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Orchid Cruise, Halong Bay

Vietnam Halong Bay & Lan Ha Bay

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Hotel overview

The Orchid Classic Cruise offers one of the most refined ways to experience Halong Bay, combining elegant design with a calm, unhurried pace on the water. Built with the inspiration of a traditional junk but finished to a very high contemporary standard, the ship feels intimate and stylish rather than showy.

Cabins are spacious and beautifully presented, all with private balconies so you can watch the limestone karsts drifting past in complete privacy. Floor‑to‑ceiling windows fill the dining areas with natural light, while the sun deck is the perfect place for sunrise tai chi, afternoon drinks or simply soaking up the scenery.

What really sets the Orchid Classic apart is its emphasis on space and tranquillity. Routes are carefully chosen to avoid busier areas of the bay, with time for gentle kayaking, quiet swims and visits to hidden caves and lagoons. On board, service is warm and attentive without ever feeling formal. Evenings are relaxed, with beautifully prepared Vietnamese and international dishes, and nights are wonderfully peaceful as the boat anchors beneath the stars. It is a luxurious but authentic experience and a truly memorable highlight of any Vietnam journey.

Key Facilities:

  • Restaurant
  • Bar
  • Wifi
  • Spa
  • Child Friendly

 

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Quirky excursions

View all excursions in Vietnam
Excursion

Cat Tien National Park

North-east of Saigon and south-east of Dalat is Nam Cat Tien (Cat Tien National Park) - a very diverse region encompassing rolling hills, flat plains, dense forest and meandering rivers. In 1978, the south and north Cat Tien parks were put under the State's protection and then in 1992, Cat Loc park was also listed in a joint program to protect the environment. Eventually, in 1998, these three parks joined together to become the Cat Tien National park, under the management of the ministry of agriculture and rural development. It is now the most important reserve in Vietnam, home to a wealth of flora, as well as much of the country's endangered wildlife. Amongst the species that live in the 70,000-hectare park are the Asian elephants, yellow-cheeked gibbons and sun bears. You begin by visiting the park's Endangered Primate Centre, where you'll be able to see two of the rarest species in the world - the Delacour and Cat Ba langurs. Whilst in the National Park you will be accompanied by one of the Park Rangers – all of whom are knowledgeably experienced, having been trained to a very high standard. Your programme can be tailored to suit your preferences, however typically you will spend your day hiking and spotting wildlife, including the wealth of birdlife. Nam Cat Tien is a three and a half hour drive from both Saigon and Dalat. Consequently, it is far better operated as an overnight excursion from either.

Excursion

Cruising in Lan Ha Bay

Tucked in the southwest of the iconic Ha Long Bay, the quieter Lan Ha Bay is best enjoyed on an overnight boat cruise. In addition to the quieter surroundings, the journey to Lan Ha Bay takes only 2 hours from central Hanoi instead of 4 hours to the more famous tourist spot of Halong Bay. You will be able to enjoy a leisurely, insightful cruise whilst enjoying spectacular views of limestone karst formations and gliding across emerald waters. Lan Hay Bay is also famous for it's lush limestone islands, pristine beaches, hidden caves and remote fishing villages. An example itinerary of a typical cruise is shown below, although this is of course just a guideline and if you don’t fancy any activities then just sit back and enjoy the breath-taking scenery (different boats will vary and the cruise itinerary will be confirmed to you before departure or upon arrival at the pier); Day 1: Hanoi to Hai Phong, Lan Ha Bay Depart Hanoi in the morning to transfer to Hai Phong. Arrive at the pier for check in and board your boat at approximately 12:30pm for a welcome briefing about the boat, safety procedures and your itinerary for your cruise. 1:00pm – Enjoy a buffet lunch whilst your boat cruises into the bay. Proceed to Da Chong islet, where you can see a lighthouse built by the French over 100 years ago. Continue past the islets of Con Vit area. These amazing limestone karst formations rise up out of the sea in an impressive manner. This area is untouched, as not many cruise ships use the route via the Cat Ba Island - Thoi Quyt area - Coc Ngoi islet - through Gia Luan area. 3:30pm – Explore the bay in the area where Frog Lake is situated. Spend time kayaking at Ao Ech area to discover the hidden charm of Lan Ha Bay. 4:30pm - Enjoy time swimming in the  cool green emerald waters. 5:00pm - Cooking lessons of traditional Vietnamese food by the onboard chef, time for relaxing on the deck or enjoy a massage in the spa if available. Follow this with a drink and a chance to take some stunning photographs of the bay as the sun sets (happy hour on most boats in the bay from 5:30pm). 7:30pm – Enjoy your dinner in the restaurant or on the top deck under the stars. 8:30pm – Evening relaxation – enjoy movies, a chat around the bar, board games, magazines or even some squid fishing on the back of the boat! Day 2: Lan Ha Bay - Hanoi 6:15am - After a cup of tea or coffee to start your morning, enjoy an early morning Tai Chi demonstration on the sundeck. 7:00am – Enjoy a light breakfast as the boat cruises further into the bay. Proceed to Trung Trang cave on Cat Ba island which is located in the middle of Cat Ba National Park with Kim Giao forest around the cave. 10:00am – Check out of your cabin and enjoy a delicious full breakfast as the boat cruises back towards the harbour. Some boats also feature a fabulous Tea Ceremony where you will learn how to enjoy Vietnamese tea and Vietnamese culture - a wonderful way to end your cruise. 11:30am – Arrive back at Tuan Chau pier where you will disembark your cruise and return to Hanoi for your onward travel.

