2-day Ha Long Bay kayaking from Hanoi: Lan Ha Bay cruise

Paddle through limestone karsts, cook spring rolls aboard, then watch the sunrise over the bay.

A 2-day cruise from Hanoi to Ha Long Bay and Lan Ha Bay with overnight accommodation in a modern luxury cabin, featuring kayaking in Lan Ha Bay, a cooking demonstration on the second morning, and visits to Dark & Bright Cave. The itinerary includes hotel pickup from Hanoi, all meals, an English-speaking guide, and activities like Tai Chi at sunrise, squid fishing, and swimming in the bay's clear waters.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Hanoi to Lan Ha Bay cruise

• 08:30 Hotel pick up by shuttle bus
• 12:00 Arrive Tuan Chau marina, board cruise
• 13:00 Lunch with Vietnamese seafood cuisine
• 15:30 Sail through Lan Ha Bay, kayak or swim
• 17:30 Return to cruise, sunset party on sundeck
• 19:00 Dinner on board, optional fishing or bar

Day 2: Halong Bay cave visit and return

• 06:00 Sunrise and Tai Chi on sundeck
• 07:00 Light breakfast with coffee and tea
• 08:00 Visit Dark & Bright Cave by rowing boat
• 09:15 Return to cruise, relax before checkout
• 10:15 Cooking demonstration: spring rolls
• 10:45 Lunch on board
• 12:00 Disembark at Tuan Chau marina
• 15:00 Shuttle bus returns to Hanoi

The experience

The shuttle picks you up at your Hanoi hotel in the Old Quarter at 08:30 and drives to Tuan Chau marina, where you board La Pandora. A 52-meter cruise ship with 24 cabins, each with its own balcony, air conditioning and en-suite bathroom. After a welcome drink, lunch is served while the boat sails through Con Vit Islets. By 15:30 you're in Lan Ha Bay, the quieter section of Ha Long Bay surrounded by limestone karsts, where you kayak through the water or swim in the clear bay. The boat anchors for the night, and you join a sunset party on the sundeck with local wine and fresh fruit before dinner in the restaurant.

Day two starts at 06:00 with sunrise from the sundeck, followed by a Tai Chi session and light breakfast. At 08:00 you board local rowing boats to explore Dark & Bright Cave and the surrounding islets. A World Heritage site with a wild, mysterious landscape. Back on La Pandora by 09:15, you have time to relax before the cooking demonstration at 10:15, where you learn to make spring rolls, a house specialty. Lunch is served on board, then you disembark at Tuan Chau marina and take the shuttle back to Hanoi, arriving between 15:00 and 15:30.

The cruise includes all meals (two lunches, one dinner, one light breakfast), a welcome drink, fresh flowers and fruit in your cabin, two bottles of mineral water, and an English-speaking tour guide. Kayaking, Tai Chi, squid fishing, and swimming are part of the package. Drinks are available at the bar. The boat has a sky bar and large sundecks for watching the karst landscape pass.

What’s included

• Kayaking in Lan Ha Bay.
• cooking demonstration for spring rolls.
• Tai Chi session at sunrise.
• squid fishing excursion.
• swimming in the bay (weather permitting).
• overnight stay in a luxury cabin with balcony and air conditioning.
• all meals (two lunches, one dinner, one light breakfast).
• welcome drink, fresh flowers and fruit basket in your cabin.
• two bottles of mineral water per cabin.
• English-speaking tour guide.
• round-trip shuttle bus pickup from your Hanoi hotel.
• visit to Dark & Bright Cave by local rowing boat.
• sunset party with local wine and fresh fruit on the sundeck.
• access to the sky bar and sundecks.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 08:00 and 08:30

Book up to8h before

AgesAdult (12 to 30 years) · Senior (45 to 75 years) · Youth (8 to 11 years) · Child (2 to 7 years) · Infant (under 2): free

GroupUp to 50

Live guideEnglish and Vietnamese

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.You can choose from 3 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsNo refund if you cancel.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Paid on siteUS$ 35

Good to know

Low physical effortNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by THE SINH CAFE TRAVEL

Is this one for you?You board and stay aboard the whole time: no separate hotel nights, no arranging transport to the bay, no hunting for restaurants. The 2-day length lets you kayak, cook, fish and watch two sunrises without rushing, and the cabin with a balcony means you wake to the karst landscape instead of leaving it behind each night.

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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 (8 to 11 years); Child (2 to 7 years); Infant (under 2): 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. No refund if you cancel.

What is Dark & Bright Cave like, and how do you get there?

Dark & Bright Cave is a World Heritage site in Ha Long Bay known for its wild, mysterious beauty among limestone formations. On day two, you board local rowing boats from La Pandora to explore the cave and surrounding islets, a visit that takes place in the morning after sunrise.

Can I kayak in Lan Ha Bay, or is it just swimming?

Kayaking is included in the itinerary on day one in Lan Ha Bay, the quieter section of Ha Long Bay. You can also swim in the crystal clear waters if you prefer, and both activities depend on weather conditions.

What meals are provided over the 2 days?

The cruise includes two lunches (day one and day two), one dinner (day one evening), and one light breakfast (day two morning). All meals feature Vietnamese cuisine with fresh seafood and local specialties, prepared and served aboard La Pandora.

Does the price include the bus ride from Hanoi?

Yes, round-trip shuttle bus transport from your hotel in Hanoi's Old Quarter is included, with pickup at 08:30 on day one and drop-off between 15:00 and 15:30 on day two.

What is the cooking class about?

On the morning of day two, a cooking demonstration teaches you how to make spring rolls, a house specialty of La Pandora. The class takes place on the cruise before lunch is served.

Is there anything to do in the evening after dinner on day one?

After dinner on day one, you can retire to your cabin or join a squid fishing excursion. The boat also has a bar where you can have a drink and enjoy the evening on deck.