Tuan Chau Island hotels & places to stay

We requested the white boat (Alisa 1) for bigger windows and Jacuzzi tub. (Alisa 2 is the Junk) Our wish was granted and we LOVED our cabin but wish we had longer time in it during daylight hours. The itinerary is busy so if you want more cabin time consider skipping some excursions such as Te Top island and breakfast. Breakfast is served at 7:15 but there's a large brunch at 9:45. Te Top island is small with beach and 400 steps to crowded viewpoint. View was good but there is similar view at Surprising Cave the next day. You can swim at Te Top but too cold in mid-January. Our tour guide, Robert (Huong) was good and staff were attentive though English was limited. Only an issue when we needed help with our safe but worked it out on our own. Happy hour from 6 to 7 was buy 2, get 1 free. Drinks are pricey and in USD$. The food was delicious and abundant. Check out of room is 9:45 but it would be nice if we had the whole cruise time in cabin. Return to port at 11am.

Fantastic hotel. I booked this in a hurry on my travels through Vietnam and was expecting something quite different. I wasn't really after super luxury as I was looking for something unique and authentic an d I find posh hotels a little bit over the top for my tastes. However I made the best of it and enjoyed the luxury of a fantastic bed and huge shower. The area is quiet at the moment as work is still on going on Tuan Chau Island and I dare say this will change going into 2016. If there is anyone looking at this that is on a lengthy travel then if you spent some days on Cat ba island doing the full on backpackers drinking and exploring thing then this could be a great place to stay afterwards as you could chill out for one night have a fantastic shower and a great sleep in a huge bed. It also right next to the ferry port to Cat Ba so nice and handy.

We got such a stellar deal from agoda and Aphrodite didn’t disappoint at all! There’s a reason why their rating is truly the best! We loved the attention to detail everyone in the crew had (just a minor mashup with my food but was cleared right away). The food was EXCELLENT! And we loved that they do the room cleanup every meal time it seemed like magic to return to fixed room every single time! Tip tho— to save on $$ get a shuttle ride from old quarter versus booking the limo service (tho that was such a treat! Loved it!). If you take the shuttle bus it’s 50% less but make sure you get details on pick up for return to Old Quarter. Don’t even hesitate getting this cruise when in Hanoi— it’s a must and Aphrodite is the best provider there is. Just the right size for a boat and right number of guests to have personalized service. Ask about the activities tho especially if you have challenges walking and going up— the Tiptop (?) trip wasn’t well received by our co-travelers. I sat that one out since I was sleepy. The cave trip and the lagoon one were very very nice tho! Must try! Happy cruising!

Everything was so nice. The cabin was too clean and the cruise facility was too good. All employees were kind. Especially, Duy was one of the best crew in the cruise He always provided service with a smiling face. And when he gave me the shrimp It was really impressed Because he had a great skill to peel shrimp. It's so great that I can't record it!! ^0^ I recommend Alisa Cruise if you are planning to use cruise in Halong Bay. If there's one thing I'd like to do, I'd like to do kayaking in a zone where I can play between islands and islands. (For example, In the area where I can pass through the caves underneath or through the island.) And... While a kayaking, the ship slowly sank, but the crew was lucky to be nearby. (If we sank down in the middle of the sea far away from the crew, it could have been very dangerous..;;;;;) Next time, I hope you perform the proper maintenance of the kayak. If I have a chance, I want to use Alisa Cruis with my family. Alisa Cruise was the best choice for a pleasant trip.

This cruise was one of the highlights of my trip. Don't hesitate to book this ship. I saw many others on the sea and glad I booked this one. It is a new ship, the staff are superb and the food great. They work hard to accomodate everyones needs. I stayed in Tuan Chau for two days before because I didn't want the long drive from Hanoi and then get on the ship. So glad I did. Took a tour to Cat Ba island with Si who I booked at the hotel in Tuan Chau. Next time I will stay three days. I took the 3day 2 night cruise. You can stay the second night at the bungalows and they are in a dreamlike setting! I was supposed to go kayaking but because of shoulder problems they accomodated me, I spent the day st the bungalows, had a great trip back to catch the boat and relax in the two person Hot Tub in my room!! Absolutely everyone is friendly and super helpful. They are attentive to everyone at all times. They work really hard and totally deserve the highest rating. I was asked frequently if everything was OK. I would like to name names but then I would leave someone out and they would feel bad. Book this boat! I hope to go back next year and take the same cruise but also book time on Cat Ba island. You will not be disappointed. Karaoke is the fun of the evening but don't feel intimidated. Trying to show others that it was ok I delivered the worst performance in Karaoke history. Don't go for the cheapest boat, believe me , there are a lot of ones that the difference is significant and you can see that from looking at the outside of the boat alone. David Mark Benveniste

