We review Bhaya Soul, Ha Long Bay’s first luxury wellness cruise

Just a year after its maiden voyage, Bhaya Soul has already joined Small Luxury Hotels of the World (SLH), becoming the collection’s first luxury boat in Asia-Pacific. With just 20 suites, this intimate floating retreat combines restorative wellness with opportunities to explore Vietnam’s spectacular limestone landscapes. We stepped aboard to see what wellness cruising was all about.

While this cruise was hosted, all thoughts and opinions are our own.

A review of Bhaya Soul

Cruise snapshot

Cruise: Bhaya Soul
Location: Ha Long Bay and Lan Ha Bay, Vietnam
Suites: 20 suites
Style: Spacious, contemporary interiors with an airy, ocean-inspired palette of soft creams, blues and turquoises, complemented by light wood
Best for: Couples and travellers looking to combine a luxury cruise with wellness, relaxation and off-the-beaten-track excursions
Family-friendly: Children are welcome onboard, although there are no dedicated children’s facilities. Spa treatments are reserved for guests over 12
Wellness: Dedicated spa cabins, guided meditations, heated swimming pool and nature-based excursions
Dining: Multi-course lunches and dinners featuring seasonal, locally sourced ingredients with international influences
Cruise options: One to three nights
Prices from: USD $375 per person for one night, depending on cabin and season.

All aboard

A private transfer from Hanoi’s Old Quarter conveniently delivered us to the Bhaya Cruises departure lounge in around two and a half hours. We were introduced to Toni, our designated ‘Soul Host’, who proudly described himself as our personal butler.

Before boarding, we selected our preferred essential oil blend, including relaxing, refreshing and stress relief varieties. Naturally, I chose the latter, a mixture of orange, rosemary and Fokienia. The woody fragrance was already softly filling our suite when we opened the door, which was a lovely touch.

After settling in, we made our way to the restaurant for a safety briefing and an introduction to the smiley crew, including cruise manager Henry and head chef Long, whose name rather fittingly translates as dragon. With just 20 suites, there was an unmistakably intimate atmosphere. There was space to spread out, no queues and little sense of sharing the experience with other guests at all.

A suite with a view

Our Symphony Suite was enormous, particularly by cruise standards. At 46 square metres, it felt more like a boutique hotel suite than a cabin, with pale timber furnishings, twin beds and a beautifully draped sitting area. I loved the soft ombré curtains, which echoed the colours outside.

The private terrace with daybed was perfect for slipping into my dressing gown and watching the world drift by. The bathroom was a world away from what you’d expect on a cruise, with a freestanding bathtub overlooking the limestone scenery. A touch of a button activated the Jacuzzi jets, while another sent the bath lights cycling through rainbow colours. Perhaps this was part of the wellness programme, because it certainly made me smile.

Everything, from the beds to the bathtub, was positioned to make the most of those extraordinary views. Close the curtains, however, and you could easily forget you were on a boat at all.

Wellness without the rules

Lunch was our first introduction to Bhaya Soul’s wellness-inspired cuisine, and any concerns about leaving the table hungry were quickly put to rest. This was certainly not the sort of retreat where you were presented with three lettuce leaves and told to feel virtuous.

The restaurant was grand enough to provide a lovely excuse to dress up, although nobody would bat an eyelid if you turned up in the rather fetching blue boat shoes provided in your suite. Four generous courses included a warming beetroot soup with pan-seared scallops, smoked duck breast and a rather lovely lemon curd tart.

Wine, Prosecco and cocktails were also available, which was reassuring. Wellness here clearly didn’t mean giving up life’s little pleasures, so it would have been rude not to have a glass of something sparkling with lunch.

A little Soul Therapy

After lunch, we headed down to the lower deck for Soul Therapy, a 40-minute treatment inspired by Vietnam’s traditional herbal foot soaks. Our feet were immersed in a mixture of herbs that looked suspiciously like a big bowl of coriander soup. Thankfully, it wasn’t.

