Ha Long Bay seaplane luxury cruise: Day tour Surprise Cave

See the bay from the air, then explore it from the water

A Ha Long Bay day tour combining a scenic seaplane flight and a luxury cruise to three major sites. You fly 25 minutes over the UNESCO World Heritage landscape, spotting Dau Be, Cong Do and Bo Hon islands from above, then board a steel cruise ship for lunch, cave exploration by kayak or bamboo boat, island swimming, and sunset on deck. The guide speaks English and pickup is available from Halong City hotels.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Surprise Cave1h · entry included
2. Titop Island1h · entry included

Halong Bay Seaplane and Cruise Tour

• Pick up guests from hotel or harbor
• Take 25-minute scenic seaplane flight
• Walk to Tuan Chau Harbor meeting point
• Check in and welcome drink on cruise
• Enjoy buffet lunch on the boat
• Cruise past Stone Dog and Kissing Rocks
• Visit Surprise Cave (Sung Sot Cave)
• Explore Luon Cave by kayak or bamboo boat
• Visit and swim at Titov Island beach
• Attend sunset party on the cruise
• Return to harbor and transfer back to Hanoi

The experience

The seaplane departs from Tuan Chau Marina and climbs over the bay's most photographed landmarks: the islands appear as mountain ranges from the air, embodying the name "Ha Long," meaning descending dragon. You'll pass Dau Be Island to the southeast, Cong Do Island in Bai Tu Long Bay, and Bo Hon Island, one of the largest island chains in the bay. The 25-minute flight lands back on the water at Tuan Chau, and you walk to the harbor for cruise check-in.

Lunch is a buffet of local seafood served on the luxury cruise as it passes Stone Dog, Stone Incense Burner, and the Kissing Rocks. After eating, you visit Surprise Cave: one of Ha Long Bay's largest and most beautiful caverns, named "Grotte des Surprises" by French explorers. Then you explore Luon Cave, part of Bo Hon Island, by kayak or bamboo boat rowed by local residents, with views of Turtle Island and Heaven Gate nearby. The afternoon ends at Titop Island, where you can swim at the beach, climb to the summit for panoramic views across thousands of limestone formations, or relax in the ship's jacuzzi.

A sunset party on deck offers complimentary fruit, cakes, juices and tea as the cruise returns to Tuan Chau port around 5:45 p.m. The whole experience runs roughly seven hours from pickup to drop-off. If you book with transfer, a driver collects you from your Halong City hotel in the morning and returns you by limousine afterward. If you book from the harbor, you meet the staff at Tuan Chau for check-in.

What’s included

• Six-hour luxury cruise tour.
• 25-minute scenic seaplane flight over Ha Long Bay.
• visits to Surprise Cave and Luon Cave by kayak or bamboo boat.
• time to swim and explore Titop Island.
• sunset party with complimentary fruit, cakes, juices and tea.
• all entrance and sightseeing fees.
• English-speaking guide.
• roundtrip hotel transfer from Halong City (if booked with transfer option).

Options for this experience

2 options

Tour from HarborGuide in English · 10:00 and 11:00Transfer not included

Tour with TransferGuide in English · 10:00 and 11:00Pickup 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 10:00 and 11:00

Book up to2h before

AgesAdult (9 and older) · Child (3 to 8 years) · Infant (under 3)

GroupUp to 75

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 5 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortPublic transport nearbyNot recommended with back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Local Tours Ha Giang

Is this one for you?Book with transfer if your hotel is in Halong City and you'd rather not navigate to Tuan Chau Harbor yourself. Book from the harbor if you're already at the port or prefer to arrange your own transport. Either way, the seaplane-and-cruise combination gives you both the aerial perspective and the water-level exploration most single-day Ha Long tours skip.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 8 years); Infant (under 3).

What's the seaplane flight actually like over Ha Long Bay?

The 25-minute scenic flight takes off and lands on the water at Tuan Chau Marina, giving you a bird's-eye view of the bay's most famous islands (Dau Be, Cong Do, and Bo Hon), which appear like mountain ranges from above. You see the landscape that inspired the name "Ha Long," meaning descending dragon.

Can you swim and explore caves on the same day?

Yes. You visit Surprise Cave on foot with the guide, then explore Luon Cave by kayak or bamboo boat, and later swim at Titop Island's beach or relax in the ship's jacuzzi while the cruise returns to port.

What does the lunch on the cruise include?

A buffet lunch of local seafood is served in the luxury restaurant on board while the cruise passes the bay's most scenic spots, including Stone Dog, Stone Incense Burner, and the Kissing Rocks.

How does pickup work if I'm staying in Halong City?

If you book the tour with transfer, the driver collects you from your hotel lobby in the morning and returns you by limousine after the cruise ends. If you book from the harbor, you meet the staff at Tuan Chau International Port for check-in.

What happens at the sunset party?

The cruise hosts a complimentary sunset gathering on deck with fruit, cakes, juices, and tea as the ship returns to Tuan Chau port around 5:45 p.m., letting you watch the light fade over the limestone islands.