We recently returned from Halong Bay having spent 3 nights on the 2 cabin boat. From start to finish this experience could not be faulted. We were picked up at the airport by a driver and very amenable guide, Bac, for the 4 hour trip to Halong Bay.The cabins were nothing short of 5 star. The food was first class and I had to ask them to cut the portion sizes down and Im 105 kgs and my mate 110 kgs. There were 5 staff for us 2 couples and NOTHING was too much trouble. They even had an on board massage service. There were plenty of activities kayaking swimming etc or nothing if you chose. All food is price inclusive and you pay for drinks at the end of the trip about $40-50 abottle of wine the same as on shore. This concluded a 4 week european tour for us and was a real highlight thanks to bobby and the boys. Highly recommended!
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VALENTINE CRUISE-5 CABINS 
2 days & rate (Rates are quoted per cabin in US dollar)
3 days & rate (Rates are quoted per cabin in US dollar)
Our smaller boat, the “Valentine”, launched in late 2007, is perfect for those seeking a more exclusive and intimate experience. Valentine is a full service vessel offering all the facilities and amenities of our larger boats, but with only five cabins; four Deluxe cabins at 19 square meters each and one Suite cabin at 30 square meters. All of the on Valentine bathrooms feature bathtub/Jacuzzis as well as showers.
Length: 27 m
Width: 7.2 m Height: 17 m
Depth: 2.2 m
Number of Cabins: 5
Dining Room Bar & Sundeck
- Deluxe Double / Deluxe Twin Cabin
- Suite cabin
The highlight:
- Daytime excursions to an island featuring swimming and a climb to the best panoramic view of the bay
- Kayaking through caves into peaceful lakes surrounded by limestone mountains
- Visit one of the bay’s largest and most spectacular indoor caves, “Sung Sot” or “Surprise Cave”.
Detailed Itinerary:
Day 1: Hanoi - Halong bay
11.30: Arrive at Bai Chay/Halong pier.
12.15: Transfer by tender to the boat – enjoy Welcome Drink, receive cruise briefing and safety instructions.
12.30: Check in and begin cruise. Sail through beautiful Bai Tu Long Bay enroute to Halong Bay.
13.00: Lunch - enjoy deluxe Vietnamese and International Set Menu Lunch.
Massage service available beginning after lunch and throughout the cruise. Please book in advance with your Cruise Manager.
14.45: Arrive at Luon Cave. Depart from the boat and journey past such popular sites as “Đầu Người” Head Island, “Con Rùa” Turtle Island and “Cổng Trời” Heaven’s Gate Island on the way to the cave. There are two options for exploring the cave and surrounding area. One option is to transfer to small bamboo boats which are rowed by the local people. The second option is to travel by kayak (passengers row kayaks for themselves).
15:45: Return to the boat and sail for about 15 minutes to our second stop – Titop Island.
16.00: Arrive at Titop Island. Enjoy swimming, relaxing on the beach and climbing the steps to the top of the mountain on the island for fantastic views and photo opportunities. Water and towels will be supplied. We will spend about 45 minutes on the island.
17.00: Depart and sail for about 30 minutes to Luon Bo area, where we will anchor for overnight.
19.15: Dinner - deluxe Vietnamese & Western Buffet or Set Menu Dinner.
20.45: Evening activities include: film entertainment (on some boats) in the dining room at 21.00, board games and playing cards are available, and massage services are available. Passengers may also try their luck at squid fishing from the boat.
21.00 – 23.00: Happy Hour! Buy one drink - get one free (wine by the bottle excluded)
23.00: End of Program for Day One.
Day 2: Halong bay - Hanoi
06.45: Coffee, tea and breakfast pastries served in the dining room.
07.00: Enjoy Tai Chi instruction on the sundeck (duration about 30 minutes).
07.00: Arrive at the Surprise Cave area. There is a small fishing village here.
07.45: Transfer by tender to the Surprise Cave. Walk up about 100 steps to the cave entrance and tour the cave for approximately 45 minutes. Walk down about 100 steps and return to the boat.
09.00: Upon return to the boat you will have 30 minutes to freshen up and finish packing. Please remove all of your belongings from the cabins, you may leave heavy luggage outside of the cabins (staff will transfer directly to the pier). Depart for Bai Chay/Halong pier.
09.30: Enjoy Breakfast Set Menu or Buffet in the dining room. We will settle bills after breakfast. Relax on the sundeck or in the dining room enjoying the bay scenery as we approach the pier.
11.00: Arrive at Bai Chay/Halong pier. Transfer by tender to the pier, relax inside the pier building while waiting for return transportation.
