Stay away from the crowd, and feel like you are in your ‘home away from home’ with the Garden Bay Legend Cruise Halong. This medium sized boat makes it easy to cruise through the smaller, harder to access areas of the Bay.
Garden Bay Legend Halong place a lot of emphasis on an authentic experience, with a strong local flavour to be found in every journey. Service is attentive and personalized- this crew understand that the best cruising experience is something money can’t buy.
Day 1: Hanoi - Bai Tu Long Bay - Cap La - Cong Do
07:45 – 08:15
- Get picked up from your hotel in the Old Quarter or nearby ( not included in the price)
12.00
- Arrive at Hon Gai Harbour, enter our waiting lounge for short break before getting on boat.
12.30
- Enjoy a welcome drink onboard the Tonkin Cruise boat.
13.00
- Cruising through Bai Tu Long Bay and having lunch with Set Menu.
15.00
- Exploring Vung Vieng Village: Guest choose to discover the daily life of the fisher communities with bamboo boat (one hour) or kayaking around Vung Vieng area (one hour).
16.30
- Swimming, Sunbathing and Relaxing at Ban Chan Beach.
17.30
- Relax and enjoy the sunset cocktail while the boat is cruising to Cong Dong – Cong Do area. Docking for overnight.
19.30
21.00
- Free evening or taking part in some activities of board games or squid fishing, karaoke (on request) Taste the variety of drink at our luxury sundeck bar (chargeable) with wines, cocktails, brandy, juices…
23.00
- End of program for Day One.
Day 2: Cong Do - Vung Vieng Fishing Village – Hon Gai - Hanoi
06.30
- Doing exercises with Tai chi on the sundeck.
7.15
- Enjoy a light breakfast while cruising to Hon Co area.
07:45
- Visit Vung Vieng Fishing Village by bamboo boat to discover the daily life of the fisher communities
09:00
- Back to the main boat, relaxing, packing up
09:30
- Checking-out and relaxing on the sundeck
10:30
- Enjoy the last scenery of the Ha Long Bay over lunch when the boat cruises back to shore.
11:45
- Disembark and relax in our spacious lounge
12:15
17:00
- Drop-off at the hotel in Hanoi.
Day 1: Hanoi - Bai Tu Long Bay - Cap La - Cong Do
07:45 – 08:15
- Get picked up from your hotel in the Old Quarter or nearby ( not included in the price)
12.15
- Arrive at Hon Gai Harbour. Transfer to Tonkin Cruise Boat by tender (5 -10 minutes).
12.30
- Enjoy a welcome drink, safety briefing then check in to your cabin.
13.00
- Cruising through Bai Tu Long Bay and having lunch with Set Menu.
14.30
- Visit Thien Canh Son Cave.
15.30
- Kayaking to explore some lagoons, Swimming, Relaxing at the Beach in Cap La
17.30
- Relax and enjoy the sunset party with Happy Hour while the boat is cruising to Cong Dong-Cong Do area to anchor for overnight.
19.30
- Having BBQ dinner (on the sundeck if weather permit otherwise in the restaurant).
21.00
- Free evening to join some activities of board games or squid fishing, play guitar, watch movies or karaoke (advance request) or taste the variety of drinks at our luxury sky bar (chargeable) with wines, cocktails, brandy, juices…
23.00
- End of program for Day One.
Day 2: Cong Do - Vung Ha
06.30
- Doing exercises with Tai chi on the sundeck.
7.15
- Coffee, tea and light breakfast pastries served in the dining room.
8.00
- Transfer to the day boat to go to Vung Ha area.
9.30
- Take the kayak to admire the true beauty of Bai Tu Long Bay in remote Vung Ha with lagoons, rock formation, and uncovered beaches
12.00
- Back to the day boat, free time & relaxing on the sundeck.
12.30
- Having Set lunch with seafood and grills.
