Kayaking Ha Long Bay: Sung Sot Cave & Titop Island Tour

Paddle into Sung Sot Cave and swim off Titop Island in one afternoon.

A half-day kayaking cruise in Ha Long Bay departing from Halong city includes paddling around the bay, exploring Sung Sot Cave (one of the bay's most beautiful), visiting Titop Island for swimming or hiking, seafood lunch on board, and a live guide in English or Vietnamese. You choose kayaking or a bamboo boat ride at the same stop. The tour runs about 5.5 hours and returns to the harbor by late afternoon.

Options for this experience

8 options

From US$ 43 per person, depending on the option and date you choose.See dates & book

Standard Group Tour 12:00 Guide in English or Vietnamese Lasts about 5 hours 30 minutes (6 hours in total), with a set menu lunch

Deluxe tour that includes a buffet lunch 12:00 Guide in English or Vietnamese Lasts about 5 hours 30 minutes (6 hours in total), with buffet lunch

Standard tour departing from Hanoi 08:30 Guide in English or Vietnamese A 13-hour tour with a set menu lunch and a normal bus. Pickup from Hanoi is included: pickup and drop-off are included. Please confirm your address, which should be in or around the Hanoi Old Quarter area.

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Deluxe tour departing from Hanoi 08:30 Guide in English or Vietnamese A 13-hour tour with buffet lunch and a limousine bus. Pickup from Hanoi is included: pickup and drop-off are included. Please confirm your address, which should be in or around the Hanoi Old Quarter area.

Luxury tour departing from Halong 10:00 Guide in English or Vietnamese A 7-hour trip with a longer stay on the bay, starting and finishing early to avoid crowds, with buffet lunch. Starting point: Ha Long International Passenger Port, 9 Ha Long Street, Bai Chay, Quang Ninh, Vietnam

Private Tour 06:30 and 12:00 Guide in English or Vietnamese Private tour with a boat reserved only for your group. Lasts about 5 hours 30 minutes (6 hours in total), with a set menu lunch

Luxury tour departing from Hanoi 07:00 Guide in English or Vietnamese A 13-hour trip with a longer stay on the bay, starting and finishing early to avoid crowds, with buffet lunch. Pickup from Hanoi is included in a limousine bus: pickup and drop-off are included. Please confirm your address, which should be in or around the Hanoi Old Quarter area.

Private tour departing from Hanoi 08:30 Guide in English or Vietnamese Private tour with private transfer and a boat reserved only for your group. Lasts 12 hours, with a set menu lunch and private transfer. Pickup from Hanoi is included.

None of these options right for you? See 2 alternatives ›

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Halong Bay with activities

• Meet group at the port
• Enjoy lunch on the boat
• Visit Sung Sot Cave
• Kayak or ride bamboo boat
• Visit Titop Island for swim or hike
• Return to boat and head to harbor

Stops and time spent at each 2 stops

1. Surprise Cave 45m
2. Titop Island 45m

What’s included

• Seafood lunch on the boat.
• kayaking or a bamboo boat ride (you choose one).
• entry to Sung Sot Cave.
• access to Titop Island for swimming or hiking.
• boat transportation throughout Ha Long Bay.
• a live guide in English or Vietnamese.
• bottled water on the bus (depending on which option you select).
• hotel pickup and return transportation (depending on which option you select).

Times

• Every day 06:30 07:00 08:30 10:00 12:00

Before you book

Live guide English and Vietnamese

Meeting point and pickup No hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point. 2 with pickup ›

Book up to 1h before

Ages Adult (8 and older) · Child (4 to 7 years) · Infant (under 4): free

Cancellation and refunds Free 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.

Good to know

Low physical effort Not recommended with heart problems

Operated by Old Quarter Travel

Prices and times updated yesterday

Traveler reviews

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The experience

The boat leaves Halong city at noon and heads straight into the bay. Lunch happens on board while you watch the limestone karsts rise around you. The scenery is the meal's backdrop. After eating, you paddle a kayak or ride a bamboo boat out into the water. You pick which one when you book. The kayak option puts you low in the water, moving under your own pace through the narrow channels between the rock formations.

Sung Sot Cave (Surprise Cave) is the next stop, and it's one of the largest in the bay. You walk inside to see the stalactites and stalagmites the cave is known for. Then the boat takes you to Titop Island, where you can swim in the bay or hike up the mountain if you want a panoramic view of the whole landscape from above. The choice is yours depending on how you want to spend the time there.

The boat returns to the harbor between 5:45 and 6:15 pm. Bring a reusable water bottle: plastic bottles aren't allowed on the boat or at the cave and island sites due to Ha Long Bay's environmental policy. The bay gets crowded, especially on weekends and in summer, so the morning light and smaller crowds are reasons some travelers book the earlier departure if it's available.

Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Vietnamese.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 7 years); Infant (under 4): 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.

Can I kayak if I'm not a strong swimmer?

Kayaking in Ha Long Bay is suitable for all physical fitness levels according to the operator, though it's not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health. The kayak option is one of two choices at that stop. You can pick the bamboo boat ride instead if you prefer not to paddle.

Do I have to choose between kayaking and the bamboo boat before I book?

You choose which one you want (kayaking or a bamboo boat ride) when you make your booking. Both options happen at the same stop in the itinerary, so you pick based on what appeals to you.

What time does the tour start and end?

The tour meets at the port at noon and returns to the harbor between 5:45 and 6:15 pm, making it a half-day trip of about 5.5 hours total.

Is drinking water included?

Bottled water on the bus is included in some options but excluded if you book from Halong. You can bring your own reusable bottle, glass bottle, or thermos: plastic water bottles are not permitted on the boat or at the sites due to environmental regulations.

What's included in the price?

Lunch, boat transportation in Ha Long Bay, kayaking or a bamboo boat ride, and a live guide in English or Vietnamese are included. Drinks, travel insurance, taxes and tips are not covered.