Included:
• Welcome Drink
• Cruise Itinerary and Program
• Entrance and Sightseeing Fees
• In-house English-speaking Tour Guide
• Luxurious Cabins and Suites with A/C and en-suite Bathrooms
• Deluxe Vietnamese and International Lunch and Dinner
• Vietnamese and International Breakfast
• Conference Equipment (Charter only)
• Insurance, Taxes and Service Charges
Excluded:
• Airfares, Car Transfers and Hotels
• Visa Arrangements
• Massage Services (please see massage menu in cabin)
• Kayaking (Ten dollars U.S. per person, when not pre-booked)
• Beverages, Tips and Personal Expenses
• All other services not clearly mentioned above
Please Notes:
- Cruise itinerary and schedule subject to change upon weather and operations conditions.
- Advance registration is required with full name, date of birth, nationality, passport number, visa expiry date for all Passengers
- A valid passport is required upon check-in on board. Children whose traveling documents are attached to parents passport must travel with the parent. Credit cards accepted on board: Amex, Visa and MasterCard.
- Special requests on food (diet or vegetarian) please inform us before departure.
- Connecting room is available upon request.
- Surcharge of 25% will be added for cruises on December 24 & 31 and Lunar New Year Eve.
Things to bring
Original passport, swimming suites, sun glasses, insect repellent.
The highlight:
Offer kayaking in all of our itineraries for a unique opportunity to see some of Halong Bay’s most interesting scenery while being as close to the sea as possible. Our kayaking excursions incorporate paddling through amazing caves and into placid and peaceful lagoons bringing you as close to the wildlife of Halong Bay as possible.
Detailed Itinerary:
Day 1: Hanoi - Halong
11.30: Arrive at Bai Chay/Halong pier.
12.15: Transfer by tender to the boat – enjoy Welcome Drink, receive cruise briefing and safety instructions.
12.30: Check in and begin cruise. Sail through beautiful Bai Tu Long Bay enroute to Halong Bay.
13.00: Lunch - enjoy deluxe Vietnamese and International Set Menu Lunch.
Massage service available beginning after lunch and throughout the cruise. Please book in advance with your Cruise Manager.
14.45: Arrive at Luon Cave. Depart from the boat and journey past such popular sites as “Đầu Người” Head Island, “Con Rùa” Turtle Island and “Cổng Trời” Heaven’s Gate Island on the way to the cave. There are two options for exploring the cave and surrounding area. One option is to transfer to small bamboo boats which are rowed by the local people. The second option is to travel by kayak (passengers row kayaks for themselves).
15:45: Return to the boat and sail for about 15 minutes to our second stop – Titop Island.
16.00: Arrive at Titop Island. Enjoy swimming, relaxing on the beach and climbing the steps to the top of the mountain on the island for fantastic views and photo opportunities. Water and towels will be supplied. We will spend about 45 minutes on the island.
17.00: Depart and sail for about 30 minutes to Luon Bo area, where we will anchor for overnight.
19.15: Dinner - deluxe Vietnamese & Western Buffet or Set Menu Dinner.
20.45: Evening activities include: film entertainment (on some boats) in the dining room at 21.00, board games and playing cards are available, and massage services are available. Passengers may also try their luck at squid fishing from the boat.
21.00 – 23.00: Happy Hour! Buy one drink - get one free (wine by the bottle excluded)
23.00: End of Program for Day One.
Day 2: Lan Ha Bay or Bai Tu Long Bay
06.45: Coffee, tea and breakfast pastries served in the dining room.
07.00: Enjoy Tai Chi instruction on the sundeck (duration about 30 minutes).
07.45: Enjoy Breakfast served in the dining room.
08.30: Transfer by tender to the “Day Boat” and begin to cruise to some of Halong Bay’s more untouched locales. Exact locations depend on tide conditions. Enjoy a leisurely day of kayaking, cave exploring and swimming. A multi-course lunch will be served mid-day. Pack lightly; swimwear and a set of dry clothes, and as there are different activities during the day bring both shoes (such as trainers) and flip-flops or sandals.
Option 1: Visit Cong Do, Cong Dong, Cong Tay area (first priority)
Option 2: Visit Ba Trai Dao area - Lan Ha bay
16.00: Return by tender to the Indochina Sails boat.
18.30: Arrive at Luon Bo area - anchor for overnight.
19.15: Deluxe Vietnamese and Western Buffet or Set Menu Dinner.
20.45: Evening activities include: film entertainment (on some boats) in the dining room at 21.00, board games and playing cards are available, and massage services are available. Passengers may also try their luck at squid fishing from the boat.
21.00 – 23.00: Happy Hour! Buy one drink - get one free (wine by the bottle excluded)
23.00: End of Program for Day Two.
Day 3: Halong bay - Hanoi
06.45: Coffee, tea and breakfast pastries served in the dining room.
07.00: Enjoy Tai Chi instruction on the sundeck (duration about 30 minutes).
07.00: Arrive at the Surprise Cave area. There is a small fishing village here.
07.45: Transfer by tender to the Surprise Cave. Walk up about 100 steps to the cave entrance and tour the cave for approximately 45 minutes. Walk down about 100 steps and return to the boat.
