Last updated 16 October 2026 by the Ava Travel team in Hanoi. We read the menus and sales kits each ship sent us, and prices are the ones on our booking pages today.
The short answer: yes. Ava Travel, a Hanoi travel agency, sells ten Halong Bay cruises that serve halal food. Catherine (Halong Bay, from $215 per person at Ava Travel) and Mon Cheri (Lan Ha Bay, from $180) say on their own websites that they hold Halal Vietnam certification, and Catherine has prayer facilities. Diana‘s operator told us it is certified. Indochine, Indochine Grand and Indochine Premium have a written halal menu cooked separately, and Lyra Grandeur has written halal menus for every trip length. Grand Pioneers and Celina have halal set menus, and Capella cooks halal on request. The cheapest is Indochine Cruise at $130 per person for 2 days 1 night.
Most Halong Bay cruises can leave out pork if you ask. That is not the same as a halal kitchen, so this list only includes ships that publish a halal certificate, showed us a written halal menu, told us they are certified, or have already served halal meals to our own guests.
Quick comparison: 10 halal-friendly Halong Bay cruises
Prices are the lowest per person, two adults sharing a cabin, 2 days 1 night with all meals on board. Low season is May to September, high season October to April.
| # | Cruise | Halal | Bay | Low season (Ava Travel) | High season (Ava Travel) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Catherine Cruise | Certified (Halal Vietnam) | Halong | $205 | $215 |
| 2 | Mon Cheri Cruise | Certified (Halal Vietnam) | Lan Ha | $165 | $180 |
| 3 | Diana Cruise | Operator says certified | Lan Ha | $178 | $178 |
| 4 | Lyra Grandeur Cruise | Separate halal menu | Lan Ha | $195 | $245 |
| 5 | Indochine Cruise | Separate halal menu | Lan Ha | $130 | $139 |
| 6 | Indochine Grand Cruise | Separate halal menu | Lan Ha | $152 | $167 |
| 7 | Indochine Premium Cruise | Separate halal menu | Halong | $168 | $190 |
| 8 | Grand Pioneers Cruise | Halal set menu | Halong | $196 | $213 |
| 9 | Celina Cruise | Halal set menu | Lan Ha | $170 | $182 |
| 10 | Capella Cruise | Halal on request | Lan Ha | $190 | $225 |
1. Catherine Cruise
Catherine says on its own website that it received Halal food certification from Halal Vietnam on 18 February 2025, following OIC/SMIIC standards, and that it offers prayer facilities on board. It is the only ship on this list that mentions a place to pray. A large luxury ship on Halong Bay itself, every cabin with a balcony. Certificates are renewed regularly, so ask us for the current one before you book and we will request it from the ship.
- Halal: Certified (Halal Vietnam)
- Ship: 39 cabins, cabins 40 to 85 sqm, Halong Bay
- Price: from $205 per person in low season, $215 in high season
- 3 days 2 nights: also available
- See cabins and book Catherine Cruise
2. Mon Cheri Cruise
Mon Cheri states on its own website that it has a halal kitchen and a Halal certificate issued by the Halal Vietnam Association. A small ship of 18 cabins on Lan Ha Bay, every cabin with a balcony. Certificates are renewed regularly, so ask us and we will get the current certificate from the ship in writing before you pay.
- Halal: Certified (Halal Vietnam)
- Ship: 18 cabins, cabins 35 to 70 sqm, Lan Ha Bay
- Price: from $165 per person in low season, $180 in high season
- 3 days 2 nights: also available
- See cabins and book Mon Cheri Cruise
3. Diana Cruise
Diana’s sales team told us in February 2026 that the ship holds Halal certification. Ask us for the certificate before you book if a certified kitchen matters to you, and we will request it from the ship.
- Halal: Operator says certified
- Ship: 56 cabins, cabins 34 to 55 sqm, Lan Ha Bay
- Price: from $178 per person in low season, $178 in high season
- 3 days 2 nights: also available
- See cabins and book Diana Cruise
4. Lyra Grandeur Cruise
The operator of Lyra Grandeur sent us written Halal menus for its 2 day, 3 day and 4 day trips: a halal lunch buffet and halal set dinners (sea bass, scallops, chicken, Australian beef). Lyra Grandeur launched in 2025 and has family suites for 4 or 5 people, so it suits Muslim families.
