Kayaking Halong Bay: Limestone Caves & Island Swimming

Paddle into limestone caves, then climb an island peak for the panorama

A five-hour day trip from Hanoi to Halong Bay combines cruising past named islets and fishing villages with kayaking through Luon Cave and visiting Surprise Cave. You swim at Titop Island, climb to its peak for a panoramic view, and return by sunset. The tour includes buffet lunch, English-speaking guide, and limousine pickup from central Hanoi.

Options for this experience

3 options

From US$ 35 per person, depending on the option and date you choose.See dates & book

Tuan Chau Marina harbour 11:30 Guide in English or Vietnamese Departure point: Tuan Chau International Marina, WXCR+X7X, Unnamed Road, Tuần Châu, Quảng Ninh, Vietnam

International cruise port 11:30 Guide in English or Vietnamese Departure point: Cat Ba National Park, Cat Hai, Hai Phong 05418, Vietnam

Package from Hanoi 08:00 Guide in English or Vietnamese Departure point: Hoàn Kiếm Lake, Hoan Kiem, Ha Noi, Vietnam, pickup is included

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Step-by-step itinerary

Halong Bay luxury cruise day trip

• Pick up from Hanoi Old Quarter
• Arrive Tuan Chau Harbor, safety briefing
• Enjoy 5-hour cruise with lunch onboard
• Visit Surprise Cave at Bo Hon archipelago
• Swim and climb Titov Island peak
• Sunbathe on upper deck, enjoy music
• Disembark at Tuan Chau Harbor
• Shuttle bus back to Hanoi

What’s included

• Vietnamese buffet lunch onboard.
• welcome drinks and fresh towel.
• English-speaking guide for the full day.
• group tour on a shared boat.
• onboard insurance.
• limousine bus pickup from Hanoi Old Quarter (depending on the option you choose).

Times

• Every day 08:00 11:30

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Before you book

Live guide English and Vietnamese

Meeting point and pickup Hotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point. You can choose from 47 pickup points.

Ages Adult (18 to 55 years) · Senior (56 to 75 years) · Youth (8 to 17 years) · Child (3 to 7 years) · Infant (under 3): free

Cancellation and refunds Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund. It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Good to know

Low physical effort Public transport nearby Not recommended with back problems

Operated by Easy Tours

Prices and times updated 9 days ago

Traveler reviews

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The experience

The boat leaves Tuan Chau Harbor at 12:30 after a morning pickup from Hanoi Old Quarter. The five-hour journey passes Dinh Huong islet, Ga Choi islet, and Ba Hang fishing villages: limestone formations with local names like Cock Fighting and Incense Burner. At 14:00 you reach Bo Hon archipelago and enter Surprise Cave, the largest in the bay. The kayaking happens in Luon Cave, where you paddle through narrow passages carved into the rock. This is optional and costs extra if you choose it.

Titop Island is where the swimming and climbing happen. The sandy beach sits below a towering limestone peak. The climb takes you to the top for a view across the entire bay. You have time to sunbathe on the upper deck afterward, with music and the company of other travelers from around the world. The boat heads back toward Tuan Chau Harbor around 16:00, and you disembark by 18:15 for the shuttle bus back to Hanoi. Weather permitting, you catch the sunset on the water.

The tour runs as a shared boat with a group. You make new friends and split the cost. Lunch is a Vietnamese buffet served onboard, and you get welcome drinks and a fresh towel when you board. An English-speaking guide is with you throughout. If you don't stay in Hanoi Old Quarter, you can meet the bus at Hanoi Opera House by 7:30 AM or at one of two other central pickup points by 8:10 AM.

Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Vietnamese.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (8 to 17 years); Child (3 to 7 years); Infant (under 3): free.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What is Luon Cave like for kayaking?

Luon Cave is a limestone passage you paddle through in a small kayak or sampan boat. The cave cuts into the rock and opens onto the water. It is one of the named stops on the itinerary and the main reason kayaking is offered as an add-on activity.

Can I swim at Titop Island, or just climb the peak?

Titop Island has a sandy beach where you can swim in the bay. Climbing the peak is optional. Many travelers do both, and you have time for either or both depending on what you want to do during the island stop.

How long does the whole trip take from Hanoi?

The cruise itself runs five hours, but the full day from Hanoi includes the morning pickup and the return shuttle, so you leave Hanoi around 7:30 AM and return by early evening.

Is the boat crowded?

The tour runs as a shared boat with other travelers, so you will have group members aboard. Halong Bay itself is crowded every day, especially in summer and on weekends, so you may see other boats and visitors at the main stops.

What does the lunch include?

Lunch is a Vietnamese buffet served onboard. Beverages and drinks are not included in the base price, so bring money if you want to purchase them separately.

Do I need to book kayaking in advance, or can I add it on the day?

Kayaking through Luon Cave is optional and costs 80,000 VND per person (two people share one kayak). You can arrange it when you book or ask the guide on the day of the tour.