Ha Long Bay day trip from Hanoi: Private cruise with kayaking

Cruise limestone cliffs, paddle through water caves, explore a floating village in one day from Hanoi

A private day trip from Hanoi to Ha Long Bay includes junk boat cruising, entry to Thien Cung Grotto and Dau Go Cave, kayaking or bamboo boat rowing at a floating village, and seafood lunch on the water. Hotel pickup and a licensed English-speaking guide are included. You choose between a fully private boat or a shared one, and the drive from Hanoi takes about three and a half hours each way.

Options for this experience

3 options

From US$ 159.10 per person, depending on the option and date you choose.See dates & book

Private pickup at the cruise port. 7 departure times: the first at 07:00, the last at 13:30 Guide in 6 languages A deluxe private four-hour boat trip for those staying in Halong city or arriving by cruise ship who want a few hours on Halong Bay. Activities include visits to two beautiful caves, Heavenly Palace and Dau Go, instead of one, kayaking or a bamboo boat ride around the floating village, and passing the Incense, Duck and Cocks islets. Transfer between Hanoi and Halong harbor is not included, so you arrange that yourselves. The tour spends about four hours on the bay and visits Heavenly Palace and Dau Go caves instead of one cave. A Vietnamese set menu lunch on the boat is included, so please tell us if you are vegetarian. Itinerary: harbor, then a visit to Heavenly Palace cave, a visit to Dau Go cave, passing Dog Stone and Incense Burner islet, transfer, then a visit to Ba Hang village with kayaking, passing Fighting Cocks islets, and back to the harbor. Pickup is included.

3. Private car & guide, shared boat 08:45 and 09:00 Guide in 6 languages A private tour guide and private car, with a shared boat alongside other guests (the boat can hold 20 to 45 people). Four hours on the cruise include a visit to the beautiful Heavenly Place cave and kayaking or a bamboo boat ride at the floating village, plus photo stops at Incense Burner islet and Fighting Cocks islets. Deluxe services cover a private tour guide from Hanoi for an 11-hour trip, a traditional cruise on the bay, and a good captain and helpful staff. The trip lasts 10 hours, starting from Hanoi at about 8:30 to 9:00 am and returning to Hanoi at about 6:30 to 7:00 pm. Meals and drinks include one bottle of water in the car, a fresh seafood lunch served on the cruise, and vegetarian meals on request. A private car or van collects you from any Hanoi hotel and returns you to the same hotel. A mini car, van or bus is arranged to suit your group size and collects and drops off from your hotel. What sets this apart: a private tour with two-way transfer by expressway, a shared or private boat depending on your group size, and pickup is included.

1. Full private car, guide and boat. 8 departure times: the first at 05:30, the last at 11:00 Guide in 6 languages A deluxe private four-hour boat trip. It is fully private, with a car or van collecting you from any Hanoi hotel and returning you there, a private tour guide, and a private model cruise on Halong Bay. Activities include visits to two beautiful caves, Heavenly Palace and Dau Go, instead of just one, plus kayaking or a bamboo boat ride around the floating village, and photo stops at Incense, Duck and Cocks islets. Our friendly, helpful staff look after everything, and all services are for your group only. The tour spends about four hours on the bay. Lunch is a Vietnamese set menu served on the boat by our staff, with fresh seafood and vegetarian food. Halal and Indian food are also available. The express route takes about 2.5 hours each way by expressway between Hanoi, Hai Phong, Halong and Hanoi. Your group size determines whether we arrange a car, van or bus, all of them comfortable. For special requests, message us and we will reply shortly. Pickup is included.

