Excellent Choice: Peony Cruise + Hanoi Pearl Hotel 3 Days

There are 02 Peony junks with 20 cabins and 03 decks per boat, giving passengers the best experience onboard.

The first deck has 12 Deluxe Balcony of 26m2 each (including 02 Family Deluxe with connecting door). The front of this deck is the crew's cockpit, and the stern is the reception area.

On the second deck, you can find 01 large dining room at the bow, 06 Premium Deluxe (including 02 Family Premium Deluxe with connecting door) in the middle, and 02 Exclusive Suites (45m2) with a 180° private terrace view at the rear.

The sundeck brings the most comfortable feeling to the seascape with an open bar, sun loungers, and a swimming pool.

Peony Deck Plan

Swimming Pool

Decorated with a wooden villa-style border, the sundeck pool is divided into 2 separate bathing areas: the larger is rectangle-shaped and deeper, while the smaller is rounded and shallow, suitable for small kids.

Guests can also sip on refreshing cocktails ordered at the bar (from 7:00 to 23:00) and taste the beauty of the bay at the sun loungers and sofas nearby.

2 layouts of the spacious pool on the sundeck

Restaurant

The restaurant has state-of-the-art facilities to accommodate around 55 guests with the most enthralling gastronomic experience onboard. While dining at the restaurant, guests can enjoy traditional music performances and immerse themselves in an ambiance of elegance, coziness, and modernity.

Elegant restaurant onboard

Spa Room

The wellness corner has 02 comfy massage tables and warm decor to give the most exhilarating treatments after the energetic day excursion.

Spa room with deluxe services

The itinerary set the 2-day-1-night sail towards the secluded part of Tra Bau, Lan Ha Bay on the 1st day, and Trung Trang Cave on the 2nd day.

Passengers who opt for the 3-day-2-night itinerary will have extra time to explore the Viet Hai Village and pristine beach on Cat Ba Island.

Kayak in Tra Bau

On Day 1, paddle around Tra Bau on a kayak to get your new challenge. You will have around 1.5 hours in the afternoon to admire the towering karst formations from the water and catch a glimpse of a floating village.

An idyllic backdrop for your kayaking

Discover Viet Hai Village

You will have a chance to visit a fishing village on the Day 2 morning of the 3D2N cruise. Viet Hai boasts a beautiful cycling route and scenic countryside (the electric cart option is available). Also, you can call on some local houses and enjoy a fish massage.

Swim in Lan Ha Bay

After Viet Hai visit, dive into the refreshing water and experience the sensation of weightlessness as you float amidst the hidden beach in Lan Ha. The cool water is perfect for a refreshing dip after a long day of exploration.

Immerse in a pristine beach on 2-night cruise

Visit Trung Trang Cave

As one of the largest caves in the Cat Ba Archipelago, Trung Trang is not only for sightseeing but also for history learning. On the final day of the Peony Cruise itinerary, you will have a chance to explore its unique structure and tropical greenery.

Spa & Massage

• Price: From US $21/ service
• Duration: 30 - 75 minutes/ session

Like other cruises managed by Big Bay Group, Peony offers a range of beauty treatments, including facials - skincare - massage, body therapy, foot reflexology, nail manicures, and pedicures.

Besides, passengers can join sunset parties, cooking classes, night squid fishing (seasonal), honeymoon setup, special events, and other services onboard.

On Peony Cruise, you may sample the finest intricate Vietnamese cuisine and delicious European delicacies professional chefs make. The usual time for breakfast is 6:45 - 7:15, 9:30 for brunch, 13:00 for lunch, and 19:30 for dinner.

Carefully crafted to offer various delicacies to suit all palates, the chef is always happy to cater to all special requests, such as:

• Vegetarian
• Indian
• Charter BBQ Dinner
• Charter Family

Desert station of tropical fruits

Regarding drinks, Peony provides each suite with 02 bottles water per day as complimentary service. If you want to taste more beverages, you need to pay a surcharge based on the menu.

• Wine: From US $37/ bottle & US $8/ shot
• Cocktail: From US $9/ glass
• Non-alcohol: From US $1.5/ item

There is a diversity of house wines, premium wines, champagne, rose wines, sweet wines, local beers, and single shots of mixed drinks and cocktails that could be tailor-made. 

For the fan of alcohol-free drinks, a range of fresh juices, smoothies, mocktails, soft drinks, coffees and teas is available.

NOTE: The rate could be adjusted; you should refer to the up-to-date price on the cruise.

The transfer between Hanoi and the cruise port is upon request for all passengers. With an additional fee from US $25/ pax/ way, there are different options for a shared shuttle bus or a private car.

