3-Day Ha Long Bay Kayaking Cruise: Limestone Caves & Swimming

Paddle through emerald lagoons ringed by thousand-year-old limestone cliffs.

A 3-day luxury cruise departing Hanoi explores Ha Long Bay, Lan Ha Bay, and Bai Tu Long Bay with kayaking, cave visits, and swimming included. You stay in a private balcony cabin, paddle through hidden lagoons, explore stalactite-filled caves like Surprise Cave and Maze Cave, and cycle through Viet Hai Village depending on your route choice. Hotel pickup, all meals, an English-speaking guide, and night squid fishing are part of the package. The itinerary shifts with tide and weather.

Options for this experience

7 options

From US$ 46 per person, depending on the option and date you choose.See dates & book

Full Day Tour Halong Bay 07:00 Guide in English or Vietnamese Full-day Ha Long Bay tour, a single day rather than an overnight trip: visit Sung Sot Cave, kayak to Luon Cave, swim at Titop Island and hike up Titop Peak. Included: English guide, modern bus from Hanoi to Ha Long and back, lunch, kayaking, cave visits, island visits, Luon Cave, sunset party and tickets. Duration: 12 hours. Lunch and sunset party on the cruise: a set lunch served on the cruise with many kinds of food, including vegetarian options. Modern bus pick-up from Hanoi between 7:20 and 8:20 AM, around Hanoi Old Quarter or the meeting point at 162 Tran Quang Khai. The trip ends back in Hanoi at 9:00 PM.

Bai Tu Long (Deluxe Cruise) 08:00 Guide in English or Vietnamese Deluxe ocean private cabin: deluxe window ocean-view cabin with air conditioning and full furniture and amenities, a private shower bathroom, and free tea, coffee and water. Local attractions: visit Thien Canh Son Cave, explore Cong Do, kayaking in the Cap La area, sunbathing, swimming, cooking demo class and squid fishing. Included: English guide, tickets, sunset party, a romantic dinner on the cruise sundeck (weather permitting), and tai chi in the morning. Set menu meals and welcome drink: 2 breakfasts, 3 lunches and 2 dinners (vegetarian available), a welcome drink and 2 mineral water bottles in the room. Less touristy area: visit Thien Canh Son Cave, a wild place with a great beach, kayaking, swimming, islets and rocks, and a visit to the Vung Vieng floating fishing village. Transfer on request: pick-up and drop-off around Hanoi Old Quarter or Ninh Binh, for an extra fee depending on your request.

Bai Tu Long 5-Star & Balcony 08:00 Guide in English or Vietnamese Private ocean cabin and balcony: air-conditioned with full furniture and amenities, a private balcony and shower bathroom, free tea, coffee and 2 bottles of water. Local attractions: visit Thien Canh Son Cave, kayaking at Cong Do and the Cap La area (summer: April to October), and the Vung Vieng floating village (winter: November to March). Included: English guide, tickets, meals, sunbathing, swimming, cooking demo class, squid fishing and kayaking. Duration: 3 days. 3-day Ha Long Bay to Bai Tu Long Bay: escape the crowds on a less touristy route with more activities, including kayaking and swimming. Set menu meals and welcome drink: 2 breakfasts, 3 lunches and 2 dinners (vegetarian available), a welcome drink and 2 mineral water bottles in the room. Less touristy area: visit Thien Canh Son Cave, a wild place with a great beach, kayaking, swimming, islets and rocks, Me Cung Cave and the Tung Sau Pearl Farm. Limousine transfer: pick-up and drop-off around Hanoi Old Quarter or Ninh Binh, for an extra fee depending on your request.

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Lan Ha Bay 5-Star & Balcony 08:00 Guide in English Private ocean-view balcony: air-conditioned cabin with full furniture and amenities, free tea, coffee and bottled water. Local attractions: islets, kayaking, squid fishing, swimming, sunset party, Dark and Bright Caves, cooking class, tai chi and cycling in Viet Hai Village. Onboard activities: cooking demo class, tai chi class, squid fishing, Happy Hour, swimming, kayaking and cycling to Viet Hai. Duration: 3 days. Included: English guide, tickets, meals, sunbathing, swimming, cooking demo class, squid fishing and kayaking. Meals and welcome drink: 2 breakfasts, 3 lunches and 2 dinners (vegetarian available), a welcome drink and 2 mineral water bottles in the room. Limousine transfer on request: pick-up and drop-off around Hanoi Old Quarter, depending on your request, for an extra fee.