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Step-by-step itinerary

Ha Long Bay private day trip

• Hotel pickup in Hanoi
• Drive 3.5 hours to Ha Long Bay
• Stop for coffee break
• Board traditional junk boat
• Enjoy seafood lunch on cruise
• Visit Thien Cung (Heaven Palace) cave
• Optional visit to Dau Go (Wooden Stakes) cave
• Kayak or Sampan boat at floating village
• Pass Hon Ga Choi Island for photos
• Pass Dinh Huong islet and record video
• Return to Hanoi by deluxe van/car

Stops and time spent at each 2 stops

1. Dau Go Cave 30m
2. Hon Ga Choi Island passing by

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off from Hanoi (in the private and shared boat options).
• private or shared junk cruise on Ha Long Bay.
• entry to Thien Cung Grotto and Dau Go Cave.
• kayaking or bamboo boat rowing at the floating village.
• fresh seafood lunch on the boat.
• private car and licensed English-speaking guide for the full day.
• all sightseeing and cave fees.

Times

• Every day 05:30 06:00 07:00 07:30 08:00 08:45 09:00 09:30 10:00 10:30 11:00 12:00 12:30 13:00 13:30

Before you book

Group Private 11 group tours ›

Live guide English, French, Chinese, Japanese, Korean and Vietnamese

Meeting point and pickup Hotel pickup included.

Book up to 12h before

Ages Adult (7 and older) · Child (5 to 6 years) · Infant (1 to 4 years): free

Cancellation and refunds Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Good to know

Moderate physical effort Infant seats available Public transport nearby Infants must sit on laps

Operated by VIETNAM TOP TRAVEL

Prices and times updated 5 days ago

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The experience

The day starts with pickup from your Hanoi hotel around 8 a.m., then a drive northeast through the Red River delta (170 kilometers of rice paddies, water buffalo herds and village markets) with a stop halfway to stretch and grab coffee before arriving at Ha Long Bay around noon. From there you board a traditional junk for a four- to five-hour cruise across the limestone seascape, with seafood lunch served on deck as the boat moves through the bay.

After lunch, you visit Thien Cung Grotto (the Palace of Heaven), where you walk up the island and explore a cave filled with stalagmites and stalactites. The cave holds historical weight: in 1288 a Vietnamese general hid wooden stakes inside to fight off a Mongol invasion. Dau Go Cave, also on the same island, is optional and takes about three minutes to see. The boat then takes you to a floating village where you kayak or row a bamboo boat through water caves surrounded by limestone islands, paddling past Hon Ga Choi Island (the two rock formations that look like fighting roosters and appear on Vietnam's 200,000-dong note) and Dinh Huong Islet, which is printed on the same currency.

You return to Hanoi by evening. The tour operates with a licensed guide who speaks English and at least five years of experience. Other languages (French, Chinese, Vietnamese and two more) are available. If you book the fully private option, you get a dedicated boat and car. If you choose the shared harbor pickup, you'll join other travelers on the cruise but still have private transport from Hanoi. Children from age one are welcome, though infants sit on an adult's lap.

Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, French, Chinese, Vietnamese, Korean and Japanese.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (5 to 6 years); Infant (1 to 4 years): free.

What's the difference between the private boat option and the shared cruise?

The fully private option gives you a dedicated junk for the day with your own guide and driver from Hanoi. The shared cruise option pairs you with other travelers on the boat itself, though you still get private car pickup from your Hanoi hotel. The shared harbor pickup option has no hotel transport. You meet the boat at Tuan Chau Marina instead.

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

The drive is about three and a half hours each way, covering 170 kilometers northeast through the Red River delta. There's a stop halfway to rest and have coffee or tea before continuing to the bay.

Can I kayak if I'm not very fit or have never paddled before?

The tour requires at least a moderate level of physical fitness. Kayaking and bamboo boat rowing are both offered at the floating village, so you can choose whichever feels right for you. The guide can advise on the difficulty once you arrive.

What caves do I visit, and what's inside them?

Thien Cung Grotto (Palace of Heaven) is the main stop. You walk up the island and explore a large cave with stalagmites and stalactites that resemble animals. Dau Go Cave (Wooden Stakes Cave) is optional and takes about three minutes. It was used to store wooden stakes during a 13th-century battle. Both are on the same island.

Is lunch included, and what kind of food is served?

Yes, a fresh seafood lunch is served on the boat while you cruise the bay. The meal is Vietnamese and included in the price. Beverages and tips are not.