Scarlet Pearl Cruise

The Cruise

2 Days / 1 Night aboard the Scarlet Pearl Cruise.

The Scarlet Pearl is among the most luxurious cruises sailing Lan Ha Bay, a sleek, four-deck catamaran of just 23 balcony cabins, named for Ha Long's long heritage of pearl trading. Its route slips away from the busier stretches of Ha Long into the quieter, equally beautiful Lan Ha Bay, taking in the Dark & Bright Cave and the Frog Pond area. On board you'll find the Akoya Spa, a sundeck jacuzzi, a gym, a pearl museum and the Tahiti restaurant serving Vietnamese and European fine dining. Over two days you're treated to kayaking, a sunset party or cooking class, squid fishing and early-morning Tai Chi, refined, restful and never crowded.

Cabins & Suites

Where you'll stay aboard.

Silver Pearl Balcony

28m² · 1st/2nd floor · 1 Double or 2 Single beds · Balcony · Bay view

28m² suite on the 1st or 2nd floor with a private balcony and bay views, configurable as 1 double or 2 single beds.

Golden Pearl Balcony

28m² · 1st/2nd floor · 3 Single beds · Balcony · Bay view

28m² triple suite on the 1st or 2nd floor with three single beds, a private balcony and bay views, ideal for friends or small families.

Onyx Pearl Terrace

40m² · 2nd floor · 1 Double or 2 Single beds · Balcony · Bay view

40m² suite on the 2nd floor with a private balcony and bay views. Includes fresh fruit and a complimentary 30-minute foot massage.

President Suite

60m² · 2nd floor · 1 Double or 2 Single beds · Private balcony + sunbathing area

Spacious 60m² cabin on the 2nd floor with a private balcony and separate sunbathing area. Includes fresh fruit and a complimentary 60-minute body massage.

The Itinerary

How your 2 days / 1 night unfolds.

Day 1

Hanoi → Ha Long → Lan Ha Bay → Bright Cave & Frog Lagoon

08:15-08:45Limousine pick-up from your hotel in the Hanoi Old Quarter (or the Opera House final point), then the scenic ~2.5-hour drive to Ha Long with a short rest stop.

11:30Arrive at the Scarlet Pearl lounge in Ha Long International Cruise Port. Welcome drink and safety briefing while you check in.

12:00Board the cruise and settle into your cabin.

13:00A splendid lunch is served at the Tahiti Restaurant as the cruise sails into primitive Lan Ha Bay, threading through hundreds of islands and islets.

14:30-15:00Reach Sáng (Bright) Cave by kayak or rowing boat, a 70m water passage of sparkling karst arches, then drift into the serene emerald Ếch (Frog) Lagoon to kayak and swim.

17:00Return to the cruise to relax and watch the sunset from the sundeck.

17:30Sunset party at the Sky Bar or a chef-led cooking class (seasonal). Happy hour runs until about 18:45.

19:00Fine-dining dinner with a cultural exchange hosted by the crew.

21:00Evening at leisure, squid fishing, the bar, or stargazing on the top deck.

Day 2

Tai Chi → Dark & Bright Cave → Brunch → Hanoi

06:30Sunrise Tai Chi on the sundeck, or simply enjoy the quiet bay with tea, coffee and pastries from 06:30.

07:30Explore the Dark & Bright Cave by kayak or local bamboo boat, a tranquil round lagoon ringed by trees and tall stone walls.

09:00Return to the ship and check out of your cabin.

09:30Brunch is served as the Scarlet Pearl cruises back toward the mainland harbour.

11:30Disembark at Ha Long International Cruise Port; transfer back to Hanoi.

15:00Arrive back in central Hanoi. End of trip.

Highlights

What makes it special.

On the water

A four-deck catamaran

A sleek catamaran of four decks, named for Ha Long's long heritage of pearl trading and graded five-star.

The cabins

Twenty-three balcony cabins

Twenty-three cabins, each with a private sea-view balcony, on a ship that is described as restful and never crowded.

The route

Dark and Bright Cave

The route slips into the quieter reaches of Lan Ha for the Dark and Bright Cave and the Frog Pond area.