A wonderfully relaxing foot and leg massage followed, accompanied by a warm, weighted eye mask. Without the temptation to check my phone, I found myself doing something rather unusual for me: almost falling asleep in the middle of the afternoon.

Out on the bay

Bhaya Soul’s approach to wellness extended beyond the treatment cabins, with excursions designed to bring guests closer to the natural surroundings. Rather than following the busier cruise routes, we travelled through quieter stretches of the bay, where limestone cliffs rose above emerald-green water.

Kayaking was offered around Ho Ba Ham area, with small groups heading out to explore. There was also plenty of opportunity to stay onboard and switch off, whether from a private terrace or the heated swimming pool.

As the sun sets

By late afternoon, the pool deck became the place to be for sunset drinks, with plenty of outdoor seating and views whichever way you turned. I enjoyed the refreshing Imperial Soul, Bhaya Soul’s signature cocktail, alongside canapés and some particularly moreish prawn crackers.

Dinner brought us back to the restaurant, where live violin music accompanied another beautifully presented four-course menu. Highlights included an unusual luffa gourd soup with seared prawns and an impressively large Australian Angus beef tenderloin, which finally defeated me. Somehow, I still found room for the citrus and pistachio entremet.

The chocolate bar I had thoughtfully packed in case of a wellness emergency remained untouched.

After dark

After dinner, Toni offered us a taste of Vietnamese rice wine, which packed quite a punch, before we headed to the lower deck to try our luck at squid fishing. Armed with a bamboo fishing rod, we spent around 20 minutes enthusiastically attempting to catch something. Unfortunately, the squid were rather less enthusiastic. I suspect the activity required more patience than we possessed.

The evening ended with a guided Sleep Well Meditation beneath the night sky. With the stars above us and just a handful of guests gathered for the sound bowl session, it was wonderfully calming. Judging by the faint snoring I overheard, I wasn’t the only one who thought so.

A cave to call my own

At around 6am, we joined just two other guests for a guided walking meditation inside Tien Ong Cave. Bhaya Soul had arranged exclusive access before the cave opened to others, giving us the extraordinary privilege of exploring it almost entirely alone.

Walking barefoot along the cool stone pathway, we were encouraged to remain silent, put away our phones, avoid eye contact and focus on the experience. Occasionally, the gentle chime of a singing bowl prompted us to stop, close our eyes and simply breathe.

It took me a little while to quiet my mind, but of all the wellness experiences, this was definitely the most memorable. Peaceful, personal and something we would never have experienced quite the same way on an ordinary visit.

Life on the water

After a quick Vietnamese coffee, we set off by traditional rowing boat to the Cua Van Floating Culture Center for a glimpse of life on the water. Passing floating homes and fish enclosures, we kept a respectful distance as residents went about their morning routines.

Toni explained that Bhaya Cruises supports the community by purchasing fish from the village, a welcome connection between local livelihoods and tourism.

One last breakfast

Back onboard, a substantial breakfast awaited, with a mix of buffet and à la carte options, including eggs cooked to order, waffles, and, my personal favourite, Vietnamese bánh mì.

As Bhaya Soul made its way back towards the harbour, there was time for one last look at the views before sadly packing our bags. The crew had been consistently warm and helpful throughout, and there was a genuine feeling of teamwork onboard. With everyone working and living in such close quarters, perhaps that shouldn’t have been surprising, but it made a difference to the overall experience.

Getting there

Bhaya Soul departs from Tuan Chau International Marina in Ha Long Bay, approximately 2.5 hours by road from Hanoi in typical traffic. The easiest option is to book a transfer through Bhaya Soul. For direct bookings made through the official website, round-trip transfers from Hanoi are included with certain packages and suite categories, either by shared limousine or private car. Confirm the exact transfer arrangements when booking.

If travelling directly from Hanoi’s Noi Bai International Airport, allow at least five hours between your scheduled landing and cruise departure, as the road journey takes approximately 2.5–3 hours and you will need time for immigration and luggage collection. For a more relaxed start, consider spending the previous night in Hanoi.

Frequently asked questions: Bhaya Soul