Our three-day, two night cruise was cut short by one day due to the approaching Typhoon Mangkhut in September 2018. Although we were disappointed, there were several upsides. Our guide, Ken, did his best to include as many of the planned activities in the shortened time we had. When we visited the famous “Surprise Cave” during our final morning, our group of 15 were the only visitors — we literally had the cave to ourselves as the coming storm evidently scared everyone else away. The shortened schedule was not a surprise, as we had been tracking the storm as it headed towards Southeast Asia. At the outset of the cruise, I received a phone call from Agoda informing me that Halong Legacy had instructed them to refund 50% of the cost of our cruise. Good service and a completely fair outcome. We had one of the 4 larger cabins on the 2nd deck of the Halong Legacy Legend boat (recommended), which was very comfortable. Food was abundant, and mostly good quality.

We heard lots of stories of disappointment of other boat operators in Halong Bay and we wanted to finish our 4 week holiday with something special - and Au Co Cruise did not disappoint. From the moment we booked, every point of contact with staff was efficient, helpful and friendly. Arriving on the boat confirmed we were in for a memorable few days. Our cabin was beautifully presented, clean and spacious. The meals on board were of exceptional quality and the crew were lovely. The two night cruise took us out further into the bay where the water quality is better, the scenery is magnificent and you escape the presence of 100 other boats & tourists. The activities/on-shore trips were well planned, just the right amount of time at each place and well worth doing. This company seems to put a lot of effort into training their staff and have a good corporate culture and it is reflected in the cruise. I highly recommend this cruise to anyone who wants the best possible experience of Halong Bay.

We did the 3 day 2 night ha long bay tour on the Royal Palace boat and it was fantastic. The boat is beautiful and clean, and the tour ran like clockwork. Our tour guide was warm, funny and knowledgeable as was Hoang the cruise leader. The staff were very good about my food allergies and prepared separate meals when I couldn't eat the main selection. Make sure you try the kayaking to get a closer look at the incredible landscape! And the karaoke with the other guests and staff was also a highlight. The second night was spent in a bungalow on the island which was super relaxing. The facilities on the island are not to the same high standard of the boat, although the bed was still comfortable and the shower was hot. It was worth doing to have some time to explore on your own.

Not sure what to expect cruising on a private charter for the first time, I now would recommend it to anyone and certainly Bhaya/Legend. We opted for the limousine transfer from Hanoi, which was a great start. Extremely comfortable, not rushed and punctual. The transfer through the cruise centre is slick and very professional. But, nothing could prepare us for the cruise itself. A brief trip to our cabin to reacquaint ourselves with the luggage we hadn't seen since the hotel and then a briefing from our Butler Mr Tien. He was genuinely interested in our likes and dislikes, from crowds to cuisines. He said from the outset that the better he knew about us, then the better he would make the experience. And how true I was. Our 5 course lunch was delicious, as were all the meals thereafter. The captain, by communicating with other vessels, guided the boat to every location minimising clashes with larger boats who were disgorging countless passengers. Fab Trip!

First I must say that this review is based on our stay on the Au Co as we received a last minute upgrade... I can not fault my experience on the Au Co....it was excellent! We had originally booked the 3day/2night Bhaya Classic cruise and had a phone call at our hotel the night before to say we had been upgraded to the Au Co ship....we couldn't believe our luck! The staff are outstanding...smiling, friendly and extremely helpful....they were brilliant. We tried to give the man that showed us to our room a tip and he wouldn't accept it! The boat is amazing, the best we saw out in the Bay. You feel very safe onboard. The cabins were fantastic with private balcony. The restaurant, bar area and sun deck were also very good. Food was fab. Tea and coffee were free. Excursions were awesome - kayaking, cycling on Cat Ba island. All in all the cruise was exceptional. You will not be disappointed of you book Au Co!

Most memorable and without a doubt the highlight of my trip to Vietnam. From the moment we arrived at the Paradise Cruises Cafe on Tuan Chau Island for check in we were treated like royalty until the moment we left. The range of onboard activities were more than adequate and on shore excursions interesting and fun. Staff, most of whom multi tasked onboard were courteous, friendly & went out of their way to assist in any matter. Having an outside balcony was a bonus for views & privacy & dining options wine list & food top class.

