Vietnam’s Ha Long bay cruise listed among Time’s greatest places to stay in 2026

The cruise, Bhaya Soul, was included in the 'Places to stay' category on Time’s annual list of The World’s Greatest Places, featuring '100 extraordinary destinations to stay and to visit this year.'

Each year, Time solicits nominations of places, including hotels, cruises, restaurants, attractions, museums, parks, and more, from its international network of correspondents and contributors, as well as through an application process, with an eye toward those offering new, exciting, and relevant experiences.

“Around the world, more people are venturing far from home,” the magazine wrote. “In 2025, some 1.5 billion tourists traveled abroad, about 4 percent more than in 2024.”

In her description on Time, travel and lifestyle writer Kathryn Romeyn wrote that the cruise is one reason why traveling through Ha Long Bay has become more 'restorative.'

According to Romeyn, the 20-cabin vessel with a swimming pool deck, which launched last July, is positioning itself as the bay’s first wellness-focused overnight cruise, with each cabin outfitted like a boutique hotel room with a bay-view soaking tub and private terrace.

“The one- or two-night all-inclusive experience emphasizes mindfulness and local food, from multi-course meals featuring herbs and lotus stems from the Bhaya Community Village’s organic farm to octopus and grouper caught in the bay,” she wrote.

Romeyn noted that mornings begin with singing bowl meditation inside Tien Ong Cave, where archaeological evidence suggests human presence dating back about 10,000 years.

The itinerary also includes cycling through Viet Hai fishing village, a 40-minute foot massage starting with a Vietnamese herbal ritual, and guided sound meditation sessions under the stars in the evening.

Select sailings in 2026 will further expand the concept with 'Soul Sanctuary' retreats featuring yoga, ocean breathwork, and sound healing led by internationally trained practitioners, she added.

According to the cruise’s website, accommodation on Bhaya Soul ranges from US$776 to $1,553 per night on a full-board basis.

Voyage packages are also offered, starting from $289 per person for the two-day 'Soulful Journey through Ha Long Bay,' $579 per person for the three-day 'Unveil Nature’s Symphony of Ha Long Bay and Lan Ha Bay,' and $1,808 per person for the 'Waves of Wellness from Ha Long Bay to Hoi An.'

Ha Long Bay, located in northern Quang Ninh Province, is one of Vietnam’s most famous natural attractions, known for its emerald waters and thousands of limestone karsts rising dramatically from the sea.

The UNESCO World Heritage Site is home to floating fishing villages, caves, and lagoons, making it a popular destination for cruising, kayaking, and exploring coastal culture.

Other places on Time’s 2026 greatest places to stay list include Songtsam Lodge Cizhong in Cizhong, China; Oberoi Rajgarh Palace Resort in Rājgarh, India; Hotel Plesnik in Solčava, Slovenia; Avantgarde Refined Caves of Cappadocia in Cappadocia, Turkey; Tinajani in the Southern Altiplano, Peru; and One&Only Moonlight Basin in Big Sky, Montana, the U.S., among many others.