Ha Long Bay day cruise from Hanoi: Kayaking, lunch & sunset

Six hours on the water, four activities, no planning required

A full-day luxury catamaran cruise from Hanoi to Ha Long Bay and Lan Ha Bay with hotel pickup, English-speaking guide, and a fixed itinerary that fits kayaking, swimming, lunch, and a cooking class into one departure. You board at Tuan Chau marina, paddle into Bright-Dark Cave, swim at Frog Pond with water slides and trampoline access, learn to cook a traditional Vietnamese dish, and watch the sunset with tea and cakes before returning to your hotel.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Ha Long Bay2h · entry included
2. Lan Ha Bay4h · entry included

Luxury Halong Bay Day Cruise Experience

• Pick up from Hanoi Old Quarter hotels
• Drive to Halong Bay with short break
• Arrive at Tuan Chau marina
• Board the cruise and welcome drink
• Lunch on board with drinks
• Kayaking or bamboo boat at Bright-Dark Cave
• Enjoy Frog Pond activities and swimming
• Cooking demonstration of Vietnamese dish
• Sunset ceremony with tea and cakes
• Disembark at Tuan Chau harbor
• Transfer back to Hanoi hotels

The experience

The cruise departs from Tuan Chau International Marina at 11:30 AM, but if you book from Hanoi, pickup happens between 7:45 and 8:00 AM at your hotel in the Old Quarter, with a 2.5-hour drive to the bay included. The boat itself is the reason this works: a luxury catamaran with an outdoor and indoor restaurant, a bar, a sundeck with sunbeds, and suspended "lounge nets" strung between the hulls where you can watch the water pass below while you sit. Lunch is served between noon and 1 PM: an award-winning chef's menu paired with cocktails, wine and beer.

The afternoon splits into four stops. At 2 PM you kayak or take a bamboo boat through Bright-Dark Cave, a grotto that opens into a private lagoon ringed by rock walls. By 3:15 PM you're at Frog Pond in Lan Ha Bay, where you can jump on the trampoline, use the water slide, or swim. Staying on deck to relax is also an option. At 4 PM a cooking demonstration teaches you the history and technique of a traditional Vietnamese dish, then you make it yourself. The day closes with a sunset ceremony at 4:30 PM: complimentary Vietnamese tea, fresh fruit and cakes served while the boat heads back to harbor.

Three booking options exist. Choose the Hanoi pickup with limousine (7:45 AM departure) or private car (8:00 AM departure) if you want hotel collection and return. Both include the full day on the water plus the drive back, landing you at your hotel around 8:30 to 9 PM. If you're already in Ha Long, book cruise-only and arrive at Tuan Chau marina by 11:30 AM on your own. Entrance fees, an English-speaking guide, jacuzzi and water slide access, and a bottle of mineral water on the transfer are included. Beverages beyond the lunch service and tips are separate.

What’s included

• Kayaking or bamboo boat ride through Bright-Dark Cave.
• swimming, water slide and trampoline access at Frog Pond.
• premium lunch meal with cocktails, wine and beer.
• cooking demonstration with a traditional Vietnamese dish.
• sunset ceremony with Vietnamese tea, fresh fruit and cakes.
• entrance fees and English-speaking guide.
• free jacuzzi access on the boat.
• hotel pickup and return transfer (Hanoi options only).
• bottle of mineral water on transfer.

Options for this experience

3 options

Cruise-only option from Halong, departing 11:15Guide in English · 11:15Boarding at Tuan Chau Island: please report to Lot 25 at Tuan Chau International Marina 2, Halong, Quang Ninh before 11:30 AM to check in for the cruise. Cruise through Halong Bay and Lan Ha Bay for sightseeing, swimming, kayaking and bamboo boat rides, on a catamaran cruise or similar. Duration: 6 hours. Premium lunch served on board.

From Hanoi with a limousine, departing 07:45Guide in English · 07:45Pickup at Hanoi Old Quarter area between 7:45 and 8:00 AM, by limousine bus, round trip, with a catamaran cruise or similar. Duration: 12 hours. Pickup is included.

From Hanoi with a private car, departing 8:00Guide in English · 08:00Private limousine transfer: the best choice for a group of friends or family who prefer not to share a transfer with others, on a catamaran cruise or similar 5-star cruise with excellent service. Duration: 12 hours, Hanoi to Halong and back to Hanoi. 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 07:45, 08:00 and 11:15

Book up to2h before

AgesAdult (9 and older) · Youth (4 to 8 years) · Under 4: can't be booked

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 2 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Local Tours ASIA

Is this one for you?Book with the Hanoi transfer if your hotel is in the Old Quarter and you want the full day handled start to finish. The 2.5-hour drive each way means you leave early and return late, but everything (pickup, the cruise, lunch, all four activities, and the ride home) stays in one booking. If you're already in Ha Long or prefer to arrange your own transport, the cruise-only option starts at 11:30 AM and ends at Tuan Chau harbor, giving you flexibility on timing.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (4 to 8 years). Children under 4 can't be included in the booking.

What is Bright-Dark Cave like when you paddle into it?

Bright-Dark Cave is a grotto that opens into a private lagoon surrounded by rock walls on all sides, creating a sheltered corner of Ha Long Bay. You reach it by kayak or bamboo boat, paddling through the cave entrance itself before emerging into the calm water inside.

Can I swim during the day cruise, or is it just for watching?

Swimming is part of the itinerary at Frog Pond in Lan Ha Bay, where you can also use the water slide and trampoline. If you prefer not to swim, you can stay on the boat and relax instead.

How does the cooking demonstration work?

The chef teaches the history and preparation method of a traditional Vietnamese dish, then you make it yourself. It happens at 4 PM on board, after the morning kayaking and swimming stops.

What happens if I book from Hanoi? Do I need to arrange my own way back?

If you book with the Hanoi transfer option (limousine or private car), pickup and return are included. The driver collects you from your hotel in the Old Quarter in the morning and drops you back around 8:30 to 9 PM. If you book cruise-only, you arrange your own transport to and from Tuan Chau marina.

Is the lunch included in the price, or do I pay separately?

Lunch is included and served on board between noon and 1 PM. The menu is prepared by an award-winning chef and paired with cocktails, wine and beer. Beverages beyond the lunch service are not included.