Indochina Sails Ha Long Bay

Their polite reply asked me to get in touch, but after I did, they never answered. That turned out to be pure formality. Indochine Sails was a major disappointment. The boat was in such poor condition that what you see online has little to do with being on board. It’s sold as a premium, almost luxurious trip, but the condition doesn’t justify the price. The cabin felt neglected, with holes in the walls, unfinished details, and missing supports. Our suite was supposedly one of the best on the boat, which made that all the more worrying. If this was the top category, I can only imagine the lower ones. In the bathroom, tiles were missing, fixtures were broken, and there was visible damage. Our toilet barely worked. We asked three times for it to be fixed. Each time someone came, said it was repaired, and left, but it still didn’t work. Eventually I realized it was actually broken, not a temporary problem. I stopped flushing and avoided using it, leaving waste in the room because I couldn’t rely on the toilet. The staff were polite and clearly tried to help, but goodwill can’t make up for long-term neglect like this. These weren’t small inconveniences. Food was another disappointment. If we didn’t like a dish, they offered to cook something else, such as pasta, but the quality was very low. The cooking was heavy and overly oily, and it felt poorly done. For a trip aimed at international tourists, the kitchen wasn’t up to standard. Meals felt like an afterthought instead of part of a curated experience. There was a lot of strong marketing, but little real quality to match it. You pay for comfort, care, and refinement, then spend the trip noticing what doesn’t work. For the price, this level of poor upkeep and food was unacceptable.

The room view was breathtaking, and I couldn’t stop taking photos. We had a lovely two-day, one-night stay on the Indochina Cruise. Lunch and breakfast were enjoyable, and dinner was superb, with lobster soup, New Zealand mussels, and a choice of salmon or rib eye for the main course. Cocktails and wine by the glass were well priced at 180-210k. There were cave tours, squid fishing, and a cooking class, and the staff were very friendly. Highly recommend this cruise operator.

Our suite had plenty of space, lovely views from the second floor, and I slept well. It also had the best shower I’ve had on a cruise. The two-night trip on Indochina Sails was great value for the comfort and service. All the staff were top-notch, and Tuan, our “happy Buddha,” deserves a special mention for looking after us and arranging a room upgrade. We always knew what was coming up. The five-course lunches and dinners and the buffet breakfast all exceeded our expectations. Thanks to the whole team.

The rooftop could be more inviting. There’s little up there beyond a few sunbeds, and the boat is due for renovation. It must have been luxurious in its day, but now it really needs a revamp. Even so, our New Year’s 3D2N wood cruise was a relaxing family experience. Tuan, the Little Happy Buddha, welcomed us, checked on us, and explained the schedule. The kitchen and bar staff were kind and dedicated. We had a lovely réveillon meal, drinks, and fireworks. It was a joyful trip.