Refund & Cancellation Policy
Last updated: July 2026
Few Days Halong is operated by Few Days Group Ltd (Hong Kong). We plan your trip; independent local operators - cruise lines, hotels, guides and drivers - deliver it. Each part of your booking is covered by that operator's refund terms, which we confirm with you in writing before you pay anything. If something changes, you contact us, not them: we handle the entire refund or rebooking process on your behalf, and we work only with partners whose cancellation terms we consider fair.
Our role
Few Days Halong is an independent trip planning and booking service. We design your itinerary, select operators on merit, and manage your booking from enquiry to completion. The travel services themselves - cruises, accommodation, tours and transfers - are provided by independent partner operators.
This means refunds are ultimately governed by each operator's own terms. We are transparent about this: before you confirm any booking, we send you the exact cancellation terms that apply to each element of your trip. Nothing in this policy is a surprise clause - your booking confirmation is always the definitive document.
Our commitment to you
- One point of contact. You never need to chase an operator, argue in a second language, or navigate a foreign refund process. Tell us what has changed and we do the rest.
- Carefully chosen partners. We maintain long-standing relationships with our operators and only work with those whose cancellation terms we consider reasonable. Where an operator's standard terms are strict, we will often negotiate better outcomes than a direct customer could.
- Honest advice before you book. If a booking is non-refundable or carries tight cancellation windows, we tell you clearly before you pay - and we will suggest alternatives if flexibility matters to you.
- We pass on 100% of recovered refunds. Any amount an operator returns is passed to you in full. We do not charge a fee for processing refunds; the only deductions are third-party costs outside our control (see “How refunds are paid”).
If you cancel
Exact terms vary by operator and are stated on your booking confirmation. As a general guide, our partners' terms typically follow this pattern:
| Notice before departure | Typical outcome |
|---|---|
| More than 30 days | Full refund, less any non-recoverable transaction fees |
| 15-30 days | Partial refund, commonly 50-70% |
| 7-14 days | Limited refund, commonly up to 50% |
| Less than 7 days | Usually non-refundable |
These figures are indicative only. Some operators are more generous, some stricter, and peak dates (Lunar New Year, Christmas and New Year, national holidays) often carry tighter terms. Your confirmed terms always take precedence over this table.
In every case, we will first explore whether rebooking to new dates or switching to an alternative service recovers more value than a cash refund - it usually does.
Weather and safety cancellations
Ha Long Bay sailings are regulated by the local port authority, which can suspend or shorten cruises at short notice during storms or poor conditions. This is done for your safety and is outside anyone's control. If it happens:
- Cruise cancelled before departure: you choose between rebooking to new dates, an equivalent alternative (for example a land itinerary), or a refund of the cruise element in line with the operator's weather policy - which for most of our partners means a full or near-full refund.
- Cruise shortened after departure (for example a 2-night cruise recalled after 1 night): the operator refunds the unused portion on a pro-rata basis, and we manage the recalculation and any replacement plans for the freed-up days.
We monitor forecasts in the days before every departure and will contact you proactively if disruption looks likely - often before the operator or port authority makes any announcement.
If an operator or we cancel
If a partner operator cancels your booking for any reason other than weather or force majeure, you will be offered a comparable or better alternative at no extra cost, or a full refund of that element. If we are ever unable to deliver a confirmed booking, the same applies.
Changes, rather than cancellations
Most of our partners allow date changes free of charge or for a small fee when requested reasonably far in advance - typically 7 or more days before departure. If your plans shift, contact us as early as possible: changes preserve far more value than cancellations, and we can usually rebuild your itinerary around new dates without loss.
Hotels, day tours and transfers
- Hotels: most partner hotels allow free cancellation up to 48-72 hours before check-in; some promotional and peak-season rates are non-refundable. The applicable terms are shown on your confirmation.
- Day tours and private guides: typically refundable with 24-48 hours' notice.
- Private transfers: typically refundable with 24 hours' notice.
- No-shows, late arrivals and early departures: unused services are normally non-refundable once travel has begun, though we will always ask the operator on your behalf - goodwill outcomes are common with our partners.
How refunds are paid
- Method: refunds are returned to the original payment method, in the original payment currency.
- Timing: once an operator releases funds, refunds typically arrive within 5-15 business days depending on your bank or card issuer. International transfers can occasionally take longer; we will keep you updated throughout.
- Deductions: the only amounts ever deducted are genuine third-party costs we cannot recover - payment processing fees, bank transfer charges, or currency conversion differences. We itemise any deduction so you can see exactly where it went.
Deposits
Where a booking is secured with a deposit, the deposit follows the same cancellation terms as the booking itself, as stated on your confirmation. Deposits are never forfeited without the terms having said so clearly at the time of booking.
Force majeure
In events beyond anyone's reasonable control - natural disasters, epidemics, government travel restrictions, civil unrest - refunds are subject to each operator's force majeure terms. In practice, our partners have historically offered credit or rebooking generously in these situations, and we will negotiate the best available outcome for you. We recommend travel insurance for exactly these scenarios.
Travel insurance
We strongly recommend comprehensive travel insurance covering cancellation, curtailment, medical costs and delays. Insurance is the only reliable protection for costs that fall outside operator refund terms - such as cancelling inside a non-refundable window for personal reasons. We are not an insurance provider and do not sell policies.
How to request a refund or change
- Contact us on WhatsApp (+84 365 700 702) or by replying to any message from our team - whichever you used to book.
- Tell us your booking name, travel dates, and what has changed.
- We will confirm receipt within 24 hours, set out your options with exact figures, and handle the process with the operator from there.
- We will update you at each stage until funds reach your account.
If something goes wrong
If you are unhappy with how a refund has been handled, reply to any message from us and ask for a review - your case will be looked at again by a senior member of the team, with a substantive response within 3 business days.
This policy forms part of our booking terms. Where the terms on your written booking confirmation differ from the general guidance above, the confirmation applies. This policy does not affect any rights you hold under applicable consumer law.