Kayaking Ha Long Bay & Lan Ha: 6-hour cruise from Hanoi

Paddle into limestone caves, then relax on a boat built for it

A day trip from Hanoi to Ha Long Bay combines a 6-hour catamaran cruise with kayaking through karst formations, swimming, a cooking demonstration and sunset service. You're picked up at your Hanoi hotel, driven 2.5 to 3 hours to Tuan Chau Marina, then board a luxury cruise where you kayak or take a bamboo boat to Bright-Dark Cave, swim at Frog Pond with water slides and a trampoline, learn to make spring rolls, and return to Hanoi by evening.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

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

Halong and Lan Ha Bay Catamaran Cruise

• Pick up from Hanoi Old Quarter hotels
• Drive 2.5-3 hours to Halong Bay
• Board the cruise at Tuan Chau Marina
• Enjoy welcome drink and briefing
• Lunch on board the cruise
• Kayaking or bamboo boat to Bright-Dark Cave
• Swim and enjoy trampoline and water slide
• Cooking spring rolls demonstration
• Sunset ceremony with tea and cakes
• Disembark at the harbour
• Limousine ride back to Hanoi
• Drop off at Hanoi Old Quarter hotels

The experience

The day starts with a hotel pickup in Hanoi's Old Quarter between 7:45 and 8:00 am, followed by a 2.5- to 3-hour drive via expressway to Ha Long Bay. You board the catamaran at Tuan Chau Marina at 11:30 am, where a welcome drink and briefing set the pace. Lunch is served on board between noon and 1 pm, giving you time to settle in before the water activities begin.

From 2 to 3 pm, you kayak or sit in a local bamboo boat to reach Bright-Dark Cave, paddling past the limestone walls that define the bay. The route then takes you to Frog Pond in Lan Ha Bay, where you can swim, use the water slide and trampoline for about 30 minutes. At 4 pm, a cooking demonstration teaches you how to make a traditional Vietnamese spring roll, followed by a sunset ceremony at 4:30 pm with complimentary Vietnamese tea, fresh fruit and cakes. You disembark around 5:15 to 5:30 pm and return to Hanoi by 8:30 to 9 pm.

An English-speaking guide accompanies the boat tour throughout. The catamaran includes a jacuzzi and water slides on deck, so downtime between activities has its own appeal. All entrance fees, lunch and the cooking class are included. You bring spending money only for personal items and tips. The itinerary suits all fitness levels, and children from age 4 are welcome.

What’s included

• An English-speaking guide during the boat tour.
• roundtrip hotel pickup from Hanoi Old Quarter (on the Hanoi options) or airport pickup (on the airport option).
• kayaking or bamboo boat access to Bright-Dark Cave.
• lunch buffet on board.
• cooking demonstration for spring rolls.
• sunset ceremony with complimentary Vietnamese tea, fresh fruit and cakes.
• water slides, trampoline and jacuzzi on the catamaran.
• all entrance fees for the sightseeing stops.
• and complimentary mineral water during the return journey.

Options for this experience

5 options

Departs from Tuan Chau Port at 11:15 AMGuide in English · 11:15Starts and finishes at Halong Bay. Transfer is not included in the price; you pay extra if you need pickup from Hanoi. Catamaran Cruise or similar: if the Catamaran Cruise is full, we will arrange another boat with a similar itinerary and the same service. Duration: 6 hours, from Tuan Chau Port to the Catamaran Cruise, then Halong Bay, Lan Ha Bay and back to Tuan Chau Port. Premium lunch meal on the boat between Halong Bay and Lan Ha Bay.

From Hanoi with limousine, 7:45 AMGuide in English · 07:45Pickup only in the Old Quarter area: we collect guests from hotels and stays in the Hanoi Old Quarter area only. Shared limousine from Hanoi: you share the limousine with other guests on the round-trip transfer between Hanoi and Halong Bay. Catamaran Cruise or similar: if the Catamaran Cruise is full, we will arrange another boat with a similar itinerary and the same service. Duration: 12 hours, from Hanoi to Tuan Chau Port, the Catamaran Cruise, Halong Bay, Lan Ha Bay, Tuan Chau Port and back to Hanoi. Premium lunch on board at Halong Bay and Lan Ha Bay. Pickup is included.

From Hanoi with private carGuide in English · 08:00Pickup around Hanoi City. Private car round trip. Join the group on the Catamaran Cruise: if the Catamaran Cruise is full, we will arrange another boat with a similar itinerary and the same service. Duration: 12 hours, from Hanoi to Tuan Chau Port, the Catamaran Cruise, Halong Bay, Lan Ha Bay, Tuan Chau Port and back to Hanoi. Premium lunch on board at Halong Bay and Lan Ha Bay. Pickup is included.

See 2 more options

Airport pickup at 6:30Guide in English · 06:30Pickup from Hanoi Airport: we collect you at the airport and transfer you directly to Halong Bay to join the group on the Catamaran Cruise. Private car round trip. Join the group on the Catamaran Cruise. Duration: 12 hours. Drop-off: we can drop you at Hanoi Airport or any place in Hanoi City or Halong City. Pickup is included.

From Hanoi with private limousineGuide in English · 08:00Pickup around Hanoi City. Private limousine round trip: the best choice for guests who do not want to share the limousine with others on the round trip between Hanoi and Halong Bay. Join the group on the Catamaran Cruise: if the Catamaran Cruise is full, we will arrange another boat with a similar itinerary and the same service. Duration: 12 hours, from Hanoi to Tuan Chau Port, the Catamaran Cruise, Halong Bay, Lan Ha Bay, Tuan Chau Port and back to Hanoi. Premium lunch on board at Halong Bay and Lan Ha Bay. 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 06:30, 07:45, 08:00 and 11:15

Book up to2h before

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

GroupUp to 90

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 2 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effort

Operated by Local Tours SAPA

Is this one for you?Book from Hanoi if you want the full day experience with hotel pickup and return. Book cruise-only if you're already in Ha Long and want to skip the long drive. The kayaking option suits anyone who wants to paddle. The bamboo boat works just as well if you'd rather sit and let someone else row.

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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.

What's the difference between kayaking and the bamboo boat option?

Kayaking lets you paddle yourself through the cave passages and around the limestone formations. The bamboo boat is a seated, guided row where someone else does the paddling. Both reach the same Bright-Dark Cave, so the choice is whether you want to operate the paddle or sit and watch.

How much of the day is actually on the water versus driving?

The catamaran cruise itself runs 6 hours from boarding at 11:30 am to disembark around 5:15 pm. If you book from Hanoi, add 2.5 to 3 hours each way for the drive, making the full day 11 to 12 hours door to door. If you book cruise-only and meet the boat at Tuan Chau Marina, you skip the drive and spend roughly 6 hours on the bay.

Can I do both kayaking and the water slides, or do I have to choose?

You kayak or take the bamboo boat from 2 to 3 pm, then swim and use the water slide and trampoline at Frog Pond from 3:15 to 3:45 pm, so both happen on the same day. You're not choosing between them.

What happens if I book pickup from the airport instead of my hotel?

The airport pickup option starts at 6:30 am, giving you time to reach Tuan Chau Marina by 11:15 am for boarding. You'll still join the same cruise, kayaking, cooking class and sunset ceremony. The only difference is where the driver collects you.