Quang Ninh

I'd like to participate again if I have the chance, because the tour fee is reasonable, the service is good, and the staff are polite.

Hanoi in January was colder than I expected, and we never saw the sun. However, the ship was always warm and comfortable, and the misty Halong Bay looked like a watercolor painting. The L'Amour was a new ship, beautifully appointed, and the staff were all very friendly. Our room had a jacuzzi bathtub and large windows with a great view of Halong Bay. The infinity-like pool was open and refreshing (although it was cold water when I was there). My daughter and I were the only Japanese guests on board, but the staff greeted us in Japanese, and we were truly touched by their hospitality. Our English isn't very good, so we struggled to communicate at times, but everyone was very kind. There was a traditional music show at dinner, and in the evening, some people were enjoying the club music, making for a very lively atmosphere. The tour was well-organized and very satisfying!

Since our hotel was far from the old town, we met in front of the Opera House. The sign said we were supposed to meet between 7:30 and 7:40, but I was apparently the last one to be picked up (other guests were picked up at the hotel), so they picked me up around 8:10. There were many other tour groups around, so I wondered how I would meet up with them. It was already past time, and I was worried I'd been left behind. When the medium-sized bus arrived, the tour guide got off and called out my name repeatedly, searching for me, and we were finally able to meet up. On the way there, we took breaks at a silk, cotton, and bamboo souvenir shop and a pearl souvenir shop. The trip took about three hours each way. The boat seats six people, and solo travelers like me were seated in a group of five. Naturally, the group was having so much fun that it felt like we were out of place... I wish they'd seated us in smaller groups. The cruise was packed with activities, including: 1) an onboard lunch buffet, 2) a two-hour cave exploration, 3) a one-hour mountain climb to the observation deck and beach stroll, 4) a one-hour boat or canoe ride, and 5) an onboard wine and fruit party. 4) Swimming was an option, but it was cold, around 15°C on the first half, so only three people, a British father and son, swam. Incidentally, canoeing is a two-person trip, so teamwork is essential, and you'll get wet and it seems like it would be physically draining, so it was a good decision not to choose it. The tour conductor, a Vietnamese man with a quirky English, was difficult to understand, but he was very cheerful and kind. (He attached a capybara stuffed toy to the end of a stick and called us Team Capybara.) The passengers were from various countries, but the tour conductor made it clear that everyone on the boat was family! They kept the group going, and there was an atmosphere where you could make friends if you wanted to. It wasn't many, but if you were lucky, you might even meet some Japanese people or foreigners who could speak Japanese. At the end of the tour, we took a 20-minute break at a service area on the highway. There weren't many restaurants open, but I had pho. The tour conductor and driver ate at a restaurant reserved for them. On the way back, they dropped me off at the Opera House first, so we arrived before 9pm. It was good value for money, and I was very satisfied and glad I participated.

This trip to Hanoi, Vietnam included a day trip to the famous Ha Long Bay. Since we weren't considering yachting and overnight accommodation, we opted for a day trip with round-trip transportation. The tour departed at 7:30 AM and returned to Hanoi city center around 8:30 PM. In addition to the designated pick-up location on the itinerary, you can specify a pick-up near your hotel when booking, and the guide will arrange pick-ups along the route. Our guide for this day trip was Nam, a Vietnamese national. He was very dedicated to explaining Vietnamese history and culture, which was very informative. His English was simple and easy to understand, and his speaking pace was gentle; even we non-native English speakers could understand 80-90% of his explanations. The order of the itinerary may be slightly adjusted depending on the day's schedule, but all the attractions will be visited, so don't worry too much about that! Additionally, the journey included an extra stop at a pearl factory where you can observe the pearl harvesting and culturing process. There's no hard selling, and you can choose whether or not to purchase pearl jewelry. For the canoe experience, you can choose between a two-person canoe (requires experience and it's recommended to bring a change of clothes), a multi-person bamboo raft, or an additional fee of $30 per person for a speedboat ride. The bamboo raft ride took approximately 20-30 minutes; the bamboo raft experience at the Ningping Chang'an Ecological Zone is highly recommended! The buffet on the yacht was decent, nothing particularly amazing but filling. Drinks can be purchased separately at an extra cost. In the afternoon, there are complimentary snacks, fruits, and basic fruit juices and teas. During Happy Hour, drinks are buy-two-get-one-free. Finally, enjoy a beautiful sunset from the yacht to end the day – highly recommended!

The cruise ship's rooms were very clean, the facilities were well-maintained and new, and the staff were very friendly and even helped peel shrimp.

This two-day, one-night cruise on the Hermès ship, with its beautiful scenery of Ha Long Bay, delicious food, and engaging itinerary, was definitely worthwhile.