13.30
- Visit pearl and oyster farm, learning how do they do it
14.15
- Cruise back to the main boat
15.30
- Return to main boat. Relaxing and Enjoy the rest of the day on board
Day 3: Cong Do - VUNG VIENG FISHING VILLAGE – HON GAI - HANOI - Hanoi
06.30: Rise early for morning tai chi on the sundeck.
7.15: Enjoy a light breakfast while cruising to Hon Co area.
8.00: Exploring the Thien Canh Son Cave. Located at the centre of the World Heritage Area- Halong Bay, Thien Canh Son Cave treats tourists to the wild and mysterious beauty of nature.
9.30: Return to the boat for check out and relaxing on sundeck or watching fruits carving demonstration.
10.30: Enjoy the last of the Ha Long Bay scenery over lunch as the boat cruises back to shore.
11.45: Transfer by tender to the pier, relax inside our waiting lounge and waiting for return transportation.
16.30: Drop-off at hotel in Hanoi.
Overall rating
4.1 / 5
based on 40 reviews
Review summary
- Cruise condition/Cleanliness
4.3 / 5
- Room comfort/Standard
4.3 / 5
- Staff Performance
3.8 / 5
-
Food/Dining
4.0 / 5
- Service Quality
3.9 / 5
- Value for money
4.0 / 5
Should do it!
We booked Garden bay cruise for our trip in Halong bay & that’s amazing experience. The boat, foods, staffs, tour guide was good and fantastic. The bai tu long bay was better than Halong bay because it’s cleaner, quiet. the surprise caving tour a bit crowded. Overall i really enjoyed every activities they offerred. Highly recommend!
Randall N
United Kingdom
Travelled as Couple
2 Days 1 Night
August 5, 2018
Amazing garden bay team
2 days in a boat, it was amazing. The team are helpful and nice. I recommend a travel with them. One word : AWESOME
Clark W
Canada
Travelled as Group
2 Days 1 Night
August 4, 2018
A nice cruise
This trip was amazing. The view was breathtaking and the cruise was a very relaxing break from an otherwise busy trip. The food was excellent as the seafood was very fresh. The only reason I wouldn’t rate this higher is due to the high cost. Compared to the places that I stayed in Vietnam and Thailand for a similar price, this cruise seems grossly overpriced. However, if cost is of no concern for you, I wholeheartedly recommend this cruise.
Sharo P
United Kingdom
Travelled as Family
2 Days 1 Night
August 3, 2018
The best part of our trip to Vietnam!
This was very nicely done. The boat itself was really nice and our room was well appointed. The food was good and the activities were really enjoyable. Would thoroughly recommend.
Cecelia K
Canada
Travelled as Couple
2 Days 1 Night
August 2, 2018
Just wonderful
Rooms were beautiful, generously sized for a boat cabin and very well appointed. A tip – upgrade to an upstairs room with a balcony if you get the chance. The food was plentiful and delicious. Drinks a little pricey but as you’d expect. The staff were all lovely and there was a great but busy timetable on offer throughout the 24 hour trip.
Kayaking and swimming from the boat were real highlights and the crew were brilliant with our two young boys. Sunset on the top deck was also fabulous. There were cooking demonstrations for those who wanted to join in and otherwise loungers on which to sit and admire the view. The caves were very busy – surely it’d be possible to spread out the trips to avoid the bottle neck of boats arriving?!? So prepare for a 90 min excursion and cover yourself with bug spray first but it was fascinating once we were finally inside.
Only gripe was that 24 hours wasn’t long enough once all the activities are taken into account. Probably I would consider 2 nights option on the next time visiting here.
Marie W
Australia
Travelled as Family
2 Days 1 Night
August 2, 2018
Amazing cruise
The Halong bay trip is great. We’ve got happy hours on the Garden bay cruise, everything done smoothly. Our cabin was lovely with private balcony and en-suite room. The foods was tasty and abundant, the tour guide speak English so well and funny. The bay is wonderful like unique picturesque that just existed in your dream or paradise.
