"Ha Long Bay was too crowded, and the scenery looked nothing like the photos."—As if answering such voices, in May 2026 the newly built cruise "La Casta Star Cruise" launches on the tranquil Lan Ha Bay to the south of Ha Long Bay. It's a new flagship vessel from La Casta Cruise Group—four decks, 27 rooms, all with balconies—offering a "six-star-class" experience selling the quiet away from the bustle of Ha Long Bay proper. This article lays out the new ship's specs, price range, differences from existing Ha Long Bay cruises, and why Japanese travelers should choose Lan Ha Bay.
The full picture of "La Casta Star Cruise," launching in May 2026
In May 2026, La Casta Cruise Group launches its largest new ship, the "La Casta Star Cruise." With a four-deck layout and 27 rooms, and a hull based on modern European design, it is positioned as a premium tier above the group's existing "La Casta Cruise" and "La Casta Regal Cruise." Rooms are divided into four categories—Junior Suite, Senior Suite, VIP Suite, and Presidential Suite—each with a private balcony. The layout lets you have the panoramic views of Lan Ha Bay to yourself.
Onboard facilities are fully equipped, with an outdoor jacuzzi, sky bar, mini golf course, restaurant, sun deck stage, and spa. A pool with a jacuzzi using mineral sea salt is also installed, offering an open, relaxing space surrounded by sea and sky. Halong Bay Lux Cruises rates it "six-star class," and it's expected to rank among the top-tier cruises in the Ha Long Bay area.
Differentiating the route—Lan Ha Bay, the "quiet Ha Long"
La Casta Star's route follows the iconic limestone scenery of Ha Long Bay while avoiding the tourist-boat-crowded main route and heading to Lan Ha Bay in the south. Its ports of call center on "hidden gem" spots different from Ha Long Bay proper, such as the Tra Bau area known as a good kayaking spot, the secluded Viet Hai Village, Dark & Bright Cave, and Tung Trang Cave. With low tourist density, it's expected to let you experience the photogenic "postcard Ha Long Bay."
Ha Long Bay proper faced the challenge of rising and overcrowded tourist-boat numbers over 2024–2025, and the Vietnamese government also stepped up safety inspections in connection with Carnaval Ha Long 2026. La Casta Star takes a strategy of pitching Lan Ha Bay's tranquility as its strength, as an answer to this "Ha Long Bay overcrowding problem."
Price and cabin-spec comparison table
| Item | La Casta Star (new) | La Casta Cruise (existing) | La Casta Regal (existing) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Launch | May 2026 | In service | In service |
| Number of decks | 4 | 3 | 3 |
| Number of cabins | 27 | 20 | 22 |
| Cabin categories | Junior / Senior / VIP / Presidential | Deluxe / Suite | Deluxe / Suite |
| Balcony | Every room | Every room | Every room |
| Main route | Centered on Lan Ha Bay | Ha Long Bay + Lan Ha Bay | Ha Long Bay + Lan Ha Bay |
| 3-day 2-night price (reference) | $650-1,200 (about 100,000–190,000 yen) | $380-650 (about 60,000–100,000 yen) | $420-750 (about 65,000–120,000 yen) |
| Main facilities | Jacuzzi, mini golf, sky bar, spa, pool | Restaurant, bar, spa | Restaurant, bar, spa, sun deck |
Reactions from locals and industry insiders
A La Casta Cruise Group representativecommented in an interview with Best Price Travel: "To let guests enjoy Lan Ha Bay's tranquility and scenery to the fullest, we gave every room a private balcony. The Presidential Suite is limited to two rooms, aimed at honeymoon and anniversary demand."
A specialist Ha Long Bay Tours guideexplained in a TripAdvisor review: "Ha Long Bay proper has times when tourist boats are packed in and even taking photos is hard. Lan Ha Bay had one-third the kayak-tour visitors of Ha Long Bay proper in 2025, making it ideal for avoiding crowds."
