Halong Bay day cruise: Kayaking, cooking class, water slide

Limestone karsts, a water slide, and lunch cooked in front of you

A full-day catamaran cruise from Hanoi to Halong Bay and Lan Ha Bay with hotel pickup and return, featuring kayaking into caves, swimming, a cooking demonstration on deck, and a water slide. Lunch and afternoon tea are served on board while you sail past 1,969 limestone karsts. The boat is brand new with a crew that handles the logistics so you spend the day on the water instead of planning it.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Ha Long Bay2h · entry included
2. Lan Ha Bay4h · entry included

Full day Halong Bay catamaran cruise

• Pick up from Hanoi Old Quarter hotels
• Drive to Halong Bay with short break
• Board catamaran at Tuan Chau Marina
• Cruise from Halong Bay to Lan Ha Bay
• Have lunch on board while cruising
• Kayaking or bamboo boat to Bright-Dark Cave
• Visit Frog Pond and swim in Lan Ha Bay
• Attend cooking demonstration on boat
• Enjoy sunset ceremony with tea and cakes
• Disembark at Tuan Chau Marina
• Return limousine bus to Hanoi hotels

The experience

The day starts with pickup from your Hanoi Old Quarter hotel between 7:45 and 8:00am, then a 2.5 to 3-hour drive to Tuan Chau Marina with one short break. If you're already in Halong Bay, you board at 11:15am without the transfer. Either way, lunch happens on the boat while you're already cruising past the limestone formations: no time wasted getting to the water. The catamaran heads toward Lan Ha Bay, the less-crowded side of the bay, where the afternoon activities unfold.

From 2pm to 3pm you kayak or take a bamboo boat into Bright-Dark Cave, then swim at Frog Pond in Lan Ha Bay between 3:15 and 3:45pm. At 4pm a crew member leads a cooking demonstration on deck, showing you how to prepare a dish you'll eat later. The water slide sits on the boat itself: a break from the typical cruise formula. At 4:30pm you gather for sunset tea and cakes while the light changes across the water. The boat returns to Tuan Chau Marina by 5:30pm. If you booked from Hanoi, the return drive takes 2.5 hours, with drop-off at your hotel around 8:15pm to 8:30pm.

The boat is new, the crew speaks English, and meals are fusion Vietnamese with seafood. You can kayak and swim or stay on deck and watch: the itinerary doesn't force participation. Children from age 4 travel free on an adult's lap, and the operator asks about dietary needs when you book.

What’s included

• Kayaking or bamboo boat access to Bright-Dark Cave.
• swimming at Frog Pond in Lan Ha Bay.
• cooking demonstration on deck.
• water slide on the boat.
• welcome drink, deluxe lunch, and afternoon tea with cakes.
• entrance fees for Halong Bay and Lan Ha Bay.
• roundtrip limousine bus transfer from Hanoi Old Quarter hotels (if booked from Hanoi).
• six hours of cruising through both bays with an English-speaking crew.

Options for this experience

2 options

Price from Halong, 11:15Guide in English · 11:15Departing from Tuan Chau Marina: meeting point at 11:15 AM at The Halong Catamaran, Block 25, Tuan Chau International Marina Terminal 2, Tuần Châu, Hạ Long. Transfer on request: transfer from the Hanoi or Halong area is not included in this option and can be paid for separately if you wish to book it. Catamaran cruise or similar: 6 hours of cruising with water slide, trampoline, kayaking or local rowing boat, swimming, cooking class and relaxation. Duration: 6 hours, including lunch and afternoon tea on board. Route from Halong Bay to Lan Ha Bay.

Price from Hanoi, departing at 7:40 AMGuide in English · 07:40Round-trip limousine bus between Hanoi and Halong Bay, with pickup and transfer from hotels or accommodation in the Old Quarter area or from Hanoi Opera House, or from the Local Tours Vietnam office if staying elsewhere. Catamaran cruise or similar: 6 hours of cruising with water slide, trampoline, kayaking or local rowing boat, swimming, cooking class and relaxation. Duration: 12 hours, including lunch and afternoon tea on board. Pickup is included.

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 07:40 and 11:15

Book up to2h before

AgesAdult (9 and older) · Child (4 to 8 years) · Under 4: can't be booked

Live guideEnglish

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.

Prices and times updated 15 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Local Tours SAPA

Is this one for you?Book from Hanoi if you want hotel pickup and a full day without driving yourself. Book from Halong Bay if you're already there and want to skip the transfer and start at 11:15am. Either way, the boat's schedule is fixed, so the afternoon activities fit inside one departure. You don't choose the times, but everything connects without gaps.

Traveler reviews

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 8 years). Children under 4 can't be included in the booking.

Can I book this cruise if I'm staying in Halong Bay instead of Hanoi?

Yes. You meet the boat at Tuan Chau Marina at 11:15am without the hotel pickup and return transfer. The cruise itself runs the same way for everyone (lunch, kayaking, swimming, cooking class and water slide), and you disembark at 5:30pm.

What happens during the cooking demonstration?

A crew member teaches you how to prepare a Vietnamese fusion dish at 4pm on the boat while you're still on the water. You eat what you've learned about at lunch or later in the day.

Is the water slide actually on the boat?

Yes. The catamaran has a water slide built into it, included in the day's activities. It's one of the things that sets this cruise apart from the standard Halong Bay tour.

How much time do I spend kayaking or swimming?

Kayaking or bamboo boat time at Bright-Dark Cave runs from 2pm to 3pm. Swimming at Frog Pond in Lan Ha Bay is 3:15pm to 3:45pm. Both are included, and you choose whether to participate fully or relax on board instead.

What's included in the meals on board?

Lunch is a deluxe meal served while cruising, afternoon tea and cakes come at sunset, and a welcome drink greets you when you board. Meals are fusion Vietnamese and seafood. Tell the operator about allergies or dietary preferences when you book.

How long is the drive from Hanoi to Halong Bay?

The drive takes 2.5 to 3 hours each way. Pickup is between 7:45 and 8:00am from your Hanoi Old Quarter hotel, and drop-off is around 8:15pm to 8:30pm. One short break happens on the way out.