Last updated 5 October 2026 by the Ava Travel team in Hanoi. Prices are the ones on our own booking pages on 4 October 2026. We are a Hanoi agency that sells Indochina Junk cruises; we are not the operator.
The short answer: Indochina Junk runs small overnight cruises in Bai Tu Long Bay, the quiet northeast part of Halong Bay. We sell three of its boats. Dragon Pearl is a 10-cabin wooden junk from $165 per person; Dragon Legend is the larger 24-cabin ship from $220; Prince is a 4-cabin wooden junk, also from $220. All three follow the same route: Thien Canh Son Cave and kayaking on day one, Vung Vieng floating village by rowing boat on day two.
Prices are the lowest per person for two adults sharing a cabin on a 2 day 1 night cruise, October to April, with all meals on board. Transfer from Hanoi is extra: $35 per person return by shuttle.
Indochina Junk prices for 2026
| Boat | Type | Cabins | 2 days, Oct-Apr | 2 days, May-Sep | 3 days 2 nights |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dragon Pearl | Wooden junk | 10 | $165 | $155 | $310 |
| Dragon Legend | Cruise ship | 24 | $220 | $200 | $377 |
| Prince | Wooden junk | 4 | $220 | $220 | $382 |
For comparison, the middle 2-day price across the 10 Bai Tu Long Bay boats we sell is $158, so Dragon Pearl is close to average and the other two are at the top of the bay. The price on each boat page updates for your exact date.
Which Indochina Junk boat should you choose?
- Dragon Pearl if you want the classic wooden junk at the lowest price. Ten cabins, so it feels like a small group rather than a hotel.
- Dragon Legend if you want a bigger ship with more deck space and facilities, and a low season price ($200 from May to September).
- Prince if you want the smallest boat: only four cabins, the closest thing to having a junk to yourselves without chartering one. One price all year.
The itinerary: what you actually do
All three boats run the same 2 day 1 night programme from Halong International Port on the Hon Gai side, not from Tuan Chau.
| Time | Day 1 |
|---|---|
| 08:00 – 08:45 | Pickup in the Hanoi Old Quarter (if you add the transfer) |
| 11:30 | Indochina Junk waiting lounge, then a buggy down to the harbour |
| 12:30 | Welcome on board, safety briefing, cabin check-in |
| 13:15 | Lunch as the boat sails into Bai Tu Long Bay |
| 14:30 | Thien Canh Son Cave |
| 15:00 | Kayaking among the limestone islands |
| 16:15 | Back on board for the sunset |
| 17:15 | Vietnamese cooking class |
| 19:00 | Dinner, then squid fishing or a quiet evening on deck |
| Time | Day 2 |
|---|---|
| 06:00 – 07:15 | Tai chi on the sundeck (Dragon Legend), tea and breakfast |
| 07:45 | Vung Vieng fishing village by rowing boat, past the floating school and fish farms |
| 08:45 | Back on board |
| 10:00 | Check out, then lunch as the boat heads back |
| 11:30 | Arrive at Halong International Port |
| 13:00 | With the transfer: water puppet show at Yen Duc village on the way back |
| 16:00 – 16:30 | Back in Hanoi |
The village visit is the highlight. Families in Vung Vieng still farm fish and pearls on the water, and you are rowed around by a local. Halong Bay’s own floating villages were moved ashore, so Bai Tu Long is now the easiest place to see one.
Honest downsides
- No balcony cabins. None of the three boats sells a cabin with a private balcony. If that matters, Bai Tu Long’s balcony boats are Athena Royal ($150) and Larissa ($197).
- No swimming stop. The programme has kayaking but no swim. Choose a Lan Ha Bay boat if swimming is important.
- One cabin type per boat. There are no suites or family cabins to upgrade to.
- A long last day if you take the transfer: the water puppet stop brings you back to Hanoi at about 16:00 to 16:30, later than most cruises.
- Prince and Dragon Pearl fill fast. With 4 and 10 cabins, popular dates from December to April go early.
Indochina Junk vs other Bai Tu Long boats
Ten boats we sell sail Bai Tu Long. The cheapest are Renea and Treasure Junk at $132, and the newest is Cycad at $175. Most of them visit the same cave and village. What you pay extra for on Indochina Junk is the small wooden boats (Dragon Pearl, Prince) and the long-established operation. All 10 are ranked in the best Bai Tu Long Bay cruises.
Frequently asked questions
How much is an Indochina Junk cruise?
From $165 per person for 2 days 1 night on Dragon Pearl, and from $220 on Dragon Legend or Prince, two sharing, all meals included, October to April. A 3 day 2 night trip is $310 to $382. Transfer from Hanoi is $35 per person return.
Where does Indochina Junk sail?
Bai Tu Long Bay, northeast of the main Halong Bay cruise area, from Halong International Port. It has far fewer boats than Halong or Lan Ha Bay. See Halong Bay vs Bai Tu Long Bay.
Is Indochina Junk still operating?
Yes. Dragon Legend, Dragon Pearl and Prince are sailing in 2026 and you can book them for your date on our boat pages.
Is Dragon Pearl a real wooden junk?
Yes. Dragon Pearl and Prince are wooden boats built in the traditional junk style; Dragon Legend is a larger modern ship. More in our Halong Bay junk boat guide.
Book an Indochina Junk cruise
Open the boat page, choose your date and cabin, add the Hanoi transfer if you need it, and pay securely online. We confirm your cabin and pickup within one hour. Questions about the three boats? WhatsApp +84 904 251 545.
