Ha Long Bay: Luxury Catamaran Cruise & Kayaking from Hanoi

The Only Catamaran in Northern Vietnam Takes You Through Ha Long Bay in One Day

You're picked up from Hanoi, driven to Ha Long Bay, and board a luxury catamaran for six hours of cruising, kayaking, and swimming in Lan Ha Bay. Lunch, a cooking demonstration, and a sunset tea ceremony are included, along with entrance fees and the return drive to Hanoi. The whole day, door to door, runs from early morning until around 9 PM.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

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

Halong Bay Catamaran Day Cruise

• Pick up from Hanoi Old Quarter hotels
• Drive to Halong Bay with short break
• Board catamaran at Tuan Chau Harbor
• Lunch on boat cruising Halong Bay
• Kayaking or bamboo boat to Bright-Dark Cave
• Visit Frog Pond and swim in Lan Ha Bay
• Cooking demonstration on board
• Sunset ceremony with tea and cakes
• Disembark at Tuan Chau Harbor
• Limousine bus drive back to Hanoi
• Drop off at Hanoi Old Quarter hotels

The experience

You're picked up from your Hanoi Old Quarter hotel between 7:30 and 8 AM, and the drive to Ha Long Bay takes about two and a half to three hours. There's a short break on the way. By 11:30 you're boarding The Halong Catamaran at Tuan Chau Harbor, and the boat is already moving. Lunch happens while you're cruising, Vietnamese fusion food served on deck as limestone karsts start rising out of the water. The catamaran heads toward Lan Ha Bay, which stays quieter than the main Ha Long tourist routes, and that's where the day opens up.

Around 2 PM you're either kayaking or rowing a bamboo boat into Bright-Dark Cave. The name makes sense once you're inside, the light cutting through the opening in a way that feels deliberate. After that, Frog Pond is a swimming stop in Lan Ha Bay itself, water warm enough that you don't hesitate. At 4 PM there's a cooking demonstration on the boat, and then the sunset ceremony arrives: Vietnamese tea, fresh fruit, little cakes, the kind of moment that doesn't need narration. You're back at Tuan Chau by 5:45 or 6 PM, and if you booked from Hanoi, the limousine bus takes you back to your hotel by around 8:30 or 9 PM.

What sets this cruise apart is the boat itself. It's the only catamaran operating in Northern Vietnam, which means the stability and the deck space feel different from the standard junk boats. The guide speaks English throughout, and the group stays small enough that you're not herded. Inclusions cover entry fees, the lunch, the cooking class, kayaking or bamboo boat access, and the return transport if you started in Hanoi. You don't arrange any of it separately.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup from Hanoi Old Quarter (7:30–8:00 AM) and return transport by limousine bus (around 8:30–9:00 PM) for guests booking from Hanoi.
• English-speaking guide for the full day.
• six-hour cruise through Ha Long Bay and Lan Ha Bay aboard the catamaran.
• Vietnamese fusion lunch served on board.
• kayaking or bamboo boat rowing to Bright-Dark Cave.
• swimming at Frog Pond in Lan Ha Bay.
• cooking demonstration on the boat.
• sunset ceremony with Vietnamese tea, fresh fruit, and cakes.
• entrance fees for all sightseeing stops.
• water slide and trampoline access on the boat.

Options for this experience

4 options

Guide in English11:10

Guide in English07:30

Guide in English10:45

Guide in English08:00 and 08:30

Options with the same name differ in details you'll see when you pick a date.

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

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day5 departure times: the first at 07:30, the last at 11:10

Book up to1h before

AgesAdult (9 and older) · Youth (4 to 8 years) · Under 4: can't be included in the booking

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.Operator's directions: “NOTE : FOR THE GUESTS BOOK TOUR FROM HALONG, NO TRANSFER : Please come by your own to The Halong Catamaran, Block 25, Tuan Chau International Marina Terminal 2, Tuần Châu, Hạ Long, Quảng Ninh. Time at 11h10 AM”

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

Easy physical levelInfants must sit on laps

Operated by LOCAL TOURS VIETNAM

Is this one for you?Book this if you're staying in Hanoi and want to see Ha Long Bay without renting a car or coordinating multiple bookings: the catamaran, lunch, activities, and round-trip transport are all arranged, and the small-group format means you move at a pace that lets you actually swim and kayak instead of just passing through.

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Top questions

Can children come?

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

How long is the drive from Hanoi to Ha Long Bay?

About 2.5 to 3 hours, with one short break included on the way.

What time does the boat leave Tuan Chau Harbor?

Boarding is at 11:30 AM, and the cruise departs immediately after.

Is lunch included on the cruise?

Yes, Vietnamese fusion cuisine is served on the boat starting at noon while you cruise.

Can you choose between kayaking and bamboo boat, or do you have to do one?

You can choose: kayaking or rowing a bamboo boat to visit Bright-Dark Cave is offered as an option.

What time do you get back to Hanoi?

If you booked from Hanoi with transfer, the limousine bus returns you to your hotel between 8:30 and 9 PM.

Is the guide English-speaking?

Yes, an English-speaking guide is with the group throughout the tour.

What's included in the sunset ceremony?

Vietnamese tea, fresh fruit, and small cakes, served on deck as the sun sets.

Can you book the cruise without the Hanoi transfer?

Yes, you can meet the boat directly at Tuan Chau International Marina Terminal 2 at 11:10 AM if you arrange your own transport to Ha Long Bay.