Three larger ships on Lan Ha Bay, from the Tuan Chau area · map not to scale
At a glance
- Ships
- Capella (30 suites), Indochine Grand (32 cabins), Paradise Grand (39 cabins)
- Nights
- One or two nights on all three; Capella also three
- Best for
- Capella: families with teens · Paradise Grand: larger groups · Indochine Grand: a modern ship
- Budget
- From 140 USD per person per day at 4★ (2 travellers sharing); group of 4 from 133, group of 6 from 128.8
- Getting there
- About two and a half hours by private car from Hanoi
The short answer
For families with teenagers I book Capella Cruise: two family suites for five, a rooftop pool and a waterslide. For larger groups where value matters I choose Paradise Grand, with 39 balcony cabins and a 450 m² sundeck. Indochine Grand, launched in 2025 with a rooftop bar and one crew member per guest, suits couples who want a modern ship.
Small boutique ships are not right for every group. A family with two teenagers, three generations travelling together, or a party of eight friends often needs more space, more cabins and more to do on board than a six- or ten-suite ship can give. For those trips I look at three larger ships on Lan Ha Bay: Capella Cruise, Paradise Grand and Indochine Grand. All three sail from the Tuan Chau area, about two and a half hours by private car from Hanoi, and all three give every cabin a balcony or terrace. The differences are in who they suit.
The best luxury Ha Long cruise ship for larger groups: the three compared
| Capella Cruise | Paradise Grand | Indochine Grand | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Size | 30 suites | 39 cabins in four categories | 32 cabins for 64 guests, launched 2025 |
| Rooms for families | Two family suites for five; interconnecting Oasis and Harmony suites | Grand Balcony 28 m²; two suite types of 35 m² with bathtub | 28 Junior Suites of 28 m², Suites, an Executive and a Presidential Suite |
| On deck | Rooftop pool with jacuzzi, floating ocean pool, inflatable waterslide | 450 m² sundeck with jacuzzi | Rooftop panoramic bar, 450 m² sundeck with jacuzzi pool, 300 m² infinity deck |
| Programmes | One, two or three nights | One or two nights | One or two nights |
| Signature | Floor-to-ceiling windows in every suite | Menus by a Michelin-starred chef; open-air cinema; butler service | One crew member per guest; Tonkin fine-dining restaurant |
| Who I book it for | Families with children over ten; multi-generation groups | Larger family groups and classic routes where value matters | Couples and families with older children who want a modern ship |
Capella Cruise: the family ship
Capella Cruise is the ship I reach for when children need something to do on the boat. It has 30 suites, each with floor-to-ceiling windows and a private balcony or terrace, and two family suites that sleep five. The interconnecting Oasis and Harmony suites help when a family wants two rooms side by side. On the roof there is the Oasis pool with a jacuzzi, and in the water a floating ocean pool and an inflatable waterslide.
The programme includes Dark and Bright cave by rowing boat or kayak, squid fishing and a cooking demonstration. On the one-night cruise, four meals, a guide, entrance fees and public-area Wi-Fi are included. For a 14-day family trip we recommend the two-night programme, then an afternoon flight to Da Nang for Hoi An.
Paradise Grand: space and full facilities
Paradise Grand is Paradise Vietnam’s five-star ship on Lan Ha Bay, with 39 cabins in four categories. The Grand Balcony cabins are 28 m²; the Grand Balcony Suite and the Captain’s View Grand Suite are 35 m² with a bathtub. Its 450 m² sundeck with a jacuzzi is one of the largest on the bay. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are served on board, with menus by a Michelin-starred chef, and there is a spa, butler service, an open-air cinema and live music from a resident band.
Days on board include Dark and Bright cave, Frog Pond, kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding in season. I use Paradise Grand on family and classic routes where the group is larger and value matters. Two nights suit families who want a lazier middle day.
Indochine Grand: the newest of the three
Indochine Grand is Indochina Sails’ newest ship, launched in 2025 from Tuan Chau Port. It has 32 balcony cabins for 64 guests and a crew of the same size. Most cabins are Junior Suites of 28 m², with Suites, an Executive Suite and a Presidential Suite above them. The rooftop panoramic bar, the 450 m² sundeck with a jacuzzi pool and a 300 m² infinity deck are its social spaces, and the Tonkin restaurant serves French-Indochine menus.
The one-night programme visits Dark and Bright cave and a floating fish farm; two nights add Viet Hai village and Three Peaches beach. On board there is tai chi, a cooking class, kayaking, squid fishing and movie nights. On honeymoon and heritage routes I prefer the two-night programme.
How I choose the best luxury Ha Long cruise ship for your group
- Family of four or five with teenagers: Capella, for the family suites, the pool and the waterslide.
