Aime’e Cruises represents a new chapter in luxury cruising on Halong Bay, but its story began long before the ship first welcomed guests. Behind Aime’e is Bai Tho Junks, one of the pioneering cruise operators in Halong Bay since 1991. With more than three decades of experience, Bai Tho has built its knowledge of the bay, cruise operations, safety, and hospitality into a new generation of refined cruising. This is the story of how Aime’e Cruises carries that legacy forward while creating a new vision for luxury travel on Halong Bay.
From 1991: Where the Bai Tho Junks Story Began
The story of Aime’e Cruises can be traced back to 1991, when Bai Tho Junks began its journey in Halong Bay.
Over more than three decades, Bai Tho developed from its early operations into a long-standing name in Halong Bay cruising. The company became closely connected with the bay and its surrounding destinations, building practical knowledge through years of operating cruises and welcoming travelers.
That experience matters because cruising Halong Bay is about much more than simply sailing from one destination to another.
It requires an understanding of:
- The geography and landscapes of the bay
- Cruise routes and destinations
- Weather and sailing conditions
- Guest safety
- Onboard operations
- Local culture and communities
- Hospitality and service
Over the years, this accumulated experience became the foundation for the next chapter of the company’s journey.
Today, Aime’e Cruises describes itself as the continuation of Bai Tho Junks’ more than 30-year legacy, combining the knowledge and trust built over decades with a new approach to luxury cruising.
More Than 30 Years of Experience on Halong Bay
Aime’e’s connection to Bai Tho is not simply a historical association. Bai Tho Junks is the operator behind Aime’e Cruises, bringing its long-standing experience in Halong Bay cruise operations to the new vessel.
This creates an important distinction between heritage and age.
Aime’e Cruises itself is a new-generation luxury cruise, launched in 2025. However, the experience behind its operation comes from more than three decades of working on Halong Bay.
In other words, Aime’e combines a new ship and new luxury concept with an established operational heritage.
That balance is central to the brand’s identity.
Rather than starting from scratch, Aime’e builds on knowledge accumulated since 1991 and applies it to the expectations of today’s luxury travelers.
From Traditional Junks to a New Generation of Luxury
The evolution from Bai Tho Junks to Aime’e Cruises reflects how Halong Bay cruising itself has changed.
Bai Tho’s heritage is rooted in traditional cruising and the authentic experience of exploring Halong Bay by water. Over the decades, the company gained experience across Halong Bay and surrounding destinations, including Bai Tu Long Bay and Lan Ha Bay.
Aime’e takes this heritage into a new era.
Developed over five years and launched in 2025, Aime’e was created to offer a more refined, intimate style of luxury cruising while maintaining a connection with Vietnamese culture and the character of Halong Bay.
The result is not an attempt to recreate the past.
Instead, it is an evolution:
Traditional cruising heritage → decades of operational experience → contemporary luxury → Aime’e Cruises
What Makes Aime’e Cruises Different?
Aime’e was designed around a philosophy of privacy, elegance and personalized service.
One of its defining characteristics is its intimate scale. The cruise features only 29 suites, creating a more private atmosphere compared with much larger cruise vessels.
This smaller scale supports the brand’s approach to hospitality.
Rather than focusing on size alone, Aime’e emphasizes:
- Personalized service
- Elegant accommodation
- Privacy
- Refined design
- Thoughtful guest experiences
- Vietnamese cultural identity
The ship’s interiors draw inspiration from Indochine design, combining contemporary comfort with elements of Vietnamese heritage.
This creates an experience that feels modern without losing its connection to the destination.
Five Years in the Making: Creating Aime’e
Aime’e Cruises was not created overnight.
According to the brand’s story, the project was developed over five years, with the goal of creating a new generation of luxury cruise experience on Halong Bay.
That development process was intended to bring together the knowledge of Bai Tho’s experienced team with a fresh vision for modern travelers.
The objective was not simply to build another luxury vessel.
Aime’e was envisioned as a place where:
- Contemporary design meets Vietnamese culture
- Privacy meets attentive hospitality
- Luxury meets warmth
- Heritage meets innovation
- Destination experiences meet onboard comfort
This philosophy can be seen throughout the cruise, from the suites and restaurant to the wellness facilities and curated excursions.
Preserving Vietnamese Heritage Through Modern Luxury
One of the important elements of Aime’e’s identity is its connection to Vietnamese culture.
The brand’s philosophy emphasizes preserving and showcasing authentic Vietnamese traditions while presenting them through a contemporary and refined experience.
This approach can be expressed in different parts of the journey.
Indochine-Inspired Design
The interiors incorporate Indochine-inspired elements, creating an aesthetic that connects modern luxury with Vietnamese and regional design traditions.
Vietnamese Cuisine
The onboard dining experience includes Vietnamese cuisine alongside international favorites, allowing international travelers to experience local flavors in an elegant setting.
Local Experiences
Excursions such as kayaking, visiting Sung Sot Cave and Titop Island, and exploring local destinations allow guests to experience the natural and cultural character of Halong Bay rather than simply viewing it from the ship.