From Hanoi

The meeting will be around the Hanoi Opera House, No. 16 Thi Sach Street, or door-to-door at your hotel in the Old Quarter. The pick-up time by shuttle bus is around 8:00 - 8:30.

From Tuan Chau Terminal

If you want to get from Hanoi by yourself, please meet your tour guide at No 34, Tuan Chau Terminal, before 12:00 to get the safety guidelines and finish check-in procedures.

The waiting lounge of Big Bay Group at Tuan Chau Port

BestPrice's Reviews: 9.7/10

• Inspection date: 31th May & 1st June, 2024
• BestPrice Travel Inspector: Ms. Ly

On my recent 2-day inspection, I had an enjoyable time with a popular Lan Ha Bay itinerary and exceptional customer service on Peony Cruise. 

Overall, this wooden junk offers fantastic value for money with its well-maintained facilities, delectable cuisine, diverse activities, and top-notch service. I can say it's a standout choice for families with kids and couples on a mid-range budget.

Facilities & Amenities: 9.4/10

With an adequate number of cabins, each of the 20 staterooms provides a comfortable space for a private balcony and bathtub that very few 4-star cruises can accommodate.

Nevertheless, my Premium Deluxe Balcony is quite narrow (26m2) and has the same features as the Deluxe Balcony. The only difference is that it is on the higher deck and more expensive.

Pros:

• Spacious swimming pool with 2 separate areas, more privacy and safety for small kids
• All cabins are equipped with an ocean-sense turquoise theme, private balcony, and bathtub
• Stylish traditional junk models and well-maintained public areas

Cons:

• Limited number of family connecting cabins (only 2 for each suite)
• Very few differences between a Deluxe Balcony and a Premium Deluxe Balcony
• The functional room tag name should be bigger since it looks like a regular guest room, which is hard to notice

Kid-friendly mini pool on top deck

Foods & Drinks: 9.6/10

For those who have food allergies, Peony Cruise is somewhere you can trust to have a pleasant culinary experience, from Asian to Western food. The F&B manager is a delight who particularly considers dietary requirements. Otherwise, Vietnamese food is full of praise for its tasty flavors.

Pros:

• Fresh, delicious, and varied types of buffet dishes, especially Vietnamese food
• Diverse options for special dietary requests and charter menus

Cons:

• Limited options for snacks or light meals throughout the day
• The higher price of premium wines and signature cocktails than other mid-range cruises

Savory fine dining dish at dinner

Activities: 9.8/10

Peony Cruise offers an exciting 2-day Lan Ha Bay itinerary packed with both outdoor and indoor adventures. As an active person, I’m interested in hiking to Trung Trang Cave (more than 100 steps) and bending down while walking inside. For adventure seekers, the 3-day cruise would be ideal, with cycling activity in Viet Hai Village.

Pros:

• Energetic and well-organized itinerary, such as kayaking, hiking, cycling, and cave-visiting
• Eye-catching biking routes and valuable insight into fishing culture at Viet Hai Village on the 3D2N cruise
• All activities are suitable for everyone to enjoy, including kids and the elderly

Cons:

• Few entertaining activities due to the lack of facilities onboard

Diverse outdoor activities are available for all types of traveler

Service: 10/10

During the whole trip, we received absolute professional service; the staff always provided full information about the itinerary and time for guests. I can’t praise Lee - the cruise manager, Ken - his assistant, and his team enough.

I also loved that the staff always asked us beforehand whether we had food allergies; that was thoughtful of them. They were even supportive at meals; I asked them to peel the shrimp for us.

Pros:

• Friendly and helpful staff, handsome and gentle waiters are on every corner
• Attention to detail and personal touches throughout the cruise
• Surprising preparation for guests' special events like birthday, honeymoon, and wedding anniversary
• Informative guide who told us interesting legends about Lan Ha Bay and Trung Trang Cave

Exceptionally attentive crew staff

Peony Cruise on TripAdvisor

• Number of reviews: 1,328 
• Excellent: 1,229/1,328 reviews

Up to now, Peony Cruise on TripAdvisor has ranked #24 of 583 Boat Tours & Water Sports in Hanoi. 

Many travelers have praised the cruise for its crew members, beautiful boat, and Halong Bay seascape. On the contrary, some reviewers have complained about the quality of food and cancellation policy.

Popular mentions of cruise reviews on TripAdvisor

All in all, Peony is still a favorable choice for those who wish to come back to Halong Bay. It has become a rising star of 4-star cruises in Lan Ha Bay at a reasonable price.