- Three generations, several cabins: Capella if the interconnecting suites fit; Paradise Grand if the group needs more cabins and a calmer pace.
- Couple who wants a newer ship and a rooftop bar: Indochine Grand.
- Group of friends or a larger family where value matters: Paradise Grand.
- Guests who care most about food: Paradise Grand for its chef-designed menus, or Indochine Grand for the Tonkin restaurant.
If the group is small and wants quiet more than activities, I usually point them to the smaller ships instead; see how I match Heritage Line ships to guests. In our experience, the size of the ship shapes the trip more than any single feature on its deck.
Mistakes I see most often
- Booking two standard cabins for a family of five. Ask first whether a family suite or interconnecting suites are free; on Capella they are limited and go early.
- Expecting a lift. Bay ships have stairs between decks. Tell us about knees or balance so we can ask which cabins keep climbing to a minimum.
- Cruising on the day before the flight home. Between June and August the bay is stormy and sailings can be cancelled, so I always leave a night in between.
- Choosing by the sundeck photo. Two of these ships have a 450 m² sundeck; the cabins, the programme and the number of nights matter more.
- Taking one night on a 14-day trip. All three offer two nights, and the second day is the only full day on the water.
Where to stay before and after the bay
Our guides usually give Hanoi two or three nights before the cruise. Fairmont Hanoi, open since February 2026 near Hoan Kiem Lake, has eight restaurants and bars and a wellness floor with a 20-metre lap pool. For a pause near the coast, Hilton Quang Hanh Onsen Resort in Cam Pha, about 30 minutes from Ha Long, has a private hot-spring bath in every villa and room. After the bay, families often fly to Da Nang; our notes on connecting rooms and family villas cover the rest of the route.
What it costs
We don’t publish prices for individual ships; each one is priced in your private quote. A private trip with 4★ hotels, your own guide and driver is from 140 USD per person per day, based on two travellers sharing, confirmed in your private quote. Larger ships usually mean larger groups, and the group rates help: a group of four pays from 133 USD per person per day and a group of six from 128.8. Fourteen days for a group of four is from 1,862 USD per person at the 4★ level. Trips built around 5★ resorts and ships in every stop sit in our top tier, from 350 USD per person per day, always quoted individually.
Domestic flights are quoted separately. We take a 30% deposit, with the balance due 45 days before arrival, and a non-refundable 100 USD per traveller holding fee (kept even if you cancel early), separate from the 30% deposit; your quote shows how it is applied to the final invoice. Card payments carry a 3.5% fee. See how group pricing works for four or six.
To see one of these ships inside a full journey, see Metta Voyage’s 14-day family tour, the 14-day Vietnam and Cambodia family tour or the 11-day cultural heritage tour for the current from-price. Our checklist for choosing a bay ship explains the cabin checks I make.
Sample itinerary, price from and a quote
If you want to see this advice turned into a bookable plan, start with a private family tour with a night on the bay: Vietnam Family Tour: A Private 14-Day Route for Families With Teens. It has a day-by-day sample itinerary, the hotels I would use and the price logic.
As a guide, a private trip of 14 days starts from 1,960 USD per person (14 days × 140 USD, 2 travellers sharing, 4★ hotels, private guide and driver), about 1,862 USD per person for a group of four and 1,803 USD for a group of six, confirmed in your written quote. Domestic flights are not included and are quoted separately; 5★ and luxury stays are quoted individually.
Request a quote for this route
Sources
Metta Voyage: Capella Cruise · Metta Voyage: Paradise Grand · Metta Voyage: Indochine Grand · Vietnam National Authority of Tourism: weather and climate · CDC: travel health advice for Vietnam
Questions we are often asked
Which is the best luxury Ha Long cruise ship for families?
For families with children over ten we usually choose Capella Cruise, which has two family suites for five, interconnecting suites, a rooftop pool and an inflatable waterslide. Paradise Grand suits larger family groups.
Do Capella, Paradise Grand and Indochine Grand sail Ha Long Bay or Lan Ha Bay?
All three sail Lan Ha Bay, the quieter southern part of the Ha Long seascape, leaving from the Tuan Chau area about two and a half hours from Hanoi.
Which of the three is the newest?
Indochine Grand, launched by Indochina Sails in 2025, with 32 balcony cabins for 64 guests and a crew of the same size.
How many nights should we book?
On a trip of two weeks or more we recommend two nights. All three ships offer one- and two-night programmes, and Capella also offers three.
How much does each ship cost?
We don't publish ship prices; each one is priced in your private quote. Private 4★ trips start from 140 USD per person per day for two travellers sharing, with group rates for four or six.
David — for The Metta Voyage team. Checked against our itineraries and the sources above on 11 November 2026.