Lester H
United States
Travelled as Couple
2 Days 1 Night
August 1, 2018
Great trip and experience
My wife and I took this trip last minute as the one we wanted was fully booked. But as chance had it I’m glad we did. It was very good, the bay is amazing. Most boats will cover the same itinerary so what you are really looking for is the type of boat and people you want. This is by no means a party boat which is initially what we wanted but in contrast it was good to relax. The food was good and if you want to do the cooking class or making flowers from vegetables you can, if not just sit and relax. We did the 2 day 1 night tour.
Our guide Kien was excellent, a very nice guy, helpful and knowledgeable.
Wilson N
United States
Travelled as Couple
2 Days 1 Night
August 1, 2018
Good Experience
Overall this was a pleasant experience. We started off the trip with a private bus picking us up directly from our hotel. The bus ride took hours and do bring some lots of snacks! The guides spoke comprehensible English and was engaging.
The cruise looks very cosy. There’s a balcony for most rooms and you can sit outside to enjoy the amazing view while the cruise moves along Halong Bay. From what I observed, only rooms on the second deck had a balcony. Be sure to question about your room when you book, as you wouldn’t want to miss out on the great view!
My cruise had a mixture of travellers from Europe and America. Everyone was lovely and we would all gather together for meals. They held optional classes to teach us how to make authentic Vietnamese spring rolls, and how to carve fruits.
The cruise brought us to different attractions at Halong Bay. While it is good to get off the cruise to experience it for yourself, you can also choose to just stay on deck to rest and enjoy the view.
Also, the cruise isn’t rocky at all (for someone who has motion sickness like me) so don’t worry about puking on board!
PS. Their happy hour includes get 3 beers for the price of 2!
Becky N
United Kingdom
Travelled as Group
3 Days 2 Nights
July 31, 2018
Great food & excellent staff
We went on the 2 day and 1 night cruise and loved every moment of it. From the outset our tour guide was very informative and made the long bus trip go quite quickly. The food was a real highlight though we did struggle finishing all the courses! A real highlight of the trip was the staff. They were not only helpful but also willing to relax and chat with everyone on board. Halong Bay is breathtaking!
Lindsay J
United Kingdom
Travelled as Group
2 Days 1 Night
July 31, 2018
Great view coupled with awesome service!
Staff service and performance were impeccable as they attended to all our needs, even to the finest detail. Made us feel at home to the extent that we didn’t want to leave after 48hrs on that cruise! Well done, great job and keep it up!
Jon G
Canada
Travelled as Couple
2 Days 1 Night
July 29, 2018
Exceeded expectations in every way
The rooms (including bathrooms) were just beautiful, and quite spacious for a cruise. The food was a phenomenal with surprisingly dishes. The guide was great, so as the staffs. I never regret booking this cruise.
Lillian P
United States
Travelled as Couple
2 Days 1 Night
July 29, 2018
Excellent!
Very nice boat, comfortable and stylish rooms (some with balcony), excellent food, and very professional staffs. Tour guide was very informative and spoke excellent English, sun deck is perfect for happy hour and sunset. From hotel pick up to drop off, everything was top notch. I would definitely recommend this operator for your halong trip.
Doris H
United States
Travelled as Group
2 Days 1 Night
July 29, 2018
Top service
Nice room, nice food, very polite and warm crews. AAA service. Very polite and helpful tourguide.
Gina C
United Kingdom
Travelled as Couple
2 Days 1 Night
July 28, 2018
Great experience
I enjoyed a beautiful one night cruise aboard this refurbished boat. My cabin was luxurious and very cozy. The staffs were very attentive towards our request. The set menu was plentiful and tasty. I especially praise the company for returning my lost watch which I left in my cabin. After emailing them of my plight I had a reply within the hour that my watch had been found by a staff and would be returned to my accommodation in Hanoi (a four hour drive away) on the next evening. True to their word it was. Thank you very much.
