Ha Long Bay & Lan Ha Bay Day Cruise: Kayak & Swim in Quiet Waters
Skip crowded Halong spots. This route reaches the quieter side of the bay with fewer boats.
You board a cruise at Tuan Chau marina after a morning drive from Hanoi, eat fresh seafood lunch while sailing through limestone karsts, kayak or row into Dark & Bright Cave, then swim in the quieter Lan Ha Bay section before returning to your hotel by evening. Hotel pickup, all entrance fees, lunch, and activities are included. The full day takes about 13 hours.
Step-by-step itinerary
Halong and LanHa Bay full day trip
- Pick up from hotel or private address
- Travel to Tuan Chau marina
- Board cruise and enjoy welcome drink
- Have special Vietnamese seafood lunch on cruise
- Visit Dark & Bright Cave by kayak or rowing boat
- Swim in quiet area of Lan Ha Bay
- Disembark at Tuan Chau marina
- Return to Hanoi by shuttle bus
- Arrive back at hotel or home
- Hanoi Opera House 3h
- Lan Ha Bay Entry included 5h
What’s included
Hotel or private address pickup from Hanoi with shuttle bus transportation, welcome drink upon boarding, Vietnamese seafood lunch served onboard, entrance fees to Ha Long and Lan Ha Bay, kayaking or local rowing boat activity to Dark & Bright Cave, swimming time in Lan Ha Bay, water and soft drinks during transit, and return shuttle to your hotel in the evening.
Times
- Every day 07:00
Before you book
Operated by Vietnam Northern Travel
Prices and times updated 7 days ago
Traveler reviews
The experience
Most people who book a Ha Long Bay cruise never leave the main channel. You'll spend half your time in Lan Ha Bay instead (the less-trafficked part that sits just beyond the limestone walls), which means you actually see the place without the crowds pressing in. The day starts early: pickup from your Hanoi hotel between 7 and 7:45am, then a 2.5-hour drive down the Hanoi-Hai Phong highway to Tuan Chau marina. There's a rest stop halfway if you need it. By 11am you're on the water with a welcome drink in hand, and lunch (fresh seafood and Vietnamese appetizers) is already being served as the boat moves through the karst landscape.
The real work starts after lunch. You'll either kayak or take a local rowing boat into Dark & Bright Cave, a limestone formation that sits in the middle of the World Heritage zone and feels genuinely remote even though you're surrounded by other boats. The cave itself is wild and narrow, and the water inside is so clear you can see straight through it. After that, the cruise moves into Tra Bau Area, the quieter section of Lan Ha Bay where you stop to swim. The water is cold but clean, and because fewer tour groups come here, you're not fighting for space in the water or on the deck. By 4pm the boat turns back toward the marina, and you're on the shuttle bus heading to Hanoi by 5:30pm, arriving at your hotel between 8:15 and 8:30pm.
The whole experience runs about 13 hours door-to-door, which is long but structured so you're not sitting idle. Lunch is included (buffet style if your group has 15 or more people, set menu if smaller), and the entrance fees to the bay and cave are already paid. Water and soft drinks come with the bus ride. Kayaking is included in the price, though if you prefer, you can take the rowing boat instead and just watch the limestone walls slide past.
Is this one for you?Pick this tour if you want to see Ha Long Bay without spending your whole day in the main tourist channel: the route splits your time between the busier bay and Lan Ha's quieter waters, which is what makes swimming and kayaking feel less crowded than the standard itinerary.
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Top questions
Can children come?
Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 9 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.
How long is the drive from Hanoi to Ha Long Bay?
About 2.5 hours on the Hanoi-Hai Phong highway. A rest stop is included halfway.
What time does the tour start and end?
Hotel pickup is between 7:00 and 7:45am. You return to your hotel between 8:15 and 8:30pm.
Is lunch included?
Yes. Fresh seafood and Vietnamese appetizers are served as a buffet (groups of 15+) or set menu (smaller groups).
Can I choose between kayaking and rowing boats?
Yes. Both options are included. You can pick whichever you prefer when you board.
What's the difference between Ha Long Bay and Lan Ha Bay?
Ha Long is the main, busier channel. Lan Ha is a quieter, less-visited section of the same World Heritage zone where this tour spends most of its time.
Is the entrance fee to the bay included?
Yes. All entrance fees and taxes are included in the tour price.
What should I bring?
Swimwear, sunscreen, and a light jacket for the boat. Water is provided on the bus and boat.
Ha Long Bay & Lan Ha Bay Day Cruise: Kayak & Swim in Quiet Waters
12h · EN
from US$ 100 per person
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