2-Day Halong Bay Cruise from Hanoi: Kayak, Cave, Overnight Aboard

Kayak through karst formations, then watch the sunrise from your cabin.

A 2-day cruise from Hanoi to Halong Bay, Lan Ha Bay, or Bai Tu Long Bay with overnight cabin, all meals, and a guide. You pick your bay when you book, then travel by coach from Hanoi's Old Quarter, board the cruise at midday, kayak or swim in the afternoon, join a sunset party with happy hour, and return the next morning after Tai Chi and cave exploration. Pickup from Hanoi hotels is included in most options. Alcohol, spa treatments and laundry are available to add at checkout.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Cruise and activities in Halong Bay area

• Pick up travelers in Hanoi Old Quarter
• Transfer from Hanoi to Halong Bay
• Arrive at cruise dock and check in
• Welcome drinks and board cruise
• Enjoy lunch while cruising Halong Bay
• Visit Luon Cave or Pearl Farm by bamboo boat or kayak
• Visit Titop Island for swimming or hiking
• Enjoy sunset party with happy hour on board
• Attend cooking demonstration or free time
• Dinner on board under stars
• Relax with spa or cocktails

Day 2: Morning cave visit and return to Hanoi

• Morning Tai Chi on sundeck
• Light breakfast served
• Visit Sung Sot Cave and hike to viewpoint
• Return to cruise and check out
• Brunch served on board
• Disembark at Tuan Chau Marina
• Transfer back to Hanoi
• Drop off at hotel in Old Quarter

The experience

The coach picks you up from Hanoi's Old Quarter between 7:45 and 8:30 in the morning and drives you to the cruise dock, arriving around 11:30. You check in at the lounge, board by early afternoon, and settle into your cabin: double, twin, triple or single depending on what you booked, with a window or balcony. Lunch is served while the boat moves into the bay, and by mid-afternoon you're in the water: kayaking through caves and around limestone islets, or swimming in the clear bay, depending on which route you chose. Titop Island (on the Halong option) has a beach for sunbathing or a hike to the top for views across the water.

The evening is built around the boat. A sunset party runs from 5:30 to 7 with happy hour (buy two drinks, get one free), and complimentary fruit and juice on the sundeck. A cooking demo class or free time follows, then dinner is served in the restaurant. After that, squid fishing, karaoke, or spa treatments and cocktails from the bar fill the night, depending on what you want and what your cabin tier includes. You sleep in your private cabin with full toiletries.

Morning starts with optional Tai Chi on the sundeck at 6 a.m., then light breakfast. The final activity depends on your bay: Halong visitors explore Sung Sot Cave, one of the largest in the bay, with stalactites and stalagmites formed over millions of years; Lan Ha guests kayak to Dark and Bright Cave; Bai Tu Long travelers visit Thien Canh Son Cave. By 10 a.m. you're back on board for brunch, then the coach returns you to your Hanoi hotel by 3:30 p.m. The Cat Ba Island option adds a bicycle ride through a rainforest to a village on the second morning before the return journey.

What’s included

• Cabin with window or balcony and full toiletries.
• all meals on board (lunch, dinner, breakfast, brunch).
• welcome drinks and happy hour (buy two, get one free).
• Tai Chi class and cooking demo.
• guide in English or Vietnamese.
• squid fishing.
• pickup from Hanoi's Old Quarter hotels on most options.
• soft drinks and water on request.

Options for this experience

7 options

Lan Ha Bay, 4-star cruise, with limousine transferGuide in English or Vietnamese · 08:00Ocean-view cabins with a lovely bathroom. Activities: visit the less crowded Lan Ha Bay and Cat Ba island area, bike around the island, explore Dark and Bright caves, kayak and swim. On board: cooking demonstration class, squid fishing, sunset party with happy hour. Shuttle bus transfer: two-way trip between Hanoi and the cruise harbor via the highway express, a 2-hour drive each way. 99% of travelers recommend it! Balcony upgrade: pay an extra US$35 per person to stay in a balcony cabin. For the upgrade, text us on WhatsApp through the booking platform.

4-star Halong Bay cruise with limousineGuide in English or Vietnamese · 08:00 and 09:00Balcony cabins, great tour: visit crowded areas, walk in or hike up Sung Sot cave, walk, swim and hike up Titop island, and visit a pearl farm or floating village, plus kayaking. Activities on board included: squid fishing, cooking demonstration class, sunset party, and Tai Chi (optional). Transfer by limousine bus: two-way trip between Hanoi and the cruise harbor, about 2.5 hours each way. 100% of travelers are happy.

5-star Halong Bay tourGuide in English or Vietnamese · 08:00Top 5-star cruises featuring modern, high-quality cabins with a large window or balcony (subject to availability on your date). Excellent food and service. Explore Halong Bay: Sung Sot cave, swimming and hiking on Titop island, kayaking or a bamboo boat trip around Luon Cave, the islets and the floating fishing village. On board: squid fishing, sunset party, cooking demonstration class, morning Tai Chi, and a buffet brunch. Transfer included: round-trip limousine or shuttle bus from Hanoi via the highway express, a 2.5-hour drive.

See 4 more options

5-star Lan Ha Bay tourGuide in English or Vietnamese · 08:00Stay in a balcony cabin with great views and a bathroom offering either a bathtub or a standing shower. Visit Lan Ha Bay: the less crowded Cat Ba island area or a cave on the island, Dark and Bright caves, and kayaking and swimming in beautiful, relaxing spots. Onboard activities: cooking class, Tai Chi, squid fishing, sunset party. Duration: 2 days. Transfer: two-way trip between Hanoi and the cruise harbor via the highway express, a 2-hour drive each way. 99% of travelers recommend it.

