2 Nights on a Ha Long Bay Cruise: Is the 3-Day, 2-Night Cruise Worth It?

Ha Long Bay: 2 Night Cruise With Peony Cruise Ship

March 24–26

During our 7 nights in Vietnam, we decided to add a 2-night cruise through Ha Long Bay. After spending two busy days weaving through the chaotic streets of Hanoi’s Old Quarter, we were more than ready to trade motorbikes and city noise for limestone cliffs, calm waters, and a few days of relaxation.

It was a chance to slow down, enjoy incredible scenery, and let someone else handle the transportation, meals, and activities for a few days. After nearly three weeks of traveling around Southeast Asia, it was exactly the reset we needed.

If you’re trying to decide whether a Ha Long Bay cruise is worth it, which cruise company to book, or whether you should choose one night or two, here’s everything you need to know about our experience aboard the Peony Cruise.

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When Is the Best Time to Visit Ha Long Bay?

The best months to visit Ha Long Bay are generally:

• September through November
• March through April

These months typically bring comfortable temperatures, lower humidity, and the best chance for clear skies.

We visited from March 24–26. The weather was warm and pleasant, and although it stayed mostly overcast during our cruise, we didn’t experience any rain. While sunshine would have made the scenery even more dramatic, the cloudy conditions actually gave the bay a mysterious atmosphere.

One thing to keep in mind is that Ha Long Bay’s weather can be unpredictable year-round. Even during the best months, visibility can vary, so don’t panic if the forecast doesn’t look perfect.

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Why We Chose Peony Cruise

One of the hardest parts of planning a Ha Long Bay cruise is deciding which company to book with. There are dozens of cruise operators offering everything from budget-friendly overnight trips to luxury multi-day experiences.

After researching numerous cruise lines, reading reviews, and comparing prices, we decided on Peony Cruise.

For our 3-day, 2-night cruise, including round-trip transportation from Hanoi, we paid approximately $270 per person. Since there were three of us sharing a cabin, the price felt very reasonable considering accommodation, transportation, activities, and seven meals were included.

About Peony Cruise

Peony Cruise is a smaller vessel with:

• 20 cabins
• Capacity for approximately 40 guests
• Balcony rooms for every cabin
• Modern facilities and attentive staff

Room categories include:

• Deluxe Balcony Cabin
• Premium Deluxe Balcony Cabin
• Peony Exclusive Suite
• Family Deluxe Balcony Cabin
• Family Premium Deluxe Balcony Cabin

We stayed in the deluxe balcony cabin with three twin beds. It was definitely a little snug with three adults and our luggage, but for two nights it was fine.

One feature I loved was the bathroom. It had large windows overlooking the water, allowing you to soak in the bathtub while enjoying the views of the bay.

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What Amenities Does Peony Cruise Have?

Unlike some of the larger luxury cruise ships, Peony Cruise does not have a full-sized swimming pool.

However, it does offer:

• A jacuzzi on the sundeck
• A small shallow pool area
• Spacious outdoor viewing decks
• Bar service
• Spa services
• Private balconies in every room

The staff throughout the cruise were incredibly friendly and helpful. From check-in to departure, everything felt organized and stress-free.

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Should You Book One Night or Two?

This was probably the biggest question we had before booking.

After experiencing the cruise, I think:

One night is enough if you’re short on time and simply want the classic Ha Long Bay experience.

However, the second night allowed us to truly relax. Instead of constantly moving from one activity to another, we spent time:

• Enjoying the views from the balcony
• Making friends with other travelers
• Taking advantage of happy hour
• Sleeping in
• Relaxing on deck

After 20 days of nonstop travel around Asia, having an extra day to do absolutely nothing felt amazing.

It also depends on what activities are a priority for you, the only difference between the 2 night cruise and the 1 night cruise was that the 2 night cruise adds a day for Viet Hai Village exploration.

Both the one night and two night cruise options bring you to the Cat Ba Island Trung Trang Cave. 

We ended up skipping the day that explored Viet Hai Village and spent the day relaxing on the cruise ship. So activity wise, we could have just done the one night cruise but we were glad to have the extra day to reset and do nothing.

If you’re trying to maximize your Vietnam itinerary, the one-night option is sufficient. But if you enjoy slower travel and want some downtime, I would absolutely recommend the two-night cruise.

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Activities Included on Peony Cruise

One of the best things about booking a Ha Long Bay cruise is that most activities are already planned for you.

Included activities on our cruise were:

• Kayaking through limestone caves
• Swimming
• Sunrise Tai Chi sessions
• Vietnamese cooking demonstrations (spring rolls)
• Night squid fishing
• Exploring Trung Trang Cave on Cat Ba Island
• Exploring Viet Hai Village on Cat Ba Island
• Happy Hour specials on board

Additional spa services available for an extra charge included:

• Massages
• Facials
• Pedicures
• Manicures

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Food on Peony Cruise

One thing we were pleasantly surprised by was how much food was included.

