Peony Cruise
A 20-cabin boat by Big Bay Group (sailing Lan Ha Bay since 2018), pitched as 5-star at a reasonable price. It pairs classic European touches with rustic Vietnamese design across three decks, and stands out for its sundeck swimming pool - split into a deeper section and a shallow one for small children. Two Peony junks run the route, each carrying up to 40 guests.
Scored by our Halong cruise team, who spend their season on these waters. We rate each boat the way a returning guest would - cabins, dining, crew, itinerary and value - not the way a listing does.
Peony punches above its price: a self-described 5-star junk on Lan Ha Bay, the quieter neighbour to central Halong, where every cabin gets a balcony and the sundeck pool is split so small children get a shallow end. The 45m2 Exclusive Suite, with its private terrace and sea-view bathtub, is the room to book. Worth knowing: this is a 40-guest boat rather than an intimate one, only that top suite has a tub, and there is no confirmed spa, gym or lift. The fare is also indicative, but for value on Lan Ha it is hard to beat.
Choose your suite
Deluxe Balcony
BEST VALUE
Premium Deluxe Balcony
Peony Exclusive Suite
Family Deluxe Balcony
Family Premium Balcony
Prices are per cabin, all guests included in USD. Final price is confirmed on WhatsApp before any payment.
Cabin details - Cabins (20 cabins / 3 decks)
Itinerary
Hanoi - Tuan Chau - Lan Ha Bay - Tra Bau
- Shuttle pickup in the Old Quarter (or 16 Thi Sach / Opera House) ~08:00-08:30 (add-on), ~2.5h to Tuan Chau
- ~11:30 tender to the boat, safety briefing + check in, lunch as the boat sails into Lan Ha
- Afternoon: kayak and explore the caves around Tra Bau, then sunset over the bay
- Cooking class with Peony's chef + Happy Hour (Buy 1 Get 1); pool and sundeck time
- Evening: dinner onboard, then top-deck bar or night squid fishing
Trung Trang Cave - back to Hanoi
- Sunrise tai chi + breakfast (pastries, pho, bun ca)
- Visit Trung Trang Cave in the Cat Ba Biosphere Reserve
- ~09:30 check out, light brunch as the boat returns to port (~10:30-11:00)
- Shuttle back to Hanoi, arriving in the Old Quarter ~15:00
Meals
- 2D1N: lunch, dinner, breakfast, brunch
- 3D2N: 2 lunches, 2 dinners, 2 breakfasts, 1 brunch
Activities
Kayaking (Tra Bau), Trung Trang Cave, sundeck swimming pool, cooking class, sunrise tai chi, night squid fishing, Viet Hai village (3D2N).
What’s included
- Welcome drink + cold towel + 2 bottles of water per cabin
- Entrance + sightseeing fees
- English-speaking guide onboard
- A/C cabin
- All onboard meals per itinerary
- Kayaking, cooking class, tai chi, swimming, squid fishing
- Day boat for Viet Hai village + kayaking (3D2N, day 2)
- Pickup
- Hanoi Old Quarter / 16 Thi Sach / Opera House (shuttle add-on) → Tuan Chau Port
- Pickup window
- 08:00-08:30
- Drop-off
- ~15:00 Hanoi (last day)
- Children
- Under 5 stay free
- Ages 5-10
- 75% of adult fare
- Age 11+
- Full fare
- Note
- A child under 11 in their own cabin = 80% room rate; 2 children under 11 in their own cabin = 1 room rate (final terms confirmed at booking)
- Weather
- Lan Ha / Halong weather is variable; pool, kayak and cave activities are weather-dependent. Winter (Dec-Feb) is cool and misty.
We never take card payments on this site. Your booking is confirmed by a real person on WhatsApp, and the final price is agreed before you pay anything.
Ask us anything about this cruise
A real person replies within hours, 7am-10pm ICT - WhatsApp is fastest.
It's one of the more family-friendly boats - the sundeck pool is split into a deeper area and a shallow one for small kids, and there are connecting Family cabins. Activities like the cooking class and Trung Trang Cave are gentle enough for children
Peony (by Big Bay Group, sailing since 2018) positions itself as 5-star at a reasonable price, and it sails Lan Ha Bay which is quieter than central Halong. You get a pool, private balconies and included activities without the top-tier price tag
