If you’re planning for a cruise trip in Vietnam, cruising in Halong Bay or along the Mekong River, let’s check out the short guides and tips below to have a perfect cruise trip.

1. Making a schedule

The peak season for foreign tourists to Vietnam is from December to April of the following year. However, the best weather for you to travel in the country in April, May, June or September and October because the day will be longer and it is more pleasant for water activities and viewing the sunrise or sunset.

With a short time frame, you can make a schedule for a two-day one-night trip on Halong bay. A three-day two-night journey can also be made to discover pristine sites for those who own a longer time frame.

2. Choosing a cruise

Choosing a suitable cruise is very important because you will stay on board that cruises most of your time.

A small junk with luxurious designs is a favorite choice of tourists, especially those with a capacity of 300 – 1,200 people.

Suitable public spaces will help guests exchange in a friendly ambiance. Whilst and big vessels with many modern facilities attract guests for its itineraries and entertaining activities, from wave-surfing to playing golf and tennis.

3. Choosing a suitable cabin

Each cruise offers various types of cabins with a different space, area, view, and equipment. Cabins are spaciously designed with private balconies, large windows, natural wooden floors, beds, air conditioners, hand-made interiors and private bathrooms with standard facilities. A luxurious room also includes a small fridge, safe, sauna, and Jacuzzi. Foreign guests often prefer a cabin from 23m2 with a private balcony and modern amenities, which cannot be found on three-star cruises.

4. Selecting an itinerary

For cruises on Halong Bay or Mekong River, you can also experience different itineraries such as a trip in about 4, 6 or 8 hours in the day or an overnight trip onboard with required tourist sites. The cruise trip will help you not only enjoy outdoor spaces but also experience the culture and the daily life of local people living on the floating villages on the Halong Bay or Mekong river. In your itinerary, you can enjoy an array of local specialties and exchange with famous speakers or participate in many onboard activities.

5. Maintaining good health

For any cruise trip, you are advised to maintain your good health and bring medicines and first aid to the kit to avoid unexpected problems. If you have had heart attacks or aliments, you should avoid visiting caves or climbing up hills. When traveling with children, parents should keep them from standing closely to handrails of the cruise ship or swimming alone. Prepare cool clothes, sunglasses, sunscreen, comic books and toys for kids. With infants, you should bring diapers and strollers. Bring insect sprayers and necessary medicines in case your children get a cold. These small guidelines and tips are very useful for you before every cruise trip.

6. Searching for information on the area, harbor, and bay that your cruise will moor at

This is very essential, especially for international itineraries. You should search for necessary information about local maps, culture, people and famous sites before your journey. In addition, useful information provided through presentations or by consultants and onboard instructors also help you understand more about new destinations.

7. Choosing a place for eating

Those who first travel onboard a cruise may worry about a place to have meals. Most big cruises have their own restaurants and dining rooms for serving normal meals or buffets, which are often included in the tour price. However, for some cruises, you will have to pay money for food. Therefore, you had better ask the staff to check whether your meals are included or not.

8. Outdoor activities

Guests can join in an array of activities such as practicing Taichi in the morning, attending cooking classes, swimming, kayaking, riding a bike or team building at mooring places. You should learn to swim or sail a kayak with the guidance of the cruise’s staff. Most four or five-star junks offer Taichi in the morning that many international guests are interested in. Also, going kayaking or going on a boat of local people (normally priced at 500.000 VND/kayak) are also favorite activities.

9. Understanding about requirements visa and passport

With international cruises to many countries, guests are advised to bring their passport and visa. Some cruises also support you to enter those countries at short notice. You should read the regulations and necessary information about expenses and requirements of applying for a visa carefully before booking your tour. In Vietnam, when booking a tour via travel agents, you will be instructed to provide necessary information about your passport or identity card before your journey.

10. Preparing your luggage and accessories

Before your cruise trip, you should prepare necessary items such as shower cream, shampoo, eyewash, and towel, even when these things are provided onboard. In summer, you should bring sunscreen (with an SPF rating from 30), glasses, swimsuit, shorts, skirts, hats, and sandals. If you like photographing, a camera is indispensable in your luggage to record all the beautiful moments during your journey. When going on board, you should bring your identity card or passport. Keep your luggage carefully to avoid it being lost.