Yellow Sails & Limestone Dragons
Let me tell you about a different kind of cruise. Not floating hotels with neon lights, nor day boats that herd tourists like cattle. Indochina Sails carries only forty-six guests in twenty-three cabins. Her signature yellow sails are furled along the masts, waiting for the wind. When it rises, the crew unfurls them by hand, and you feel time slip backward. This is old Asia. This is the Ha Long you dreamed of.
The Voyage Begins
Where wood & brass tell stories
A crew that knows every hidden cove, every sunrise spot. One crew member for every guest. They call one of the guides “Happy Little Buddha” — by the end of your voyage, you will understand why. Dark polished wood, brass fittings, and the soft creak of a real hull. This is not a fiberglass shell.
Day One · Boarding the Vintage Beauty
A cold towel & ginger-lemongrass welcome
You arrive before noon. The modern terminal fades when you see her: yellow sails, dark wood. No queues, your cabin key ready. Lunch is served as the first karsts rise from emerald water — fresh spring rolls, braised fish in a clay pot. Then an afternoon excursion to Surprise Cave (Sung Sot), a cathedral of stalactites. Golden hour on the sundeck: tropical fruit, egg coffee or Dalat white wine. Dinner is five courses of Vietnamese-French soul: green mango prawn salad, grilled Ha Long squid, slow-braised pork belly, passionfruit crème brûlée. At night, try squid fishing or simply listen to the water lap against the hull.
Day Two · Titov Island & Champagne Brunch
435 steps to the postcard view
At 6:00 AM, tai chi on the sundeck as mist lifts from the bay. Then a short boat ride to Titov Island. Climb 435 steps (steep but worth it) to the panoramic viewpoint — a turquoise curve of bay dotted with junks. Or swim at the beach below. Back on board, check-out and a lavish champagne brunch: phở with rare beef, smoked salmon, dragon fruit, made-to-order omelets, and a complimentary glass of sparkling wine. The ship glides back to port, and the crew waves goodbye at 11:00 AM.
Extended Journey · 3 Days / 2 Nights
Hidden lagoons & floating villages
With three days, you kayak through a hidden lagoon at Trinh Nu Cave (no other tourists). Visit a pearl farm and learn how Ha Long’s famous pearls are cultivated. Swim at Ba Trái Đào (Three Peaches Beach), accessible only by small boat. Enjoy a cooking demonstration rolling fresh spring rolls. The extra day deepens the calm — starting from $249 per person.
Why this cruise stands alone — Real wood, real sails. One crew per guest. Routes that balance iconic sights (Surprise Cave, Titov) with off‑the‑map moments: a pearl farm, a silent lagoon. And the price from $125 for 2 days includes all meals, entrance fees, kayaking, and an English‑speaking guide. That is exceptional value for a true luxury wooden junk.
Instagram-ready moments
Caption this: “Yellow sails, jade dragons, and a 435‑step sunrise. Ha Long, you old romantic. #IndochinaSails #YellowSails”
Facebook: “We climbed 435 steps, kayaked through a hidden cave, and ate passionfruit crème brûlée while limestone giants drifted past. Indochina Sails – the last true wooden cruise on Ha Long Bay.”