Kayaking Ha Long Bay: Limestone Caves & Titop Island

You paddle into Luon Cave yourself, not watch from a boat seat.

A full-day cruise departing from Tuan Chau Harbor that combines kayaking through Luon Cave with visits to Sung Sot Cave and Titop Island, plus onboard meals and activities. The cruise includes entrance fees, a buffet lunch and sunset party. You choose between harbor departure or private car pickup from the Halong Bay area. An English-speaking guide leads the group, and children from age 4 are welcome.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Ha Long Bay4h · entry included
2. Surprise Cave1h · entry included
3. Titop Island1h · entry included

Ha Long Bay day cruise and activities

• Arrive at Tuan Chau Harbor dock 27B
• Check-in and board the cruise
• Enjoy welcome drink and cruise Ha Long Bay
• Buffet lunch with seafood and Vietnamese food
• Explore Sung Sot (Surprise) Cave
• Kayak or bamboo boat at Luon Cave
• Climb and enjoy Titop Island views
• Join sunset party on sundeck or Jacuzzi
• Return to Tuan Chau Port and end trip

The experience

The boat leaves Tuan Chau Harbor at 10 AM after a 9:30 AM check-in at dock 27B. You'll cruise through Ha Long Bay's limestone landscape for roughly seven hours, passing thousands of islands on the way to three main stops. A welcome drink starts the journey while the boat moves through the bay. Lunch is a buffet of seafood and Vietnamese dishes served around midday.

Luon Cave is where you get into a kayak. The cave sits on Bo Hon Island, about 14 kilometers from the mainland, and you paddle through it yourself rather than viewing it from the deck. Sung Sot Cave, one of the largest in the bay, is explored on foot after the boat docks. Titop Island comes next, where you can climb to a viewpoint for a panoramic view of the bay or relax on the beach.

The return journey includes a sunset party on the sundeck or in the outdoor jacuzzi, with Vietnamese tea, fresh fruit and snacks. The boat arrives back at Tuan Chau Port around 5:30 PM. If you book the private car option, pickup and return transport from your Halong Bay area hotel is included. If you choose harbor departure only, you arrange your own way to dock 27B.

What’s included

• Entrance fees to Ha Long Bay, Sung Sot Cave and Titop Island.
• buffet lunch with seafood and Vietnamese dishes.
• sunset party with tea, fresh fruit and snacks on the sundeck or in the outdoor jacuzzi.
• seven hours on the cruise.
• an English-speaking guide for the group. Private car pickup and return from your Halong Bay area hotel is included if you select that option at checkout.

Options for this experience

2 options

Cruise only, departing from the harborGuide in English · 10:00Meeting point and time: Arrive at Dock 27B, Tuan Chau International Marina by 9:00 AM to check in and board the Amethyst Day Cruise. If the Amethyst Cruise is full, a similar cruise of the same class and itinerary will be arranged. Luxury 5-star cruise in Ha Long Bay with buffet lunch and sunset party. Route: Sung Sot Cave, Titop Island, Luon Cave. Departure time: 9:30 AM.

Cruise with private carGuide in English · 09:00Pickup around the Ha Long area: we collect guests staying in Ha Long City, Bai Chay Area and the International Cruise Port. Private roundtrip transfer: a private car is used for the round trip (4-seater, 7-seater, 16-seater or 29-seater, depending on each group). Group option on the luxury cruise: Amethyst Cruise or a similar vessel if full, of the same class and itinerary. Duration: 8 hours. Buffet lunch on board. Ha Long Bay route: visit Sung Sot Cave and Ti Top Island.

You see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates & prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 09:00 and 10:00

Book up to2h before

AgesAdult (9 and older) · Child (4 to 8 years) · Under 4: can't be included in the booking

GroupUp to 95

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go 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 6 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by Local Tours Ha Giang

Is this one for you?Choose the private car option if your hotel is in the Halong Bay area and you'd rather not arrange your own transport to the harbor. The harbor-only departure works if you're already staying near Tuan Chau or have your own way to dock 27B by 9:30 AM.

Traveler reviews

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Top questions

Can children come?

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

What exactly do I do at Luon Cave?

You kayak through Luon Cave yourself. The boat stops there specifically for kayaking, and you paddle into and through the cave rather than viewing it from the water or walking past it on shore.

Is the buffet lunch included in the price?

Yes. Buffet lunch with seafood and Vietnamese traditional dishes is served on board around midday, along with the sunset party snacks and drinks later in the afternoon.

How long is the full day on the water?

The cruise runs approximately seven hours from the 10 AM departure until the 5:30 PM return to Tuan Chau Port, though you'll spend time at each stop as well as traveling between them.

What is Sung Sot Cave like?

Sung Sot Cave, also called Surprise Cave, is one of the biggest and most beautiful caves in Ha Long Bay. You explore it on foot after the boat docks, and it's a standard stop on most Ha Long Bay itineraries.