Things to do in Ba Trai Dao

I had a great experience joining this trip. The tour guide, Mr. Hao (Happy), really left a great impression on me. Just like his nickname, “Happy,” he truly kept everyone’s spirits up, even though it was raining that day. He was enthusiastic, energetic, helpful, cheerful, attentive, and always made sure everyone was having a good time. At first, I was a little disappointed with the weather. It was raining, and I had hoped to enjoy kayaking under the sunshine. However, it turned out to be one of my best memories—the experience of kayaking in the rain was unforgettable. Mr. Happy was always reminding us, “Have fun, don’t get hurt,” and he constantly looked out for everyone’s safety. He also frequently checked on us throughout the trip to make sure we were doing well. The food on the cruise was great as well. Overall, I would rate this experience 9/10. Thank you, Mr. Happy, for making this trip so enjoyable. I hope to see you again someday!

For those of you who are considering a Lan Ha Bay tour, I'd like to share some helpful information! Our itinerary was: hotel pickup -> transfer to the pier -> cruise boarding -> kayaking/swimming -> lunch -> visit to Viet Hai village (doctor fish) -> return to the pier -> hotel drop-off. (Once you board the cruise, an English-speaking guide will explain the itinerary.) For those staying on Cat Ba Island, this is a great way to spend a productive half-day at a low cost. 1) Most of the guests are Vietnamese, but the English-speaking guide makes sure that no one feels left out. 2) Compared to other cruises, the quality is very good, and there's less boat vibration, making it more comfortable. 3) Lunch is buffet-style, and the quality is surprisingly good. 4) There's absolutely no pressure for tips or shopping, so you can just relax and enjoy your day~ Here are a few tips, haha: - It's not primarily for water activities, and the water isn't clear, so snorkeling is practically impossible. It's more for just getting in the water, haha. - Since it's mostly Vietnamese guests, it might feel a bit unfamiliar (frequent smoking on deck, chaotic meal times lol). - It's a different experience from tours arranged by Koreans, which are usually well-developed for tourism, but it's still a decent way to spend a day!

Total of 26 people on the tour. I was the only Korean person. It was a 3-story, high-end cruise ship with a small pool inside, and simple food was provided. You could see several islands, and the sunset was beautiful. We had a short time to enjoy swimming and canoeing. We also visited a local village, and it was a great value-for-money tour. One minor disappointment was that the canoe experience was advertised as included in the tour price, but there was an additional charge (150,000-200,000 VND).

The cruise was extremely good. They celebrated our anniversary and gave us honeymoon suite. Our host Hulk was very good. He was polite, respectful and made our anniversary memorable. This cruise is highly, highly recommended!!

Our experience with Doria Cruise Vietnam was absolutely unforgettable. The cruise itself was beautiful, modern, & very well maintained, with stunning views from every corner of the cruise . The rooms were spacious, clean, & luxurious — waking up to the breathtaking scenery of Ha Long Bay felt magical. What truly made the trip special was the staff , specially *sweet girl Unie* who was very incredibly warm, attentive, & helpful throughout the journey. The activities were well organized, the food was delicious,& the overall atmosphere was relaxing yet memorable.

We loved the experience from start to finish. All the staff were extremely attentive and caring. Special mention to Dan, who truly was like our big brother during the trip: always present, attentive, funny, and taking great care of everyone. He clearly helped make this experience even more memorable. We highly recommend doing the 3-day trip: the first day was busier because we were in high season, but the second day completely changed the experience. We were on a smaller, more intimate boat, visiting much less touristy places. Being able to enjoy the landscapes almost alone on the water was magical. All the meals were excellent. A small point for improvement: we would have liked to have a choice for the last dinner on the Amanda boat, as we had really loved the first menu.

The overall experience was wonderful. The biggest highlight of this boat is that there are very few guests, with only 4 cabins, making the entire trip very quiet and relaxing, completely free from the hustle and bustle of large tour boats. It is very suitable for people who want to unwind. Special praise goes to our tour guide, Thai, who was extremely friendly and responsible, and took great care of us. As for the dining, because there are few guests, the variety of dishes may not be as extensive as on large boats, but they made up for it with high quality and great taste; you could tell the ingredients were very fresh. If you are looking for a private and quiet trip to Lan Ha Bay, this is a great choice.

We took a 3-day, 2-night Ha Long Bay cruise. Although Lily's boat was a bit older, the staff on board were very friendly and enthusiastic. The meals were delicious, and the tour guides were very responsible. On the second night, they upgraded us to a more luxurious boat. We were a little nervous at first, but the transition was handled very well, so you can rest assured. There was so much food for dinner that we couldn't finish it all.

One of the great trips and memories in my Vietnam trip. Whenever I will plan to visit Vietnam I will book it again. Good food, good rooms, and great staff.