We booked Victory Star cruise from Australia.
What a disaster!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
After travelling 4 hours to get to Halong Bay, we were left sitting at an open air cafe for an hour and a half.
Nobody would tell us what was going on.
Eventually we boarded, taken straight to dining room and served lunch, very ordinary and not filling at all.
After lunch I asked to see our cabin, relunctantly everyone was handed their keys and left to find their own luggage.
Our cabin was beautiful, just as shown on the web site. We
started to unpack, we were so excited.
Next came an announcement, would all passengers come to the top sundeck.
We all went up expecting our safety drill. Not so.
We were to;d the Victory Star would not be sailing that day due to government regulations, bu we would all be boarded on a inferior junk. I DON'T THINK SO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
T \o make matters worse they told all us 2 nighters that we wouldn't even be going on that Junk but on the one behind, that looked like an old  Indonesian Fishing Boat.
I refused as did the 4 other couples, and after 3 hours of arguing and demanding a refund, We all headed back to Hanoi.
What a great disappointment to all of us.
I researched the next day and found the Victory Star sailed
fully loaded.
We were CONNED, because only 5 couples were staying
2 nights, they didn't want to pay staff.
So be warned we are very seasoned travellers and we were
badly conned.
Stay away from VICTORY STAR CRUISE and their owners BAI THO JUNKS they are VIETAMESE  CON ARTISTS and their manager on the boat Pierre is rude and Arrogant.
Please take this advice as I would hate to see anyone elses
trip to Halong Bay ruined.
We will go back next year, but will book in Hanoi, not via the internet, as you pay more for everything online.