Review Author: Barbara & Claire

Review Date: 07 Nov 2025

Review Body: From the start till the end, the experience was FANTASTIC! We were picked up at our hotel in the Old Quarter by our guide, Tiger. Tiger has done a fantastic job. He had a lot of energy and kept informing us about the program throughout our 2 days. He gave us a lot of information about Vietnam, its people, its culture, its way of living. Not only have we discovered beautiful places, we also learned a lot. UniCharm's specificity is that they brought us to a less touristic route in the Halong Bay area. As mentioned by Tiger, tourists don't like to see tourists around. We could enjoy beautiful sceneries without having other tourists' boats around us. The boat was perfect. The staff was very attentive to satisfy all our needs. Everyone always had a big smile to give. On the first day, we went canoeing for 2 hours...practically all alone with the other guests of the boat. Beautiful feeling. Amazing landscape! The 2nd day, early in the morning, we went cycling and that gave us another view of how Vietnamese people are living on an island. We definitely recommend UniCharm for the great organization of the whole experience, for Tiger, who was an amazing tour guide, for the nice and very special route we had the chance to take at Halong Bay: from the pick up at our hotel till the return to our hotel, we enjoyed every minutes of it! THANK YOU!!

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Neelmani Mishra

Review Date: 27 Mar 2025

Review Body: The cruise was fantastic—great food, a comfortable room, and impeccable planning. Everything was well-communicated, and our guide, Binh, was exceptional. Day 1 Highlights: The tour began with a small boat pickup at 11:50 AM. A delicious lunch was served around 1 PM. After a short break, kayaking started at 3 PM. Evening activities included a fun cooking class followed by a BBQ dinner. Squid fishing capped off the night. Day 2 Highlights: Early morning start with a light breakfast before heading to Cat Ba Island for cycling. Brunch was served upon return, though it lacked breakfast staples like coffee and juice—a minor letdown. Returned to Tuan Chau Marina by 12:00 PM, with a transfer back to Hanoi Old Quarter around 03:30PM. Areas for Improvement: The cruise was docked quite far from Tuan Chau Marina, requiring nearly an hour on a small, uncomfortable boat with bench seating. Many larger cruises are stationed closer, making this seem unnecessary. Despite these hiccups, Binh’s attentiveness and the overall experience made it memorable. Highly recommended!!

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Abigail

Review Date: 30 Dec 2025

Review Body: Super friendly staff from the transfer to the boat to the tour guide. Rooms were really beautiful, food was good, and the activities were great. Was really nice being able to sail through Halong Bay but spend the night in Lan Ha Bay, equally as beautiful but so much quieter. We were one of the only boats in eyesight! The cycling trip on Cat Ba was a highlight, and Louis was so lovely and funny. Everything felt really organised and structured, without feeling like there was no free time. Would recommend this cruise to anyone, such an amazing experience for an affordable price!

Review rating: 5

Review Author: T. FN

Review Date: 13 Nov 2023

Review Body: Well-planned itinerary to help avoid crowds in Lan Ha Bay & on Cat Ba island - which is important because we were worried about Halong's reputation for being too "touristy" and polluted. We appreciated the super friendly and attentive staff which were helpful in quickly resolving initial issues with our key card. Overall, we definitely got our money's worth for 4 meals, kayaking, a short morning trip to Cat Ba, & roundtrip transport between Hanoi & Halong Bay!

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Esther

Review Date: 21 Mar 2026

Review Body: The cruise is doing an an amazing job getting you a more tranquil experience with being mainly in the quiet Lan Ha Bay, cycling very early on Cat Ba so that you are almost alone, and then returning through Ha Long Bay when it’s empty. Binh was the most attentive tour guide, being always available, engaging everybody, sharing a lot of facts. The best tour guide!! The food is great, the lunch maybe too westernized but the BBQ in the evening was very good.

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Grace R

Review Date: 15 May 2026

Review Body: I don’t think there is a better cruise out there for Ha Long Bay. The true highlight is that this cruise takes a different route that is much less popular, making it feel much less touristy and personal. Louis, our guide, speaks incredible English and tells great cultural and history stories. He also tells funny jokes! The food, experience, and crew aboard this cruise are incredible. Would recommend to anyone in an instant.

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Brad

Review Date: 11 Apr 2026

Review Body: The boat was great, with good food selections for meals. The excursions were wonderful, kayaking through the many islands and cycling on Cat Ba was extraordinary! We stayed overnight in a very secluded spot rather than really congested areas like many other companies, which made for a very peaceful evening and morning! The crew went above and beyond for us and our party while we were celebrating a Birthday!

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Niall

Review Date: 13 Feb 2024

Review Body: We booked the Unicharm cruise. Tiger our tour guide was fantastic, the best tour guide we have ever had. The ship was a nice size, not too big catering for about 40 tourists. The ship sailed to areas in Halong Bay where there were few other tourists which made it very special. The ship was very clean with an excellent crew and really good food. This was a trip we'll worth doing.

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Jennifer Yu

Review Date: 05 Sep 2023

Review Body: The pick up and cruise was a good experience, the itineraries focused on more outdoor activities hence it’s suitable for those who are keen to really experience the nature, where you get to do kayaking along Ha Long Bay and cycling in a small village. Food was not too bad and the tour guide ensured we were well taken care of.

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Tracie

Review Date: 14 Jan 2025

Review Body: Really appreciate the 2D1N cruise we had w. Vega Travel and Unicharm. The boat was lovely and room was very clean. We thoroughly enjoyed the peace and calm of Ha Long Bay. Kayak and Cycling activities were a good moderate pace. The bikes on Cat Ba island were well maintained which made a pleasant ride.

