Kayaking Halong Bay from Hanoi: Limestone Caves & Sunset Cruise
Paddle into Luon Cave while limestone walls rise around you, then watch the sunset from the boat's deck.
A full-day kayaking cruise from Hanoi to Halong Bay combines paddling through Luon Cave's lagoon with visits to Sung Sot Cave and TiTop Island, plus Vietnamese lunch and a sunset party on board. Hotel pickup in Hanoi's Old Quarter and return transport are included, along with an English-speaking guide for the entire 13-hour day.
Options for this experience
2 optionsStep-by-step itinerary
Luxury Halong Bay Cruise Experience
- Hotel pickup in Hanoi Old Quarter
- Drive to Halong Bay via highway
- Short break during drive
- Arrive at Tuan Chau Harbor
- Board luxury cruise and welcome drink
- Enjoy Vietnamese lunch on boat
- Pass limestone formations while cruising
- Visit Sung Sot Cave
- Kayak or bamboo boat through Luon Cave
- Visit TiTop Island for swimming or trekking
- Sunset party on boat with refreshments
- Return to harbor and bus back to Hanoi
- Drop off at hotel, tour ends
- Surprise Cave Entry included 45m
- Titop Island 2h
What’s included
- Hotel pickup in Hanoi's Old Quarter and return transport to your hotel.
- entrance fees to Sung Sot Cave and TiTop Island.
- kayaking or bamboo boat through Luon Cave.
- Vietnamese buffet lunch on board.
- sunset party with wine, tea, fruit and biscuits.
- towel for beach activities.
- one bottle of water per person.
- English-speaking guide for the entire day.
Times
- Every day 08:00 11:45
Before you book
Operated by Best Vietnam Tours
Prices and times updated 21 days ago
Traveler reviews
The experience
The day starts with hotel pickup in Hanoi's Old Quarter and a three-hour drive along the Hanoi–Haiphong–Tuan Chau Highway, with a 30-minute break to stretch. You board the cruise at Tuan Chau Harbor around noon, where a welcome drink and Vietnamese lunch follow as the boat passes limestone formations like the Fighting Chicken and Incense Burner Islets. The guide narrates the route in English throughout.
At Bo Hon Island, you explore Sung Sot Cave on foot (a chamber filled with stalagmites and stalactites), then return to the boat and paddle a kayak (or take a bamboo boat if you prefer) through Luon Cave's narrow passages into a hidden lagoon surrounded by sheer rock walls. After that, TiTop Island offers a sandy beach for swimming or a trek to the summit for views across the bay. The boat returns to Tuan Chau Harbor by early evening, and you're back in Hanoi by 9 p.m.
A sunset party on deck (wine, tea, fruit and biscuits) happens during the return cruise. The tour suits anyone comfortable paddling a kayak for roughly 30 minutes. A bamboo boat is available if you'd rather not paddle. Towels and a water bottle are provided, and the group travels by either a 17–19 seat limousine or a 35-seat coach depending on your booking option.
Is this one for you?Choose the limousine transfer if you want a smaller group and more comfort during the drive. The larger coach is a budget option for groups traveling together. Either way, you're paddling the same caves and watching the same sunset. The difference is just the vehicle and how many other travelers share the ride to the harbor.
Compare the 10 alternatives
Top questions
Can children come?
Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 8 years); Infant (under 3): free.
What is Sung Sot Cave like, and how long do you spend inside it?
Sung Sot Cave is the largest chamber in Halong Bay, decorated with stalagmites and stalactites that rise from the floor and hang from the ceiling. You explore it on foot after the boat arrives at Bo Hon Island around 2 p.m., with time to walk through the formations before returning to the boat for kayaking.
Do I have to kayak, or can I skip it and do something else?
You can kayak through Luon Cave or take a bamboo boat instead. Both options let you enter the lagoon at the same time. The choice is yours when you arrive at that stop, and towels are provided either way.
How far is the drive from Hanoi to the harbor, and what happens during it?
The drive to Tuan Chau Harbor takes about three hours along the Hanoi–Haiphong–Tuan Chau Highway. A 30-minute break is built in so you can rest and use facilities before boarding the cruise.
What time do you get back to your hotel in Hanoi?
The boat returns to Tuan Chau Harbor by 6 p.m., then you board the bus for the return drive. Hotel drop-off in Hanoi happens around 9 p.m., so the full day runs 13 hours from pickup to return.
Is there time to swim at TiTop Island?
Yes, TiTop Island has a sandy beach where you can swim. You can also trek to the top of the island for views across Halong Bay if you prefer not to swim.
What's included in the sunset party on the boat?
The sunset party includes wine, tea, fresh fruit and biscuits served on deck as the boat cruises back to the harbor. Drinks during lunch are not included, but water is provided throughout the day.
Kayaking Halong Bay from Hanoi: Limestone Caves & Sunset Cruise
13h · EN · at your hotel
from US$ 45 per person
Next, you choose your date and number of travelers and see the final price.