This was a magical experience, the staff on the main boat are very good. This time of year is very hot . Would be even more special when it cools down a bit. The food really is 5 star, a lot of attention to detail, and good quality of drinks, good prices compared with hotel of this quality. We stayed in VIP suite, massage shower plus little private deck. Excellent experience . 2 things can improve on , some fans on top deck to cool people down , and improve Internet , The best form of free advertising is Facebook and the likes, charge everyone an extra 5er and get good WIFI. Still great cruise, very good staff.

This was the best experience i had in Hanoi & Halong bay. The stuff response to my request very fast, and give immediate assistant whenever i need, even before i reach Hanoi & Halong bay, they also willing to give all necessary & information for me. The V'spirit tour guide pick me from the hotel in Hanoi, and along the journey, they give all required information to us. The tour guide is very friendly and helpful for all request. On the cruise, i was very surprise and satisfied with the room condition. Room was very comfortable and clean. You don't face any issue with air conditional and water heater even on the cruise. The food is another impressive thing for me, i would give 5 star for the food, it was delicious and finger licking good. Most of all, Halong bay itself is the main character. It was so beautiful and fascinating that i will definitely coming here again. If you looking for a middle range pricing cruise in Halong Bay, i will definitely recommend V'Spirit as you top choice.

The food served out of the kitchen was delightful and tasty. The room was very clean had a good shower. After diner it was great to go on the top deck to drink and mingle with the other cruise people.The trip to the island ne by which included a walk to a lookout and swim was very enjoyable.The staff on the boat are friendly and can't do enough to help out.Highly recommend Glamor star cruise.

Where can I start? The beginning yes. Booked through online imperial junk halong for 2 day 1 night trip, It was one day ahead booking so couldn’t haggle much for a lower price, but you could get the same deal at 100 usd/person if you book ahead. When Luky came to pick us exactly at appointed hour of 8 am he told us that we got an upgrade for free to imperial legend , yay Lucky was lucky for I suppose. AC bus went from hotel to hotel picking people and reached ha long bay at 12:30 amidst the confusion of the staff to sort the people. In another half hour we were on the junk and at the lunch table. Delicious food started coming to the table that wouldn’t stop. Fries and salads and fish and meat and vegetables and rice and fresh fruit, you cant go wrong with food. However drinks including water were extra, don’t forget to pack a bottle or two of water if you are on a crunch. The price of drinks was double than the mainland. The weather was cloudy, no sun at all, but still enjoyable, I loved how the scenery appeared misty and magical, Lord of the Rings type. We went to see the caves, did kayaking, swimming, happy hour, squid fishing (we caught about more than a kilo of squid which was served at the breakfast next day). Met great travellers, staff was charming and helpful. Next day breakfast and pearl factory trip and lunch and back to the bus for transfer, back in Hanoi at 4:30 as promised. There was nothing to complain about, best part was food and the wonderful people we met on the junk, we shared contacts and met them again at our next common destinations. I would recommend paying little extra and taking the imperial cruise (however if you are looking to party on the boat look elsewhere as this is not the one, although we had our share of alcohol and music ;) Recommened for every onn with this company

We stayed for 4 nights and enjoyed our time. There is nothing at all about this hotel that we could complain about. The staff and facilities are top. If you don't mind walking 10 - 20 minutes, there are good places to go, such as Sandy Bay (good beach and cafes) and the ferry to Cat Ba Island. We took a Grab Taxi to the mainland and found SunWorld Amusement Park which was totally worth it, so lovely and fun. We stayed in October and expected huge crowds and rubbish/litter (as we were told) but in fact there were very few people (except for those going on harbour boats) and the entire area was clean. The bathroom was 5/5 star, really nice. Most people only are in Halong Bay for a few hours or not even a full day, but we decided to have a relaxing long stay and we are glad that we did so.

Had a great time on the imperial Cruise. Stayed one night on the boat and the other on nam cat island bungalow. Was travelling with my friend! The rooms were quite nice and clean with comfy beds. All of the food on the trip was excellent. Trip to the surprising cave is very touristy but worth a look around. Kayaking is fun! Stayed in a Deluxe Bbungalow and still had beautiful sea view! Lots of fun on the island and choice to take a cycle or relax on the beach. Our tour guide was fantastic and made the trip unforgettable. All round a great trip! Would recommend

Ha Long Bay Cruise is a must do. Margaret Cruises have a nice boat, clean, spacious and comfortable. The meals included with the cruise were excellent. The excursions were well organized and a great way to see things. Staff did their best to accommodate to the best of their abilities. The biggest criticism I would have is in regard to beverages. Coffee, tea, juices and water are not included with most meals. As a 5 star cruise one would expect not to be nickel and dimed for such things. All in all a great experience though.

