Mon Chéri Cruise 5 star: Unique 2 Days Tuan Chau – Halong bay – Lan Ha Bay

The best part of Mon Chéri’s two-day cruise is the chance to see Halong Bay at more than a rushed morning pace. You’ll have time for caves, islands, swimming, and kayaking, then watch the light change over the water from an overnight suite.

I like the mix of active outings and easy shipboard time. I also like that meals, a guide, activities, bottled water, and two nights of accommodation are included, so the $195 price covers more than a scenic boat ride.

The main point to consider is transport. The cruise begins at Got Pier in Hai Phong, not in Hanoi, and the optional limousine transfer from Hanoi’s Old Quarter costs $20 per person each way. You’ll also need to pack light, since each person is limited to one suitcase and one carry-on bag.

Key points to know before booking

• Two days on the bay: The longer sailing gives you time for sunset, sunrise, swimming, kayaking, and relaxed hours on board.
• Lan Ha and Halong Bays: The route combines two famous areas of northern Vietnam, with islands, open water, canals, and caves.
• Bamboo boat outing: A traditional bamboo boat ride takes you through cave scenery that is difficult to appreciate from the cruise ship.
• Meals and accommodation included: The package includes breakfast, lunch, dinner, taxes, bottled water, activities, and overnight accommodation.
• Small maximum group: The cruise accepts up to 35 people, which is more manageable than a large day boat.
• Hanoi transfer costs extra: A limousine connection from Hanoi’s Old Quarter is available for $20 per person each way.

A two-day view of Halong Bay

Halong Bay is best appreciated slowly. The famous limestone islands and narrow waterways can feel hurried when squeezed into a single day. Mon Chéri’s two-day format gives you a full afternoon, an overnight stay, and a second morning on the water.

That extra time matters most for photography. Sunset and sunrise bring softer light and calmer moods than the bright middle of the day. You can take pictures from the ship, then return to the scenery without needing to pack up and leave a few hours later.

The cruise also reaches Lan Ha Bay, a quieter-feeling area connected to the wider Halong Bay region. The route begins around the canals near Got Pier, then continues toward the bay while lunch is served in the ship’s restaurant. This creates an easy start: you settle in, eat, and watch the scenery arrive rather than spending the first hours waiting for an activity.

You should keep your expectations sensible. The listed schedule gives broad timing rather than a minute-by-minute plan, and weather can affect the route or activities. The cruise requires good weather, so a poor forecast may lead to a new date or a full refund.

Day one: lunch, Lan Ha Bay, and the first hours afloat

The cruise starts at 12 noon from Got Pier in Cat Hai, Hai Phong. You’ll board Mon Chéri Cruises and have lunch as the ship moves through the canals toward Halong Bay.

The setting is part of the experience. Rather than arriving at the main scenery all at once, you get a gradual change from the pier area to open water and limestone islands. Lunch is served in the cruise restaurant, and the package includes meals as well as local taxes and service charges.

The first day includes about 18 hours connected with the Lan Ha Bay portion of the cruise. That does not mean 18 hours of nonstop touring. It is better understood as the main overnight sailing period, with time divided among meals, scenic cruising, activities, and rest.

This is where the cruise has a useful balance. You can join the active parts, then return to the ship for sunbathing or quiet time. The schedule specifically includes swimming and kayaking, so bring swimwear and clothing that dries reasonably well. The smart-casual dress code applies on board, but practical clothing is more useful during water activities.

The cruise also offers a cooking class and squid fishing. These activities give the evening more shape than simply eating dinner and going to bed. Squid fishing is a seasonal and weather-dependent sort of activity in spirit, so you should treat it as an included option rather than a guaranteed catch.

Dinner is included, along with a second dinner listed among the package meals. Drinks are not included. That distinction matters on a luxury cruise, where soft drinks, alcohol, coffee, or other beverages can add to your final bill. Bottled water is included, but you should budget separately for anything beyond that.

