Hanoi & Ha Long Bay tour: Pagoda, caves, limestone views
Buddhist pagodas and West Lake, then limestone islands and a cave cruise
A 2-day tour of Hanoi and Ha Long Bay starting with Tran Quoc Pagoda, Ho Chi Minh Complex and Hoan Kiem Lake, then a full day cruising Ha Long Bay's limestone formations and visiting Thien Cung cave. Includes one night in a 3-star Hanoi hotel, all entrance fees, an English-speaking guide, meals and air-conditioned transport.
Step-by-step itinerary
Day 1: Hanoi city tour with lunch
- Visit Tran Quoc Pagoda
- Explore Ho Chi Minh Complex and One Pillar Pagoda
- Visit Temple of Confucius (Literature Temple)
- See Hoan Kiem Lake and Ngoc Son Temple
- Visit Ethnology Museum or Bat Trang pottery village
- Lunch in Hanoi
- Overnight at 3-star hotel in Hanoi
Day 2: Halong Bay with lunch
- Bus drive to Ha Long Bay
- Break in Hai Duong City
- Board cruise in Ha Long Bay
- Cruise among limestone islands
- Lunch on board
- Visit fishing village
- Photograph Fighting Cock rock
- Visit Thien Cung cave
- End tour, no accommodation
What’s included
- One night at a 3-star hotel in Hanoi.
- air-conditioned transport with a 3.5-hour drive to Ha Long Bay.
- English-speaking guide for both days.
- breakfast each morning.
- lunch on day one in Hanoi and day two on the cruise.
- all entrance fees to temples, the complex and Ha Long Bay attractions.
- boating fees for the cruise.
- bottled water throughout.
- Every day 08:30
Information
Hanoi city tour with overnight hotel stay, then a cruise to Ha Long Bay's limestone islands and Thien Cung cave: guide, meals and entrance fees included.
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The experience
Day one stays in Hanoi's cultural heart. You start at Tran Quoc Pagoda, a prominent Buddhist temple on the edge of West Lake, then move through the Ho Chi Minh Complex: the mausoleum, his house and the One Pillar Pagoda nearby. The Temple of Literature comes next, a 1070 university compound with gardens and varied architecture that shaped Vietnam's early scholarship. The day closes at Hoan Kiem Lake and Ngoc Son Temple. Depending on the day of the week, you'll either visit the Ethnology Museum (Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, Sunday) or Bat Trang pottery village (Monday, Wednesday, Friday), giving the itinerary a different flavor each week. Lunch is included, and you sleep overnight at a 3-star hotel in Hanoi.
Day two is a 3.5-hour drive through rice fields to Ha Long Bay, with a stop in Hai Duong City to stretch. Once you board the cruise, the landscape shifts entirely: limestone islands rise from the water and you photograph them while passing Stone Dog and Incense Burner Islet. A fishing village visit lets you see how local fishermen live. The boat then heads toward Fighting Cock Rock, Ha Long Bay's famous symbol, before the final stop: Thien Cung cave, described as the most beautiful in the bay. Lunch is served on board. The tour ends at Ha Long Bay with no accommodation after.
Top questions
Can I be picked up at my hotel?
You can choose: pickup at your hotel, or go straight to the meeting point. When you book, you choose your hotel from 384 pickup locations; if yours isn’t listed, you can type in your address. Pickup is about 15 minutes before departure.
Can children come?
Yes. Ticket types: Child (5 to 9 years). Children under 5 can't be included in the booking.
What is Tran Quoc Pagoda and why does the tour start there?
Tran Quoc Pagoda is one of Vietnam's most prominent Buddhist temples, located beside West Lake in Hanoi. It opens the tour because it represents the cultural and historical character of the capital that the first day explores.
Do I get to go inside the Ho Chi Minh Complex and the Temple of Literature?
Yes. The Ho Chi Minh Complex includes the mausoleum, Ho Chi Minh's house and the One Pillar Pagoda. The Temple of Literature, built in 1070 as Vietnam's first university, is also visited. You'll see its gardens and varied architecture inside.
What happens during the Ha Long Bay cruise on day two?
You cruise among limestone islands, photograph Stone Dog and Incense Burner Islet, stop at a fishing village to learn about local life, pass Fighting Cock Rock (Ha Long Bay's symbol), and visit Thien Cung cave. Lunch is served on board while you cruise.
How long is the drive to Ha Long Bay and is there a break?
The drive takes 3.5 hours through rice fields. There's a stop in Hai Duong City so you can stretch your legs before boarding the cruise.
What meals are included in the 2-day tour?
Breakfast is included both days. Lunch is included on day one in Hanoi and on day two aboard the Ha Long Bay cruise. Dinner in Hanoi on day one is optional and available at checkout.
Is there a guide, and what language does the tour run in?
Yes, an English-speaking guide leads the tour throughout both days. Hotel pickup is included, and children are welcome from age 5.
Operated by SST TRAVEL. Explorevia does not run this tour: we compare it with similar options, and you book it with our booking partner.
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Hanoi & Ha Long Bay tour: Pagoda, caves, limestone views
2d · EN
from US$ 92.31 per person
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