Excursion

Cruising in Halong Bay

A two day, one night cruise of Halong Bay is perfect for those looking to experience this stunning World Heritage site within a limited time frame. You will be able to enjoy a leisurely, insightful cruise around the 3000 islands and rocky outcrops, whilst learning more about Vietnamese culture, cuisine and daily life in the remote floating villages around the bay. An example itinerary of a typical cruise is shown below, although this is of course just a guideline and if you don’t fancy any activities then just sit back and enjoy the breath-taking scenery (different boats will vary and the cruise itinerary will be confirmed to you before departure or upon arrival at the pier); Day 1: Hanoi to Halong Bay Depart Hanoi in the early morning to transfer to Halong Bay, stopping along the way at a local craft village for refreshments. Arrive at the pier for check in and board your boat at approximately 12:30pm for a welcome briefing about the boat, safety procedures and your itinerary for your cruise. 1:00pm – Enjoy a buffet lunch whilst your boat cruises into the bay, passing Chicken Rock and Titov Island along the way. 3:15pm – Visit bat cave by bamboo boat, kayak around the towering limestone karsts or visit Vung Vieng floating village. You may also a stop at a beach in the bay for swimming or a walk to the top of the hill to enjoy beautiful views over the bay. 5:00pm - Cooking lessons of traditional Vietnamese food, time for relaxing on the deck or enjoy a massage in the spa. Follow this with a drink and a chance to take some stunning photographs of the bay (happy hour on most boats in the bay from 5:30pm). 7:30pm – Enjoy your dinner in the restaurant as the sun sets on the bay. 8:30pm – Evening relaxation – enjoy movies, a chat around the bar, board games, magazines or even some squid fishing on the back of the boat! Day 2: Halong Bay - Hanoi 6:15am - After a cup of tea or coffee to start your morning, enjoy an early morning Tai Chi demonstration on the sundeck. 7:00am – Enjoy a light breakfast in the restaurant as the boat cruises towards Song Sot Cave. Upon arrival at the caves enjoy a short excursion for an early morning walk to tour the cave. 9:00am – Check out of your boat and enjoy a delicious full breakfast in the restaurant as the boat cruises back towards the harbour. 11:30am – Arrive back at Tuan Chau pier where you will disembark your cruise and return to Hanoi for your onward travel.

Excursion

Watersports, Snorkelling & Diving

A number of the resorts across Vietnam offer water-sports from the beach (including kayaking, sailing, jet-skis, boating) or you can enjoy the underwater action around Phu Quoc on a snorkelling or diving tour arranged via one of the boat companies or through your hotel. Diving is best from November to March and fun dives will cost around USD100 per person, whereas snorkelling is around USD35 per person. For many Nha Trang is the best place to head for the quality of the diving. It has, however, become very busy with a lot of different dive shops too so it is worth considering the kind of experience you would like before choosing. Diving off the coast of Hoi An is a place for many to try out diving. It isn't busy there and so makes the ideal place to stop off for an extra couple of nights and to explore the underwater world. Con Dao is considered one of the best examples of marine conservation in the country. With over 340 species of Hard and Soft corals, teeming with a colourful array of marine life. Con Dao supports a high level of biodiversity and over 1,400 currently recorded marine species. With clear waters from February to July and visibility averaging 20-30 metres, Con Dao is an excellent place for diving and offers a unique opportunity to explore the amazing variety of underwater life. Explore the untouched and pristine corals, with a chance to see rays, turtles, giant barracuda, cobia, batfish and small bamboo sharks, as well as a whole host of tropical reef fish. Phu Quoc is often the beach stop of choice and there are a lot of dive sites around. The major dive sites on the Phu Quoc are Dry island and Nudibranch Island where you will be able to spot a variety of marine animals, including cuttlefish, octopus, scorpionfish, damselfish, nudibranchs, and moray eels. The sea is calm around here and in the dry season, you'll have clear water and great visibility.

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