Together, these elements help Aime’e present luxury as an experience connected to its destination rather than something separated from it.
The Bai Tho Legacy Lives Beyond Aime’e
Aime’e Cruises is the newest chapter of Bai Tho’s story, but the heritage extends beyond a single vessel.
For more than 30 years, Bai Tho Junks has been associated with cruising across the waters of Halong Bay and surrounding areas.
Its experience also includes Bai Tu Long Bay, where Bai Tho has operated more intimate journeys aboard traditional wooden junks such as Treasure Junk. These experiences focus on quieter landscapes and less-visited areas of the region.
This broader experience helps explain the philosophy behind Aime’e.
The brand is not simply built around a ship.
It is built around decades of understanding the destination.
That knowledge influences everything from itinerary planning and cruise operations to the way guests experience Halong Bay.
From Hon Gai Port to Halong International Cruise Port
The evolution of Bai Tho Junks can also be seen in the changing infrastructure of Halong Bay cruising.
For decades, Bai Tho Junks operated from Hon Gai Port, which served as an important departure point for traditional cruises to Halong Bay and Bai Tu Long Bay.
As the region’s cruise infrastructure developed, operations moved to Halong International Cruise Port, providing a more modern gateway for contemporary cruise travel. Aime’e Cruises now uses Halong International Cruise Port as its official departure point.
The move represents more than a change of location.
It reflects the broader transition from traditional cruise operations toward a modern international-standard cruise experience while maintaining the heritage established by Bai Tho.
A New Chapter: Aime’e Cruises in 2025
In 2025, Aime’e Cruises officially entered service as the newest chapter in the Bai Tho story.
The timing is significant.
After more than 30 years of experience in Halong Bay, the brand had the opportunity to create a cruise specifically designed around contemporary luxury expectations.
Aime’e therefore represents both continuity and change.
The continuity comes from Bai Tho’s heritage, knowledge and operational experience.
The change comes through:
- A new luxury vessel
- Contemporary Indochine-inspired design
- 29 suites
- Modern facilities
- Refined dining
- Wellness experiences
- Personalized hospitality
- Carefully designed itineraries
This combination is at the heart of Aime’e’s positioning as a new-generation luxury cruise.
What the Legacy Means for Today’s Aime’e Guests
For travelers, a 30-year legacy is valuable because it represents accumulated experience.
Guests don’t need to know every chapter of Bai Tho’s history to benefit from it.
They experience that heritage through the people operating the cruise, the knowledge of Halong Bay, the attention to safety and service, and the understanding of what makes a journey on the bay memorable.
At the same time, Aime’e is not positioned as a traditional cruise.
Its purpose is to take that heritage forward.
The result is an experience designed for travelers who want the beauty and cultural character of Halong Bay while enjoying the comfort, privacy and service expected from a contemporary luxury cruise.
Aime’e Cruises: Where Heritage Meets Refined Luxury
The relationship between Bai Tho Junks and Aime’e Cruises can be summarized simply:
Bai Tho provides the heritage. Aime’e brings that heritage into a new era of luxury.
Since 1991, Bai Tho has accumulated more than three decades of experience on Halong Bay. In 2025, Aime’e Cruises opened a new chapter by combining that knowledge with a contemporary vision of intimate, refined cruising.
With only 29 suites, elegant design, Vietnamese cultural influences and personalized service, Aime’e offers a different way to experience one of Vietnam’s most iconic destinations.
The story is therefore not about replacing the past.
It is about carrying it forward.
Final Thoughts
Aime’e Cruises may be a new name on Halong Bay, but its story stretches back more than three decades through Bai Tho Junks, creating a meaningful connection between heritage, experience and modern luxury.
Ready to experience the next chapter of Bai Tho’s Halong Bay legacy? Book your journey with Aime’e Cruises and discover refined luxury shaped by more than 30 years of experience.
FAQs
When was Bai Tho Junks established?
Bai Tho Junks began its journey in Halong Bay in 1991, establishing a legacy that has now continued for more than three decades.
Is Aime’e Cruises part of Bai Tho Junks?
Yes. Aime’e Cruises is operated by Bai Tho Junks, carrying forward the company’s more than 30-year heritage while introducing a new generation of refined luxury cruising.
When was Aime’e Cruises launched?
Aime’e Cruises was officially launched in 2025 after five years of development, marking a new chapter in the Bai Tho Junks legacy.
How is Aime’e Cruises different from traditional Bai Tho Junks?
Aime’e represents a new-generation luxury concept, featuring 29 suites, contemporary Indochine-inspired design, modern facilities and a focus on privacy and personalized service, while retaining the experience and heritage of Bai Tho Junks.
What does the Bai Tho Junks heritage mean for Aime’e guests?
The heritage represents more than 30 years of experience in Halong Bay cruising, including knowledge of the destination, cruise operations, safety and hospitality. Aime’e builds on this foundation to create a contemporary luxury experience for today’s travelers.