4 new cruise experiences in Ha Long Bay

La Vela - Modern yet sophisticated

Unlike the traditional Oriental-style wooden boats of Paradise in Ha Long Bay, La Vela Premium is a steel vessel with modern architecture. Every detail of the design is meticulously crafted, from the interior decor, room spaces, bar, and sundeck area to the high-end amenities.

La Vela Premium has only 21 rooms, but 8 of them have spacious balconies with panoramic bay views. Modern architecture is clearly evident in each cabin, enveloped in warm golden-brown tones of walls and wooden floors, combined with soft lighting to create a relaxing atmosphere. Each cabin is like a hotel room with a bed, TV, minibar, safe, and large windows overlooking the bay. The bathroom is conveniently located near the window so guests can soak in the cool water while leisurely admiring the bay.

Only on La Vela Premium can the rooms be arranged to be connected upon request, making it very convenient for families, ensuring privacy while still allowing family members to connect.

Only on La Vela Premium can the rooms be arranged to be connected upon request, making it very convenient for families, ensuring privacy while still allowing family members to connect.

Taking advantage of the restaurant's spacious layout, La Vela designed a central bar and strategically placed tables near windows, allowing guests to easily enjoy the stunning views of Ha Long Bay while savoring local seafood. For those wishing to watch the sunrise and sunset over the bay, the ideal spot is the sundeck, furnished with long benches and a small bar, where you can relax, sip a refreshing cocktail, and admire the breathtaking scenery.

Tour participants can refer to the following prices: 9,450,000 VND/premium cabin/2 guests (excluding transportation); 11,700,000 VND/premium balcony cabin/2 guests (excluding transportation). Children under 5 years old: free. Children aged 5-12 years old will be charged an additional 1,700,000 VND.

From May 1st to September 30th, La Vela Premium is offering special prices for Vietnamese guests and foreign tourists living and working in Vietnam: VND 5,670,000/premium cabin/2 guests (including transportation) and VND 7,020,000/premium balcony cabin/2 guests (including transportation). Children under 5 years old: free. Children aged 5-12 years old will be charged an additional VND 1,350,000.

La Vela Cruises

• Unit 201, 2nd floor, Hanoi Tower, 49 Hai Ba Trung Street, Hanoi
• Tel: 04. 3939 2929.
• Email: info@lavelacruisehalong.com

Be "king" for a night on Bai Tu Long Bay

Scheduled to launch in September 2016, Emperor Cruises Ha Long is in the final stages of completion and will soon be operational to serve tourists in Bai Tu Long Bay. Following in the footsteps of the 5-star Emperor cruise ship in Nha Trang Bay, Emperor Cruise Ha Long is designed to resemble the royal style of the early 20th century during the reign of Emperor Bao Dai, one of the most extravagant and luxurious emperors of the Nguyen dynasty.

The interior design is inspired by the living spaces of emperors, from the wall paintings and furnishings to the music and cuisine featuring local seafood. Onboard, each guest is served like a king and queen in a luxurious, classic setting where every detail is meticulously cared for. The cruise ship has only eight cabins, but each is a suite, not only boasting a private balcony with panoramic bay views but also offering a personal butler service.

In addition to the standard suites, Emperor Cruises offers two of the most luxurious rooms: the King Suite and the Queen Suite. These rooms feature classic architecture, maximizing space to create a bedroom with a large bed, a living room with a dominant dark brown color scheme, and a set of large, soft, antique-style upholstered chairs with stylized patterns. From the bookshelves to the small bar and the feng shui-designed work desk in the corner, everything exudes a classic yet luxurious feel.

Emperor Cruises will introduce three experience packages: Emperor Discovery - a day trip; Emperor Experience - a night of royal luxury; and Emperor Hideaway - immersing yourself in pristine nature. The "Night of Royal Luxury" experience includes all services and a butler on board, meaning you don't have to pay for any other services, making it a must-have experience for any discerning traveler. Reference price: from over 22,000,000 VND/room/2 guests for a 2-day, 1-night cruise.

