Before you book a yacht in Vietnam

Below are the questions we put to a new operator ourselves. They apply equally to us and to any other seller: if half of them draw vague answers, that is already an answer.

The vessel

What is the boat called and what model is it

"A 50-foot yacht" is not an answer. A vessel has a name and a model, and both can be checked against photographs and reviews.

How old is it and when was it last serviced

Equipment wears faster in a wet tropical climate than in the Mediterranean.

How many passengers is it licensed for

Licensed capacity and "how many will fit" are different numbers. The first is in the ship documents.

Which marina or port does it depart from

This sets travel time and transfers. In Nha Trang boats leave from Vinh Truong; the old pier by the Oceanography Museum is closed to tourists.

Money

What is included and what is charged separately

Fuel, crew, food, drinks, transfers, port and environmental fees, equipment, cleaning. Ask about each line.

Which currency and payment methods are accepted

Settle this in advance: cash, transfer, or cards from which countries.

How much is the deposit and is it refundable

And under what conditions. Get the answer in writing.

Are there charges on the day

A common story: one price in the chat, extra fees at the pier.

Cancellation

What happens if you cancel

The industry reference point is a full refund at seven days or more, partial at 48–72 hours. Anything stricter deserves an explanation.

What happens if they cancel

Weather, mechanical failure, closure of the water. Three different cases, and terms may differ across them.

Who decides the weather is unworkable

Captain, operator, or you. "At the captain’s discretion" without a wind or swell threshold is a right to cancel at any moment.

On the day

Who handles problems on site, and on what number

A name, a number, a working language.

What if the boat is swapped at the last minute

Replacement with an equivalent vessel, refund, or surcharge: who decides and at whose cost.

Is there passenger insurance, and what are the limits

A verbal "everything is insured" does not count. Ask for the policy number.

Protected waters

On what basis does the vessel enter the reserve

In Nha Trang the number of boats inside the Hon Mun area has been capped since 2025, and anchoring at will is banned.

Where exactly does the boat moor

A buoy, a permitted berth, or wherever it lands. Anchoring at will carries fines.

What if a zone is closed on your date

Zoning rules shift with the condition of the reef. You need a fallback route.

For diving, is the operator licensed with a certified guide

Independent diving inside the reserve is not allowed.