As an expat who has lived in Hanoi for nearly 18 months, I had the impression that the Emeraude was the gold star in Halong Bay cruising. With 2 toddlers, a family trip wasn't really an option, so I was very excited about a girls weekend on the boat. Arriving just in time to depart at lunchtime, we enjoyed a... More

We spent most of a day, the night and the next day on the ship Emeraude in Halong Bay. It's a World Heritage site and no wonder -- there's a msytical feeling about the water and the islands, especially when it's overcast and a drizzly, but even with the sun shining. Being on the Emeraude was great -- small, cozy... More

The service and the quality of the boat are exceptional, as is Halong Bay. We took their bus which took about 3 1/2 hours and gave you the opportunity to see a bit of the countryside. Very safe driver who stopped half way. Food on board sublime but watch out for drinks which were hideous, £2.50 for coke or tea... More

We stayed on the Emeraude 5 years ago and have just stayed again. Wow! It was even better than we remember! AMAZING beauty of Halong Bay coupled with the comfortable luxury of a replica 1920s boat. Delicious food for every meal, faultless service by discreetly attentive staff and cosy cabins. Worth the extra cost for such refined and lovely surroundings. More

5 years ago I went on a cruise with my family and when we came back to Vietnam we definitely wanted to go back on the Emeraude. Only a few hours away from Hanoi and it is magical. The crew were very helpful and very nice, the food was amazing, and the views were so cool. You can go swimming... More

This is difficult since we had the nicest room on the boat. We did look in on some of the other rooms and they did look dated, extremely small and cramped. You better have zero desire for any activity that would tell the guests about Halong Bay, then you won't be disappointed. If you have been on a cruise ship... More

Don't go for the day, it's a must to stay on board for the night! More

After a rush from our hotel to the Emeraude office, and long hours from Hanoi, finally we arrived at the Emeraude’s office / café in Halong bay. Nice café. I took time to sip some coffee, but hey, you have to pay that, I thought it was compliments :) Next, transferred to the cruise by small boat… We entered the... More

The Emeraude cruise is quite lovely. I have friends who arrange for travel a lot in Vietnam, and they recommended Emeraude as one of the more trustworthy cruise lines. I'm glad I took their advice. Admittedly, the cruise is short for quite a lot of money. You leave Hanoi in the morning (around 8), arrive around noon, and then take... More