Choosing the right Halong Bay cruise with kids can be a tricky. These cruises don’t come cheap and the last thing you want to do is have the stress of containing your child(ren) onboard a floating vessel where you don’t feel welcome. Well do not worry, as we’ve done the research for you and here we share our experience of what we believe to be the best Halong Bay cruise with kids.
Disclaimer: Indochina Junk provided us with a complimentary 3D/2N cruise in return for this review and social media coverage. As always, we only work with brands that align with our values and provide you with honest feedback from our experience.
If you close your eyes and try to imagine the quintessential Vietnam cover photo, the crystal blue waters of Halong Bay and its two thousand limestone islets, might be what you come up with. As one of the most popular and iconic tourist destinations in the country, Halong Bay is the cornerstone of many Vietnam holidays.
The good news for adventurous travelling families is that having kids doesn’t stop you from joining the fun, with several cruise companies actively catering for families and welcoming them onboard. One such company is Indochina Junk, who we joined for a three day, two night adventure.
Vietnam with kids travel guide
Your comprehensive guide to travelling Vietnam with kids, including accommodation suggestions and an itinerary, from a family that spent 45 day overlanding from HCMC to Hanoi.
Is it worth doing a Halong Bay cruise with kids?
Cruises sometimes have a mixed reputation amongst families, who might worry that the confined spaces and tight schedule will be a recipe for disaster. From the outside looking in, a Halong Bay cruise might seem even more challenging, with its smaller boats missing the large swimming pools, cinemas and kid’s clubs that make larger cruises easier for families.
On a more localised level, you may be concerned about the rumours of large quantities of rubbish in the water, or a saturation in the market causing congestion and chaos on the water. After weighing up all the pros and cons, many families begin to wonder if it’s even worth doing a Halong Bay cruise with kids.
We’re happy to report that none of these concerns are a problem with Indochina Junk and they’re definitely not a reason to pass up the opportunity. Their cruises head off into the quieter part of Halong Bay where we saw very little rubbish in the water and there were no traffic jams to contend with.
This isn’t to say that plastic pollution in the water isn’t an issue in Halong Bay, it absolutely is and we know of other families who visited Halong Bay around the same time as us and reported awful scenes of plastic waste floating in the waters. However, where we visited, we saw very little and there were definite signs of change happening, particularly in local awareness to the issue.
Back onboard, parents will be please to learn that the staff onboard are used to families with kids and make them feel welcome and catered for.
Is it safe to cruise Halong Bay with a toddler?
Any time you’re on the water with a toddler, it goes without saying that you should be extremely careful. The cruise ships used by Indochina Junk have a high level of safety compared to normal Vietnam levels, but it’s still a great idea to make sure toddlers wear a lifejacket at all times when out on the deck and on the water. Child-sized lifejackets are provided by the company and free to use at all times.
The railings around the boat could theoretically provide enough space for a small person to slip through, so do keep an eye on them at all times.
The cruise excursions are safe and secure for toddlers, with nothing dangerous or high-speed as the activities are more focused on kayaking and visiting fishing villages.
When’s the best time to visit Halong Bay
We visited in the rainy season and, a few weeks before our trip, cruises were rescheduled due to a typhoon. Also, our friends at Tinbox Traveller visited just after the typhoon and it rained for most of their visit (check out their review). It didn’t stop them having an amazing time though!
However, we somehow lucked out with the weather with any rainstorms happening overnight whilst we were asleep.
Note that the rainy season doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s quieter on Halong Bay. In fact, I’m not even sure a low season exists for Halong Bay anymore. Our expert tour guide recommended that October and November are excellent times to visit, giving the best combination of good weather and smaller crowds.
How long should you allow for a Halong Bay cruise with kids?
First things first, do be aware of the terminology in play when you book a Halong Bay tour. You’ll see 3D2N (for three days and two nights) or 2D1N (for two days and one night) but not all days are created equal.
A 2D1N cruise will usually mean you arrive on the boat at 2pm and then need to depart around 10am the next day. Technically you’ve been on board for two calendar days and one night, but as you can see, it’s often much less than 24 hours. As all of the tours typically start and end in Hanoi (three hours drive away), it can make for a long couple of days.
Some families think it might be easier to do the 2D1N version as a taster for the kids and a chance to try cruising before committing to a longer trip next time. Our advice would be to think twice about this approach as it’s actually a recipe for upset. We all know how tiring travel days can be with kids and, if you’re not careful, you’ll feel as if you’ve spent more time travelling than actually enjoying Halong Bay.
Instead, if your budget and itinerary allows, splash out for a 3D2N version. This will give you and the kids the chance to settle into the routine and not feel like you’re squeezing too much in. More importantly, the longer trip allows you to head deeper into Halong Bay, away from the crowds and gives you the sense of leaving the world behind. In particular, the second day will feel super-relaxed after your lie-in, safe in the knowledge you still have another full day before heading home.
