Halong Bay on the Red Dragon Junk

Take a two-day cruise onboard the Red Dragon Junk in the World Heritage site of Halong Bay. Stay in a deluxe cabin, enjoy delicious Vietnamese food and have time to explore beaches, lagoons and caves. You will be looked after by a friendly, knowledgeable English-speaking guide, and transfers from Hanoi are included.

If you’re looking for a scene-stealer of a setting, you’d be hard pushed to find a better one than Halong Bay. Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994, this implausibly beautiful place is home to 3000-or-so limestone islands that pierce the waters of the Gulf of Tonkin. Tiny crescent-shaped sandy beaches grace the shores, caves pock-mark the rocks, and on slopes high above, little copses crown the slate-coloured stone. From February to April the whole place becomes shrouded in a foggy mist giving the bay an even more magical feel.

As you sail around Halong Bay and up to Bai Tu Long Bay you’ll be granted views so breathtaking a Lonely Planet writer would find them hard to sum up. There’s no denying Mother Nature was feeling more than generous when she graced this place with such beauty. You can set out alone and spend time exploring in kayaks, laze on Ba Cua beach, and discover the streets of Vong Vieng fishing village. Or just sit back on your boat and enjoy the view.

The team who sort out this cruise make sure they do their bit for the planet, so not only will you enjoy a great mini-cruise with plenty of time to relax, you’ll also be supporting sustainable tourism and local communities. There’s not really anything about this mini-cruise that could possibly put you off – the only minor drag is the three-and-a-half-hour drive from your hotel to the boat in Halong City…but the views are well worth it once you get there. Overall this cruise is a real stress-buster. You’ll have plenty of time to yourself but because it’s only an overnight stay you won’t have time to get lonely if you’re travelling alone.