Ha Long Cruise Weather Cancellations: Ask First
A booked cruise can still change if the bay closes, so read the terms before you pay.
Before you pay a deposit on a Ha Long cruise, ask in writing what happens if the bay is closed for weather. The answer should cover a refund, a new date or a credit, and a shortened sailing. Short leave leaves less room to recover a lost day, so place the cruise early in the trip.
Why does weather change a cruise?
Vietnam is affected by 6 to 8 typhoons or tropical cyclones per year1. Rough weather can lead to a bay closure, and boats then change course or stay in harbour.
Northern rainy weather is not limited to storms. In the Red River Delta, the rainy season starts April or May, peaks July to August and ends October or November2. Our weather by month guide helps you pick a month.
Which terms should you confirm in writing?
- Refund: is a cancelled sailing refunded in full, in part or not at all?
- Rebooking: can you move to another date, and by when?
- Shortened trip: what do you receive if the cruise is cut short?
- Decision time: by when does the operator decide, and how will you be told?
- Fees: are there charges for changing the date?
- Insurance: does your travel cover include weather cancellation?
How do the possible outcomes compare?
| Outcome | What to expect | What to ask |
|---|---|---|
| Full cancellation | Refund, credit or new date | Which, and by when |
| Shortened sailing | Fewer hours on the water | Whether the price changes |
| Rerouted trip | A different anchorage | Whether you can decline |
| Delay | Late boarding | Whether meals and cabin stay the same |
How does short leave change the risk?
A short trip has no spare days. If the cruise is cancelled on your last day in the north, you cannot try again.
Put the cruise early, and keep a spare half-day or day before your flight. If you have only one day, a land hotel plan with a day boat may suit better. See Ha Long overnight cruise or hotel-based excursions for that choice.
What else should you do?
- Compare the weather terms across operators in the package inclusion comparator.
- Keep the booking confirmation and chat messages.
- Read the Ha Long Bay page and the Lan Ha Bay page for each area.
- If you travel with children, add the questions in Ha Long cruise with children.
For more stay advice, see Hotels and places to stay.
Tell us your travel dates and how many spare days you have, and we can help you place the cruise so weather does not wipe out your plan.
Common questions
What happens if the bay is closed on my cruise day?
The operator may cancel, shorten or reroute the sailing, depending on the closure. What you receive then depends on their terms: a refund, a credit or a new date. Ask for these in writing before you pay, because a verbal promise is hard to rely on afterwards.
Will I get my money back for a weather cancellation?
Sometimes, but not automatically. Some operators refund in full, others offer a date change or a partial refund. Ask exactly what is offered and by when you must decide. Keep the booking confirmation and all messages so you can show what was agreed.
Does travel insurance cover this?
Policies differ, so read yours or ask the insurer before you buy. Some cover cancellation for severe weather and some do not, and many exclude events you could have foreseen. Do not assume cover. Check the wording on weather, natural events and prepaid activities.
How can short leave protect itself?
Place the cruise early in the trip, so a cancelled day can be rescheduled within your leave. Avoid booking it on the day before a flight. If possible, keep one flexible day in the north so you have a fallback.
Keep planning
Tell us your travel dates and how many spare days you have, and we can help you place the cruise so weather does not wipe out your plan.