09.00: Upon return to the boat you will have 30 minutes to freshen up and finish packing. Please remove all of your belongings from the cabins, you may leave heavy luggage outside of the cabins (staff will transfer directly to the pier). Depart for Bai Chay/Halong pier.
09.30: Enjoy Breakfast Set Menu or Buffet in the dining room. We will settle bills after breakfast. Relax on the sundeck or in the dining room enjoying the bay scenery as we approach the pier.
11.00: Arrive at Bai Chay/Halong pier. Transfer by tender to the pier, relax inside the pier building while waiting for return transportation.
Included:
• Welcome Drink
• Cruise Itinerary and Program
• Entrance and Sightseeing Fees
• In-house English-speaking Tour Guide
• Kayaking
• Luxurious Cabins and Suites with A/C and en-suite Bathrooms
• Deluxe Vietnamese and International Lunch and Dinner
• Vietnamese and International Breakfast
• Conference Equipment (Charter only)
• Insurance, Taxes and Service Charges
Excluded:
• Airfares, Car Transfers and Hotels
• Visa Arrangements
• Massage Services (please see massage menu in cabin)
• Beverages, Tips and Personal Expenses
• All other services not clearly mentioned above
Please Notes:
- Cruise itinerary and schedule subject to change upon weather and operations conditions.
- Advance registration is required with full name, date of birth, nationality, passport number, visa expiry date for all Passengers
- A valid passport is required upon check-in on board. Children whose traveling documents are attached to parents passport must travel with the parent. Credit cards accepted on board: Amex, Visa and MasterCard.
- Special requests on food (diet or vegetarian) please inform us before departure.
- Connecting room is available upon request.
- Surcharge of 25% will be added for cruises on December 24 & 31 and Lunar New Year Eve.
Things to bring
Original passport, swimming suites, sun glasses, insect repellent.
- Food and special seafood
- Prawn
- Crabs
- Fish
- Seasonal drinks
- Great local and western wine
- Spring rolls
- Kayaking
- Biking
- Swimming
- Fishling
- Singing karaoke
- Sunset party
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We did the 2day/1night cruise. While on the tender to the junk, we were a bit worried as the outside of the junk didn’t look that great (because they had to paint it white to comply with government regulations) but once we stepped inside that all changed. The inside of the junk is very nicely decorated, I can see why it’s rated one of the nicest. The food they served was one of the best we tried in Vietnam, it’s a mix between Vietnamese and western. The staff, in particular Tony and Eric were amazing. The rooms were very nice and comfortable. My personal highlight was going squid fishing after dinner, I was just about to give up when I caught a little squid (apparently not many people are lucky) |
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At a friends recommendation, we booked our Halong bay cruise withBrilliant Halong Cruises . At her same recommendation we paid a little extra to book the upper deck room with private balcony, and got a pleasant surprise that they upgraded us to the Valentine cruise, which has only 5 bunks and so offered a more private and intimate/exclusive cruise experience. It was definitely nice that there were only 3 couples on the cruise and all the sight-seeing were made easier with better service from the our guide. |
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We made a one night - two day boat trip on the Valentine. The junk is very luxurious with full ensuites in every of their 5 cabins. The tour takes you into the Ha Long World Heritage area with its impressive scenery and about 2,000 islands. There are 3 excursions on either small boats or on a kayak. The sleep comfort onboard is excellent and the food and service outstanding. Tony, the main deck manager, was very helpful ensuring that our stay was comfortable. The staff is very well trained and versatile in providing little extras like food carving and Tai Chi in the morning. A mutli-course lunch, dinner and breakfast of very good quaility is served during the trip. The crew provides towels for swimming during the excursions. |
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Exploring Halong Bay on a small cruise ship or junk is an unforgettable experience, particularly if it is as seamlessly performed as the Valentine Junk company does. From the first class cabin to the attention of the staff and wonderful food to the stops and treks along the way to visit the boat people, the hidden caves and viewing the incredible bay- this is something you will never forget. Every detail is overseen with care and eloquence. The one drawback was the long drive from Hanoi, yet this drive was soon forgotten when we entered the small junk that runs with only a small group of 10 or so people. Transfers were efficient and did not take long. We really felt that our safety and happiness were attended to by competent and knowledgeable people. In our case, we had heard that a small junk had sunk with 12 occupants only 10 days before;however, all water vessels sailing in the bay had been immediately checked and not allowed to sail until they were deemed safe.The vistas along the bay and our entre sial with the Valentine company will long be remembered. |
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We had a private cruise - 2 couples - on Valentine and it was the highlight of our tour. The boat was gorgeous, the cabin we had was like a suite, the crew (which appeared a bit inexperienced) were doing everything possible to make our cruise the best possible. The dinner was romantic and tasty. Views were wonderful, and we were able to kayak to a secluded bay. Don miss this experience if you go to Vietnam! |
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We had been to Halong bay before and it was a disappointment because we did it as a day trip from Hanoi, three hours away, this trip demonstrated the true beauty of the bay.
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