Phoenix cruiser

We opted for the full 3 day package in Halong Bay to get the best feel for the surrounding beauty. We had all the comforts taking care of, including air-con, wifi, a full bar and a crazy amount of food, with lots of seafood on offer. The activities were super – we did some kayaking, some hiking, some caving and a lot of sitting back and chilling as we cruised around the water. All of the staff were very warm and inviting, including our excellent guide ‘Springy’, who had a great sense of humour and a lot of knowledge to pass on. It was an efficient service all round, beginning and ending in Hanoi with our shuttle pick up and drop off. I would recommend the Phoenix Cruise to absolutely everyone of all backgrounds, genders and ages – it’s a great time to be had! Unfortunately I had the same sort of experience about rubbish in the bay, which I feel is mainly caused by tourists. 

This was the absolute highlight of our Vietnam trip, period! We took one night on the boat and it was a near-perfect experience. The food was just amazing, so much choice and consistently high quality. There were lots of activities like the squid fishing and the cooking class, but by far the most fun part for me was the kayaking. There’s barely a single spot on the Phoenix Cruise where you don’t get a sweet view of the bay, but we spent a lot of time on the sundeck and in our cabin to watch the mountains go past. Just one thing I would mention is that the shower goes cold if a lot of people use theirs all at once. Our tour guide was called Loc and he was terrific. I would return within a second.

Fantastic accommodation to have out on the water – I got two really good nights’ sleep, which I definitely wasn’t expecting! It seemed that we went a different path to many of the other boats in the water, as our passage was very peaceful. This was a very new boat at the time of visiting, so there are still a few kinks to sort out – the main one being trying to stick to the itinerary. Our guide Dan really smoothed us over with his charm and positive outlook on things, so we didn’t sweat the small stuff in the end. The day boat was a great experience as it was just us and two other couples who came along for the ride. We had a whole day of pretty loose kayaking, relaxing and swimming etc., but it was very fun.The staff were all brilliant but I have to give a special commendation to both Dan and Hien Nguyen from the online booking department, both of whom were brilliant in their roles.

Me and my family went for the 3 day, 2 night option of the Phoenix Cruise and we were very impressed! We went there over New Year’s Eve and it was a really good time.We went to an island on the first day, followed by a cave and some kayaking. We got back to the boat and had a beautiful dinner and some celebrations for NYE. On January 1st, we boarded the day boat to check out some pearl farming, swimming and more kayaking. This was a very relaxed day and something that we were very eager for before leaving  - it did not disappoint! We had dinner and did some squid fishing before our tour guide organised some farewell drinks for us.The tour guide himself was exceptional. His name was Hai and he really made the cruise come alive for us. He has excellent humour, energy and a lot of knowledge about the whole country. We had a buffet breakfast and spent our final moments of the cruise on the sundeck.Along the way, we dealt with professionals such as the aforementioned Hai, Minh Phuong (one of the booking agents who helped us enormously before we were even in the country), and the cruise director, Tang, who looked after us very well while we were on the boat.After going on the 3 day tour, I’d heavily encourage you to do the same. I feel like it was the perfect amount of time to spend in the bay, not too long but it still gives you a good feeling for the area and the unique atmosphere around it. Definitely go with the Phoenix Cruise as well, it’s magical.

We had a very nice time aboard the Phoenix Cruise. We were taken from our hotels to Halong Bay, stopping en route at a souvenir stand that we could have done without, but I guess both businesses make money from it.Our tour guide was called Thang (or ‘Mr. Winner’) and he was very charming and very passionate about his job. The boat was very clean and I enjoyed the fact that there were a small amount of rooms on the boat, as it made it feel more personal. Our room was a bit small but we weren’t there a lot in the end so it barely made a difference.The food was great, and they effortlessly accommodated for my vegetarian diet. The staff were really great as well. Of the activities, I think getting to the top of Ti Top Island was the best as you get an awesome picture of the bay from there. The kayaking and the caving were also very good fun.A great tour overall, but the bay did feel a little crowded. I heard that this isn’t so much the case on the 3 day trips, but I didn’t have the time to do one of these.