2-day Halong Bay kayaking cruise from Hanoi with meals
Paddle through karst islands, explore caves, and sleep aboard a cruise boat
A 2-day, 1-night cruise from Hanoi into UNESCO-listed Halong Bay includes sea kayaking, cave visits, island swimming, accommodation in a cabin, all meals, and hotel pickup. The boat departs at 1pm on day one after a 3.5-hour drive from Hanoi, and returns to your hotel around 4pm on day two. A professional English-speaking guide leads the cave and island stops. Dietary requests are accommodated at booking.
Step-by-step itinerary
Day 1: Hanoi to Halong Bay cruise
- Shuttle bus from Hanoi to Tuan Chau pier
- Transfer by tender boat to cruiser
- Welcome drink and cabin check-in
- Set sail and enjoy seafood lunch
- Cruise past islands and floating villages
- Sea-kayaking at Luon Cave
- Cruise to Titop Island for swimming and views
- Return to boat for coffee, tea, and fruit
- Seafood dinner on board
- Optional squid fishing or drinks at bar
- Overnight onboard in Halong Bay
Day 2: Halong Bay to Hanoi return
- Early breakfast on board
- Explore Surprising Cave with guide
- Check out cabin and cruise back to harbor
- Cooking demonstration: Vietnamese spring rolls
- Early lunch on board
- Tender boat to Tuan Chau pier
- Shuttle bus return to Hanoi hotel
What’s included
- Hotel pickup from Hanoi Old Quarter between 7:45 and 8:15am.
- air-conditioned shuttle to and from Tuan Chau pier.
- cabin accommodation for 1 night.
- all meals (seafood lunch and dinner on day one, breakfast and lunch on day two, with vegetarian options available).
- sea kayak and paddle.
- professional English-speaking guide.
- entrance fees to Luon Cave, Surprising Cave, and Titop Island.
- cooking demonstration on day two.
- 2 mineral water bottles per day per cabin.
Times
- Every day 08:00
Before you book
Operated by Halong Phoenix Cruiser
Prices and times updated 14 days ago
Traveler reviews
The experience
The journey starts early: your hotel pickup happens between 7:45 and 8:15am, followed by a 3.5-hour drive to Tuan Chau pier. A tender boat transfers you to the cruise vessel, where you check into your cabin, receive a welcome drink, and set sail at 1pm. Lunch is fresh seafood (vegetarian options available), served as the boat passes Dog Head and Swan Islands, the floating villages of Ba Hang, and Dinh Huong and Thumb Islands. The first afternoon centers on Luon Cave: you paddle a sea kayak for an hour among the limestone formations, then cruise to Titop Island to swim or climb to the peak for panoramic views. Dinner is at 7pm. Afterward, you can order drinks from the bar or try squid fishing from the deck.
Day two begins with an early breakfast between 7 and 7:45am, eaten on deck. Your guide leads an exploration of Surprising Cave before the boat heads back to harbor, passing Fighting Cocks Island and Incense Burner Islet. At 10am you check out of your cabin. Before departure, an onboard cooking demonstration teaches you how to make authentic Vietnamese spring rolls. Lunch follows at 10:45am. A tender collects you at 11:20am and returns you to the pier, where the shuttle departs for Hanoi, arriving at your hotel around 4pm.
The cruise includes a professional English-speaking guide, all meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner), accommodation in a cabin, a sea kayak and paddle, entrance fees to the cave and island sites, and 2 mineral water bottles per day per cabin. Beverages beyond water and the welcome drink are available for purchase at the bar. If weather forces a cancellation, you can choose an alternative date or receive a full refund.
Is this one for you?Book this if you want multiple activities (kayaking, caves, island visits, and a cooking class) packed into two days. Choose a longer cruise instead if you prefer a more relaxed pace with fewer stops.
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Top questions
Can children come?
Yes. Ticket types: Child (5 to 8 years); Infant (under 5): free.
What happens if it rains?
It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 72 h before the start.
How long is the drive from Hanoi to Halong Bay?
The shuttle from your Hanoi hotel to Tuan Chau pier takes 3.5 hours. Pickup occurs between 7:45 and 8:15am, and you board the cruise boat at 1pm after arrival.
What is included in the meals on the cruise?
All meals are included: fresh seafood lunch and dinner on day one, and breakfast and lunch on day two. Vegetarian options are available on request at the time of booking, and you can specify any dietary requirements when you reserve.
Do I need experience to kayak in Luon Cave?
The sea kayaking trip in Luon Cave lasts about an hour and is suitable for all physical fitness levels. The guide provides the kayak and paddle. No prior experience is required.
What happens if the weather is bad?
The cruise is subject to favorable weather conditions. If poor weather forces a cancellation, you will be offered either an alternative date or a full refund.
What is Surprising Cave like?
Surprising Cave is explored on the morning of day two with your guide before the boat returns to harbor. It is one of the dramatic limestone formations in Halong Bay that you visit during the cruise.
Can I swim during the tour?
Yes. On day one, the boat stops at Titop Island in the afternoon, where you can swim or sunbathe. You also have the option to climb to the island's peak for panoramic views of the bay.
2-day Halong Bay kayaking cruise from Hanoi with meals
2d · EN
from US$ 140 per person
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