- Halal: Separate halal menu
- Ship: 33 cabins, cabins 32 to 64 sqm, Lan Ha Bay
- Price: from $195 per person in low season, $245 in high season
- 3 days 2 nights: also available
- See cabins and book Lyra Grandeur Cruise
5. Indochine Cruise
Indochine publishes a full Halal menu for every meal of the 2 day trip. In the operator’s own words it is a Halal-friendly menu with no pork, no non-Halal meat and no alcohol, prepared separately from non-Halal ingredients. Best value of the halal-friendly ships.
- Halal: Separate halal menu
- Ship: 45 cabins, cabins 32 to 54 sqm, Lan Ha Bay
- Price: from $130 per person in low season, $139 in high season
- 3 days 2 nights: also available
- See cabins and book Indochine Cruise
6. Indochine Grand Cruise
Newer sister ship of Indochine, same operator and the same written Halal menu promise: no pork, no non-Halal meat, no alcohol, cooked separately. Smaller, with 32 cabins.
- Halal: Separate halal menu
- Ship: 32 cabins, cabins 28 to 46 sqm, Lan Ha Bay
- Price: from $152 per person in low season, $167 in high season
- 3 days 2 nights: also available
- See cabins and book Indochine Grand Cruise
7. Indochine Premium Cruise
The Halong Bay ship of the Indochine family, with its own Halal menu for the 2 day trip under the same written rules. Choose it if you want Halong Bay itself rather than Lan Ha Bay.
- Halal: Separate halal menu
- Ship: 37 cabins, cabins 34 to 115 sqm, Halong Bay
- Price: from $168 per person in low season, $190 in high season
- 3 days 2 nights: also available
- See cabins and book Indochine Premium Cruise
8. Grand Pioneers Cruise
Grand Pioneers has a printed Halal set menu for lunch and dinner, and its group brochure offers halal dining for whole groups. A large, modern ship that suits families and groups.
- Halal: Halal set menu
- Ship: cabins 30 to 150 sqm, Halong Bay
- Price: from $196 per person in low season, $213 in high season
- 3 days 2 nights: also available
- See cabins and book Grand Pioneers Cruise
9. Celina Cruise
Celina has a dedicated Halal set menu, built mostly on seafood and fish. The ship notes the menu may change with what is available on the day.
- Halal: Halal set menu
- Ship: 62 cabins, cabins 45 to 80 sqm, Lan Ha Bay
- Price: from $170 per person in low season, $182 in high season
- 3 days 2 nights: also available
- See cabins and book Celina Cruise
10. Capella Cruise
Capella does not publish a halal menu of its own, but in May 2026 it served halal meals for every meal on board to a group we booked, and it belongs to the same company as Lyra Grandeur, which has written halal menus. It also has a swimming pool and an ocean slide, so it suits Muslim families with children.
- Halal: Halal on request
- Ship: 30 cabins, cabins 32 to 57 sqm, Lan Ha Bay
- Price: from $190 per person in low season, $225 in high season
- 3 days 2 nights: also available
- See cabins and book Capella Cruise
How to book a halal cruise with us
- Book the cabin on the ship’s page, then send us a message on WhatsApp or by email saying you need halal meals. We pass it to the ship in writing and confirm back to you.
- Tell us at least 3 days before departure so the ship has time to prepare halal ingredients.
- If you want a seafood-only menu instead, ask; for vegetarian and vegan menus see the next section.
- Drinks are not included on any of these ships and are paid on board, so nobody has to order alcohol.
Vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free menus
The same question comes up for vegetarians, so we went through the menus each cruise line sent Ava Travel. These 11 ships have a written vegetarian menu, not just a plate of vegetables on request. Prices are the lowest per person, 2 days 1 night, low season, at Ava Travel.
