Ha Long Bay 2-day cruise from Ha Noi: Lan Ha Bay with kayaking

Limestone karst, kayaking, cooking class, and a night aboard a luxury cruise

A 2-day cruise from Ha Noi to Lan Ha Bay (an extension of Ha Long Bay with fewer crowds) includes a private luxury cabin with balcony, meals, kayaking and swimming in Tra Bau, a sunset cooking class, Tai Chi on deck, and visits to floating fishing villages and Quan Y Cave. You're picked up from central Ha Noi, transferred to the ship by tender boat, and returned to your hotel by mid-afternoon on day two.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Ha Noi to Lan Ha Bay cruise

• Pick up from hotel in Ha Noi
• Drive to Ha Long Bay
• Transfer to cruise by tender boat
• Welcome drinks and safety briefing
• Lunch on board while cruising Lan Ha Bay
• Kayaking and swimming at Tra Bau area
• Sunset party and cooking class on cruise
• Gala dinner on sundeck
• Evening activities and overnight on cruise

Day 2: Lan Ha Bay to Ha Noi return

• Morning Tai Chi session on sundeck
• Light breakfast on board
• Transfer to Quan Y Cave by tender and car
• Explore Quan Y Cave
• Return to cruise and check-out
• Early lunch on board
• Transfer back to Tuan Chau Port
• Drive back to Ha Noi hotel

The experience

The journey starts with pickup from your Ha Noi hotel and a drive to Ha Long Bay, where you board a luxury cruise by tender boat around midday. Lunch is served as the ship sails into Lan Ha Bay, passing limestone formations like Finger Islet and Candle Islet. The afternoon takes you to Tra Bau (a filming location for Kong: Skull Island), where you kayak into hidden areas and swim in the emerald water. Back on deck, you join a sunset party with Vietnamese tea or coffee, then learn to make traditional fried spring rolls with the ship's chef and taste what you've made.

The evening unfolds at your own pace: a candlelit dinner on the sundeck features local cuisine, and afterward you can watch the bay from the deck, join a bamboo dance or traditional costume show, try squid fishing from a boat, or book a massage or herbal foot bath. You sleep in a private cabin with a private balcony. The next morning begins with an optional Tai Chi session at 6:15 on the sundeck, followed by a light breakfast. A tender takes you to Gia Luan Port, then a short drive reaches Quan Y Cave: a limestone mountain hollowed into a secret field hospital during the resistance war, now preserved with its original treatment rooms and recovery areas. After exploring the cave, you return to the ship for checkout and an early lunch, then transfer back to Ha Noi, arriving around 3 p.m.

What’s included

• Private luxury cabin with private balcony.
• all meals (lunch, dinner, breakfast).
• entrance fees.
• kayaking and swimming in Tra Bau.
• Tai Chi session on deck.
• cooking class with sunset party.
• squid fishing program.
• visits to floating fishing villages and Quan Y Cave.
• tea, coffee, bottled water and in-room amenities.
• pickup and drop-off at central Ha Noi.
• air-conditioned vehicle and English-speaking guide.

Options for this experience

3 options

Shared car and 3-star cruiseGuide in English or Vietnamese · 07:00 and 08:00Itinerary: On a 3-star cruise, visit Amazing Cave (Sung Sot Cave), Luon Cave and Titop Islands. Pickup is included.

Shared car and 5-star cruiseGuide in English or Vietnamese · 07:00 and 08:00Pickup is included

Private guide on a 5-star cruiseGuide in 10 languages · 07:00, 08:00 and 09:00Flexible schedule and itinerary, with pickup included. Multiple language options are available, including English, German, French, Italian, Russian, Spanish, and more.

You pick the guide language when booking.

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 07:00, 08:00 and 09:00

Book up to1h before

AgesAdult (9 to 11 years) · Child (4 to 8 years) · Infant (under 4): free

GroupUp to 20

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Russian and Vietnamese

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller-friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Saigon Homies Tours

Is this one for you?Choose the shared car option if you're traveling with others and want to split transport costs from Ha Noi. Pick the private guide option if you prefer a dedicated guide for your group. The 5-star cruise is the standard. The 3-star option costs less but uses a different vessel, so contact the operator before booking to confirm the ship and see photos if you're choosing that tier.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Vietnamese, Russian, Korean, Japanese and Chinese.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: 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.

What's included in the meals on the cruise?

Lunch, dinner, and breakfast are included each day. Lunch is served as the ship sails into Lan Ha Bay; dinner is a candlelit meal on the sundeck featuring local cuisine; breakfast on day two is light, with tea, coffee, and pastries. You also get Vietnamese tea and coffee during the sunset party.

Can I kayak and swim at Tra Bau, or is it just a viewing stop?

Tra Bau is an active stop where you kayak into hidden lagoons and swim in the water yourself. The cruise transfers you by tender to the area, and you have time to explore the water before returning to the ship for the sunset party.

What happens if I want to skip the cooking class or evening activities?

The cooking class and sunset party are part of the itinerary, but you're not required to join them. Evening activities like the bamboo dance, costume show, squid fishing, massage and herbal foot bath are optional. You can also spend time on the sundeck or rest in your cabin.

How long is the drive from Ha Noi to the cruise departure point?

The drive from central Ha Noi to Ha Long Bay takes several hours. You're picked up from your hotel in the morning, and the ship's tender boat transfer takes 30–45 minutes once you arrive at the port.

What is Quan Y Cave, and how much time do you spend there?

Quan Y Cave is a limestone mountain that served as a secret field hospital during the resistance war against the Americans. It was fully equipped with treatment rooms, a recovery area, and a cinema for wounded soldiers. You explore the cave on the morning of day two, with about an hour at the site before returning to the ship.

Is the cruise accessible for people with mobility concerns?

The cruise and all areas are wheelchair accessible, and transportation options are wheelchair accessible as well. Infants can travel in a pram or stroller, and service animals are allowed on board.