3D2N cruise with Indochina Junk – off the beaten track
There were two key ingredients that made us choose to go with Indochina Junk:
- They claim to take you ‘off the beaten track’. With the extra cruising time, it’s possible for the boat to move further away from the city of Halong and out into the quieter parts of Halong Bay. Whilst it’s difficult to actually get off the beaten track in Vietnam’s top tourist destination, this at least piqued our interest.
- Smaller boat. We wanted a more intimate trip, and our good friends at Global Wizards had also experienced this cruise and reported a very successful trip with their girls (click here to read their review).
Getting to Halong Bay
One of the nice features of the Indochina Junk cruise is that a transfer from Hanoi to Halong Bay is included in the price. Whilst this is common across almost all cruise operators, Indochina Junk provide a high-spec limousine mini-bus with space for seven passengers. Unless you have a large group, it’s likely you’ll be travelling with a few other people, although they won’t necessarily be on the same cruise as you.
It takes about three hours to reach the cruise terminal at Halong, with a pickup from your hotel in Hanoi’s Old Quarter. Once you’ve battled the traffic leaving Hanoi, there’s just a twenty minute stop and perhaps the most ‘touristy’ service station in Vietnam. Don’t let this cloud your impressions of the upcoming cruise, this service station is probably the most crowded experience of the entire three days.
The drivers are friendly, punctual and professional and manage to avoid honking the horn every five seconds, unlike their fellow Vietnamese drivers.
The itinerary
The planned itinerary is detailed here on the website but do note that this is very flexible and changes according to weather, time of year, number of guests, other boat schedules, etc.
The weather is notoriously difficult to forecast and it’s not uncommon to reschedule outdoor activities (e.g. kayaking) if the weather look more or less favourable on a given day. Similarly, the planned outside meals can be changed at a moment’s notice if rain appears on the horizon. In fact, we did a rather different itinerary than the one detailed on the website and fitted in extra kayaking.
As a guide, the usual activities included are:
- Thien Canh Son Cave
- Kayaking at Cap La
- BBQ lunch on a secluded beach
- Bamboo boat ride around Vung Vieng fishing village
- Squid fishing after dinner from the back of the ship
- Tai Chi on the sundeck each morning at 6am
Remember that you’re on holiday, so you’re not required to do all activities. They’re all optional, and I don’t think anyone on our cruise did everything, including us. For example, we skipped the 6:30am Tai Chi sessions, another family took the chance to miss kayaking and enjoy the pool, and some solo guests left the families at the beach and returned back to the boat for some quiet time. As long as you inform the crew of your plans, you’re free to do as much or as little as you choose.
Our personal highlights from the Halong Bay activities were the kayaking, the beach BBQ, and for Arthur, he absolutely loved the squid fishing after dinner each evening from the back of the ship. He didn’t catch anything but it was great to spend some quiet time at the end of the evening with only a fishing rod for company.
To be honest, we could have given Thien Canh Son Cave a miss. This was the first activity we did and it was exceptionally busy with other tour groups navigating the small cave and tight one-way system. After visiting the caves in Phong Nha just a couple of days previously, it was no way near as impressive. If we had our time again, we’d have instead stayed onboard the ship and relaxed on the deck. It had been quite a busy morning driving over from Hanoi and getting on the ship, and the chill-time would have been more welcome.
Also, on the way back to Hanoi after the cruise, the itinerary includes a stop at a village and a water puppet show. We were here for the cruise and after seeing the water puppet show in Hanoi, weren’t too bothered about stopping there. The crew made arrangements for us to head straight back to Hanoi along with another family.
Our cabins
There are only two interconnecting cabins onboard and unfortunately we missed out on them to other families. However, those families needed them more than us and the boys (now 9 and 10 years old) were very excited to have their own cabin. We could chat via the telephones in each cabin.
The cabins are beautifully decorated, with wood-panelling and attractive artwork on the walls. The double bed (the boys had a twin room) easily wins the award for most-comfortable bed on our Vietnam travels and it made for a peaceful, deep night’s sleep.
None of the cabins have balconies but there are epic views from the bathtub, as well as comfortable chairs next to the bedroom window. Considering you’re contending with the tight confines of a small cruise ship, we found the cabins surprisingly spacious and comfortable, with a large en-suite bathroom. There’s also a decent amount of wardrobe space, certainly enough for the few days you’ll be onboard.
The amenities in the room include a mini-bar, satellite TV, safe, air-conditioning, bathrobes, toiletries, although somewhat surprisingly there’s no kettle or tea/coffee making facilities. A plus or minus point (depending on your view) is that there’s no wifi, and mobile phone signal is intermittent at best.
Meals
All meals are included in your package but, aside from filtered water, all drinks are chargeable. We were concerned the prices might be extravagant but were relieved to see they were reasonable, about VND50,000 for a local beer and slightly less for soft drinks.
