Ha Long Bay Cruises

Our experience of

Red Dragon Junk Cruise

We've hosted guests aboard the Red Dragon and been over her ourselves. She's small - five cabins, eleven guests at most - and that's the whole appeal: an intimate boat that slips into quiet corners the big ships can't reach, out in serene Bai Tu Long Bay.

Guests tell us they barely saw another boat for two days, and the crew look after everyone like family. The food gets particular praise, fresh and generous meal after meal, and the cabins surprise people for a small junk - comfortable, spotless, with proper bathrooms, balconies and window seats that wouldn't look out of place in a good hotel. The swimming and kayaking are the easy highlights.

What we've found: pick the Red Dragon for seclusion and a family feel over a big-ship buzz. It suits couples, families and small groups who want the quiet bay to themselves.