Roy P
United States
Travelled as Family
3 Days 2 Nights
July 27, 2018
Nice one
We recently enjoyed 3 days / 2 nights on the Garden Bay cruise in Halong. We opted to pay the extra for a top deck room which was well worth it. The room was spacious and clean with easy access to the top deck and the restaurant. The food was consistently good with a interesting range of wines. There were many excursions and activities which takes you away from the gorgeous sun lounges, so we opted out of some. Would highly recommend the Garden Bay cruise.
Patti H
India
Travelled as Family
3 Days 2 Nights
July 27, 2018
Great view on the sea
My boyfriend and I got a nice room on board, overlooking the sea. It can be clearly recommended and choose the delux rooms with views, one has their own terrace which is incredibly nice!
The staff were friendly, the excursions were fine and all in all a nice experience.
Clinton C
Singapore
Travelled as Couple
2 Days 1 Night
July 27, 2018
Super nice place!
Super nice place and staffs with totally wild beautiful surroundings!
We had a little trouble with the shower, but that’s what to expect from a little older ship.
We went for a kayak trip, which is possible during the stay – This was really fun!
Marjorie H
United Kingdom
Travelled as Couple
2 Days 1 Night
July 24, 2018
Lovely trip
We had a nice trip on Halong Bay and got what we paid for.
Nam picked us up at the hotel in Hanoi and was very good. He tells it necessary and is good at English.
We got two rooms that were fine for us to be on a boat. The food was really good and super sweet staffs.
We were only 14 guests on the trip and it was great, because it gave a very good atmosphere.
Jeanette E
New Zealand
Travelled as Group
2 Days 1 Night
July 22, 2018
Floating hotel and picturesque bay
Have been on this cruise as part of a great trip through Vietnam. The quality of the apartments, given that it is a ship and a bit crowded, is good. The rooms are clean, have everything you need, the bed is comfortable, the bathroom is without any comments.
Believe me, you’ll only sleep in the room. We must go to the upper deck, lie down on the lounger and enjoy the beauty around. From the entertainment for two days we had: kayaking, master class for cooking spring rolls, one Tai Chi class, a cave excursion with a bath. Like kayaks, the rest of the rules.
I recommend that everyone swim in Halong Bay, this is really a beautiful place.
Keith C
United States
Travelled as Couple
2 Days 1 Night
July 21, 2018
An interesting hotel on the water
I liked this hotel on the water. Everything is organized in a worthy manner. Neat, well-groomed room, it’s even surprising that in this space everything fits. Would add, only the hangers on the walls. Very tasty prepared, pleased with a variety of food. An interesting entertainment program during the tour.
Louis W
Singapore
Travelled as Couple
2 Days 1 Night
July 21, 2018
Cruising on one of the most beautiful bays in the world
Spent on this ship for two days and one night on a cruise along Halong Bay. There are only 11 cabins on the ship. It is better to choose a cabin on the 2nd floor – there all cabins have their own balconies. Surprisingly spacious rooms with good interior decoration. In the morning on the upper deck teaches gymnastics tai chi. An unforgettable experience!
Camille G
New Zealand
Travelled as Couple
2 Days 1 Night
July 18, 2018
I liked this cruise
There are 10 cabins on the ship, not more than 20 people. The service is chic, the food is excellent, a lot, tasty and varied, the views are stunning, you do not have to be bored. The crew is very attentive, always ready to help on any issue. Small and not very clean cabins, but linens and towels are clean.
Jeremiah R
Australia
Travelled as Single
2 Days 1 Night
July 17, 2018
Good one
A small three-deck ship, floating on which, you can enjoy the chic views.
INFRASTRUCTURE:On the first deck there are 6 rooms and a kitchen; for the second 4 rooms and a restaurant; on the third, sun loungers and tables with chairs.
FOOD:The food is modest, but you will not stay hungry. Everything is there, but little by little. For supper take out incredible figures of different animals, carved from vegetables and fruits. Drinks are ordered from the menu. It is quite extensive (in the evening there are even some discounts on drinks)
HOSPITALITY:Very friendly staff. At the meeting, guests are treated to juice from passion fruit.