Spa and table

Akoya Spa and pearl museum

The Akoya Spa, a sundeck jacuzzi, a gym and a pearl museum, with Vietnamese and European dining at the Tahiti restaurant.

Cabins at a glance

Every grade aboard Scarlet Pearl Cruise, side by side.

Cabin grades aboard Scarlet Pearl Cruise
Cabin	Size	Beds	Outlook
Silver Pearl Balcony	28m²	1 Double or 2 Single beds	1st/2nd floor · Balcony · Bay view
Golden Pearl Balcony	28m²	3 Single beds	1st/2nd floor · Balcony · Bay view
Onyx Pearl Terrace	40m²	1 Double or 2 Single beds	2nd floor · Balcony · Bay view
President Suite	60m²	1 Double or 2 Single beds	2nd floor · Private balcony + sunbathing area

How long aboard

Two days or three, on this boat.

2 days, 1 night

The classic cruise

An afternoon and evening on the water, a night at anchor and a morning sail out. The length most travellers choose.

This is the itinerary on this page

3 days, 2 nights

The unhurried sailing

Day two is when the fleets disperse and you reach the further coves - the bay at its most peaceful.

See the 3 Days / 2 Nights itinerary ›

Not sure yet

Read the comparison

We wrote a longer piece on how the two lengths actually differ once you are on the water.

One night or two ›

Our experience of

We've hosted guests aboard the Scarlet Pearl and been over her ourselves. She's a smaller boat on the quieter Lan Ha Bay, and that shapes the whole trip - beautifully designed cabins with big windows, a relaxed feel and none of the queueing you get on the larger ships.

The crew get named in reviews, always with a smile, and guests describe waking up to a wall of limestone islands as unforgettable. Days bring a village visit, the water slide, swimming straight off the boat and kayaking on glass-flat water, and the dining is a step up from standard Halong fare. One honest note we pass on: drinks are charged separately and aren't cheap, so budget for those.

What we've found: the Scarlet Pearl suits couples and small groups who want a calm, well-designed boat on the quiet bay, happy to trade a bigger ship for fewer crowds.

Similar cruises

Other boats on the same water, same length of trip.

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View cruise ›

Calypso Cruise

Lan Ha Bay · 2 Days / 1 Night

A Steel-Hulled Indochine Classic on the Lan Ha Route

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Celina of The Sea Cruise

Lan Ha Bay · 2 Days / 1 Night

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See every boat on our Ha Long Bay cruises, or narrow by length: 2 days, 1 night and 3 days, 2 nights.

Scarlet Pearl Cruise - common questions

About this boat, and about cruising the bay.

What cabin types does Scarlet Pearl Cruise have?

There are 4 cabin grades aboard Scarlet Pearl Cruise: Silver Pearl Balcony, Golden Pearl Balcony, Onyx Pearl Terrace and President Suite. Sizes run from 28m² to 60m². The full table of sizes, beds and outlook is on this page.

Which bay does Scarlet Pearl Cruise sail?

Scarlet Pearl Cruise sails 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.

Where does Scarlet Pearl Cruise depart from?

Embarkation is at Ha Long International Cruise Port. Boarding starts around 08:15-08:45. The hour-by-hour itinerary above gives the timings for the day.

Is the 2 Days / 1 Night or the 3 Days / 2 Nights better on this boat?

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.

How do I get to the boat from Hanoi?

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.

What is included in the price?

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.

What happens if the weather stops the boat sailing?

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.

Can children come along?

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.

Can the kitchen handle dietary requirements?

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.

When is the best time of year to sail?

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.

Scarlet Pearl Cruise

The Cruise

Cabins & Suites

The Itinerary

Highlights

A four-deck catamaran

Twenty-three balcony cabins

Dark and Bright Cave

Akoya Spa and pearl museum

Cabins at a glance

How long aboard

The classic cruise

The unhurried sailing

Read the comparison

Scarlet Pearl Cruise

Similar cruises

Scarlet Pearl Cruise - common questions

Add this cruise to your trip