Many people today are looking for alternatives to the touristy area of Halong Bay. Boats there are numerous and often very large. It’s becoming increasingly difficult to have an authentic experience there, one that lets you fully and peacefully enjoy this magical place that is Halong Bay.
A cruise in Lan Ha Bay, departing from Cat Ba Island, offers a different experience, far calmer and more relaxing. In this article, we list several junks that could match what you’re looking for!
And if you’re after a truly intimate experience, you can go straight to our 2, 4 and 7-cabin junks, among the most authentic ways to discover Lan Ha Bay away from the crowds.
Why choose a cruise from Cat Ba Island?
Rather than Halong city and the bay of the same name, we recommend visiting Cat Ba Island and the surrounding Lan Ha Bay.
Cat Ba Island offers a wide range of activities, from trekking in the national park to visiting caves and relaxing on its beaches.
On top of these activities, Cat Ba Island is the starting point for junk boat and small ship cruises. These cruises are our favorite way to enjoy Halong Bay at its best.
All the boats listed below are human-sized.
Hang Vieng fishing village, Lan Ha bay, Vietnam. Photo: Mathieu Arnaudet
Where do cruises from Cat Ba Island depart from?
Boats sailing in Lan Ha Bay depart from two different piers: either Pha Got port, or the small port of Ben Beo.
It’s the larger, more modern boats sailing Lan Ha and Halong bays that depart from Pha Got. We won’t cover those in this article.
We’ll only cover the junks departing from Ben Beo port, located south of Cat Ba Island, near Cat Ba town. You’ll be brought to this port either from Hanoi, or from your hotel on Cat Ba Island if you decide to spend the night there before your cruise.
Beo port in the background. Photo credit: Mathieu Arnaudet
The modern, fully comfortable junks
If you’re after a modern, comfortable boat without it being too large, we recommend our own boat, Parfum d’Automne (easy to remember!).
The 7-cabin Parfum d’Automne junk
The Parfum d’Automne boat is a 7-cabin boat offering arguably the best value for money in Lan Ha Bay. For around 160 euros per person, you’ll enjoy a 24-hour stay with plenty of activities, a comfortable, spacious cabin, and an English-speaking guide on board.
All rooms offer a magnificent open view of the bay, each with a private bathroom. They’re spacious and ideal for couples and small families (a couple and a child, for example). Three cabins have balconies on the upper floor.
An English-speaking guide will be on board with you, and you can chat with them to learn more about the life of the bay’s residents. They’ll also lead the activities (kayaking, cycling, cooking class). The kitchen team has been trained to serve you fresh Vietnamese dishes, using as many local products from the bay as possible.
You can book a single cabin or charter the whole boat if you’re a large group (10 people, for example).
The 7-cabin Parfum d’Automne boat. Credit: Mathieu Arnaudet
Book the Parfum d’Automne junk
The 11-cabin Cozy junk
The Cozy junk is a modern boat with character, with 11 cabins. All rooms offer a magnificent open view of the bay, each with a private bathroom. They’re spacious and ideal for couples and small families (a couple and a child, for example).
An English-speaking guide will be on board with you, and you can chat with them to learn more about the life of the bay’s residents. They’ll also lead the activities (kayaking, cycling, cooking class).
The Cozy junk in Lan Ha bay. Credit: Mathieu Arnaudet
The 7-cabin Petit Prince Le Coeur junk
Launched in late 2025, Petit Prince Le Coeur is designed to offer an intimate experience with beautifully finished wooden decor. It welcomes a maximum of 22 passengers across just seven cabins, making it an excellent choice for families, small groups of friends, or travelers looking for a more sociable atmosphere.
Its design blends the charm of traditional Vietnamese junks with modern comfort. The boat showcases local craftsmanship through the use of fine materials such as bamboo, teak and ironwood, creating a warm and elegant atmosphere.
The cabins, each 15 sqm, all have a private bathroom, air conditioning, and large windows offering a lovely view of the bay. Communal spaces include a restaurant with a bar as well as a spacious 140 sqm sundeck, perfect for admiring the karst landscapes of Lan Ha Bay or simply relaxing between excursions.
With a crew of 11 and its small capacity, Le Coeur focuses on personalized service and a relaxed atmosphere. The junk can also be chartered privately for family events, groups or corporate trips, while remaining accessible to solo travelers who want to share their cruise with other passengers.