Courtney S
Australia
Travelled as Couple
3 Days 2 Nights
July 15, 2018
Three beautiful days aboard the Garden Bay
We booked a three-day Halong boat tour through Get your Guide. Local was probably further processed by ODC Travel, we landed on the boat Garden Bay. Everything worked perfectly, the program was entertaining, the food was ok and the boat was great with a large cabin including a relatively large bathroom. Three days are exactly the right time for this tour! It was nice that we really spent three days on this booking with two nights on board. It is often the case that you have only one overnight stay on the cruise and then move to a hotel.
Conclusion: Clear booking recommendation for the three-day tour
Patricia N
Canada
Travelled as Group
3 Days 2 Nights
July 14, 2018
Fantastic
Absolute highlight of our trip to Vietnam. The cabins were very nice, wood paneled, clean and with private bath. We had a cabin on the upper deck with a private balcony. Halong Bay is breathtakingly beautiful. The staffs were very friendly, there was during the tour (1 night) 2 visits, a cooking class, a course in the vegetable carving – really a good program.
The food was excellent, even the oysters.
Corey M
Australia
Travelled as Couple
2 Days 1 Night
July 12, 2018
Excellent choice for a tour of Halong Bay
We were very happy with our choice of this tour operator. The cabins are beautifully designed and clean. The staff and tour guide are very friendly and professional. The program on the ship is also praiseworthy: Tai-Chi, squid fishing, make spring rolls themselves, … Nevertheless, there is enough space for rest and relaxation.
The absolute highlight is the food – just incredibly well made and varied. Unfortunately, the tour leads to the tourist hot spots of the bay and offers nothing extraordinary.
Daniel E
New Zealand
Travelled as Family
3 Days 2 Nights
July 10, 2018
Great experience
The cruise was nice and rustic. You can relax on the sundeck and the rooms are perfect. Very clean and spacious.
The service on the boat is great. All meals were included in the tour. Only the drinks you had to pay at order.
The whole program was fun and gave great new impressions.
Theodore H
United Kingdom
Travelled as Couple
2 Days 1 Night
July 8, 2018
3 days 2 nights on the boat. Great
Had luck with the weather, not much boats on the way and nice travel companion. Until breakfast, more biscuits than toast. Otherwise, the food was very good and tasted excellent, even on the day boat. The cabin was pretty nice after a little repair. Personal and especially the guide very nice. The fellow travelers were very friendly, the shared swimming and jumping from the day boat was a nice group experience.
Georgia T
Canada
Travelled as Family
3 Days 2 Nights
July 7, 2018
Very satisfied
We spent 2 days and 1 night on the Garden Bay. Pick up and transfer to the port worked well. Our room was clean and includes an impressive bathroom. The food was always at least a three course meal and was totally delicious !!! The excursions were very well organized which was mainly due to the crew and our guide Binh, who have always taken care of our wellbeing.
We will gladly come back, but this time we would opt for a 3 day tour.
Sadie H
United States
Travelled as Couple
2 Days 1 Night
July 6, 2018
Food good, boat was well
If possible, book the 3 days (3D2N).The food is good. The prices for the big of the cocktails are overpriced !!! It is possible to pay by card.The long day with the long kayak tour was great. The cave can be saved. It’s just too crowded! Then stop people from entering and leaving through a tiny gap.The guidebooks should provide more accurate time information to keep the troop together. The English of some guides should definitely be improved so that there are no misunderstandings in the daily routines and so on.
Marta M
Canada
Travelled as Family
3 Days 2 Nights
July 4, 2018
Good tour!
We have done all the highlights in the 2 nights on board. It was a busy schedule so lazing could not. Sometimes we felt too rushed through. The food was delicious! And we are glad that we went with this organization despite the price.
Henri T
Singapore
Travelled as Couple
3 Days 2 Nights
July 4, 2018
Nice trip
A lot of fun to enjoy. This two day cruise with an overnight stay was definitely worth it. The food was delicious. The drinks were a bit pricey. But the staffs were very nice.
