What You Eat on a Ha Long Bay Cruise, Meal by Meal
Four meals on an overnight cruise, lunch on a day cruise, sunset snacks and a cooking class. What is served, buffet or set menu, vegetarian and halal options, and what costs extra.
By AmGo Travel5 min read
Food is a bigger part of a Ha Long Bay cruise than most people expect. On a 2-day cruise you eat four times on board, plus snacks at sunset, and the menus range from Vietnamese seafood to buffets and Western set dinners. This guide explains what you eat on a day cruise and an overnight cruise, meal by meal, how special diets work, and what is usually extra, from the AmGo Travel team in Hanoi's Old Quarter.
How many meals are included?
On an overnight (2 days 1 night) cruise, you usually get four meals on board: lunch on day 1, dinner, breakfast on day 2, and a brunch or early lunch before you disembark. Some ships list it as "lunch, dinner, breakfast and brunch"; others as "2 lunches, 1 dinner, 1 breakfast". It comes to the same thing.
On a day cruise from Hanoi, lunch on board is included, plus a sunset party with tea, fruit and cakes or biscuits on the way back. Breakfast is not included; the bus stops for a short break on the way to the coast, around 9:45 to 10:00, where you can buy something.
Day 1: lunch while sailing
Lunch is the first thing that happens after you board, usually between 12:30 and 13:30, while the ship sails out among the islands. It is a good moment: the view changes outside the window as you eat.
The format depends on the ship:
- Buffet. Some ships serve a buffet lunch, for example Capella and Grand Pioneers.
- Vietnamese set menu with seafood. Many cruises serve a set menu of Vietnamese dishes, often with Ha Long seafood.
- Day cruises. Lunch on day cruises can be a buffet or a set menu. On Alina Cruise 99 and Selina Cruise 168 it is an Asian–European buffet; on Reina it is a set menu.
Sunset: canapés, tea and happy hour
In the late afternoon, around 17:00 to 18:30, most ships hold a sunset party on the sundeck. Depending on the ship, there are canapés, fruit, pastries, afternoon tea or a glass of wine. Many cruises also run a happy hour, with offers such as buy one get one free or buy two get one free on drinks.
The cooking class
The most common activity before dinner is a cooking class or demonstration. On many ships the chef shows you how to make Vietnamese spring rolls, fresh or fried, and you roll your own, then eat them. Other ships teach a different Vietnamese dish, or show fruit and vegetable carving. It is a relaxed way to meet the other guests.
Dinner on board
Dinner is usually served around 19:00 to 19:30, once the ship has anchored for the night. This is where cruises differ most:
- Vietnamese and seafood dinners on many ships, for example a seafood set dinner on Diana.
- Fusion set menus, mixing Vietnamese and international dishes, on ships such as Athena and Signature.
- A Western set dinner on Paradise Elegance.
- A BBQ dinner by the pool on Stellar of the Seas.
- Dinner on the sundeck, weather permitting, on some ships, sometimes with live music.
Some cruises note that meals may be a set menu rather than a buffet when the group is small. After dinner, many ships offer squid fishing.
Day 2: breakfast and brunch
The second morning usually starts early with Tai Chi on the sundeck, then a light breakfast with tea, coffee and pastries around 6:30 to 7:30. Some ships go further: Amanda Legend has a pho and egg station, and the Bai Tu Long cruise serves a Western-style breakfast.
After the morning activity, such as a cave visit or kayaking, there is a brunch or early lunch around 9:30 to 10:30 as the ship sails back to port. It is often a buffet. Eat well, because you arrive back at the harbour before midday and the drive to Hanoi takes a few hours.
Vegetarian, vegan, halal and allergies
Special diets are possible on most ships, but you need to ask in advance:
- Tell us when you book. Most of our cruise pages ask guests to mention food allergies or vegetarian meals at booking.
- Notice periods. Capella and Lyra Grandeur can prepare vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, dairy-free and halal menus with at least 24 hours' notice. Aqua Elegance asks for dietary needs at least 3 days before departure.
- Indian food. On Selina Cruise 168, an Indian set menu is available on the day cruise, even for one guest.
- Vegetarian lunches. Verdure Lotus serves a Vietnamese seafood and vegetarian lunch.
If you have a serious allergy, remind the crew when you board as well.
What is usually extra?
- Drinks. Many ships include a welcome drink, but drinks are generally listed as extra, including wine, beer and cocktails, and are paid on board. Happy-hour offers help.
- Special dinners. Some ships offer a private dinner in your cabin or on the deck at extra cost.
- Tips for the crew are not included.
Settle your bar bill before you check out on day 2. Our guide to choosing a Ha Long Bay cruise covers the other differences between ships.
FAQ
Are meals included on a Ha Long Bay cruise? Yes. Overnight cruises include all meals on board as listed, usually four, and day cruises include lunch and a sunset snack.
Is the food buffet or set menu? It depends on the ship and the meal. Lunches and brunches are often buffets, dinners are often set menus, and some ships serve a set menu when the group is small.
Can I get vegetarian or vegan food? Yes, on most ships, if you tell us when you book. Some cruises also prepare vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free and halal menus with at least 24 hours' notice.
Are drinks included? Usually only a welcome drink. Other drinks are paid on board, often with happy-hour offers at sunset.
Is breakfast included on a day cruise? No. The bus stops on the way to the coast for breakfast at your own expense, and lunch is served on board.
Where can I book a Ha Long Bay cruise with meals included? AmGo Travel, a Vietnamese team of trip planners and guides with an office at 61 Hang Ga, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi, books day cruises and overnight cruises in Ha Long Bay and Lan Ha Bay with meals on board, and passes on your dietary needs to the ship. You can book at amgotravel.com or message the team on WhatsApp.
Ha Long Bay cruises with AmGo Travel
See all Ha Long Bay tours, or message AmGo Travel on WhatsApp and a local trip planner will help you find a cruise that suits your diet and taste.
