Sailing around Halong Bay on the Peony Cruise of wealth

**Collaborative post**

This post is written by a family who have taken the  Peony Cruise:

The itinerary described is the 2-day, 1-night tour we spend on a cruise. The activity times are approximate, as traffic or weather can affect the tour at times. The rest of the itinerary is pretty much the same as every Peony Cruise tour.

Have a look at our story below:

Pre-trip preparations

It is best to begin your trip in Hanoi. We did. This way, you can get picked up and dropped off in Hanoi. You don’t have any hassle that way. You get picked up at your accommodation in the Old Quarter in an 8-10-seater luxury mini-van and then travel in comfort for the journey to the port. 

What did I need to bring with me?

Essential items are a camera for photos. You need some extra clothes, as you are staying overnight. Your passport, credit card and money are needed. This is because you will probably want some drinks onboard the cruise and possibly some souvenirs. You may want to tip the friendly staff as well.

We took all these items plus sun cream and swimming clothes. You have got to swim and catch some of the Sun while at a New Natural Wonder of the World, after all!

How did I book a tour?

We booked through the Halong Hub blog, so we didn’t need to go directly to the Peony office at any time while in Hanoi. It is around $250-300 per person based on prices in early 2020. We paid $566 for a family cabin. 

You book, get your booking number and let the hotel reception know you are on a Halong Bay trip. Eat some breakfast and get ready for couple of hours of rest in a comfortable limousine van with soft seating and air-conditioning. 

Let’s go through the rest of the itinerary using approximate times, so you know what happens with Peony Cruises on a 2-day, 1-night tour. 

The Peony Cruise – Two-day, one-night tour 

8.30-9.10 – Pick up at the hotel

The Bus will pick you up around this time. You can stay in the hotel, as the guide will collect you. We had finished our breakfast, but I got greedy and was eating a mung-bean cake and drinking another coffee when the driver came at around 8.50am. Be prepared to be flexible on pick up times, as the Hanoi roads around the Old Quarter are busy during rush hour. The driver also picks up a few more people from other hotels as well, so the pick-up times vary. 

11.15-11.45 – At the port

We arrived at Cat Hai Town. This is the port town in Haiphong City. You will very likely cross one of the largest sea bridges in this part of the world, at 15.93km long. I can only think of Brunei that has a larger overland bridge around these parts. 

On arrival, you are seated in a nice area where you can enjoy the views around the port. You are given a local tea to enjoy and there are opportunities to buy drinks around the area. The guide will discuss all the safety and security procedures regarding cruises and sailing through Halong Bay, to make sure you have a safe trip. The guide will take your passports either on the bus journey or at the port, so you can check in for the evening. You are now registered as staying in Halong Bay tonight!

12.30-13.00 – Transit to our cruise

 This is where you take a small boat to the Peony Cruise Liner. The Peony Cruise ships are just too big to come directly to the port. We were asked to wear a life jacket onboard the transit boat, but it wasn’t a definite requirement. The guide just recommended we stay safe. You don’t wear any life jackets on Peony Cruises. You wear them on the small boats when going in and out of port or when doing sea-based activities. 

13.00 – Our welcome drink

 Peony Cruise guests are welcomed onboard by our tour guide and we are introduced to our personal staff. It feels very exclusive, having more than enough staff to assist you on the Cruise. We are given a welcome drink and then advised we are in Lan Ha Bay.

13.15-15.15 – The afternoon’s events

The Peony tour guide tells us that we are going on a more secluded route when compared to some other cruise tours. We will visit quieter areas and will move against the flow of cruise traffic, which has been known to ruin some experiences around the Bay. 

Our route is designated to go around Cat Ba Island – Thoi Quyt Area – Coc Ngoi Islet – then onto the Gia Luan area where we will see some of Cat Ba Island early the following morning.  

The first stop

Our first stop is at the Da Chong Islet. This is one the limestone rocks that is like a small island. It is spectacular. Everything about it is a great start to the tour. It has beautiful scenery; a traditional French lighthouse and it is so tranquil. Besides the drumming of a few fishing boats, we can hear only the sea and a few birds. It is a compete contrast to Hanoi.

You see the shapes of these rocks and the unbelievable sculptures from the karst grinding against the waters over the years and you can’t believe that it is a place on Earth. We can’t see anyone around except for a few fishing boats. We seem to have the whole area for ourselves for the moment. We feel like old Emperors. 

The buffet lunch in the Con Vit area

After our first stop, we then sailed through the Con Vit area. During this time, we ate a scrumptious buffet lunch that suit a variety of tastes. I ate some salad and a bit of seafood, along with some fruit. They had some food for children as well, like French fries and chicken pieces. This was good, as it stops children from starving themselves when they don’t like the food available. 

