Kayaking Ha Long Bay from Hanoi: Surprise Cave & Titop Island

A full day on the water and inside the bay itself, not watching it pass from a boat.

A day trip from Hanoi to Ha Long Bay with kayaking, swimming, hiking and lunch included. You pick up in the early morning, cruise to Surprise Cave for a hike inside it, paddle your own kayak through the lagoons, climb or swim at Titop Island, and return to Hanoi by evening. An English-speaking guide travels with the group. The smallest tour operator in Ha Long Bay runs this one.

Step-by-step itinerary

Ha Long Bay Cruise and Activities

• Pick up from Hanoi hotel
• Transfer to boat
• Check-in onboard at Tuan Chau Marina
• Cruise through Ha Long Bay
• Enjoy Vietnamese seafood lunch
• Visit Surprise Cave
• Kayak in Ha Long Bay lagoons
• Visit Titop Island for swimming or climbing
• Cruise back to harbour enjoying sunset
• Disembark at Ha Long Bay harbour
• Transfer back to Hanoi

The experience

The pickup starts between 7:40 and 8:20 AM depending on your hotel in Hanoi's old quarter, or you can meet the bus at Hanoi Opera House, Silk Path Hotel, or Embassy Hotel if you're staying elsewhere. The drive to Tuan Chau Marina takes several hours. You board around 11:30 AM and eat a fresh seafood lunch onboard before the day's activities begin.

At 1:45 PM you hike into Surprise Cave, the largest cave in Ha Long Bay, walking up and down inside it. By 2:45 PM you're in the kayak, two people per kayak, paddling through the limestone lagoons where the water sits calmest and the rock formations rise closest. This is the part you operate yourself, not a guided paddle but your own route through the bay. The kayaking fee is optional and costs around $3.50 per person if you add it at checkout. If you'd rather not paddle, a bamboo boat ride is available instead, but you choose one or the other, not both.

At 3:30 PM you reach Titop Island. You can swim in the bay or climb to the top for panoramic views of Ha Long Bay spreading out below. The boat cruises back toward the harbor around 4:15 PM, and you watch the sunset on the water before disembarking around 5:30 PM. The return transfer to Hanoi takes until roughly 9 PM. Restrooms are onboard. Bring a reusable water bottle (plastic bottles aren't allowed past the gate, but you can pack one in your bag). An English-speaking guide is with the group the whole day.

What’s included

• Round-trip shuttle bus from Hanoi (on the 8:30 AM option).
• fresh seafood lunch onboard.
• entry to Surprise Cave.
• kayaking or bamboo boat ride (optional, around $3.50 per person, chosen at checkout).
• swimming and climbing at Titop Island.
• an English-speaking guide for the full day.
• restrooms onboard.
• water onboard.

Options for this experience

3 options

International cruise portGuide in English or Vietnamese · 11:30Meeting point: Cat Ba National Park, Cat Hai, Hai Phong 05418, Vietnam

Price from TuanChauGuide in English or Vietnamese · 11:30Meeting point: Tuan Chau International Marina, WXCR+X7X, Unnamed Road, Tuần Châu, Quảng Ninh, Vietnam

Price from HanoiGuide in English or Vietnamese · 08:00Pickup is included

You pick the guide language when booking.

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

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 08:00 and 11:30

Book up to1h before

AgesAdult (18 to 65 years) · Senior (66 to 80 years) · Youth (8 to 17 years) · Child (3 to 7 years) · Infant (under 3): free

GroupUp to 45

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.

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.

Paid on siteUS$ 12.75

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Easy physical levelPets welcomePublic transport nearbyNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by Vietnam Tonkin Travel

Is this one for you?Book the 8:30 AM option if you're staying in Hanoi's old quarter and want the bus included. Choose the 11:30 AM option if you're already near Tuan Chau Marina or arriving by cruise ship and prefer to skip the long morning drive. The kayaking is optional. Pick it if you want to paddle yourself through the lagoons, or choose the bamboo boat if you'd rather sit and watch.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English and Vietnamese.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (8 to 17 years); Child (3 to 7 years); Infant (under 3): 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 the difference between the kayaking and bamboo boat options?

Kayaking costs around $3.50 per person and puts you in a two-person kayak to paddle the lagoons yourself. A bamboo boat ride is the same price and lets you sit while someone else rows. You pick one at checkout. Both cannot be done on the same day.

Do I need to arrange my own transport from Hanoi, or is it included?

Round-trip shuttle bus from Hanoi is included if you book the 8:30 AM option. The 11:30 AM option includes only pickup and drop-off at Tuan Chau Marina, so you'd arrange your own way there. If you're arriving on a cruise ship at Halong International Cruise Port, pickup can be arranged at the harbor around 11:30 AM.

What happens at Surprise Cave?

Surprise Cave is the largest cave in Ha Long Bay. You hike up and down inside it, walking through the interior. It's included in the tour and takes place in the early afternoon before kayaking begins.

Is the entrance fee to Ha Long Bay included in the price?

No. Ha Long Bay entrance fees are around $13.50 per person and must be paid in advance before you check in on the boat.

How crowded does this tour get?

This operator runs the smallest group tours in Ha Long Bay. The bay itself is often crowded, especially in summer and on weekends, but the group size on this tour stays small.

What should I bring?

Bring a hat or umbrella, a shirt to protect your skin, shoes or sandals, a swimming suit, a towel, sunglasses, sunscreen, a camera, and a reusable water bottle. Snacks, a raincoat, and insect spray are useful. In winter, bring a jacket. Leave plastic water bottles at home or in your bag. They're not allowed past the gate, but glass or metal bottles are fine.