Au Co Cruise

Au Co crosses two bays in a single night. You board at Tuan Chau at noon, kayak the lagoon at Ho Ba Ham on the Lan Ha side that afternoon, and choose between Tien Ong cave and the floating village at Cua Van the next morning. The ship is steel, 56 m long, spread over four decks, and was launched in 2012. Bhaya Cruises, which runs it, says fourteen years of cruising and a crew of 45.

Two ships, one name

Bhaya runs twin Au Co ships of 32 cabins each, renovated in recent years, and the guest stories it publishes name Au Co 1 and Au Co 2. A booking under the Au Co name does not tell you which hull you will sleep on. The same company also runs Bhaya Classic, Bhaya Legend and Bhaya Soul. Put the ship’s full name and number on the confirmation.

The cabins, all 32

Bhaya describes every grade. Fourteen deluxe cabins fill the main deck at 20 m², each with a balcony of its own and a glass-walled shower, some of them connecting. Twelve executive cabins sit on the upper deck at the same 20 m², also with balconies. The two grand deluxe cabins, aft on the upper deck, trade the balcony for a large panoramic window.

Then the suites. The Long Quan suites sit at the stern with a terrace, sun loungers, a king bed and a bathtub, at 40 m². The two Au Co suites are forward, at 36 m², with a wraparound balcony, a queen bed and a free-standing tub.

On deck there is a shared jacuzzi, the tub the operator photographs full of flower petals at dusk; no cabin description mentions one. The ship also has a spa, and kayaking is in the fare.

The route

Bhaya’s own terminal, the Bhaya Halong Cruise Center at No 9 Ngoc Chau harbour inside Tuan Chau Marina, is where you board, and the ship leaves at noon. Our note on which harbour you leave from sets the three piers side by side.

On the two-day trip the first afternoon goes to Ho Ba Ham, the lake-like lagoon where the kayaks come out, followed by happy hour, a cooking competition, rice-wine tasting and squid fishing. Next morning you pick Tien Ong cave or the floating culture centre at Cua Van, reached by kayak or rowing boat, and the ship is back at the marina by ten. The operator puts you in central Hanoi or at the airport between 13:30 and 14:30.

The three-day programme adds Trinh Nu beach and cave and the pearl farm at Tung Sau, with Ba Ham, Tien Ong and Cua Van still on it. A four-day version reaches into Bai Tu Long for Viet Hai, Vung Vieng, Thien Canh Son, Sung Sot and Luon. The caves and islands guide shows how often each of those stops turns up across the fleet, and Ha Long Bay covers the water the ship starts from.

Price and offers

One reseller, read on 28 October 2026, prices the two-day trip at $385 for a deluxe or grand deluxe cabin, $427 for an executive and $685 for the Long Quan suite. For the three-day trip the same grades are $731, $835 and $1,301. It states that its prices assume two adults in a cabin, so these are cabin prices for two. Halved, the cheapest one-night cabin is about $193 each for two sharing.

Bhaya’s own pages quote prices with all taxes and fees included. Ask the operator for a quote for your dates, and compare it with the reseller’s figures.

When we read the operator’s pages on 6 August 2026, the two-day trip carried a “Kids Sail Free” tag; ask for its terms with your quote.

Book direct with Bhaya and the shared limousine from the Hanoi Old Quarter is in the fare: pick-up is between 08:00 and 08:30 and the drive takes about two and a half hours. A private car costs extra. Through an agency the shuttle may be billed; halongbaytours.com charged $40 an adult for the round trip in August 2026. Drinks and spa treatments are extra, so check what is not included before comparing totals.

What happens if you cancel or the weather turns?

Bhaya’s standard booking conditions, which cover all its boats unless your rate says otherwise, leave you free to cancel more than 28 days out. For one to four cabin-nights the charge is 30% from 28 days, 60% from 14 days and the full fare inside eight days, and a change of date is free more than 21 days ahead. Promotional rates such as non-refundable deals override this. If weather stops a sailing before departure, Bhaya offers the nearest alternative and refunds or charges the difference.

Who it suits

Couples and families who want a balcony cabin and a single night that reaches the Lan Ha side, booked through someone who will name the hull. Groups too: the operator’s wedding page allows up to 76 guests a ship overnight. The rest of the luxury list is where to compare it.

Who should look elsewhere

Travellers who want a bathtub without paying for a suite, and anyone booking through an agency who needs the twin hulls kept straight: ask which Au Co you are on. If you are choosing between waters first, the bays differ.

Where these facts come from

The cabins, decks, crew, launch year, programmes and pier are from bhayacruises.com, read on 6 August 2026, and halongbaytours.com gives the same launch year. The transfer, times, cancellation and weather terms are from Bhaya’s FAQ and booking conditions, read the same day. Prices are from originvietnam.com, read on 28 October 2026.