Ha Long Bay (Part 2)::Vietnam::Mobile Villa

Ha Long Bay has a total of over 500 cruise ships, of which 150 are available for overnight stays. The three ships under the Indochina brand were launched in 2007 and 2008, ranking among the top-tier luxury vessels in all of Ha Long Bay. These ships go all-in on a “replica classic” style—the hull is a three-story wooden cruise vessel, with a rather retro brown imitation sail on the deck. Stepping inside, the first and second floors house the cabins and restaurant. The restaurant features simple yet equally refined tableware arrangements. There’s also a bar on board, serving everything from Vietnamese beer to Heineken. Head up to the third floor, where you’ll find a deck offering sweeping views of the sea and sky. It’s bliss to spend the whole day sipping coffee here in a daze or lounging lazily in the sun.

There are no TVs or stereos in the cabins, nor are there the lavish beds you’d find in five-star hotels on land. The scattered stone forests in the inland bay often cause intermittent phone or internet signal loss. But with a nightly rate of $200, the price is on par with five-star hotels on land. You might wonder why—but this is actually the preferred way for well-traveled Westerners who love reading on the beach to experience Ha Long Bay. I guess the legendary reputation of Ha Long Bay, along with its serene, off-the-beaten-path charm, is what draws these foreigners from afar. Especially for those from overseas regions on the mainland, the spectacular sight of Ha Long Bay’s karst islands and limestone pillars must be a real eye-opener.

The itinerary on these vintage-style ships is somewhat similar to that of a luxury cruise—meaning the boat moves and stops intermittently, and when there’s nothing scheduled, you can just relax on the ship, whether by resting in your cabin or hanging out on the deck. When you reach scenic spots, the boat docks, allowing guests to get an up-close feel for Ha Long Bay’s geological and natural beauty.