Launched in late October 2018, Peony cruise promises to be the top choice for travelers who wish to visit Halong Bay. Peony Cruise houses 20 luxury cabins with an elite, professional crew that will provide you the best services during your travels in Halong Bay – Lan Ha Bay! Joining the Peony cruise, you will have a chance to visit Halong Bay, especially Lan Ha Bay. Lan Ha Bay is one of the most stunning bays in Vietnam which has many amazing and uncontaminated beaches yet un-touristy that you can enjoy awesome jade green water and many great photo opportunities…
Belonging to the same company as Orchid and Azalea Cruise, Peony promises to be a top popular cruise of late 2018.
Hanoi (Old Street Quarter)
9.00 am (first day)
Around 2.30 pm (last day)
1 breakfast + 1 brunch, 1 lunch, 1 dinner
If the cancellation be announced by the Management Board of Halong Bay, depend on the timing of the cancellation, following policies will be applied:
09:30
You will be collected from Hanoi Old Quarter to take the new highway to Got Ferry Terminal – Cat Hai Town, Haiphong City where we arrive at around 11h30. The passengers have a chance to experience on longest and newest bridge in South East Asia area. You can take special tea at Peony Cruise’s lounge by warm welcome.
12:30
Transfer by tender to the Peony Cruise.
13:00
We welcome our guests onboard the Peony Cruise and then check in, enjoy Welcome Drink, receive cruise briefing, safety instructions and check in. Start cruising and explore Halong Bay – one of the New Seven Wonders of Nature.
13:15
Peony Cruise proceeds to Da Chong islet, where you can see a lighthouse built by the French over 100 years ago. Have International Buffet Lunch while passing via 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 where is belong to Cat Ba National Park
15:30
Explore the bay in the area where Ao Ech is situated. You enjoy on your own for kayaking at Ao Ech area to discover the hidden charm of Lan Ha Bay with its quieter.
16:30
Peony Cruise gets in the less populated area at Tra Bau where is located in Lan Ha Bay. You will enjoy the green emerald and cool water by swimming.
17:30
Returning Peony Cruise, you can watch the magnificent sunset over the Gulf of Tonkin. Onboard you may join a traditional cooking class. Our chef will instruct you in the making of some Vietnam dishes. In the early evening the boat has its Happy Hour deal
Option: Massage service available. Please book with Cruise Manager directly.
19:30
Sumptuous Candlelight Deluxe Dinner Set Menu is served. Enjoy delicious local food prepared and served for you by our wonderful onboard catering staff. This is a delightful meal in an intimate romantic setting
21:30
Enjoy the landscape of the bay at night up on the top deck. Relax whilst enjoying drinks from the bar. Try your hand at night squid fishing, watching a movie in the restaurant. Overnight on board.
Option: Massage service available. Please book with Cruise Manager directly.
23:00
End of Day One program.
6:15
The day starts early onboard PEONY CRUISE with Tai Chi session on the sundeck.
The breakfast is served in the restaurant with morning view of bay’s landscape, then continue our journey.
8:30
Transfer to Peony Day Boat to visit Viet Hai village. You will take the bicycle trip along the village path and go through rain forests and dark tunnel. Enjoy stunning scenery of rice fields on the way. Stop at the village to relax. Visit an ancient local house, made from straw, mud, bamboo…you will have chance to see the local life on a valley of local people. Optional electric car service is available (at an extra cost).
Back to day boat for visiting Lan Ha Bay. Lunch served on day boat.
13:30
Visiting Lan Ha Bay, taking a free breeze at area with the path less visited. You will use your imagination to name any beautiful islands in Lan Ha Bay or get the interesting introduction of our professional tour guide on Peony Day Boat.
15:00
Return to PEONY CRUISE. Enjoying swimming at the untouched area. Then, you will join a traditional cooking class. Our chef will instruct you in the making of some Vietnam dishes. Watch the magnificent sunset over the Gulf of Tonkin. In the early evening the boat has its Happy Hour deal
19:30
Deluxe Dinner is served. Enjoy delicious local food prepared and served for you by our wonderful onboard catering staff. This is a delightful meal in an intimate romantic setting
21:30
Enjoy the landscape of the bay at night up on the top deck. Relax whilst enjoying drinks from the bar. Try your hand at night squid fishing, watching a movie in the restaurant. Overnight on board.
Option: Massage service available. Please book with Cruise Manager directly.
23:00
End of Day Two program.
06:15
Why not rise early to witness the bay at its very best whilst enjoying an invigorating Tai Chi session on the sundeck; after which we serve the breakfast. Upon completing breakfast continue our journey and head out to explore the bay.
7:45
We progress to Trung Trang cave by our bus on Cat Ba island which is located in the middle of Cat Ba National Park with Kim Giao forest around the cave.
Trung Trang Valley is the largest valley on Cat Ba Island. The valley covers an area of approximately 300 hectares, has a depth of 10m to 30m and is around 15km in the middle of Cat Ba National Park. Trung Trang Cave measures 300m lengthwise through the mountains. The cave was carved by nature for more than 2000 years. The cave has many stalactites that take on various shapes that will awe and inspire visitors to use their imagination.
9:45
Peony Cruise welcomes you back on board and it is time for fixing the bill and checking out.
10:00
Whilst cruising back you can enjoy a delightful brunch.
10:30
Tea Ceremony is served at the restaurant. You will learn how to enjoy Vietnamese tea and Vietnamese culture at this ceremony. Joining Tea Ceremony with our crews team and have great fun with us!
12:00
We return to the quay side in the south of the bay, where our visitors disembark.
We bid farewell at Got ferry, this is the end of the program.
14:30
Back to your drop-off point in Hanoi. End of the trip.
Loved our time on the Peony 2 with the 2 night cruise.
The rooms were luxurious and brand new. The staff were cheerful and fun. The day trip was fantastic- loved the bike ride and kayaking.
The bay seemed quieter (still a fair number of boats) but nowhere near as many as a previous trip I did on Halong.
Food was fine- and plentiful. Was very good on the day boat.
They also mixed a good cocktail.
Peony is a young cruise ship with a very knowledgeable, experienced, and enthusiastic crew. My husband and I booked a 3D2N cruise that exceeded all of our expectations. The ship itself is new, beautiful, and well-designed. The rooms, bathrooms, and balconies all have a beautiful view of Ha Long Bay. The meals were creative, delicious, and filling. The activities were well organized, planned, and executed. There were also thoughtful touches at every turn (fresh juice after activities, cold towels, rice wine shots with the cooking class). And, most importantly, the staff were all very friendly, excited to be there, and great at making sure the patrons were all involved and taken care of. Ronaldo was our Cruise Director, and he legitimately made the trip. He was an effective Master of Ceremonies, took time to get to know each party, and hilarious to boot.
I was hesitant to write this review as I’d love to keep Peony a hidden gem, but it’s just too good not to share. You should know that the activities are basically the same no matter which cruise you book (kayaking, cooking class, cave, +/- bike ride through Viet Hai), but you should book Peony because of their attentiveness and attention to detail.