Calypso Cruise

Halong Bay is definitely an unmissable experience and you would be crazy to miss it if you’re in Hanoi. We just had one night, but we felt that this was worth the 7-hour return bus journey, even though we would have loved to have had longer. The boat looked a little old but it was still comfortable, with good cabins and facilities that worked perfectly. There was some excellent food served by the very friendly staff, of whom Ms Tracy was the best. The captain lead some Tai Chi upstairs, which was a very magical moment. Thanks for a great trip, Calypso Cruise!

We spent much time beforehand sifting through brochures and websites, trying to find the right cruise for us. We took a chance with the Calypso Cruise and we never looked back – it was a great cruise and a wonderful service. Our pick up from the Old Quarter was efficient with no hassles whatsoever. Our cruise director, Lang Nguyen, was on the bus and he provided us with information and requested to know about our dietary requirements – all in excellent English. As two vegetarians, we were set for an average experience at best, as vegetarianism isn’t so much of a thing in Vietnam, but the food was utterly sublime and they were some of the best meals we had in the whole country. Huge portions and multi-course - can’t really complain with that! We got talking to a lady with a gluten allergy on the boat and she affirmed that the staff were great in providing her with a delicious alternative.We all got to know each other fairly well, considering there are only a few passengers on each cruise, and we never felt like cattle at any point, getting shipped from place to place. We really enjoyed the kayaking, cave visit, looking around the floating village, tai chi, cooking class and squid fishing (everything we caught was released).All of the staff were great but Lang really was a fantastic director. He helped arrange for me and my husband to visit Cat Ba Island instead of returning from Hanoi, which was very nice of him. The scenery is totally breathtaking and we’re so glad that we chose the Calypso Cruise to see it with!

I took a 2 day cruise in June with the Calypso Cruise and was very happy with the overall trip! It’s an unmissable part of Halong Bay and truly one of the wonders of the world. There is a longer cruise available but I didn’t have time, so I took the 2 dayer.I was picked up promptly and taken along with other passengers to the bay. Our guide shared some information about the bay along the way.Once at the harbour, a small boat took us to the big boat, which I absolutely loved. The dark wood makes it look very traditional, but the whole place was modern and clean, with some decent air conditioning.A big lunch followed and then we went kayaking around a fishing village that floats on the water. I had a great time but it was a bit hard to paddle seeing as I was rowing solo. The kayaks have no backs so it was a little painful, but nothing too bad. Back on the boat, we made some spring rolls, which was fun, and had a really nice dinner. I relaxed on the top deck in the evening and arose early the next day for Tai Chi. After breakfast, we went to a cave, came back for a brunch and then headed back to the shore.Overall, this cruise was fantastic and worth every penny I paid. I met some very nice people on the boat and the staff made a great effort to come and talk to me because I was travelling solo. I have been amazed by the hospitality of Vietnamese people since I arrived in the country and this cruise just cemented their place as some of the friendliest I have ever met! A few things:*It will be $40 more for going solo.*Water is free but other beverages cost money.*There is a chance to tip at the end, which I strongly urge people to do because it all goes to the wonderful staff and their wages are nowhere near as high as they should be.*I do wish that I had re-jigged my plans to do the 3 day trip instead. My cruise went by very quickly. Great experience – a total must do! Thank you Calypso Cruise.

Just returned to Hanoi after a highly successful and very fun cruise with Calypso Cruise around Halong Bay. I do wish that I had the extra day to do the longer cruise, but my tight itinerary wouldn’t allow it. We were picked up by the shuttle at about 8.30 and arrived at noon, exactly as planned. The first day involved jumping into our kayaks or onto the sampan boat and rowing around a fishing village, which was so amazing to see. The excursion the next day was not as amazing, but still a pretty nice visit to a cave. There was a lot of time in between this to relax on the boat and watch the scenery, which is really what I was there for! The weather wasn’t playing ball so we didn’t really get a great view of the sunrise and sunset, but it was still good doing the Tai Chi and being in that very calming atmosphere. We never had to worry about going hungry, the amount of food that they serve you is crazy! The quality is also really good. Very clean rooms and cozy too. Tham was an awesome tour guide! He was so friendly and made us laugh throughout the trip. The Calypso Cruise really is the whole package – get booking!

The Calypso Cruise is very laid back and very fun! It’s a spectacular vessel to discover the most beautiful place in Vietnam. The staff were really good with us the whole time, and some even joined our group to relax during the evening time. Pinkie was outstanding and really helped to enhance our enjoyment on the Calypso Cruise. All the boxes were ticked as far as I’m concerned – there was great food, great drink and a great atmosphere because there were only 14 people on the boat, meaning we got talking to lots of different people and really had a good time sharing our cultures. That being said, there is still plenty of room to enjoy time to yourself, and we spent much of it in our gorgeous cabin, overlooking the pristine bay. I highly recommend sailing with Calypso Cruise and having Pinkie as your guide.