The shipboard experience: comfort with room for activity

Mon Chéri is designed to give you a more polished overnight cruise rather than a basic boat transfer. The package includes an overnight suite, fine dining, and time to enjoy the vessel between outings.

The value of the room depends on how much you use it. If you plan to spend every moment on excursions, the suite may feel like a comfortable base rather than the central attraction. If you enjoy sitting outside with a book, taking photographs, or watching the islands pass slowly, the overnight setup becomes more worthwhile.

The cruise has a maximum of 35 people. That does not make the ship private, but it does give the experience a smaller scale than a very large boat carrying a crowd. It can also make movement between meals and group activities easier.

The dining is a strong part of the package. Meals are included throughout the two days, and the menu is described as Vietnamese food with different varieties. If you like local dishes, this is more interesting than relying on the same international meal at every sitting. If you have dietary restrictions, the supplied information does not specify what can be accommodated, so you should ask Mon Cheri Cruises before booking.

A guide and local guide are included. No guide names are provided, so you should not book expecting a particular individual. The guide’s role is likely to connect the activities, explain the area, and help with the group schedule, but the exact format of commentary is not specified.

Cave visits and the traditional bamboo boat

One of the most distinctive parts of the cruise is the bamboo boat ride through caves. This is different from looking at caves from the deck. A small traditional boat lets you approach the rock formations at water level and pass through tighter spaces.

The experience is likely to be calmer than kayaking, which makes it useful for people who want to see the cave area without paddling. At the same time, kayaking gives you more control and a more active way to explore the water. Having both options is a real advantage for mixed groups.

The cruise also includes visits to caves at Cat Ba Island. Cat Ba adds variety to the route, since you are not spending both days looking at the same type of bay view. The exact cave names and the length of the visit are not provided, so check the final schedule if a particular cave is important to you.

This is also a place where weather and water conditions matter. A cave visit or small-boat activity can be adjusted if conditions are poor. The cruise’s weather policy offers either a different date or a full refund if the experience is canceled for bad weather.

Day two: sunrise, scenery, and a slower finish

The second morning is the quiet reward for staying overnight. You can take sunrise photographs before breakfast, when the bay is often at its most peaceful and the light is gentler.

Breakfast is included, as are the remaining meals listed for the cruise. The second day includes more scenic cruising and the final activities before the boat returns to the meeting point. The published schedule gives only a general Wonderful Scenery description for this portion, so you should not expect a tightly detailed list of separate stops.

That flexible format can work well if your priority is the bay itself. You get time to sit on deck, take photographs, and enjoy the changing views without rushing from one attraction to another. It can feel less satisfying if you want a packed schedule with exact stop names and fixed activity times.

The cruise ends back at the meeting point. The supplied details do not give an exact return time, so avoid booking a same-day flight, train, or tightly timed evening connection without confirming the schedule first.

What the $195 price really covers

At $195 per person, this is not the cheapest way to see Halong Bay. The price makes more sense when you count the overnight accommodation, multiple meals, guide, activities, taxes, local fees, and bottled water.

You are paying for time as much as for transport. A day trip can show you the bay, but an overnight cruise gives you sunset, sunrise, a second morning, and a room on the water. For someone who values comfort and wants both active outings and downtime, that makes the price easier to justify.

The cost does not include drinks. It also does not include the limousine transfer from Hanoi’s Old Quarter, which costs $20 per person each way. Add $40 per person for the round trip if you use that service. This makes the practical total closer to $235 per person before drinks.

The booking pattern suggests that people often reserve well ahead, with an average booking time of 63 days in advance. You do not need to treat that as a rule, but it is sensible to book early if your Vietnam schedule is fixed or if you want a particular sailing date.

Getting to Got Pier from Hanoi

The meeting point is given at Got Pier in Cat Hai, Hai Phong, near the Halong Bay area. If you are already staying nearby, reaching the pier may be simple. From Hanoi, the optional limousine transfer is the clearest convenience offered by the cruise.