Halong 5-Star Cruise & Balcony 08:00 Guide in English or Vietnamese Private balcony ocean cabin: 5-star cruise with full luxury furniture and amenities, private bathroom (bathtub/shower), tea and coffee, and a free bottle of water. Local attractions: visit Sung Sot Cave, Titop Island, kayaking or bamboo boat at Luon Cave, Me Cung Cave, squid fishing, kayaking and swimming. Included: English guide, tickets, Happy Hour, meals, cruise, all activities, and tai chi in the morning. Duration: 3 days, 3-day Ha Long Bay tour staying on a luxury 5-star cruise with a private balcony and visits to all Ha Long Bay destinations. Set menu meals and welcome drink: 2 breakfasts, 3 lunches and 2 dinners (vegetarian available), a welcome drink, 2 mineral water bottles in the room, and free tea and coffee. Onboard activities: squid fishing, Happy Hour, cooking demo class, tai chi in the morning, swimming at the beach, and hiking up Titop Peak. Limousine transfer on request: pick-up and drop-off around Hanoi Old Quarter or Ninh Binh, available for an extra fee depending on your request. Starting point: Cat Ba National Park, Cat Hai, Hai Phong 05418, Vietnam.

Lan Ha Luxury 6-Star & Balcony 08:00 Guide in English or Vietnamese Luxury private balcony and bathtub: air-conditioned with luxury furniture and amenities, a romantic balcony with bay view and a bathtub with ocean view. Free tea, coffee and bottled water. Local attractions: swimming at Bai Trai Dao Beach, cycling in Viet Hai Village, kayaking, fishing, swimming, Dark and Bright Caves, cooking class and tai chi. Onboard activities: cooking demo class, tai chi class, squid fishing, sunset party, cycling in Viet Hai Village, swimming, kayaking, a hike and a cave visit. Meals and welcome drink: 2 breakfasts, 3 lunches and 2 dinners (vegetarian available), a welcome drink and 2 mineral water bottles in the room. Transfer on request: pick-up and drop-off around Hanoi Old Quarter or Ninh Binh by limousine bus, for an extra fee depending on your request.

Ha Long Luxury 6-Star Balcony 08:00 Guide in English or Vietnamese Private balcony with ocean view: air-conditioned cabin with luxury furniture and amenities, a romantic balcony with bay view, and a private bathroom. Free tea, coffee and bottled water. Local attractions: Sung Sot Cave, Titop Island, sunset party, cooking class, squid fishing, kayaking, Trinh Nu Cave, swimming and a tai chi session. Included: English guide, tickets, meals, sunbathing, swimming, cooking demo class, squid fishing, kayaking and a cycling trip to Viet Hai Village. Duration: 3 days, with swimming at Three Peach Beach (Ba Trai Dao), a visit to a pearl farm and kayaking at Luon Cave. Available: swimming pool, gym and mini-golf. Meals and welcome drink: 2 breakfasts, 3 lunches and 2 dinners (vegetarian available), a welcome drink and 2 mineral water bottles in the room. Limousine transfer on request: pick-up and drop-off around Hanoi Old Quarter or Ninh Binh, for an extra fee depending on your request. Starting point: Cat Ba National Park, Cat Hai, Hai Phong 05418, Vietnam.

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Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Hanoi to Bay Cruise and Activities

• Pick-up from Hanoi hotel
• Drive to Ha Long with refreshment stop
• Arrive at port and welcome drink
• Cruise lunch with limestone landscape views
• Relax on sundeck or kayak 60 minutes
• Explore by tender boat or join cooking demo
• Enjoy fresh seafood dinner
• Leisure time or night squid fishing
• Overnight on cruise

Day 2: Bay Exploration and Cultural Visits

• Breakfast with bay views and optional Tai Chi
• Transfer to smaller day boat
• Visit fishing village or pearl farm
• Lunch on board
• Kayaking and swimming in bay
• Return to main boat and sunset party
• Dinner on board
• Evening games or night squid fishing
• Overnight on cruise

Day 3: Morning Cave Visit and Return to Hanoi

• Breakfast with sunrise views and optional Tai Chi
• Visit cave or kayak/swim options
• Return to cruise and check out cabin
• Cooking class demonstration
• Early lunch on board
• Cruise back through bay
• Disembark at port
• Transfer back to Hanoi
• End of journey

What’s included

• Hotel pickup from Hanoi Old Quarter and return transfer.
• welcome drink and English-speaking guide.
• 2 nights in a private 5-star balcony cabin with ocean-view bathroom.
• all meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner) with vegetarian options available.
• kayaking and bamboo boat excursions.
• entrance fees to caves and islands.
• Tai Chi session and cooking demonstration.
• night squid fishing equipment.
• cycling in Viet Hai Village (Lan Ha option).
• complimentary cabin setup for birthdays or anniversaries on request.

