of the seafood comes straight off Cat Ba fishing boats, so the prawns and squid at dinner were often caught that morning. Days are easy - kayaking, a village bike ride, and the calm lagoons and clear water that Lan Ha is known for, away from the Ha Long crowds.

What we've found: the Halora Nova is a strong-value choice for couples and families who want a new boat, a proper balcony and a crew that looks after them, on the quiet side of the bay.