Halong Bay Overnight Cruise from Hanoi: 2 days, 3 caves & kayak
Sleep on the water, wake to limestone cliffs and three caves in two days
You board a small cruise in Halong Bay and spend two days navigating limestone cliffs, exploring Sung Sot cave, hiking Titop Island for panoramic views, and kayaking through narrow passages. Meals, overnight accommodation, and transport from Hanoi are included, so you show up and the logistics are handled. The boat returns you to Hanoi by afternoon on day two.
Options for this experience
2 optionsStep-by-step itinerary
Day 1: Travel to Halong Bay and explore
- Visit Halong Bay scenery
- Explore Sung Sot cave
- Swim or hike at Ti Top island
- Overnight on cruise
Day 2: Pearl farm visit and kayaking
- Breakfast on cruise
- Visit Pearl farm
- Kayaking in Halong Bay
- Lunch on cruise
- Return to Hanoi
What’s included
Your two days include air-conditioned transport from Hanoi, overnight accommodation in a standard cabin, dinner and breakfast, kayaking or a bamboo boat ride, entry to Sung Sot cave and Titop Island, and a visit to a pearl farm. Everything except personal expenses and tips is covered.
Times
- Every day 08:30 12:00
Before you book
Operated by Old Quarter Travel
Prices and times updated 8 days ago
Traveler reviews
The experience
The drive from Hanoi takes about three hours, and then you're on the water. Halong Bay spreads out in front of you: thousands of limestone karsts jutting up like they were dropped there by accident, each one casting a sharp shadow on the bay. The cruise is small enough that you're not packed in with hundreds of people, and the cabins are basic but clean, with air conditioning that actually works. You get dinner that first night, and it's real food, not the kind of thing that sits under heat lamps.
Day one moves fast. After settling in, the boat takes you to Sung Sot cave: locals call it Surprise Cave, and you'll understand why once you're inside. The entrance opens into a chamber so large your voice echoes back at you, and the limestone formations catch the light in ways that make you stop walking just to look. Then it's on to Titop Island, where you can either swim in the bay or hike up the mountain if you want the panorama view of everything you've just sailed through. The hike isn't brutal, but it's steep enough that you feel it in your legs, and the view at the top is the kind of thing you remember.
The second morning starts with breakfast onboard, then you're out on the water again for kayaking or a bamboo boat ride through the smaller passages between the karsts: the kind of tight spaces where you can reach out and touch the rock. There's also a pearl farm stop, which is less dramatic but gives you a sense of what people actually do out here. By early afternoon you're heading back to Hanoi, and the drive gives you time to sleep or just sit with the fact that you've seen something most people only see in photographs.
The whole thing costs less than you'd expect for two nights and three meals, which is why it fills up. Book early if you're traveling during peak season, and bring sunscreen. The water reflects everything and you'll burn faster than you think.
Is this one for you?This works well if you want to see Halong Bay's main attractions without arranging transport, accommodation, and meals separately: the fixed itinerary and all-in price mean you arrive in Hanoi and the rest is organized. The budget pricing makes it accessible, though the pace is steady and the hike on Titop Island requires basic fitness.
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Top questions
What languages is the tour guided in?
Live guide in English and Vietnamese.
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 6 days before the start.
How long is the drive from Hanoi to Halong Bay?
Approximately three hours by air-conditioned vehicle.
What's included in the cruise price?
Overnight accommodation on the cruise, dinner on day one, breakfast on day two, kayaking or bamboo boat, transport from Hanoi, and entry to Sung Sot cave and Titop Island.
Can I swim at Titop Island?
Yes, swimming is available, or you can hike to the summit for views of the bay.
Is this tour suitable for people with health concerns?
It's not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health, though it's suitable for all other fitness levels.
What time does the cruise return to Hanoi?
Early afternoon on day two, after breakfast and morning activities.
Are meals included?
Yes, dinner on the first night and breakfast on the second morning are included.
Halong Bay Overnight Cruise from Hanoi: 2 days, 3 caves & kayak
2d · EN +1 · at your hotel
from US$ 128 per person
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