Emperor Cruises Ha Long

• 03, Lane 65 Van Bao, Ba Dinh District, Hanoi
• Hotline: 0123 666 88 79
• Email: sales@emperorcruises.com

Wedding party on a yacht

Have you ever imagined yourself participating in or being the main character in a wedding ceremony held on a yacht? Those would surely be exhilarating, romantic, and unforgettable moments. That's why happy couples like Ben Nobbs and Nicola Powell, or Anne Laura and Marcelin, chose yachts in Ha Long Bay to mark the most important day of their lives.

More and more couples are choosing cruises in Ha Long Bay to hold small, unique wedding receptions. These receptions are typically for groups of around 30 guests, although the Au Co cruise ship can accommodate up to 70. Depending on their preferences, the bride and groom can choose their wedding theme and location, whether it's on the ship's rooftop, on a long stretch of white sand beach, or a wedding in a cave amidst the shimmering, magical candlelight. To create a unique wedding experience, couples can opt for decoration packages from wedding planners and floral services such as M Nguyen, VietAnh Design, and JolieFlower, with costs starting from 50 million VND.

Couples should contact the cruise line directly to get the best price for their wedding reception. Bhaya Cruises is currently offering a complimentary wedding cake for couples holding their wedding on a Bhaya cruise, a 60-minute Couple Massage voucher for the bride and groom, and an additional one-night stay at the Intercontinental Hanoi Westlake or Sheraton Hanoi Westlake hotel when the couple books a reception on the cruise. Terms and conditions apply.

The bride and groom are Nicola Powell and Ben Nobbs. Nationality: Australian.

Recounting memorable moments from her wedding in Vietnam, bride Nicola Powell said: "Eight years ago, Ben and I chose Vietnam as our first travel destination together, and we've always wanted to return. Our wedding seemed like the perfect excuse to do so, and I chose Ha Long Bay to fulfill my wish. We planned and arranged everything to make everyone feel like they were on vacation after traveling 7,400km from Australia to Vietnam. The wedding reception was prepared and decorated exactly to our liking, with a main color scheme of navy blue and soft pink, combined with delicate floral decorations and fairytale-like colored lights to illuminate the night, and luckily, the weather was beautiful for us to capture memorable moments. The entire experience exceeded all my expectations, and I must say, having my wedding on the Bhaya cruise ship was the best decision I've ever made (besides saying 'yes')." (when Ben proposed to me).

Cave Party

Have you ever attended a party held inside a cave in Ha Long Bay, illuminated by shimmering candlelight amidst countless fantastical stalactites? To create such a perfect evening event, the crew dedicated considerable time and effort to preparation, considering every aspect of the terrain, from tidal fluctuations and rainfall to water infiltration within the cave, as well as transporting supplies from the shore, setting up the electrical system, and monitoring wind conditions to create the most romantic setting possible. After the party, all decorations, candle holders, and waste are meticulously cleaned up to protect the natural environment of the cave and the bay.

Currently, Bhaya Cruises and Au Co Cruises are offering cave banquet services. Cave banquets are available for groups of 30 to 200 guests. Individual groups can join from 2 to 20 people, depending on the size of the group. A 20% discount is offered per guest for cave banquet bookings during the summer; the current published price is VND 1,250,000 per person, excluding the cave banquet surcharge (applicable to groups of 30 or more).

Bhaya Cruises

• 47 Phan Chu Trinh Street, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi
• Tel: 04 3944 6777. Hotline: 0933 44 6542
• Website: www.bhayacruises.com

In the near future, Bhaya Group is proceeding with the renovation and development of a private cave for guests of the Au Co cruise ship so that all tourists can experience dining inside the cave, which is expected to be announced in 2017.

Article by: Que Lan

The Thanh