Cruises / 3 Days / 2 Nights
Ha Long & Lan Ha Bay · Overnight cruise
3 Days, 2 Nights Adventure in Ha Long Bay
3 Days / 2 Nights
Ha Long & Lan Ha Bay
3 Days / 2 Nights aboard the Rita Cruise.
Step aboard Rita Cruise, a sleek 5-star vessel designed for those who want a refined yet relaxed journey through Ha Long and Lan Ha Bay. With elegant ocean-view cabins, signature Vietnamese cuisine, and thoughtful touches like sunset tea, cooking classes, and optional kayaking - Rita brings a touch of luxury to every moment at sea.
Where you'll stay aboard.
How your 3 days / 2 nights unfolds.
What makes it special.
The route
Sailing from Tuan Chau Harbour, the run covers Ha Long and Lan Ha, the Dark and Bright Cave and the Frog Pond area.
The cabins
Thirty-two modern cabins, each with an ocean view and a private balcony, on a ship graded 5-star.
Onboard hours
Afternoon tea, a cooking class, kayaking or a bamboo boat, squid fishing and happy-hour cocktails as the light goes.
The style
Signature Vietnamese cuisine and an easy pace, aimed at couples, families and travellers who would rather not be rushed.
Every grade aboard Rita Cruise, side by side.
| Cabin | Size | Beds | Outlook |
|---|---|---|---|
| Senior Suite | 30m² | Double/Twin | Private balcony |
| Triple Suite | 28m² | 1 Double + 1 Single or 3 singles | Balcony |
| Honeymoon Suite | 30m² | Double | Private balcony |
| Family Suite | Connecting suites · Sleeps 4-6 | ||
| President Suite | 85m² | Moon bed | Private terrace |
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.
Our experience of
We've hosted guests aboard the Rita and been over her ourselves. She carries a lot of staff for her size, close to one crew member for every guest or two, and it shows - service is attentive without hovering, and the crew handle English, French, Chinese and Korean between them.
She's well furnished and genuinely comfortable, with balcony views over Lan Ha, and she was among the first on the bay to add a swimming pool and a soundproof karaoke lounge, so there's more to do on board than most. Days bring the caves, a cooking class and kayaking, and the kitchen turns out good food and handles dietary requests without fuss.
What we've found: the Rita suits guests who want polished, personal service and a bit extra on board - a pool, karaoke, space - on the quieter Lan Ha side. Guests tend to recommend the three-day itinerary.
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 5 cabin grades aboard Rita Cruise: Senior Suite, Triple Suite, Honeymoon Suite, Family Suite and President Suite. Sizes run from 28m² to 85m². The full table of sizes, beds and outlook is on this page.
Rita Cruise sails Ha Long & 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 Gia Luan. Boarding starts around 08:20-08:50. 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 Rita Cruise 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 ›