Last updated 27 September 2026 by the Ava Travel team in Hanoi. Every figure below comes from the live prices of the 98 cruise ships Ava Travel sells, checked the same day.
The short answer, using Ava Travel’s own prices: a 2 day 1 night Halong Bay cruise costs $102 to $430 per person in 2026, with a typical price of about $165 per person in high season and $150 in low season, two adults sharing a cabin, all meals on board included. Half of all ships fall between $144 and $190. A 3 day 2 night cruise typically costs about $310 per person. Transfer from Hanoi is usually extra, around $35 per person round trip by shuttle.
Most price guides give you a range and a few examples. This one is built from the full catalogue: 98 ships on Halong Bay, Lan Ha Bay and Bai Tu Long Bay, with the lowest cabin price for each ship in both seasons.
Halong Bay cruise prices by class (2 days 1 night)
Per person, two adults sharing the cheapest cabin on each ship. “Typical range” is the middle half of ships in that class, so a quarter are cheaper and a quarter are more expensive. Star ratings in Halong Bay are declared by each operator, not by a tourism authority.
| Class | Ships | Cheapest (Ava Travel) | Typical range (high season) | Median, high season | Median, low season |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3-star budget | 9 | $102 | $118 to $134 | $127 | $115 |
| 4-star premium | 23 | $111 | $132 to $155 | $142 | $132 |
| 5-star luxury | 64 | $139 | $159 to $212 | $170 | $164 |
| All ships | 98 | $102 | $144 to $190 | $165 | $150 |
Two things stand out. First, the gap between classes is smaller than most people expect: the typical 5-star ship costs only about $28 more per person than the typical 4-star. Second, 64 of the 98 ships call themselves 5-star, so “luxury” on its own tells you little. Cabin size, ship age and the route matter more than the label.
Does the bay change the price?
| Route | Ships | Median price, 2D1N high season (Ava Travel) |
|---|---|---|
| Halong Bay | 37 | $150 |
| Bai Tu Long Bay | 10 | $158 |
| Lan Ha Bay | 49 | $165 |
Lan Ha Bay is about $15 more per person at the median, mainly because most of the newer ships have moved there. Bai Tu Long, the quietest route, sits in between. If you want fewer boats around you, the extra cost is small. Compare the routes in Halong Bay vs Lan Ha Bay.
High season vs low season
High season runs from October to April. On the typical ship, the cheapest cabin costs about 9 percent more in high season, but the rise is steeper on large suites and family rooms, where it can reach 20 to 30 percent over Christmas and New Year.
17 of the 98 ships keep one price all year, which makes them the best value for December and January dates. They include Ambassador (from $165), Swan (from $135, Bai Tu Long Bay), Annam Junk (from $102), Celina, Du Yen, Sea Stars and Larissa.
How much is a 3 day 2 night cruise?
Across the 53 three-day packages we sell, prices run from $202 to $560 per person in high season, with a median of about $310. On the ships that sell both, the 3-day trip costs a little under twice the 2-day price (the median ratio is 1.94). You are paying for a second night and a full middle day in quieter water, not a discount for staying longer. See all of them on our 3 day 2 night cruise list.
Per person or per cabin? How cruise prices are quoted
- Headline prices are per person, assuming two adults share one cabin. The cabin price is double the per-person figure.
- Travelling alone: one adult in a double cabin pays 85 percent of the full cabin price, so roughly 1.7 times the per-person price.
- Children aged 4 to 11 pay the ship’s extra bed rate. Infants aged 0 to 3 travel free.
- Family rooms are often sold per cabin, not per head. On some ships a family of four or more pays less per person than a couple does.
What is included, and what costs extra
Usually included: your cabin, all meals on board, entrance fees for the caves and stops on the scheduled route, and the activities in the itinerary such as kayaking, a cave visit, swimming, a cooking class or squid fishing.
Usually extra:
- Transfer from Hanoi. The pier is about 160 km from Hanoi, a 3 to 3.5 hour drive. A shared shuttle is usually about $35 per person round trip or $20 one way, and a private sedan for up to three people about $165 round trip. The exact price for your ship shows at checkout.
- Drinks from the bar.
- Spa treatments on ships that have a spa.
- Tips, which are optional.
- On a few ships, kayaking is charged separately. The cruise page always says so.
A realistic total for two people
| Couple, 2 days 1 night, high season | Budget | Typical (Ava Travel) | Luxury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cruise (2 people) | $204 | $330 | $424 |
| Shuttle, round trip (2 people) | $70 | $70 | $70 |
| Total before drinks and tips | $274 | $400 | $494 |
Budget uses the cheapest ship we sell ($102 per person), typical uses the median of all 98 ships ($165), and luxury uses the upper end of the typical 5-star range ($212).
Where the best value is
- Cheapest overnight: Annam Junk, from $102, a small wooden junk with 7 cabins and no balconies.
- Cheapest with a balcony cabin: Victory Star, from $136. Its sister Victory is $111 but the cabin is 16 sqm with no balcony.
- Most space for the money: Hera Grand, from $126 for a 35 sqm suite on an 11-cabin ship.
- Best all-rounder: Peony, from $159 on Lan Ha Bay, with spa and jacuzzi on a 20-cabin ship.
There are 33 overnight ships under $150 per person in high season; see them all on our Halong Bay cruises under $150 page. For which ship suits which traveller, read the 10 best Halong Bay cruises for 2026.
Cancellation costs
When you book with us, cancelling more than 30 days before check-in costs nothing. From 30 to 11 days before, the charge is 15 percent of the total; from 10 to 7 days, 30 percent; and less than 7 days before, or a no-show, 100 percent. Changing your date counts as a cancellation and a new booking. If the operator cancels, or the local authority closes the bay for weather, we move your date at no charge or refund you in full if we cannot.
Frequently asked questions
What is the cheapest overnight Halong Bay cruise?
Among the 98 ships we sell, the cheapest 2 day 1 night cruise is Annam Junk at $102 per person, meals included. Nine ships are rated 3-star, with a typical price of $118 to $134.
How much is a luxury Halong Bay cruise?
A 5-star 2 day 1 night cruise typically costs $159 to $212 per person, with a median of $170 in high season. The most expensive ships reach $350 to $430 per person, where you pay for a very small number of guests or top-end service rather than a bigger cabin.
Is a Halong Bay cruise worth the money?
For most visitors, yes, if you stay overnight. A day trip spends most of its hours on the road from Hanoi. An overnight cruise gives you the sunset, the evening and the early morning on the water, when the bay is at its quietest, and at the typical price of about $165 it includes all your meals for the two days.
When is the cheapest time to cruise Halong Bay?
May to September is low season, when the typical ship is about 8 percent cheaper and family rooms can be 20 to 30 percent cheaper. It is also hotter and wetter, and summer storms can occasionally close the bay for a day.
Do I pay a deposit or the full price?
With Ava Travel you pay the full price securely online at checkout, and we confirm your cabin and Hanoi pickup within one hour.
Check the price for your date
Prices change with the date, the cabin and the number of guests, so the exact figure is always on the cruise page. Compare all 98 ships on our Halong Bay cruise page, filtered by price, bay and class, or message us on WhatsApp (+84 904 251 545) with your dates and budget and we will suggest two options.