The visit to the floating fishing village was definitely worth it.
Rob T
United States
Travelled as Group
2 Days 1 Night
June 28, 2018
One day trip on Halong Bay
My boyfriend and I got a nice room on board. It can be clearly recommended and choose the deluxe rooms with views, one has their own terrace which is incredibly nice!
Unfortunately, the weather was really bad that spoiled the experience a bit. The foods were tasty but the drinks were a bit expensive. The staffs were friendly, the excursions were fine and all in all a nice experience.
Anna J
United Kingdom
Travelled as Couple
2 Days 1 Night
June 21, 2018
Lovely trip
We had a nice trip on Halong Bay and got what we paid for. Nam picked us up at the hotel in Hanoi and was very nice. He tells it necessary and his English is pretty good. We got two rooms that were fine for us to be on a boat. The food was really good and super sweet staffs.
The boat has some years on the sea and could be needed to be renovated. People complain about the prices of drinks …. Seriously? Of course, it is restaurant prices and if you want it cheap, you have to choose to eat in the towns. You do not have to drink so much when you are at sea for a single day.
We were only 14 guests on the trip and it was great, because it gave a very good atmosphere.
Ines G
New Zealand
Travelled as Couple
2 Days 1 Night
June 16, 2018
Good experience
We were two days and one night on this cruise and the truth is that the experience was extraordinary. Very clean, good food and pleasant the conversation with the crew. They have a wi-fi receiver but it does not work, almost better that way, being isolated for a few hours of the world in that wonderful place in the world is priceless.
Tony A
Canada
Travelled as Couple
2 Days 1 Night
June 14, 2018
Many activities and exquisite gastronomy
For 2 days and one night we were in the cruise in the Garden bay. The staffs were very attentive and pleasant. The room very very spacious and with private bathroom with shower. All very clean. Unlike other opinions we read on blogs, we did not see any cockroach or rat or anything in the junk. It was all very well preserved and clean. The dishes they cooked were very well decorated, they were very varied and the food was exquisite. In addition, they made us a quick cooking course to learn how to make the typical Vietnamese rolls (spring rolls), they took us on a kayak excursion around one of the largest islets and then we were able to bathe on the islets of the island. We also visited one of the several caves inside the islets. And in the evening at happy hour I had 2 + 1 in cocktails. Without forgetting the yoga class early in the morning to start the day right! All is perfect.
Bob T
Canada
Travelled as Couple
2 Days 1 Night
June 7, 2018
Unforgettable
Two unforgettable days, the boat, the crew, the food, the landscape, the excursions, absolutely everything.
Jackie C
Singapore
Travelled as Family
2 Days 1 Night
June 2, 2018
Very good!!
We stayed two days and one night and it was very good. The boat was great, the food was abundant and the staffs were very attentive. Above all we were enlightened by the guide telling us stories and traditions of Vietnam, who was taking care all of us at all times. A very kind man, fun and didactic. Proud of his country and its customs. If I ever went back to Vietnam, I would make sure that he was my guide to discover the country. Thank you!!
Paul D
Singapore
Travelled as Couple
2 Days 1 Night
May 29, 2018
An interesting hotel on the water
I liked this hotel on the water. Everything is organized properly. Neat, well-groomed room. It’s even surprising that in this space everything fits. Very tasty dishes with a variety of food. An interesting entertainment program during the tour.
Richard L
United States
Travelled as Group
3 Days 2 Nights
May 26, 2018
Nice cruise
Comfortable cabin. Cruise in good condition. Very nice deck and professional crew. (Another plus: we ate very well.) The cruise was beautiful especially on the 2nd day as we had good weather. But the activities (rowing and cave touring) are the same thing they do every time… Advice also: bring a good sweater and a jacket in winter …
Jane M
United Kingdom
Travelled as Group
3 Days 2 Nights
May 11, 2018