Not too close to harbor to hear boats, not too far to walk. Was nicely designed and pool os best part of hotel. Rooms are dated with little signs of maintenamce. Wss a 4 star. Rapidly approaching a 3. It is no wonder why so many visitors to Halong Bay choose to stay in Hanoi and make the 12 hour round trip/cruise. Not many good choices in Halong and 3 x the price!

We booked at 2D 1 N trip at Rosa C. An 3.5hr journey from old quarter. Lunch is well served. (Please inform the tour guide if u dont take seafood) That was the time we get to know the rest of the tourist...from all over the world. 1st stop is the 1hr kayaking, u are able to see the cliffs...next is the pearl farm... nothing much to see there...no demonstration of how they pick the pearl. Inside the farm they sells not so good quality pearls though the price is low. after is free n easy and swimming in cold water is big challenge. In the evening, they served great local delights with generous portion to make sure it last you throughout the night. Night time there's a squid fishing event..not easy to catch em. haha. Next day they bought us to the cave...the was amazing and enormous cave...much bigger than we saw at malaysia and aust. We have our lunch before departing from the ship. Overall its a wonderful trip, well organized,

Stayed here one night after a tour of Ha Long Bay. I think it's a relatively new hotel and I'm pretty sure we were the only guests. At first glance the room was clean and well looked after, however, we did have some ants crawling around the room as well as a cockroach in the bathroom. Apart from this the room had good beds and a good shower. There isn't a lot to do around the hotel but from what we saw that could be said about the whole island.

I booked Imperial in hopes of getting the free upgrade after reading the reviews. Yeah I did ! Felt like I've won a lottery (Imperial to Silversea) Thank you! Our guide Tony came to pick us up from the hotel, gave us a brief insight of the itinerary, and background information of Halong Bay~ We headed there in a 4 hr coach journey, with a pitstop at a souvenir shop (washroom/snacks/souvenirs). Arrived at the port, and checked into our cruise smoothly and was ushered to our rooms. All the facilities are clean, in working condition, aircon was the BEST! Wifi was available at certain area of the cruise. Went to an island, for beach activities and hiking to the top view. The view is phenomenal, will recommend travellers to press on , to catch a glimpse of halong bay with all the tiny islands and cruise. Beautiful sight, a little crowded though. Lunch/Dinner was a 5-course meal, a little insufficient for a glutton like myself. Day2, we opt for a stay in the bungalow. Breakfast was buffet, yeah! Visited the surprising cave, crowded but a wonderful guided experience. Pity that there's no kayaking available any longer due to the current law regulations. Was ushered to another boat to take us to the Catba island bungalow. Visited the Catba town (Cannon Fort). The facilities in the bungalow can be improved a little, overall was a pleasant stay. Food was great as well. Got transferred back to Silversea Cruise in Day 3, learned to make Vietnamese springrolls, simple learning experience :) had buffet for lunch! Food was awesome! About the drinks, Yes they are a little pricey, but given their outstanding service and sincerity and buffet-style meal, luxurious course meal, BEST aircon, friendliest tour guide. The drinks are considered very affordable in my opinion. Once again, thank you Tony and all the awesome crew members for making our trip so memorable.

Syrena had the best value for money after spending hours looking at different cruises. We wanted one that had a decent standard. On top of the room, we had to consider cost for transport (between Hanoi and the pier) which for this was was all inclusive, AND we had a balcony room. I don't know how much the other ones for the same spec would have costs (balcony room, transport cost, kayaking). Cost for kayaking wasn't included but it was very cheap! $15 per kayak (so for 2 people). The staff was very friendly and the itinerary was pretty standard (which is good). We had loads to eat on the cruise and as expected all the drinks were not inclusive but the price wasn't that bad. We were lucky with the weather - and had some time on the cruise to take picture of the amazing scenery. In all I would highly recommend Syrena.

A lovely cruise with helpful and friendly crew who provided great service. Appreciated that they kept us a distance from tour groups in the restaurant so that we had a quieter table. The buffet meals were quite nice, a variety and plentiful. Drinks were comparable prices with dining in city restaurants, but the happy-hour prices were great. This is not a party boat, which was great for us. Movie screened was Indochina (French with English sub-titles). At our request they screened a different movie - Kong Skull Island - on the second night. The day-boat that we were transferred to on day 2 also provided great helpful and friendly services. It was an enjoyable cruise with memories to cherish.

As we got upgraded to their Stellar boat I can't comment on the Legend however as a company Aclass staff are excellent, friendly and will try their best to make sure you have an enjoyable time. The food was good and plentiful and as my daughter and her friend were vegan they provided an excellent alternative. My biggest tip is don't go for 1 night go for 2, we did and it was the best decision you get much more from this amazing place.