Last updated 14 October 2026 by the Ava Travel team in Hanoi. Every figure comes from the 96 overnight boats we sell, checked on our booking pages on 14 October 2026.
The short answer: most Halong Bay cruise boats are modern steel ships of 13 to 40 cabins; of the 96 we sell, 82 are steel ships and 14 are traditional wooden junks. We do not sell any catamaran. Size matters more than most people expect: the smallest boat has 4 cabins and the largest 62. A typical good boat has about 22 cabins and costs $150 to $165 per person for one night with all meals.
Wooden, steel or catamaran?
Almost every overnight boat on Halong, Lan Ha and Bai Tu Long Bay is one of two kinds: a modern ship with a steel hull, or a traditional wooden junk. Catamarans are not part of the overnight fleet we sell. Here is how the two kinds compare on the boats we sell.
| Steel ship | Wooden junk | Catamaran | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boats we sell | 82 | 14 | 0 |
| Typical size | 25 cabins | 12 cabins | n/a |
| Typical entry cabin | 30 sqm | 20 sqm | n/a |
| Balcony in every cabin | 54 of 82 | 2 of 14 | n/a |
| Middle price, 2 days | $166 | $136 | n/a |
| Ships launched 2025 and 2026 | All of them | None | n/a |
| Feels like | A small floating hotel | A traditional boat with a small group |
Lowest price per person, two sharing, 2 days 1 night, October to April, all meals included. "Typical" is the middle value across the boats we sell.
Steel ships: more space, more facilities
Every new boat of the last two years is steel, so this is where you find the larger cabins, the private balconies, bathtubs, spas and lifts. A steel hull is heavier and steadier, which you notice on a windy evening, and cabins are usually better sealed against noise. The trade-off is size: a typical steel ship carries about 50 guests, and the largest, Celina, has 62 cabins. Our new Halong Bay cruises of 2026 are all steel ships.
Wooden junks: character and a lower price
A junk has the shape and the wooden deck people picture when they think of Halong Bay, and usually far fewer guests: the median junk we sell has 12 cabins, and Bhaya Premium and Prince have only 4. They are cheaper too: Annam Junk, from $102, is the cheapest boat we sell. The honest downsides: cabins are smaller (about 20 sqm for an entry cabin), only 2 of 14 have a balcony in every cabin, walls are thinner, and a wooden boat can creak at night. On most junks the sails are raised for photos and the boat moves on its engine. All 14, with prices, are in our Halong Bay junk boat guide.
What about a catamaran?
We do not sell catamarans for Halong Bay, and none of the 96 overnight boats on our list is one. People usually ask because they hope a twin hull will rock less. On these bays it matters less than you might think: the water is sheltered by thousands of islands and boats stay in port when the bay is closed for weather. If you are worried about seasickness, choose a larger steel ship and a quiet route such as Lan Ha Bay or Bai Tu Long Bay; see is a Halong Bay cruise safe.
Which should you choose?
Choose a steel ship if you want a balcony, a bathtub, a family cabin or a spa, or if you are travelling in December or January when evenings on deck are cool and a well-sealed cabin helps. Choose a wooden junk if you want a small group, a traditional boat and a lower price, and do not mind a smaller cabin. Either way, the bay and the route shape the trip more than the hull.
Boat size: small, medium or large?
| Cabins | Boats we sell | What it is like |
|---|---|---|
| 4 – 12 | 11 | Quiet, personal service, few facilities, sells out early |
| 13 – 24 | 41 | The sweet spot: enough deck space, still feels small |
| 25 – 40 | 33 | More facilities, larger groups at excursions |
| Over 40 | 7 | Big ship facilities, never feels private |
Some examples: Annam Junk has 7 cabins, Peony 20, Indochine 45 and Diana 56. A bigger ship is not worse; it just changes the feel of the evening and how many people get into the kayaks with you.
Boat class and price
| Class | Boats | Range | Middle |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard and boutique | 72 | $102 – $224 | $155 |
| Luxury | 18 | $190 – $255 | $218 |
| Ultra-luxury | 6 | $240 – $430 | $330 |
Lowest price per person, two sharing a cabin, 2 days 1 night, October to April, all meals included. Transfer from Hanoi is extra: $35 per person return. Top-end picks are in the 10 best luxury cruises, and the cheapest boats in the best budget cruises.
Five questions to choose the right boat
- Which bay? The boat decides the route. Famous caves on Halong Bay, kayaking and beaches on Lan Ha, quiet water on Bai Tu Long. See Halong Bay vs Lan Ha Bay.
- Do you want a balcony? Then pick a steel ship; 54 of 82 have one in every cabin, against 2 of 14 junks. See the best cruises with a balcony.
- Travelling with children? 32 of our boats have family cabins for 3 or 4. See Halong Bay with kids.
- How many people do you want around you? Under 13 cabins for a quiet trip; over 40 for facilities.
- One night or two? 80 of the 96 boats also sell 3 days 2 nights.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best type of boat for Halong Bay?
For most couples, a modern ship of 13 to 24 cabins with a balcony in every cabin, on Lan Ha Bay or Halong Bay. For atmosphere and a lower price, a wooden junk. For the quietest trip, a small boat on Bai Tu Long Bay.
Are bigger boats safer?
Every licensed overnight boat, large or small, must carry life jackets for each guest and register passengers with the port authority, and all boats stay in port when the bay is closed for weather. Size changes comfort, not the safety rules.
How many people are on a Halong Bay cruise?
Most cabins take two people, so a typical 22-cabin boat carries about 40 to 45 guests when full. The smallest boats we sell carry fewer than 10.
Is a wooden junk or a steel cruise ship better?
A steel ship gives you more space, a balcony on most ships and more facilities, for a middle price of $166 per person. A wooden junk is smaller, more traditional and cheaper, at a middle price of $136, but cabins are about a third smaller and few have a balcony. The same safety rules apply to every licensed boat, wooden or steel.
Book with Ava Travel
Every boat on all Halong Bay cruises shows the number of cabins, real cabin photos and the price for your date. Pay securely online and we confirm your cabin and pickup within one hour. Not sure which boat? WhatsApp +84 904 251 545 with your dates and budget.