Times

• Every day 07:00 08:00

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Before you book

Group Up to 20

Live guide English and Vietnamese

Meeting point and pickup Hotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Book up to 10h before

Ages Adult (11 and older) · Child (5 to 10 years) · Infant (under 5): free

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

Good to know

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

Operated by Indochina Today Travel

Prices and times updated 6 days ago

Traveler reviews

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The experience

The cruise picks you up from your Hanoi hotel between 8:00 and 8:30 and drives you to the port, arriving around noon. After a welcome drink and briefing, you board a luxury vessel with a private cabin featuring a balcony and ocean views. Lunch happens on deck while the boat glides through limestone karsts, and by mid-afternoon you're either kayaking for an hour around hidden corners of the bay or exploring by tender boat, towels provided. The evening brings a cooking demonstration with the chef, a seafood dinner, and the option to try night squid fishing under the stars.

Day two shifts depending on which bay route you've chosen. In Ha Long Bay, you visit Surprise Cave (the largest in the region, spanning 10,000 square meters across three chambers) and swim or hike at Titop Island, where nearly 400 stone steps lead to a 360-degree panoramic view. In Lan Ha Bay, you kayak through crystal-clear waters at Tra Bau or explore Dark & Bright Cave by bamboo boat, then swim at Ba Trai Dao Beach. In Bai Tu Long Bay, a smaller day boat takes you deeper into the geology park to visit Vung Vieng fishing village by bamboo boat or tour the Tung Sau Pearl Farm, with more kayaking and swimming in the afternoon. Every route includes a sunset party on the sundeck, dinner, and free squid fishing afterward.

The final morning starts with breakfast and optional Tai Chi at 6:00 a.m. overlooking the bay. Your last activity depends on your route: kayak through Luon Cave's emerald lagoon in Ha Long Bay, explore Dark & Bright Cave in Lan Ha Bay, or visit Thien Canh Son Cave in Bai Tu Long Bay, known for stalactites shaped like lotus flowers and seals. You check out by 9:30, enjoy an early lunch on board, and disembark by 11:00 or 11:30. The transfer back to Hanoi takes about two and a half hours, with arrival between 14:30 and 15:00.

Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Vietnamese.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (5 to 10 years); Infant (under 5): free.

What's included in the meals on the 3-day cruise?

Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are served daily, featuring Vietnamese and Western fusion cuisine with fresh local seafood. Vegetarian menus are available. Let the operator know when you book. A welcome drink greets you on boarding, and night squid fishing equipment is free at reception.

Can I kayak if I've never done it before?

Yes. Kayaking sessions run about an hour and explore peaceful waters around limestone islands. The operator states the tour suits all physical fitness levels, and towels are provided. If you prefer not to paddle, a tender boat ride offers the same views of the landscape.

Which bay should I choose? Ha Long, Lan Ha, or Bai Tu Long?

Ha Long Bay includes Surprise Cave and Titop Island with its famous viewpoint hike. Lan Ha Bay features Dark & Bright Cave and cycling through Viet Hai Village, a jungle-surrounded eco-village. Bai Tu Long Bay is quieter, with visits to Vung Vieng fishing village or Tung Sau Pearl Farm and Thien Canh Son Cave. All three routes include kayaking, swimming, and cave exploration. The choice depends on whether you want the most-visited sites, village cycling, or a less-crowded experience.

What happens if the weather is bad or the tide is wrong?

The itinerary can shift due to bad weather, tide levels, and operating conditions. The operator adjusts activities to keep you safe and maximize what you can do on the water. You'll know about changes as they happen, and the guide will offer alternatives.

Is the cabin private, and what's the bathroom like?

You get a private cabin for two nights with a private bathroom featuring a bathtub or shower and an ocean-view balcony. Cabins are twin or double sharing. Check-in is 12:00–12:30 and check-out is 9:00–9:30 on the final morning.

Does the price include the transfer from Hanoi?

Hotel pickup from Hanoi is included in the cruise package. The return transfer to Hanoi is also included. You disembark at the port and travel back by road, arriving in the city between 14:30 and 15:00.