Kayaking Halong Bay: Luon Cave & Titov Island from Hanoi

Luon Cave, a limestone peak, and a beach: the full arc of Halong Bay in six hours

A six-hour kayaking and swimming tour of Halong Bay departing from Hanoi or Halong City, with hotel pickup, a guided cruise through limestone passages, kayak access to Luon Cave's hidden lagoon, a climb to Titov Island's summit, and Vietnamese lunch aboard. The tour suits all fitness levels and includes an English-speaking guide, water bottle, and all activity gear.

Step-by-step itinerary

Halong Bay cruise and activities

• Pick up from hotel in Hanoi
• Travel to Tuan Chau Island
• Arrive at Tuan Chau Harbor and board cruise
• Enjoy Vietnamese lunch on boat
• Visit Surprising Cave and see stalagmites
• Kayak or bamboo boat in Luon Cave
• Visit Titov Island and climb Titov Peak
• Return to cruise and sunbathe on deck
• Disembark and return to Hanoi
• Drop off at hotel

The experience

The day starts with a pickup from your Hanoi hotel or from around Halong City, followed by a drive to Tuan Chau Harbor where you board the cruise. The boat carries you through Halong Bay's most striking passages: narrow channels between limestone islets with names locals gave them based on their shapes, like Cock Fighting and Thumb. You'll have time to settle in, take in the water and rock formations, and eat a Vietnamese lunch prepared aboard while the cruise continues toward the Bo Hon archipelago.

At Bo Hon, you first visit Surprising Cave to see stalagmites and stalactites, then the real focus: Luon Cave. Here you trade the boat for a kayak or bamboo boat (your choice) and paddle into a hidden lagoon surrounded by limestone walls: the cave opens onto still water where the light shifts as you move deeper. After that, the boat takes you to Titov Island, where you can swim on the sandy beach or climb the path to Titov Peak for a panoramic view across the entire bay. Most people do both. By late afternoon you're back aboard for the return journey, with time to sunbathe on the upper deck while the boat heads back to the harbor.

The whole sequence (cave, kayak, island, peak, beach) fits into the afternoon because the timing is locked in: the boat leaves Tuan Chau at a set hour, the stops happen in order, and the return to Hanoi is scheduled to land you at your hotel around 8 p.m. You don't arrange transport between activities or decide what comes next. The guide handles the flow. An English-speaking guide is with the group throughout, and the boat serves fresh food rather than packaged meals.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup from Hanoi Old Quarter or Halong City.
• a guided cruise through Halong Bay's limestone passages.
• entry to Surprising Cave.
• kayak or bamboo boat access to Luon Cave's lagoon.
• climbing and swimming on Titov Island.
• Vietnamese lunch prepared aboard.
• an English-speaking guide throughout.
• and a water bottle.

Options for this experience

2 options

Pickup from around Halong CityGuide in English · 08:30 and 11:30Lasts 6 hours, with a Vietnamese lunch

Pickup from the Hanoi Old QuarterGuide in English · 08:30Lasts 12 hours, with a Vietnamese lunch. Starting point: 1 Tràng Tiền, French Quarter, Cửa Nam, Hà Nội 100000, Vietnam

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 08:30 and 11:30

Book up to2h before

AgesAdult (10 to 70 years) · Under 10: can't be booked

GroupUp to 30

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Paid on siteUS$ 12

Prices and times updated 2 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effort

Operated by Vietnam Northern Travel

Is this one for you?Pick Hanoi pickup for a full day starting from the city. Pick Halong City pickup if you're already there and want to minimize travel time before boarding.

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Top questions

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 is Luon Cave like when you get there?

Luon Cave opens onto a lagoon enclosed by limestone cliffs, and you reach it by kayak or bamboo boat from the main cruise. The water inside is calm and the cave entrance frames the view. It's the kind of place where the light and the rock formations are the whole point.

Do I have to climb Titov Island, or can I just swim?

Titov Island is optional: you can swim on the beach, climb the path to Titov Peak for the panoramic view, or do both. Most people climb to the peak because the view across Halong Bay is the reason the stop exists, but there's no requirement.

Where does the pickup happen if I'm staying in Hanoi?

The tour picks you up from your hotel in Hanoi Old Quarter or from around Halong City, depending on which option you choose at checkout. The pickup window is 8:00–8:30 a.m., and the bus takes the highway to Tuan Chau Harbor.

Is the kayaking suitable if I've never paddled before?

The tour is suitable for all fitness levels, and the kayaking in Luon Cave is in a sheltered lagoon with calm water, not open water or whitewater. A bamboo boat is also available if you prefer not to paddle.

What's included in the price?

The tour includes hotel pickup, the cruise, all kayaking and swimming activities, climbing gear for Titov Island, Vietnamese lunch aboard, an English-speaking guide, and a water bottle. Cave entrance fees (310,000 VND) are separate.

How much time do you actually spend kayaking?

The kayaking happens in Luon Cave after you arrive at Bo Hon archipelago, roughly in the middle of the day. It's the centerpiece of the afternoon, but the full tour also includes the boat cruise, the cave visit, the island climb and swim, and sunbathing time on deck.