Kayaking Ha Long Bay: Luon Cave & Titop Island day cruise

Paddle into Luon Cave, then climb Titop Island's ridge for the bay below

A day cruise from Ha Long Bay with hotel pickup and return, featuring kayaking into Luon Cave, entry to Sung Sot Cave, and time on Titop Island's beach. The itinerary runs 8 hours: you board at 9:30 AM, kayak mid-morning, explore the caves, and return to port by 5:30 PM. Buffet lunch and a sunset party with Vietnamese tea and fresh fruit are served on deck.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Ha Long Bay4h 30m · entry included
2. Surprise Cave1h · entry included
3. Titop Island1h · entry included

Halong Bay luxury cruise highlights

• Pick up from Halong Bay hotel
• Check-in and board the cruise
• Enjoy welcome drink and cruise Ha Long Bay
• Buffet lunch with seafood and Vietnamese food
• Visit Sung Sot (Surprise) Cave
• Kayak or bamboo boat at Luon Cave
• Explore Titop Island and beach
• Sunset party with tea, fruits, and snacks
• Return to Tuan Chau port and end trip

The experience

The boat collects you from your hotel within 10 km of Tuan Chau Marina and transfers you to the cruise port. Once aboard the Amethyst, a welcome drink marks the start of the journey across Ha Long Bay's limestone islands. The route passes through Sung Sot Cave (one of the largest in the bay, named by French explorers as the "Grotto of Surprises"), where you walk the cave interior before returning to the boat.

The kayaking happens at Luon Cave, part of Bo Hon Island about 14 km from the mainland. You paddle your own kayak into the cave mouth and through the water passage inside. The cave is a natural chamber carved into the island. After kayaking, the boat anchors at Titop Island, a crescent-shaped beach where you can swim and walk the shoreline. The island sits on the bay's open water, so the views back across the limestone peaks frame the afternoon.

Lunch is a buffet served on deck with seafood and Vietnamese dishes. At 4 PM, a sunset party begins on the sundeck with Vietnamese tea, fresh fruit and snacks. You can relax in the Jacuzzi or watch from the deck as the light changes over the water. The boat returns to Tuan Chau port by 5:30 PM. An English-speaking guide is on board throughout, and children from age 4 are welcome.

What’s included

• Private transfer from your Halong Bay hotel to the cruise port.
• entrance fees for Ha Long Bay, Sung Sot Cave and Titop Island.
• buffet lunch with seafood and Vietnamese dishes.
• sunset party with Vietnamese tea, fresh fruit and snacks on deck.
• 7 hours exploring the bay on the luxury cruise.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 09:00

Book up to4h before

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

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 14 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Local Tours Ha Giang

Is this one for you?Book this shared cruise if you want to paddle at Luon Cave and explore the limestone islands by boat in a single day, rather than commit to an overnight stay.

Traveler reviews

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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 is Sung Sot Cave like inside?

Sung Sot Cave is one of the largest caves in Ha Long Bay, with a spacious interior chamber. The French named it "Grotte des Surprises" for its scale and formations. You walk through the cave as part of the itinerary before returning to the boat.

Do I paddle the kayak myself at Luon Cave?

Yes, you operate your own kayak. The boat stops at Luon Cave, part of Bo Hon Island, and you paddle into the cave mouth and through the water passage inside the limestone formation.

Is there time to swim at Titop Island?

Titop Island has a crescent-shaped beach where you can swim and walk along the shoreline. The boat anchors there after the kayaking stop, giving you time in the water and on the sand.

What meals and drinks are included?

Buffet lunch with seafood and Vietnamese traditional dishes is served on deck around noon. At 4 PM, a sunset party offers Vietnamese tea, fresh fruit and snacks on the sundeck or in the Jacuzzi.

How far is the hotel pickup from the cruise port?

The driver collects you from your hotel within 10 km of Tuan Chau Marina and transfers you to the cruise port. Pickup is included in the booking. You'll be ready at your hotel lobby in the morning.