The Ha Long Regional Tourism Associationpositions it thus: "In 2026, four new ships are set to appear, two of which have set Lan Ha Bay as their main route. Dispersing the crowds from Ha Long Bay proper and raising the quality of the tourism experience is a theme for the whole industry."Linked with resort-development trends in central Vietnam too,it's a move symbolizing the shift toward higher-value-added tourism.
The value for Japanese travelers
"Hanoi → a day trip to Ha Long Bay" is a classic Vietnam-travel course, but in the social-media age, reviews saying "Ha Long Bay is too crowded with tourist boats and disappointing" had increased. La Casta Star's Lan Ha Bay route becomes a new option for exactly that crowd. At a price range of about 100,000–150,000 yen for a 1-night, 2-day plan—a fraction of a European premium cruise—it should resonate with wealthy Japanese travelers and anniversary trippers as "good-value luxury."
Onboard, a rich variety of activities is planned, including chef's cuisine inspired by royal court dishes, live traditional music, cooking classes, tai chi classes, and sunset parties.A hands-on experience of Vietnam's traditional culturefrom the sea—a setup that satisfies both sightseeing and staying on a single ship.
Ripple effects on the industry—the "Lan Ha Bay shift" accelerates
Over 2024–2025, Ha Long Bay proper faced several challenges: crowded tourist boats, water-quality concerns, and stricter safety inspections during the carnival. In response, Lan Ha Bay borders Cat Ba National Park and includes many areas designated as nature reserves, so new ships have begun choosing Lan Ha Bay as their main route en masse. Following La Casta Star, other operators such as Stellar of the Seas and Heritage Binh Chuan also plan to deploy flagships in the same area, and the split of "Ha Long Bay = crowded" and "Lan Ha Bay = tranquil" is expected to become clear within 2026.
Booking and access—practical information
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Launch timing | Planned for May 2026 |
| Number of cabins | All 27 rooms (4 categories) |
| Main route | Lan Ha Bay 3-day 2-night / 2-day 1-night courses |
| Main ports of call | Tra Bau area, Viet Hai Village, Dark & Bright Cave, Tung Trang Cave |
| Onboard facilities | Restaurant, sky bar, spa, pool, jacuzzi, mini golf, sun deck stage |
| Price range (reference) | 3-day 2-night $650–1,200 / 2-day 1-night $380–700 |
| Meals | All meals included—breakfast, lunch, and dinner (chef-prepared) |
| Access from Hanoi | About 2 hours by car to Ha Long City / about 2.5 hours by car via Hai Phong to the Lan Ha Bay port |
| How to book | La Casta Cruise Group official, Halong Bay Cruises, BestPrice Travel, Viator, etc. |
| The cancellation policy | Full refund up to 7 days before departure, 50% refund up to 3 days before (check for confirmation) |
Summary—choose "Lan Ha Bay" for your next Vietnam trip
Whether you've experienced "Ha Long Bay is too crowded," you're planning an anniversary or honeymoon on your first Vietnam trip, or you want to photograph "stunning scenery with no crowds" in the social-media age—for all of them, La Casta Star Cruise becomes a strong option for 2026.
There are three concrete next actions. First, since bookings concentrate in May–June right after launch, place an advance booking on the official site or a major OTA (Halong Bay Cruises, BestPrice Travel) as soon as your desired departure date is set. Second, slotting the La Casta Star's 3-day 2-night into a 3–4 day Hanoi stay makes for the most relaxed itinerary. Third, pairing it withretro café-hopping in Hanoiand designing a two-part trip of "urban culture + maritime luxury" lets you fully enjoy the appeal of northern Vietnam.
Source
・Halong Bay Cruise (official information portal)
・Halong Bay Cruises「La Casta Star Cruise Halong Bay」
・La Casta Cruise Group official site
・Halong Bay Lux Cruises「La Casta Star Cruise Luxury 6-Star」