15.15-15.30 – After a nice lunch and nice rest time sunbathing on the terrace, we took a small boat trip to the Frog Lake. This is a stunning area to explore, and you can do a few activities around the area. We got a rowing boat to explore the surroundings of Ao Ech. However, if you are fit enough and old enough, you can go kayaking in this area. This looked like the perfect spot for exercise, rowing through pristine clear waters and under those amazing rock formations. You can’t do this anywhere else!

16.30 – Our Halong Bay swim

We cruise to Tra Bau, a spot which the guide says is good for a swim. Absolutely correct on that point. I took a swim and it was refreshing in these waters. The reflection of the green-coated hills turns the sea into a jade colour. There are lifejackets available for those who want to enjoy the sea but can’t swim. It was a fabulous late afternoon experience. 

17.30 – 19.00 – Making spring rolls, happy hour and a spa

As we got back onboard, we were given aprons and guided to a traditional cooking class. We try our hands at making traditional Vietnamese food. It was quite an experience, trying to squeeze together spring rolls full of fresh vegetables and seafood. There are a few dishes you can learn to cook, such as noodle soup and bun cha, on Peony Cruises. As the cruise ships likes to source food locally, the cooking class will teach you how to make certain dishes at certain seasons. Today, we made spring rolls. 

If you didn’t want to do a cooking class, there was no problem with that. You could go to the Spa to pamper yourself with a massage or scrub. This is at an extra cost to the trip, as was the bar happy hour. You get a discount during this time of the day on all drinks. It was great seeing the sunset while sipping a glass of white wine. This is a moment to take photos, as the red sky and surroundings at this time of the day are truly sublime.

19.00 – Our cabin quarters

Back to the family cabin to freshen up ready for dinner. There was a nice wooden décor which made our room feel cooler. This was needed after an exciting hot day. There was a minibar with refreshments, so we sat on the balcony with a drink while watching the world of Halong Bay go by us at every moment. You needn’t be worried about just enjoying the cabin alone, as this was worth the money itself. We were enjoying a night in Halong Bay like the noble families of East Asia once in the days of ancient times. 

19.30 – Dinner a la carte

As the locals like to say around South-East Asia, I’d call dinner the same, same but different experience to lunch. Overall, very tasty food, which suits most tastes. This is a very exquisite dining experience, with candlelit tables and a la carte service. The staff are on hand to assist with everything. It was truly the perfect way to begin the evening on a luxury cruise. 

21.00 – The starlight encompassing Halong Bay

This was quite the unexpected experience that became beautiful. We finished dinner and sat on the top deck. We ordered a few drinks at the bar and saw the incredible skyline and start arrangements at night. You can’t see this in cities due to light pollution, but they were very clear here. 

The hills looked like big giants coming out of the shadows to protects during the evening. There were options to go squid fishing and the spa was open. Some of our group went to their cabins to enjoy the luxury in private. What an unforgettable evening we had around the Tra Bau spot. A memory to be retained forever.

*******Time for bed********

Day 2 – A trip to Cat Ba Island and onto to Hanoi

06.00-06.30 – Tai Chi 

The tour guide quietly knocked on everyone’s door to recommend we see the early morning. The Bay is extremely peaceful during this time. Tai Chi classes took place on the top deck. This was followed by breakfast in the restaurant and a coffee on my balcony.

07.30-07.45 – Cat Ba Island

Throughout my trip around Lan Ha and Halong Bay, I have often wondered what this area would have meant to ancient civilisations. How would they have perceived this place? This contemplation continued arrival to Cat Ba Island. This island makes me think about the pre-historic age, when dinosaurs rules the world. Was this area here when the dinosaurs were here? I can only wonder. 

We took a bus through winding roads in this tantalising jungle terrain and headed towards the Trung Trang Cave. It is worth having a look and listening to the stories the guide can offer about the cave. I took my time to look carefully at some the natural sculptures inside. I also took time to avoid slipping over, as it can be a bit dangerous in the cave. I don’t think it is suitable for young children, so the family stayed on the ship. 

10.00-12.00 – heading back to port

We had a nice brunch during this time and took our last photos of the Bay. You can also enjoy a local tea ceremony with the staff. It is a nice, relaxing journey back to port. This is also the time where you sort out your bills for extra services and drinks. Don’t forget to give some extra tips, especially if you had a good time. The staff on Peony Cruises work hard to make you feel special and important. 

12.00 – Back to Hanoi

 We get on the luxury mini-bus back to Hanoi and arrive around three hours later. The traffic can be quite busy in Hanoi, so you might get back a bit later than you expected. No worries though. It is worth the journey. This is one of the places to experience while in Vietnam and a UNESCO World Heritage Site that you should have on your list of places to visit. Check it out here for availability with Peony Cruises and other choices of Halong Bay cruises. 

Don’t forget…

Don’t forget your camera. Don’t forget your documents and money. Don’t forget to immerse yourself in an unforgettable and amazing experience to Halong Bay.