2-day Halong Bay cruise from Hanoi: Kayak and cave explore
Paddle into caves and sleep on the water without arranging the boat or the ride
A 2-day cruise through Halong Bay departing from Hanoi, with overnight accommodation on the Fantasea boat, guided kayaking into Fairy Lake Cave, visits to Surprise Cave and Titop Island, and all meals included. Hotel pickup and drop-off in Hanoi are arranged. An English-speaking guide leads the activities onboard.
Options for this experience
3 optionsStep-by-step itinerary
Day 1: Hanoi to Halong Bay cruise
- Pickup from Hanoi Old Quarter hotel
- Drive to Halong Bay with countryside break
- Arrive at Tuan Chau harbour
- Transfer to Fantasea boat and check in cabin
- Enjoy welcome drink and Vietnamese seafood lunch
- Cruise and visit Sung Sot Cave
- Visit Ti Top Island and hike for panoramic views
- Relax on the beach at Ti Top Island
- Return to boat and join cooking class
- Have buffet dinner onboard
- Enjoy karaoke and squid fishing (optional)
Day 2: Halong Bay to Hanoi return
- Have breakfast onboard
- Kayak at Ho Dong Tien cave or explore cave
- Lunch while cruising back to harbour
- Bus drive back to Hanoi with short break
- Drop off at Hanoi Old Quarter hotel
What’s included
- Round-trip hotel pickup and drop-off in Hanoi.
- one night in a private cabin (single, double or triple) on the Fantasea boat.
- welcome drink and water bottle.
- Vietnamese lunch and seafood cruise on day one.
- buffet dinner.
- breakfast and lunch on day two.
- entry to Surprise Cave.
- hiking and beach time at Titop Island.
- guided kayaking into Fairy Lake Cave.
- optional cooking class to learn spring rolls.
- English-speaking guide throughout.
- all admission fees and insurance.
Times
- Every day 08:00
Before you book
Operated by Fantasea Tours
Prices and times updated today
Traveler reviews
The experience
The pickup starts early (between 8:00 and 8:40 from your Hanoi hotel), and the drive to Tuan Chau harbour takes you through countryside with rice paddies and a short break halfway. By noon you board the Fantasea and check into your cabin while the boat begins cruising past the limestone formations (Incense Burner, Stone Dog, Fighting Cock) that define the bay. Lunch is served as you move, then you visit Surprise Cave, one of the largest in Halong Bay, before heading to Titop Island where you can hike to the summit for a panoramic view of the whole bay or swim off the beach.
The evening on the boat includes a cooking class where you learn to make spring rolls, a buffet dinner, and optional karaoke and squid fishing if you want them. You sleep in your private cabin (single, double or triple depending on what you book), and wake to breakfast before the second day's main event: kayaking into Fairy Lake Cave (Ho Dong Tien), a sheltered lagoon where the water is still enough to see the limestone walls reflected. If time allows, you can explore inside the cave itself.
After kayaking, you have lunch onboard while the boat heads back to the harbour. The return drive to Hanoi takes about four hours with a break, and you're dropped at your hotel by 4:30 pm. The whole trip (transport, cabin, meals, entry fees, guide and activities) is included. You bring only yourself and whatever you want to drink beyond the welcome drink and water bottle provided.
Is this one for you?Choose this overnight cruise if you're arriving in Hanoi and want two full days exploring Halong Bay instead of a rushed day trip. You'll sleep on the boat and wake already in the bay, giving you a complete day for kayaking and swimming.
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Top questions
Can children come?
Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 6 years); Infant (1 to 3 years): 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 the kayaking like on this Halong Bay cruise?
Kayaking happens on the second morning at Fairy Lake Cave, a calm lagoon surrounded by limestone cliffs where the water is clear enough to see the rock walls mirrored below. You paddle into the cave entrance if conditions allow, and the whole paddle takes place in protected water, not open bay.
Do I need to book a private cabin or can I share a room?
You choose your cabin type at checkout: single, double or triple. All are private cabins on the Fantasea boat, and the price changes with the room size you pick.
How much time do we spend at Titop Island?
Titop Island is the afternoon stop on day one, after Surprise Cave. You have time to hike to the top for panoramic views of the bay or swim and relax on the beach, then return to the boat for the cooking class and dinner.
What meals are included in the 2-day cruise?
Lunch and dinner are included on day one, breakfast and lunch on day two. The first lunch is Vietnamese seafood served while cruising. Dinner is a buffet onboard. You can also join an optional cooking class to learn how to make spring rolls.
Does the price include drinks, or do I need to buy them separately?
A welcome drink and one bottle of water per person are included. Other drinks can be purchased onboard. The option you choose at checkout will specify what's covered.
How long is the drive from Hanoi to Halong Bay?
The drive from your Hanoi hotel to Tuan Chau harbour takes roughly 2.5 to 3 hours, with a short break on the way. The return drive on day two is about 4 hours with a break, arriving back in Hanoi by 4:30 pm.
2-day Halong Bay cruise from Hanoi: Kayak and cave explore
2d · EN · at your hotel
from US$ 151 per person
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