- On day one you’ll be served lunch and dinner.
- Day two all three meals are provided.
- On the final day, you’ll have breakfast and a light lunch.
Breakfast is served as a buffet with a reasonable selection including noodles, eggs, cereal, toast, juice and tea/coffee.
Lunch on day one is very seafood based, with huge prawns, calamari and squid. It’s incredibly tasty but not the most accessible food for younger kids. If you’re concerned about it, try to mention it to staff either during booking or once you’re on board. The chef was very flexible to our dietary requirements and happily made the boys noodles and chicken nuggets on one of the evenings, which we really appreciated.
The lunch on the beach on day two is also exceptionally seafood based but, with enough prior-warning, the chefs can cook some chicken or pork as a substitute.
For vegetarians, it can get slightly repetitive, with lots of tofu (cheese is limited in Vietnam).
Keep in mind that nothing else is served or available in between meals, other than some crisps or biscuits at the bar. If your kids prefer to eat little and often, make sure you bring some snacks in your luggage.
The main dining highlight without doubt is the evening meal, served in a beautiful setting out on the deck. The crew lay out private tables (each group have their own private table throughout the cruise which we always find easier with children). If the weather is cooperating, sat out under the stars whilst the tasty food is served is a true highlight of any trip.
If we had one slight criticism, it’d be that the dishes are served in a slightly random and delayed order, which meant the boys got slightly fidgety and hungry towards the end. At one point we assumed the meal was over, but a large bowl of steamed rice and chicken then appeared. The boys had long since stopped eating so it was a slight waste. Factor this in when having dinner, it’s sometimes best to pace yourself as the better dishes often arrived at the end for some reason. The waiters and staff are lovely though and will do anything they can to make the meal special and suitable for you.
Was this really a good Halong Bay cruise for kids?
Yes, it really was a successful cruise for kids and we’re so pleased we took the plunge and added it to our itinerary. There were a couple of things that played in our favour though.
Firstly, there were other families onboard so that gave the boys some company but also made our life easier. Our cruise had a family atmosphere as a result and the crew helped to make us all feel at home.
There’s a small swimming pool which was a great play area for the kids and parents could watch over them with a cocktail. It’s not big enough to swim in but, as a splash area, it helped burn off some energy.
Without exception, the staff were amazing with the kids and very welcoming, even taking part in the hide-and-seek games after dinner. One staff member did magic tricks with the kids and commented on how much joy it gave him seeing the kids make such good friends onboard.
However, a group of kids together can get noisy and there were some minor complaints from a couple of guests who thought they were on a relaxing, quiet cruise (perhaps they should have booked one for adults only). We tried our best to maintain order but all parents know that young kids will make a bit of noise and, in such a confined space, it’s impossible to please everyone. Don’t let this put you off bringing kids though, as long as you’re aware of the other guests, it’s no problem at all.
Tips for Halong Bay with kids
- There are board games on the ship but do bring some cards, books, colouring books for downtime on the cruise.
- Bring snacks. It can be a long wait between meals and younger kids tends to eat little and often, which perhaps doesn’t quite fit with the cruise meal schedule.
- Dinner was served about 7pm each evening. This worked fine for us but meant we were still eating at 8:30pm. Depending on your current routine, that might be quite late for little ones.
- Pack a carrier and portable high chair if you’re visiting Halong Bay with a baby.
- Book early to get interconnecting cabins as these are limited on the ship.
- Don’t feel like you need to do all the activities. They are optional and you’re under no obligation to take part.
How much does the cruise cost and how to book
The pricing at the time of writing was taken from the Indochina Junk website.
It’s $395 per person if you book early or last minute (see below), otherwise it costs $419.
Click here to book online. This isn’t an immediate confirmation, but rather a booking enquiry. Otherwise email Indochina Junk directly to chat about your options before booking. They’re very responsive on emails.
Final thought on cruising Halong Bay with kids
Just because you’re travelling with kids, it doesn’t mean a Halong Bay cruise is off-limits. As long as you’re aware of the schedule and meal times, you can plan your trip safe in the knowledge that you’ll all have a great time.
Halong Bay is justifiably one of Vietnam’s premier tourist attractions and a 3D2N cruise with Indochina Junk is the perfect way to experience it. The small cruise ships drift effortlessly past the islets and it’s a real treat to drop anchor in a secluded bay before settling down for a moonlit family dinner.
Kids are well looked after onboard and treated as welcome guests. The food options are more focused towards an adult palate but the excellent chefs are happy to knock up some child-friendly alternative if you ask.
It all makes for a magical few days, giving the whole family an amazing opportunity to see this World Heritage Site in all its glory.
You may also like to read:
Visiting Ho Chi Minh City with kids
Hanoi with kids: top 10 things to do and where to stay
Riding a Vietnam sleeper train: what to expect and how to book