Kayaking Ha Long Bay from Hanoi: Sung Sot Cave & Sunset

Ha Long Bay cave tour with paddling or drifting through limestone scenery

A full-day cruise from Hanoi to Ha Long Bay with English-speaking guide, hotel pickup and drop-off, exploring Sung Sot Cave and Titop Island. The itinerary includes buffet lunch, sauna and jacuzzi on board, a sunset party with wine and fruit, and optional kayaking or bamboo boat rental at Luon Cave. The fixed schedule and included transport mean the whole day is arranged. You show up at your hotel and return by evening.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Hon Ga Choi Islandpass by
2. Surprise Cave1h 30m

Ha Long Bay Day Cruise from Hanoi

• Hotel pick-up in Hanoi Old Quarter
• Rest stop en route to Ha Long Bay
• Board the cruise at Tuan Chau Marina
• Enjoy buffet lunch on board
• Explore Sung Sot (Surprising) Cave
• Kayak or rowboat at Luon Cave
• Visit Titop Island: climb or swim
• Sunset party with drinks and fruit
• Disembark and bus back to Hanoi
• Hotel drop-off in Hanoi Old Quarter

The experience

The day starts with pickup from your Hanoi hotel between 7:45 and 8:40 AM, then a three-hour drive south to Tuan Chau Marina. You board the Arcady Premium Cruise at midday and the boat departs into Ha Long Bay, a UNESCO World Heritage Site scattered with thousands of limestone islands. Lunch is a buffet of seafood and Vietnamese dishes served on board as you pass Dog Rock, Duck Rock, and Thumb Rock: a limestone islet shaped like a giant thumb rising from the water.

At Bo Hon Island, the guide leads you up 200 steps through forest to Sung Sot Cave, the largest in the bay. You explore inside for about 45 minutes. If the climb is not for you, you can stay on the sundeck. Next stop is Luon Cave, where you can kayak for about 30 minutes through the limestone passages, or take a bamboo boat rowed by a local boatman instead (kayaking and boat rental cost 80,000 VND per person, paid on the day). At Titop Island you can either climb halfway up the mountain for a panoramic view of the bay or swim at Titop Beach in clear water.

A sunset party begins at 4:30 PM with complimentary wine, Vietnamese tea, and fresh fruit as the boat heads back to harbor. You disembark around 5:30 PM and board the return bus, arriving back at your Hanoi hotel between 8:30 and 9 PM. The cruise includes sauna and jacuzzi access, towels, a welcome drink, and complimentary water on the bus.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off from Hanoi's Old Quarter.
• buffet lunch with seafood and Vietnamese dishes, plus vegetarian options.
• entry to Ha Long Bay and Sung Sot Cave.
• sauna and jacuzzi access on the cruise with towels provided.
• sunset party with wine, Vietnamese tea, and fresh fruit.
• complimentary welcome drink on board and water on the bus.

Options for this experience

4 options

Starting at Tuan Chau Port, no bus includedGuide in English · 12:00Lasts 6 hours, buffet lunch provided

Departing from Hanoi on a shuttle busGuide in English · 08:00Luxury. Duration: 12 hours, buffet lunch, shuttle bus, pickup is included

Departing from Hanoi on a limousine busGuide in English · 08:00Duration: 12 hours, buffet lunch, limousine bus, pickup is included

Departing from Hanoi in a limousine carGuide in English · 08:00Premium. Duration: 12 hours, buffet lunch, Dcar limousine, pickup is included

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 12:00

Book up to2h before

AgesAdult (9 to 85 years) · Child (5 to 8 years) · Infant (under 5): free

GroupUp to 20

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.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$ 3.09

Prices and times updated 2 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Arcady Travel

Is this one for you?Choose the shuttle bus option if you're staying in the Old Quarter and want the simplest pickup. The limousine options suit travelers who prefer a private vehicle or are staying outside the main hotel zone. If you're traveling solo or with one other person, the shuttle is efficient. Groups of three or more may find a limousine more comfortable for the three-hour drive each way.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (5 to 8 years); Infant (under 5): 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 is Sung Sot Cave like when you get there?

Sung Sot Cave is the largest and most beautiful cave in Ha Long Bay. You reach the entrance after climbing about 200 steps through the forest canopy, then spend roughly 45 minutes exploring inside. If the walk is difficult, you can stay on the cruise and relax on the sundeck instead.

Do I have to kayak, or can I do something else at Luon Cave?

Kayaking at Luon Cave is optional and costs 80,000 VND per person, paid on the day. If you prefer not to paddle, you can take a bamboo boat rowed by a local boatman through the same cave instead, or stay on the cruise.

What's included in the lunch on the cruise?

Lunch is a buffet with seafood, Vietnamese dishes, and vegetarian options. It's served on board while the cruise travels through Ha Long Bay, so you eat while passing the limestone islands.

How long is the whole day from pickup to drop-off?

The full day runs about 12 hours from hotel pickup in Hanoi until drop-off back at your hotel. Pickup starts at 7:45 AM and the return drive arrives between 8:30 and 9 PM, depending on traffic.

What happens at Titop Island?

At Titop Island you can climb halfway up the mountain to see a panoramic view of Ha Long Bay from above, or swim at Titop Beach in clear water. You choose which activity suits you.

Is the kayaking included in the price, or do I pay extra?

Kayaking and bamboo boat rental at Luon Cave are optional and cost 80,000 VND per person, paid directly on the day. The rest of the cruise (lunch, cave exploration, island visits, and the sunset party) is included.