Halong Bay, 5+ starsGuide in English or Vietnamese · 08:00Cabin amenities, set 1: TV, air conditioning, fridge, slippers, private balcony with a large window, complimentary tea and coffee, and free bottled water. Cabin amenities, set 2: towels, a private bathroom with a standing shower (bathtub on request, if available), slippers, and a full set of toiletries. Activities during the tours: walk in and hike Sung Sot cave, swim and hike Titop island, kayak or take a bamboo boat trip. Duration: 2 days, visiting Halong Bay and spending 24 hours cruising and visiting busier areas. Food and drinks: squid fishing, sunset party with happy hour, cooking demonstration class, morning Tai Chi, buffet brunch, and a barbecue buffet on the sundeck. Night time: romantic dinner on the cruise sundeck (weather permitting), karaoke singing, and music and a party (no loud, large party). Transfer included: round-trip limousine bus from Hanoi's Old Quarter via the highway express, a 2.5-hour drive. Starting points: Ha Noi, Vietnam; Hanoi, Ha Noi, Vietnam. Pickup is included.

5+ star Lan Ha BayGuide in English or Vietnamese · 08:00Overnight 2-day, 1-night cruise visiting the less crowded Cat Ba island area or a cave on the island, Dark and Bright caves, and kayaking and swimming in beautiful, relaxing spots. Cabin amenities, set 1: TV, air conditioning, fridge, private balcony with a large window, complimentary tea and coffee, and free bottled water. Cabin amenities, set 2: towels, a private bathroom with a standing shower (bathtub on request, if available), slippers, and a full set of toiletries. Duration: 2 days, with 24 hours overnight in Lan Ha Bay, visiting a less touristy area. Evening activities: cooking class, Tai Chi, squid fishing, sunset party with complimentary drinks and fresh fruit, and a buffet brunch. Food: plenty of high-class food, including halal, vegan, vegetarian and Vietnamese dishes. Transfer: two-way trip between Hanoi and the cruise harbor by shared limousine via the highway express, a 2-hour drive each way. Starting points: Bến phà Gót, Cát Hải, Hải Phòng, Vietnam; Ha Noi, Vietnam; Hanoi, Ha Noi, Vietnam. Pickup is included.

6+ star high-end 2-day, 1-night cruiseGuide in English or Vietnamese · 08:00Private balcony and bathtub: stay in great balcony cabins on 6 and 6+ star cruises, with high-end equipment. Lan Ha Bay or Halong Bay: you will stay on a cruise to Halong Bay or Lan Ha Bay, depending on availability. Food: halal, vegan, vegetarian, western and Vietnamese food, plus a buffet brunch. Duration: 2 days. Onboard activities: cooking class, Tai Chi class, squid fishing, sunset party, happy hour, and swimming pool. Vehicle: modern, safe, fast and comfortable shared limousine bus, about 2.5 hours via the highway express from Hanoi. Starting points: Ha Noi, Vietnam; Hanoi, Ha Noi, Vietnam. Pickup is included.

You pick the guide language when booking.

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 08:00 and 09:00

Book up to4h before

AgesAdult (12 to 80 years) · Child (5 to 11 years) · Infant (under 5): free

GroupUp to 25

Live guideEnglish and Vietnamese

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.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 3 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortInfant seats availableInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Halong Bay Cruise Hunters

Is this one for you?Book the Halong option if you want the largest cave and a beach island to climb; choose Lan Ha for the most remote limestone scenery and Dark and Bright Cave; pick Bai Tu Long for a floating village and the quietest bay. The Cat Ba Island add-on suits travelers who want to meet local villagers and cycle through rainforest on the second morning. Most options include Hanoi pickup, so you don't arrange transport yourself: the coach, boat timing and meals are set, which is what holds a full two-day trip together without gaps.

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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 11 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 24 h before the start.

What's included in the 2-day Halong Bay cruise from Hanoi?

The cruise includes your cabin with window or balcony, all meals (lunch, dinner, breakfast, brunch), welcome drinks, Tai Chi class, cooking demo, squid fishing, and a guide in English or Vietnamese. Pickup from Hanoi's Old Quarter hotels is included in most options. Alcohol, spa, massage and laundry are available to add at checkout.

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

Halong Bay visits Sung Sot Cave and Titop Island with a beach and hiking; Lan Ha Bay includes Dark and Bright Cave and kayaking in untouched limestone scenery; Bai Tu Long Bay features Thien Canh Son Cave and Vung Vieng floating village. All three include kayaking, swimming, and overnight cabin stays. The Cat Ba Island option adds a bicycle ride through rainforest to a local village on the second morning.

What time does the coach pick me up from Hanoi?

Pickup from your hotel in Hanoi's Old Quarter runs between 7:45 and 8:30 a.m., depending on your location. The coach arrives at the cruise dock around 11:30, and you board by early afternoon.

Do I kayak or swim on this cruise?

Yes, kayaking and swimming are included on all three bay options. You kayak through caves, around limestone islets and karst formations, and swim in the bay's clear water. The specific sites depend on which bay you book: Halong includes Titop Island's beach, Lan Ha has Dark and Bright Cave, and Bai Tu Long has Cap La Island.

What happens on the second morning before we return to Hanoi?

The second day starts with optional Tai Chi on the sundeck at 6 a.m., followed by light breakfast. Then you visit a cave: Sung Sot on the Halong route, Dark and Bright on Lan Ha, or Thien Canh Son on Bai Tu Long. Brunch is served while the boat returns to the dock, and you're dropped at your Hanoi hotel by 3:30 p.m.

Can I book a cabin with a balcony?

Yes, balcony cabins are available on the 5-star and higher options. Standard cabins come with a window. All include full toiletries and are single, double, twin or triple depending on your choice at checkout.