For the 3-day, 2-night itinerary, we received:

• 2 breakfasts
• 2 lunches
• 2 dinners
• 1 brunch

Breakfast

Breakfast was served buffet style and included a mixture of:

• Eggs
• Fresh fruit
• Pastries
• Coffee and tea
• Vietnamese breakfast options

Lunch

Lunch was also buffet style with a combination of:

• Vietnamese dishes
• Seafood
• Salads
• Noodles
• Rice dishes

Dinner

Dinner felt much more formal and was served as a multi-course meal in the dining room.

The menus typically included a combination of:

• Vietnamese specialties
• Asian-inspired dishes
• European options
• Seafood selections

Peony can accommodate various dietary restrictions including:

• Vegetarian
• Vegan
• Gluten-free
• Halal
• Kosher

I would recommend notifying them in advance if you have any dietary needs.

One thing worth mentioning is that food service essentially ends after dinner. If you’re someone who likes late-night snacks, bring a few snacks from Hanoi before boarding.

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The Floating Convenience Stores

One of the funniest and most unexpected experiences happened on Day 2.

While relaxing on our balcony, a small local boat pulled alongside the cruise ship selling snacks and drinks.

Naturally, we bought a six-pack of local beer and a bottle of wine.

There we were, leaning over our balcony exchanging money and grabbing beers from a boat floating below us. It felt like the most random convenience store experience ever and honestly became one of the funniest memories of the trip.

The prices were cheaper than ordering drinks onboard too, which didn’t hurt.

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Bar and Drink Options

The onboard bar offered plenty of options including:

• Red and white wine
• Mojitos
• Margaritas
• Daiquiris
• Mai Tais
• Piña Coladas
• Long Island Iced Teas
• Tequila Sunrises
• Whiskey Sours

During happy hour, we ordered flaming shots that the waitress literally set on fire before serving. It was one of those unexpected travel moments that turned into a memorable night with new friends.

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Our Peony Cruise Itinerary

Day 1: Hanoi to Ha Long Bay

Our day began with an 8:20 AM pickup from our Airbnb in Hanoi’s Old Quarter.

The shared luxury limousine van cost approximately $35 per person round-trip and took about 2.5 hours to reach the marina.

Upon arrival at Tuan Chau Marina, we checked in and waited in the lounge area where complimentary coffee, tea, and snacks were available.

From there, a smaller shuttle boat transported us to the main cruise ship.

After boarding around 1 PM, we were welcomed with drinks and lunch before checking into our rooms.

At 3:30 PM, we headed out for our first excursion:

Kayaking in Tra Bau Area

This was one of my favorite activities of the cruise.

We spent about 90 minutes kayaking through calm waters surrounded by towering limestone formations. Some sections took us through cave openings and hidden lagoons that felt completely removed from the outside world.

You can kayak solo or with a partner.

Back onboard, we spent the afternoon relaxing on deck before happy hour started.

Happy Hour and Spring Roll Making

From 5:30 PM to 6:30 PM, drinks were buy one get one free.

The crew also hosted a cooking demonstration where we learned how to make traditional Vietnamese spring rolls.

Dinner followed around 7:30 PM, and afterward we tried our luck at squid fishing from the back of the boat but didn’t succeed.

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Day 2: A Relaxing Day at Sea

Most guests woke up around 6 AM for sunrise Tai Chi on the deck before heading out to visit Viet Hai Fishing Village in the Lan Ha Bay area.

We, however, made a different decision. After staying up late socializing with new friends, we completely skipped the early wake-up call. We spent the day sleeping in, enjoying the nearly empty deck, sitting on our balcony, and simply appreciating the views.

Sometimes doing nothing is exactly what you need.

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Day 3: Cat Ba Island and Departure

Since we skipped the main excursion on Day 2, we made sure not to miss the final morning activity.

We woke up around 6 AM, had breakfast, and boarded a small boat to Cat Ba Island.

The excursion took us to Trung Trang Cave, one of the largest caves on the island.

Walking through the cave was impressive, with dramatic rock formations and narrow passages that occasionally required ducking down to squeeze through.

After returning to the ship, we packed our bags and enjoyed brunch before disembarking around 11 AM.

A shuttle boat returned us to shore where our limousine van was waiting to take us back to Hanoi.

We arrived back in Hanoi with enough time to catch our 5:30 PM flight to Da Nang.

Travel Tip: If you’re planning to fly out of Hanoi the same day your cruise ends, I would schedule a flight no earlier than 5 PM to allow for transportation delays.

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Is a Ha Long Bay Cruise Worth It?

Absolutely. For us, this cruise felt like the perfect side quest during our Vietnam adventure.

Everything was taken care of:

• Transportation
• Accommodation
• Meals
• Excursions
• Daily schedule

All we had to do was show up and enjoy it.

The limestone karsts rising from the water, kayaking through hidden lagoons, relaxing on our balcony, making new friends, and watching the scenery drift by created some of our favorite memories from Vietnam.

Would I do two nights again? Yes, because we appreciated the extra downtime. But if you’re limited on time, the one-night cruise will still give you the full experience.

If you’re looking for an easy, scenic, and relaxing way to experience one of Vietnam’s most famous natural wonders, I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Peony Cruise. It was the perfect break from the fast-paced travel we had been doing throughout Southeast Asia and a memorable highlight of our 7 nights in Vietnam.