Kayaking in Ha Long Bay from Hanoi: Sung Sot Cave & Titop Island
Paddle into limestone caves and swim off an island in the same afternoon.
A full-day cruise from Hanoi to Ha Long Bay combines sightseeing with hands-on activity: you kayak into Luon Cave, explore Sung Sot Cave on foot, swim or hike Titop Island, and watch the sunset from the boat. The itinerary runs 11 to 12 hours with hotel pickup, an English-speaking guide, buffet lunch, and all entrance fees included. Choose between shuttle bus or limousine transfer from your Hanoi hotel.
Options for this experience
2 optionsStep-by-step itinerary
Hanoi to Ha Long Bay cruise and activities
- Pick up at hotel in Hanoi Old Quarter
- Drive to Quang Ninh Province with stop
- Board Hercules cruise at Tuan Chau Marina
- Enjoy buffet lunch on board
- Visit Sung Sot Cave
- Kayaking or bamboo boat at Luon Cave
- Swim or hike at Titop Island
- Relax at sunset party on cruise
- Return to Ha Long harbor and bus to Hanoi
- Drop off at hotel in Hanoi Old Quarter
What’s included
- Hotel pickup and drop-off in the Old Quarter.
- English-speaking guide for the full day.
- round-trip comfortable bus transport to Quang Ninh Province.
- welcome drink on boarding.
- buffet lunch with Vietnamese and vegetarian dishes.
- entrance fees to Sung Sot Cave and Titop Island.
- kayaking or bamboo boat trip into Luon Cave.
- swimming or hiking at Titop Island.
- sunset party with complimentary tea, juice, fruit and cake.
- on-board insurance.
Times
- Every day 08:00
Before you book
Operated by Victory Era Travel
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The experience
Your guide picks you up at your hotel in the Old Quarter around 8 a.m. and drives you two and a half hours to Quang Ninh Province via expressway, with a stop to stretch. You board the Hercules cruise at Tuan Chau Marina by mid-morning, receive a welcome drink, and the boat begins moving through thousands of limestone islands (Dog Rock, Incense Burner, and the iconic Fighting Cock formation), while you eat buffet lunch with Vietnamese seafood and vegetarian options.
At Sung Sot Cave, one of Ha Long's largest, you walk through chambers of multi-shaped stalactites and stalagmites. The real activity starts at Luon Cave: you kayak (or take a bamboo boat if you prefer) into the cave entrance, paddling through the water passage yourself. Afterward, Titop Island gives you a choice: swim at the beach or climb roughly 300 steps to the summit for a panoramic view of the bay. A sunset party follows on deck with complimentary Vietnamese tea, fresh juice, fruit and cake while you rest after the day's movement. The bus departs Ha Long around 5:45 p.m. for the return drive, and your guide drops you back at your hotel by 9 p.m.
The cruise holds up to 100 passengers across three floors, with two restaurants offering ocean views and an upper sundeck for sunbathing. On-board insurance is included. Tips for the crew, staff and guide are optional. The shuttle bus and limousine options differ only in transfer style. Everything else (cave visits, kayaking, meals, activities and timing) stays the same.
Is this one for you?Choose the shuttle if you're traveling light and comfortable sharing transport. Pick the limousine if you're arriving with multiple bags and want a dedicated vehicle for your group alone.
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Top questions
Can children come?
Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 7 years); Infant (under 4).
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 Sung Sot Cave like when you get there?
Sung Sot Cave is one of Ha Long Bay's largest caves, known for its multi-shaped stalactites and stalagmites that fill the chambers. You walk through it on foot after the boat arrives, spending roughly 45 minutes inside before returning to the cruise.
Do I paddle the kayak myself, or does someone else do it?
You paddle the kayak yourself into Luon Cave. If kayaking is not for you, a bamboo boat option is available at the same stop, and the crew will take you through instead.
How much time do I spend actually in the water?
Swimming happens at Titop Island in the late afternoon, after the cave visits and kayaking. You can swim as long as you want at the beach, or skip it and hike to the island's summit instead. Both options are available at the same stop.
What's included in the buffet lunch?
Lunch on board includes Vietnamese traditional seafood dishes and vegetarian options. It is served while the cruise moves through the limestone islands, and the meal is included in your ticket price.
Does the price change during holidays?
A surcharge of 200,000 VND per person applies during Tet holiday, New Year, Christmas, and April 30, May 1. The base price does not include this surcharge on those dates.
What time does the day actually start and end?
Hotel pickup begins around 8 a.m. from the Old Quarter area. You board the cruise by 11:45 a.m., and the bus returns you to your hotel between 8:30 and 9 p.m., making the full day roughly 11 to 12 hours from door to door.
Kayaking in Ha Long Bay from Hanoi: Sung Sot Cave & Titop Island
11h–12h · EN
from US$ 65 per person
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