Ha Long Bay Kayaking from Hanoi: Sung Sot Cave & Titop Island

Paddle through emerald waters between limestone cliffs, then walk inside Ha Long Bay's most famous cave.

A full-day cruise from Hanoi to Ha Long Bay combines kayaking through Luon Cave's lagoon, swimming and hiking at Titop Island, and exploring Sung Sot Cave's stalactites and stalagmites, with an English-speaking guide, Vietnamese lunch, and optional round-trip transfers from Hanoi Old Quarter. Choose between a Standard Cruise with traditional set menu or a Luxury Cruise with buffet lunch and onboard jacuzzi. Kayaking is limited to adults under 100 kg. Children over 10 and taller than 130 cm may kayak only with a parent.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Surprise Cave50m · entry included
2. Titop Island45m · entry included

Ha Long Bay cruise and island exploration

• Depart from Hanoi Old Quarter
• Cruise through Ha Long Bay
• Explore Sung Sot Cave
• Kayak or bamboo boat at Luon Cave
• Visit Titop Island for swimming and hiking
• Return to boat and cruise back

The experience

The day starts with a 12-hour itinerary that pulls you out of Hanoi and into Ha Long Bay's dramatic landscape. If you book the transfer option, pickup happens at Hanoi Old Quarter with a bottle of water on the bus. Otherwise, you meet the boat at the port. Once aboard, the cruise heads toward three main stops, each one a different way to move through the bay.

Sung Sot Cave comes first: the largest and most famous cave in Ha Long Bay, known for its towering stalactites and stalagmites. The walk inside takes 40 to 60 minutes and includes stairs, so the pace is moderate. If mobility is a concern, you can stay on the boat. The cave entrance is narrow with only one way through, so queues form during busy times. From there, the boat moves to Luon Cave's lagoon, where you choose your own way in: a two-person kayak, a traditional bamboo boat for a group, or simply staying aboard. The lagoon sits ringed by limestone cliffs, and the kayaking is the heart of the day: paddling at your own pace through water that shifts between emerald and deep blue depending on the light.

Titop Island is free time to swim, walk the beach, or hike to the summit for a panoramic view of the entire bay. The boat drops you off and leaves temporarily (boats cannot anchor there), then returns at the scheduled pickup time. Lunch happens on the cruise: a traditional Vietnamese set menu on the Standard option or a buffet on the Luxury Cruise, with vegetarian meals available on request. The Luxury option also includes access to the onboard jacuzzi. An English-speaking guide travels with the group throughout, and all cave entrance fees are included. Speedboat rides at Luon Cave are optional and paid on the spot if you want them.

Bring a reusable water bottle: single-use plastic is not permitted in Ha Long Bay. Infants sit on an adult's lap. Weather or unforeseen conditions may delay or cancel the tour, and on Friday through Sunday, the drop-off may be near your hotel rather than at a fixed point due to walking streets in the Old Quarter. If you're traveling with friends or family but booked separately, let the operator know in advance so they can try to keep your group together.

What’s included

• Kayaking (two people per kayak) or traditional bamboo boat ride at Luon Cave.
• English-speaking guide throughout the day.
• entry to Sung Sot Cave and Titop Island.
• Vietnamese lunch with vegetarian option available on request.
• water bottle on the transfer bus (if transfer option selected).
• round-trip bus pickup and drop-off from Hanoi Old Quarter (if transfer option selected).