| Cruise | What the menu offers | Bay | From (Ava Travel) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heritage Cruise Binh Chuan | Vegan menu (no milk, no egg) plus vegetarian set menus for every meal and for 3 day trips | Lan Ha | $180 |
| Emperor Cruise | Same operator and the same vegan and vegetarian menus as Heritage Binh Chuan | Halong | $190 |
| Lyra Grandeur Cruise | Separate 2 day vegetarian menu for every meal, each dish marked for gluten, pork, dairy and nuts | Lan Ha | $195 |
| Capella Cruise | Separate 2 day vegetarian menu, dishes with dairy marked | Lan Ha | $190 |
| Celina Cruise | Vegetarian set menu and an Indian vegetarian set menu | Lan Ha | $170 |
| Aqua of the Seas | Vegetarian set menu and an Indian vegetarian menu | Lan Ha | $132 |
| Erina Cruise | Vegetarian menus for 2 day and 3 day trips | Lan Ha | $147 |
| Mila Grand Cruise | Vegetarian lunch, dinner and brunch, plus a 3 day menu | Lan Ha | $130 |
| Mila Lux Cruise | Same vegetarian menus as Mila Grand | Halong | $135 |
| V'Spirit Cruises | Separate vegetarian menu | Lan Ha | $147 |
| Indochine Cruise | Every dish on the menu marked vegetarian, gluten, dairy or nuts; a vegetarian canape at sunset | Lan Ha | $130 |
- Vegan: only Heritage Cruise Binh Chuan and Emperor Cruise publish a menu marked no milk and no egg. The other vegetarian menus include egg or dairy in some dishes (for example yogurt or egg in the spring rolls), so tell us you are vegan and we ask the ship to leave them out.
- Fish sauce: Vietnamese cooking uses fish sauce in dressings and dips. Heritage Binh Chuan’s vegetarian menu serves a vegetarian dipping sauce instead; on any ship, remind the waiter: no fish sauce, please.
- Gluten-free: Lyra Grandeur and Indochine are the only menus that mark gluten on each dish. Soy sauce contains wheat, so a strict gluten-free diet needs a written request; tell us when you book and we send it to the ship.
- Allergies: the cruise contracts Ava Travel signs ask us to send dietary requests with the booking. Tell us at least 3 days before departure.
Good to know for Muslim travellers
- Seafood: Halong menus are built on fish, prawns, squid and clams. Fish is halal in every school. If you follow the view that shellfish or squid are not permitted, tell us and we will ask for fish and chicken only.
- Prayer: Catherine is the only ship here that says it has prayer facilities on board. On the others your cabin is private and quiet. Ask the crew for the qibla direction; in Halong Bay it is roughly west-northwest.
- Cooking class: most ships run a spring roll class. Vietnamese spring rolls are often made with pork, so ask the crew for a seafood or vegetable filling before it starts.
- Transfer from Hanoi: not included in the cruise price. We can add a private car; the drive is about 2.5 hours each way.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a halal Halong Bay cruise?
Yes. Catherine and Mon Cheri say on their own websites that they hold Halal Vietnam certification, and Catherine has prayer facilities. Diana’s operator told us it is certified. Indochine, Indochine Grand and Indochine Premium publish a halal menu with no pork, no non-Halal meat and no alcohol, cooked separately. Lyra Grandeur has written halal menus, Grand Pioneers and Celina have halal set menus, and Capella cooks halal on request. Ava Travel sells all ten.
Which is the cheapest halal-friendly Halong Bay cruise?
Indochine Cruise, from $130 per person for 2 days 1 night in low season (May to September), with a full halal menu for every meal.
Do I need to tell the cruise in advance that I need halal food?
Yes. Tell us at least 3 days before departure so the ship can prepare halal ingredients. We send the request to the ship in writing and confirm back to you.
Is alcohol included on Halong Bay cruises?
No. On all ten ships in this guide drinks are paid on board, so you never have to order alcohol. The Indochine halal menu is cooked without alcohol.
Can I get vegetarian or vegan food on a Halong Bay cruise?
Yes. 11 ships Ava Travel sells have a written vegetarian menu, including Heritage Cruise Binh Chuan, Lyra Grandeur, Capella, Celina and Aqua of the Seas. For vegan food, Heritage Cruise Binh Chuan and Emperor Cruise publish a menu with no milk and no egg. Tell us at least 3 days before departure.
Is there a gluten-free Halong Bay cruise?
No ship publishes a full gluten-free menu, but Lyra Grandeur and Indochine mark gluten on every dish. Soy sauce contains wheat, so send your request in writing with the booking and Ava Travel passes it to the ship.
Is seafood on a Halong Bay cruise halal?
Fish is halal in every school. Some Muslims do not eat shellfish or squid; if that applies to you, ask for fish and chicken only and the ship will adjust the menu.
Want a full Vietnam trip with halal meals throughout? Tell us your dates and we will send a draft itinerary. Comparing every ship? See the 10 best Halong Bay cruises or the best Lan Ha Bay cruises.