If you’re after a cruise on a boat with a bit more character and an even more intimate setting, the following junks will be a great choice.
The Four Seasons junk by Parfum d’Automne (4 cabins)
The Four Seasons junk, owned by Mrs. Huong, director of the Parfum d’Automne agency, is without question the boat with the most character sailing Lan Ha Bay.
The boat has only four cabins for a pleasant cruise centered around rest and contemplation.
This boat is only available for 2-day trips (private and shared) and 3-day trips (private only). You can book departing from Hanoi or Cat Ba. In the latter case, our local colleague, Mr. Binh, will pick you up from your hotel and take you to Ben Beo port.
Beyond the charm of the boat’s build, you’ll love the cabins and the chef’s cooking on board, a must in the bay!
For a shared 2-day, 1-night cruise on this junk from Cat Ba Island, the price is 190 euros per person.
Here are the reviews on Tripadvisor to give you an idea of the experience on board.
One example: “Wonderful from start to finish, I got a very fast response after asking for a quote, communication with Mrs. Thuy was clear. Everything on site was organized as planned, we felt like VIPs… wonderful staff, delicious meals. I recommend Parfum d’Automne +++”
Four Seasons junk in Lan Ha Bay, Vietnam. Photo credit: Parfum d’Automne
The Romance junk (2 cabins)
The Romance junk is a wooden boat with 2 cabins, each with a private bathroom (shower and toilet). It has an upper deck with a covered area where you can enjoy your meals. Sun loungers are available to relax and take in the fairytale scenery of Halong Bay.
The Romance junk is perfect for couples, small families, or pairs of friends. It can accommodate a maximum of 4 adults and 2 young children.
The Romance junk. Credit: Mathieu Arnaudet
The Moonlight junk (2 cabins)
The Moonlight junk is also a traditional 2-cabin boat sailing Lan Ha Bay. A bit older than the Romance junk, it’s priced a little lower. And unlike Romance, on this junk we offer the option of booking a single cabin for shared cruises. The price will of course be lower than a private charter.
View of one of the Moonlight junk’s 2 cabins from the corridor. Photo: Mathieu Arnaudet
Cruise operators for backpackers
Cat Ba Island is well known among young backpackers because it offers relatively low-cost services, whether for hotels, motorbike rentals, or cruises.
You can visit Lan Ha Bay on a 1-day or 2-day trip aboard basic junks at a very good price.
Here are two cruise operators we recommend if you want to enjoy the bay at a very good price without worrying too much about comfort.
Cat Ba Green Trail Travel
Cat Ba Green Trail Travel has been running cruises from Cat Ba Island since 2012. The company’s boats are called ManhDat and offer half-day / full-day itineraries, or 2 and 3-day trips.
The price per person for a shared 1-day trip is around 30 euros.
The price is a bit higher for a 2-day, 1-night trip: budget around 120 euros per person.
These prices do not include transport from Hanoi. Only pickup from your hotel on Cat Ba Island.
Cat Ba Venture
Cat Ba Venture is another reliable tour operator working from Cat Ba Island. They own several wooden junks, giving you a choice of service: private or group tours, either a day trip or 2 to 3 days.
The price per person for a shared 1-day trip is also around 30 euros. It will cost you a bit over 120 euros for a 2-day stay from Cat Ba Island.
Their unique feature? They offer the option of adding rock climbing as an activity during the cruise!
The 9-cabin Sunlight junk
The Sunlight company has one junk for day trips and another for 2-day, 1-night trips.
The price per person for a stay on the Sunlight boat is around 150 euros.
You’ll be able to choose between two types of activities on day 2: either a bike ride to Viet Hai village, or a visit to a pearl farm.
Reviews of this cruise on Tripadvisor are generally very good. Here’s an example:
“Good organization, good equipment on board. Excellent food. Only complaint: overpriced drinks on board. English-speaking guide, very good hosting and information“
If you’re on a tight budget, these companies can do the job very well and let you discover the fabulous scenery of Halong Bay on a relatively small boat. That said, keep in mind that these low-cost cruises often attract groups of young people looking to party… This could bother you if what you’re mainly after on this cruise is peace and quiet. Drinks and anything not included in the program also tend to be quite expensive on board. Good to know…
You now know the main boats sailing Lan Ha Bay, around Cat Ba Island.
