25 Apr 2023
Overall, kind of a meh experience. The cruise route itself is great - the boat avoids the crowded parts of Ha Long Bay and for that reason alone it’s worth considering. The boat crew is also great.
However, this fell short for me in a few ways. Firstly, I felt pretty judged for being a solo traveller throughout. The food was pretty bland and felt catered to European tourists. It wasn’t very authentically Vietnamese which was pretty disappointing after a few days in Hanoi. The king size beds on the boat are actually two doubles joined together and the gap/dip in the middle is obvious. Lastly, the team will ask you to rate and give feedback on your trip while still on board. Note that if you give a medium review, you’ll be approached about it there and then which makes for a really uncomfortable experience.