2-Day Halong Bay Kayaking Cruise from Hanoi: Choose from 3 scenic routes
Paddle into hidden lagoons ringed by thousand-meter limestone cliffs.
A 2-day cruise through Halong Bay, Bai Tu Long Bay or Lan Ha Bay departing from Hanoi, where you kayak into caves, swim in emerald water, and sleep in a private cabin aboard the boat. You choose your route (Bai Tu Long for fewer crowds, Halong for Surprise Cave and Titop Island, or Lan Ha for Dark & Bright Cave), and the itinerary includes meals, a cooking demonstration, guide, all entrance fees and the kayak itself. Hotel pickup in Hanoi is included. Check-in happens at noon, checkout the next morning at 9:30.
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Step-by-step itinerary
Day 1: Hanoi to Bay and Cruise Activities
- Pick up from Hanoi hotel
- Drive to Ha Long with refreshment break
- Arrive at port and welcome drink
- Lunch on cruise while cruising bay
- Relax on sundeck or kayak 60 minutes
- Explore area by tender boat
- Join cooking demonstration
- Enjoy seafood dinner
- Leisure time or squid fishing
- Overnight on cruise
Day 2: Morning Bay Activities and Return to Hanoi
- Breakfast and sunrise views
- Visit cave or kayak depending on route
- Return to cruise and check out cabin
- Early lunch on board cruising back
- Disembark and transfer to Hanoi
- Arrive in Hanoi afternoon
What’s included
- Hotel pickup from Hanoi or Ninh Binh.
- welcome drink and cruise briefing.
- lunch and dinner on day one, breakfast and lunch on day two.
- one-hour kayaking session with towels provided.
- cave visits (Surprise Cave on Halong, Thien Canh Son on Bai Tu Long, or Dark & Bright Cave on Lan Ha).
- swimming at island beaches.
- private cabin with air conditioning, hot water and private bathroom.
- cooking class demonstration.
- Tai Chi session.
- squid fishing.
- all entrance fees and taxes.
- live English-speaking guide.
- option to add drinks and other services at checkout.
Times
- Every day 08:00 08:30
Before you book
Operated by Indochina Today Travel
Prices and times updated 8 days ago
Traveler reviews
The experience
The boat picks you up from your Hanoi hotel between 8 and 8:30 in the morning and drives you to the port, arriving around noon with a welcome drink and safety briefing. Lunch comes while you cruise through the limestone landscape, then at 3 or 3:30 you get into a kayak for an hour, the main event. On the Bai Tu Long route, you paddle around Cong Do and Cap La Island in shallow, protected water. On Halong, you explore the limestone formations near Titop Island before swimming off its white sand beach. On Lan Ha, you kayak either through the Dark & Bright Cave system or at Ba Trai Dao Beach, depending on the tide. Towels are provided. Back on the boat by late afternoon, you join a cooking demonstration with the chef, then eat dinner and try squid fishing if you want, or just watch the water from the deck.
You sleep in a private cabin with air conditioning, a private bathroom and hot water: either a standard double or twin, or a balcony cabin depending on which option you book. The next morning starts at 7 with breakfast and an optional Tai Chi session on deck at 6. Then comes the second major activity: on Bai Tu Long you visit Thien Canh Son Cave and climb its stone steps through jungle to see stalactites shaped like lotus flowers and animals; on Halong you kayak through Luon Cave, a lagoon enclosed by cliffs where monkeys live on the rocks; on Lan Ha you either explore Dark & Bright Cave by bamboo boat or kayak and swim at Ao Ech. By 9:30 you're back aboard for checkout, eating an early lunch while the boat returns to port. You disembark between 11 and 11:30, then transfer back to Hanoi, arriving between 2:30 and 3 in the afternoon.
The three routes split the difference between famous sights and fewer tourists. Halong Bay is the classic choice: Surprise Cave is the largest in the area, spanning 10,000 square meters across three chambers with stalactites and stalagmites lit for effect, and Titop Island's 400 stone steps lead to a 360-degree view. Bai Tu Long draws fewer visitors and trades the big cave for Thien Canh Son, which sits in a quieter part of the bay. Lan Ha leans into adventure: Dark & Bright Cave is accessed only by kayak or bamboo boat through a low archway into a hidden lagoon, and the sunset party on the sundeck is built into the evening. All three routes include the same meals, guide, activities and cabin. The difference is which caves, islands and water you see.
Is this one for you?Book the Halong option if Surprise Cave and Titop Island's viewpoint are your priority; choose Bai Tu Long if you want fewer crowds and a quieter bay; pick Lan Ha if kayaking through Dark & Bright Cave and the sunset party appeal to you. All three routes include the same meals, activities and cabin. The choice is which islands and caves you explore.
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Top questions
What languages is the tour guided in?
Live guide in English and Vietnamese.
Can children come?
Yes. Ticket types: Child (5 to 9 years); Infant (under 5): free.
Can I kayak if I've never done it before?
Yes. The kayaking sessions run 60 minutes and the water is calm and shallow around the islands and caves. Towels and the kayak itself are provided, and the guide is there. The itinerary notes the tour suits all physical fitness levels.
What's the difference between Halong Bay, Bai Tu Long and Lan Ha?
Halong Bay is the most famous. You visit Surprise Cave, the largest cave in the area, and Titop Island, where you can swim or climb 400 steps to a panoramic viewpoint. Bai Tu Long is quieter and less crowded. Instead of Surprise Cave you explore Thien Canh Son Cave and kayak around Cong Do and Cap La Island. Lan Ha offers Dark & Bright Cave, accessible only by kayak through a low archway into a hidden lagoon, plus a sunset party on the sundeck. All three include meals, a cooking demonstration, squid fishing and a night aboard the boat.
Is the transfer from Hanoi included?
Hotel pickup in Hanoi Old Quarter or Ninh Binh is included in the cruise price. The boat departs from the port at noon after a morning drive, and returns you to Hanoi between 2:30 and 3 p.m. on day two.
What meals are included?
Lunch and dinner on day one, breakfast on day two, and an early lunch on day two before you disembark. A cooking demonstration with the chef happens on the evening of day one. Vegetarian meals are available if you request them when booking.
Do I have my own cabin or do I share?
You get a private cabin with a double or twin bed, air conditioning, a private bathroom and hot water. Standard cabins have a window. Higher-priced options include a private balcony with ocean views. Couples can request honeymoon setup, and birthday cakes are complimentary if you give at least one day's notice.
What happens if the weather is bad?
The itinerary may change due to weather, tide levels or operating conditions. The guide and crew decide day-of whether to adjust the kayaking spots, cave visits or swimming locations to keep everyone safe.
2-Day Halong Bay Kayaking Cruise from Hanoi: Choose from 3 scenic routes
2d · EN +1
from US$ 46 per person
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