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Beth

Review Date: 27 Feb 2025

Review Body: We went around I don’t know how many cruise ships and boats of all sizes and found a lovely quiet spot 🥰. Fab tour guide Tiger was very informative with great activities and lovely food. The attention to different allergies or food requirements was especially appreciated. Would highly recommend 🤩

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Jacqueline

Review Date: 06 Feb 2024

Review Body: I really appreciated the communication prior to the cruise. Dem was punctual and attentive to our schedules. The activities on the boat were great!! I love kayaking and we kayaked for quite a distance. The cooking class was brief but just the right length for tired people. Dem was awesome

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Jill

Review Date: 29 Nov 2025

Review Body: Great experience, with the cruise docking in the less crowded Lan Ha Bay overnight, with beautiful unblocked views of the area. Small cruise with 20 cabins, so u don’t get a big and noisy group onboard. Guide Quang was helpful and accomodate to everyone’s needs.

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Brigitte May

Review Date: 25 Feb 2026

Review Body: Went on the One night Ha Long Bay trip and Louis was amazing! Really enjoyed how he was able to make sure we beat the crowds to certain spots like Cat Ba Island. Great itinerary and fun energy, would highly recommend! The Boat staff were also kind and helpful.

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Kat Kelly

Review Date: 04 Mar 2024

Review Body: We had a wonderful time with UniCharm. Our host Hieu was so fun and a fantastic coordinator. Our biggest regret was not booking a longer cruise. The boat was so nice and the food was delicious. I really enjoyed all of the excursions as well! Thank you Hieu!

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Casey Thorburn

Review Date: 05 May 2026

Review Body: Our tour guide was fantastic ! Very kind and entertaining . Food was very good and they were happy to make accommodations for guests if needed. Views were beautiful and biking on the island was a highlight as well as kayaking and swimming . Thank you !

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Lucy

Review Date: 03 Apr 2026

Review Body: My partner and I loved our Ha Long Bay cruise with Louis. Our highlights were Kayaking in Lan Ha Bay and Cycling around Cat Ba Island. The cruise does everything that was promised and takes you to less touristy spots to get a better experience.

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Stephanie

Review Date: 25 Sep 2024

Review Body: We had a great guide Tiger, who made the experience even more fun. The cruise overall was peaceful yet adventurous with kayaking, swimming and riding bikes. The landscape was stunning despite having been recently ravages by the typhoon.

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Marco

Review Date: 02 Feb 2026

Review Body: We changed to the 3d2n trip and we definitly recommand this if you have time. The one day more makes everything more relaxed, and the additional trip on the Cat Ba island is worth it. The crew and our guide Tiger were absolut amazing.

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Jane and Stefan

Review Date: 27 Mar 2026

Review Body: Great service. Good attention to detail. Enjoyed kayaking, spring roll making and cycling with the knowledge of the guide Louis. Tony the barman great customer service. Met and exceeded our expectations. Thank you. Highly recommend.

Review rating: 5

Itinerary Day 1

Itinerary Summary: Today you will cruise to enjoy the spectacular seascapes of the bay by a unique route

Itinerary Description: Morning: Pick-up from your hotel in Hanoi Old Quarter between 7:40 - 8:15 AM 3-hour drive through the Red River Delta to Ha Long City. Please note that the shared transfer may include 1–2 short roadside stops along the way for restroom breaks, coffee/snacks, or a quick stretch. These stops are usually at roadside shops, but there is no pressure or obligation to buy anything. Arrival at Tuan Chau Island wharf at 11:30 AM Warm welcome and tropical drink on Unicharm cruise before being escorted to your room Afternoon: Enjoy a fresh lunch on Unicharm cruise (Vegetarian or Vegan options available upon request) Cruise through Ha Long Bay, passing by Thien Cung cave, Dau Go cave, fighting cock stones, Cap Bai islet, Finger Islet, etc. Head towards Lan Ha Bay for kayaking and swimming Explore the hidden route, including sights like Dark and Light cave, Frog lagoon, Ba Trai Dao beach, Stick islet, Buddhist statue stone, etc. Arrive in Lan Ha Bay, known for its phosphorescence at night Kayak with a tour guide through karst mountains to fishing villages and learn about the daily life at sea Paddle under a tunnel grotto to a stunning lagoon (depending on tide) Enjoy the sunset over the crystal bay Evening: Dinner and overnight stay on the peaceful bay Optional squid fishing activity for those seeking tranquility Enjoy a peaceful night on the bay

Itinerary Day 2

Itinerary Summary: Sunrise, bike ride, village visit, cruise, brunch, farewell Ha Long Bay.

Itinerary Description: Morning: Experience a spectacular sunrise on the sun deck at 6:00 AM Enjoy a light breakfast from 6:30 AM to 8:00 AM Board a tender ship at 7:10 AM to Cat Ba Island's Viet Hai dock Take a 30-minute bike ride on shaded paths to Viet Hai village in the Cat Ba National Park Visit a local house to learn about the daily life and work of the locals or visit the island school Cycle back to the tender and return to the cruise Relax on board, swim in the bay, or enjoy nature on the sundeck chairs Check out at 10:30 AM and cruise on another route among the limestone islands and islets Capture memorable photos and enjoy a tasteful brunch on the cruise Arrive back at Tuan Chau Harbour at 12:00 PM Afternoon: Disembark at 12:10 PM and bid farewell to Ha Long Bay Drive back to Hanoi with an estimated arrival between 4:00 PM - 4:30 PM Drop-off at Unicharm office or your hotel in the Old Quarter