At $20 per person each way, the transfer is not included in the advertised cruise price, but it may be worth paying for if you prefer one organized connection. You should confirm pickup details and timing before travel, since the cruise departure is at noon.

The luggage rule is firm enough to plan around. Each person may bring one suitcase and one carry-on bag. Oversized items such as surfboards, golf clubs, and bicycles may face restrictions, so ask the operator before bringing anything unusual.

You must provide each passenger’s passport name, number, expiry date, and country at booking. Check these details carefully. A mismatch between the booking information and your passport can create avoidable trouble at check-in.

Who will enjoy this cruise most

I would choose this cruise for a couple, family, or small group that wants a polished overnight experience with a blend of sightseeing and leisure. It suits you if you want to kayak or swim but also like the idea of fine dining, a comfortable suite, and time to sit in the sun.

It is also a good fit for photographers. The overnight stay gives you sunset and sunrise opportunities that a short daytime visit cannot provide. The islands, caves, bamboo boat, and changing light create more variety than a simple harbor cruise.

Families should note that children must be accompanied by an adult. A child rate is available only when the child shares with two paying adults. The maximum group size of 35 is helpful for families who want a less crowded setting, though the supplied information does not list family-specific facilities.

You may want a different option if you dislike scheduled group activities, want a private boat, or need a precise list of every stop before paying. The route includes a maximum group of 35 people, and the second day is described broadly rather than with detailed stop-by-stop timing.

Booking, cancellation, and practical cautions

You can cancel for a full refund up to six full days before the experience starts. Canceling two to six full days ahead allows a 50 percent refund, while canceling less than two full days before departure results in no refund.

Changes follow the same timing limits, and cut-off times use local time in Vietnam. Since weather can affect the cruise, keep some flexibility in your schedule if possible.

Confirmation is provided at booking. The activity is mobile-ticket friendly, and group discounts may be available. The cruise is listed as suitable for most people, but no detailed accessibility information is supplied, so contact Mon Cheri Cruises if you have mobility, medical, or other support needs.

Should you book Mon Chéri Cruises?

Book it if you want two proper days on Halong and Lan Ha Bays, not just a quick look from a day boat. The strongest reasons are the overnight suite, included meals, sunrise and sunset access, bamboo boat cave visit, and the choice of kayaking, swimming, cooking, and squid fishing.

Think twice if your budget is tight after adding Hanoi transfers and drinks, or if you need an exact, highly detailed schedule. For the right kind of visitor, the $195 price is fair because it buys time, meals, accommodation, and a broader bay experience rather than only transportation.

FAQ

Where does the Mon Chéri cruise start?

The cruise starts at Got Pier in Cat Hai, Hai Phong, at 12 noon.

Does the cruise include transportation from Hanoi?

No. Limousine transportation from Hanoi’s Old Quarter is available for an additional $20 per person each way.

How long is the cruise?

The experience lasts approximately two days and includes overnight accommodation on the cruise.

Does the cruise visit both Halong Bay and Lan Ha Bay?

Yes. The route includes Lan Ha Bay and Halong Bay, with scenic sailing among islands, waterways, and caves.

Are meals included?

Yes. The package includes breakfast, lunch, and dinner as specified in the schedule. Drinks are not included.

Is bottled water included?

Yes. Bottled water is included in the tour price.

What activities are available?

Activities include kayaking, swimming, sunbathing, a traditional bamboo boat ride through caves, a cooking class, and squid fishing.

Is the cruise suitable for children?

Children must be accompanied by an adult. The child rate applies only when sharing with two paying adults.

How much luggage can each person bring?

Each person may bring one suitcase and one carry-on bag. Oversized luggage may be restricted, so check with the operator before departure.

What happens if bad weather cancels the cruise?

If poor weather causes cancellation, you can choose a different date or receive a full refund.