Bai Tu Long Bay kayaking cruise: 2-day less touristy waters
Kayak through fishing villages, sleep on the water, explore a cave most tours skip
A 2-day luxury cruise from Hanoi to Bai Tu Long Bay combines kayaking, visits to Vung Vieng fishing villages and Thien Canh Son Cave with onboard meals, a private cabin and activities like cooking class and Tai Chi. The itinerary favors less-touristy areas of the bay, and pickup from Hanoi old quarter is included in some options. An English-speaking guide leads the group through calm waters and pristine anchorages.
Options for this experience
4 optionsStep-by-step itinerary
Day 1: Hanoi to Bai Tu Long Bay cruise
- Pick up from Hanoi Old Quarter
- Pick up from Halong Bay harbour
- Pass Halong Bay landscapes
- Check-in onboard cruise
- Cruise Bai Tu Long Bay
- Visit Vung Vieng fishing village
- Kayaking and bamboo boat trip
- Swimming in bay
- Enjoy sunset onboard
- Have lunch and dinner onboard
- Relax in luxury cabin
Day 2: Bai Tu Long Bay to Hanoi return
- Breakfast onboard
- Visit Thien Canh Son cave or relax
- Check-out cabin but stay onboard
- Cruise back to harbour
- Early lunch onboard
- Transfer back to Hanoi
What’s included
- English-speaking guide, entrance and sightseeing fees, kayaking equipment, welcome drink, cold or warm handkerchief, cooking class, Tai Chi exercises, private cabin with air-conditioning and hot shower, dinner and breakfast, onboard insurance, free water in your cabin.
- shuttle bus from Hanoi old quarter for the 8:00 AM option.
Times
- Every day 08:00 11:30
Before you book
Operated by Halong Cruise Tours
Prices and times updated 5 days ago
Traveler reviews
The experience
The cruise leaves Hanoi in the morning and reaches Bai Tu Long Bay by afternoon. Day one centers on paddling: you kayak through calm waters, visit Vung Vieng fishing villages by bamboo boat, and swim in designated spots. Thien Canh Son Cave (one of the bay's most striking formations) waits for day two after breakfast, though you can also rest onboard if you prefer. The boat itself is the base: a private cabin with air-conditioning, hot shower and bathroom is where you sleep, and meals happen onboard, starting with dinner on arrival and ending with an early lunch before the return journey.
Onboard activities fill the downtime. A cooking class teaches you to prepare Vietnamese dishes. Tai Chi sessions happen at sunrise. You'll watch sunsets from the deck, meet other travelers, and have access to free water in your cabin. The guide speaks English and handles logistics, navigation and explanations of the sites. Pickup options vary: the 8:00–8:30 AM departure collects passengers from Hanoi old quarter hotels or the Hanoi Opera House. The 11:30 AM option starts directly at Ha Long Bay harbor, so you arrange your own transport to the boat.
Pack an umbrella or hat, swimsuit, towel, sunscreen and a camera. The bay's sun is intense. Bring a light jacket if you're traveling in winter. The operator asks that you confirm pickup details by email or phone before departure and respect the group's shared schedule and cultural practices. Suitable for all fitness levels, though not recommended for those with spinal injuries.
Is this one for you?Pick the 8:00 AM departure if you're based in Hanoi old quarter and need hotel pickup. Choose 11:30 AM if you're already near Ha Long Bay or want to sleep in.
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Top questions
What languages is the tour guided in?
Live guide in English and Vietnamese.
Can children come?
Yes. Ticket types: Youth (9 to 17 years); Child (4 to 8 years); Infant (under 4): free.
What happens if it rains?
It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.
Can I kayak every day, or is it just one afternoon?
Kayaking happens on day one in the afternoon when the boat reaches Bai Tu Long Bay. Day two focuses on Thien Canh Son Cave after breakfast, though you can choose to stay aboard and relax instead of visiting the cave.
What are Vung Vieng fishing villages like?
Vung Vieng is a working fishing community in Bai Tu Long Bay where you travel by bamboo boat to see how locals live and work on the water. It's one of the less-touristy stops the cruise prioritizes over the busier Ha Long Bay sites.
Do I need to bring my own snacks and water?
Meals (dinner, breakfast and lunch) are provided onboard. Free water is supplied in your cabin (one bottle per person), but you may want to bring extra snacks, sunscreen and any personal items the operator's packing list recommends.
What's the difference between picking up from Hanoi and from Ha Long Bay harbor?
The 8:00–8:30 AM option includes shuttle pickup from Hanoi old quarter hotels or the Opera House and reaches the boat by afternoon. The 11:30 AM option starts at Ha Long Bay harbor, so you arrange your own transport there. You'll board around 11:30 AM and have lunch onboard before the afternoon activities begin.
Is Thien Canh Son Cave included, or do I pay extra to enter?
Entrance and sightseeing fees for Thien Canh Son Cave are included in the cruise price. You visit it on the morning of day two after breakfast, though relaxing onboard is also an option.
Bai Tu Long Bay kayaking cruise: 2-day less touristy waters
2d · EN +1
from US$ 210 per person
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