Options for this experience

4 options

Standard cruise, meeting point at the portGuide in English · 11:30✅ Tuan Chau Port pickup: Pick-up takes place at Tuan Chau Port (Ha Long International Marina) between 11:30 and 11:45 AM. Please be ready at 11:30 AM. There is no transfer from Hanoi. ✅ Standard: Standard Cruise. Duration: 6 hours. ✅ Lunch: A set menu lunch is included. Vegetarian and gluten-free options are available with advance notice. ✅ Tuan Chau Port to Ha Long Bay: Depart from Tuan Chau Port and explore Ha Long Bay, visiting stunning caves and Titop Island, and enjoy kayaking. ✅ Boat: Standard Cruise

Luxury cruise, meeting point at the portGuide in English · 11:30✅ Tuan Chau Port pickup: Pick-up takes place at Tuan Chau Port (Ha Long International Marina) between 11:30 and 11:45 AM. Please be ready at 11:30 AM. There is no transfer from Hanoi. ✅ Luxury: The luxury cruise offers a buffet lunch, a Jacuzzi, a spacious sundeck, and enhanced onboard comfort. Duration: 6 hours. ✅ Lunch: A buffet lunch is included, with vegetarian options available. ✅ Tuan Chau Port to Ha Long Bay: Depart from Tuan Chau Port and explore Ha Long Bay, visiting stunning caves and Titop Island, and enjoy kayaking. ✅ Boat: Luxury cruise

Standard cruise departing from HanoiGuide in English · 07:30✅ Pickup from Hanoi: A round-trip shuttle bus transfer departs from the Hanoi Old Quarter. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included. ✅ Standard: Standard Cruise boat. Duration: 12 hours. ✅ Lunch: A set menu lunch is included. Vegetarian and gluten-free options are available with advance notice. ✅ Tour itinerary: Set off from Hanoi to explore Ha Long Bay, visiting Titop Island and Sung Sot Cave, and enjoy kayaking. ✅ Boat: Standard Cruise. Pickup is included.

Luxury cruise departing from HanoiGuide in English · 07:30✅ Pickup from Hanoi: A round-trip shuttle bus transfer departs from the Hanoi Old Quarter. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included with the Luxury Day Cruise. ✅ Luxury: The Luxury Cruise features a buffet lunch, a Jacuzzi, a spacious sundeck, and enhanced onboard comfort. Duration: 12 hours, departing the Hanoi Old Quarter at 7:30 AM and returning to Hanoi at approximately 8:30 PM. ✅ Lunch: A Vietnamese buffet lunch is served onboard the cruise. ✅ Tour itinerary: Set off from Hanoi to explore Ha Long Bay, visiting Titop Island and Sung Sot Cave, and enjoy kayaking. ✅ Boat: Luxury Cruise. Pickup is included.

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 07:30 and 11:30

Book up to4h before

AgesAdult (8 and older) · Child (3 to 7 years) · Infant (under 3): free

GroupUp to 60

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight 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.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Moderate physical effortPublic transport nearbyNot recommended with heart problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Real Vietnam Travel

Is this one for you?Book with the transfer option if you're staying in Hanoi Old Quarter and don't want to arrange your own way to the port. The pickup and drop-off simplify the logistics of a 12-hour day. Choose the Luxury Cruise if the buffet lunch and onboard jacuzzi matter to you, or stick with the Standard if a set menu and lower cost suit your budget better.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 7 years); Infant (under 3): free.

What's the difference between the Standard and Luxury cruise options?

The Standard Cruise includes a traditional Vietnamese set menu lunch. The Luxury Cruise adds a buffet lunch and access to an onboard jacuzzi. Both options include kayaking or bamboo boat, the guide, cave entry, and the same itinerary.

Is the round-trip transfer from Hanoi included?

Round-trip bus pickup and drop-off from Hanoi Old Quarter is included only if you select a transfer option at checkout. If you don't book the transfer, you meet the boat at the port. The transfer includes one bottle of water on the bus.

How long does the walk inside Sung Sot Cave take?

The cave visit involves 40 to 60 minutes of walking, including stairs. If you have mobility concerns, you can remain on the boat while others explore inside.

What happens during free time at Titop Island?

Titop Island gives you time to swim at the beach, relax on the sand, or hike to the summit for a panoramic view of Ha Long Bay. The boat drops you off and returns at a scheduled time to pick you up, so plan to return to the pier on time.

Is speedboat travel included, or is it an extra cost?

Speedboat rides at Luon Cave are optional and not included. If you want one, you pay the fee on the spot when you arrive at the cave.