Kayaking in Ha Long Bay from Hanoi: Full-day cruise

Limestone cliffs, hidden lagoons, a cave, and a full day on the water

A full-day cruise from Hanoi to Ha Long Bay includes round-trip transfer, seafood lunch onboard, a visit to Surprise Cave, swimming at Titop Island, and kayaking through hidden lagoons among limestone formations. An English-speaking guide leads the trip on a steel-hulled boat with safety equipment, and you return to Hanoi by evening.

Options for this experience

6 options

From US$ 42 per person, depending on the option and date you choose.See dates & book

4-star cruise departing from Ha Long 11:30 Guide in English or Vietnamese Premium standard cruise with well-equipped, high-quality and spacious decks for around 65 passengers, buffet lunch and sunset party. Duration: 6 hours. Cruising outside the bay lasts about 6 hours and includes swimming, kayaking, caving and more. Buffet lunch: optional onboard buffet with many choices of seafood, Vietnamese dishes, vegetarian and vegan options. Route 2: Tuan Chau, Sung Sot Cave, Titop Island, kayaking at Luon Cave, then back to Tuan Chau. No bus from Hanoi: guests start and finish directly from Ha Long. The trip starts at 11:30 am and ends around 6:00 pm at the harbor.

5-star cruise departing from Ha Long 11:30 Guide in English or Vietnamese High-end luxury 5-star cruise with quality facilities across 3 floors, buffet lunch, sunset party and live music performances. Duration: 6 hours. Cruising outside the bay lasts about 6 hours and includes swimming, kayaking, caving and more. Buffet lunch: optional onboard buffet with many choices of seafood, Vietnamese dishes, vegetarian and vegan options. Route 2: Tuan Chau, Sung Sot Cave, Titop Island, kayaking at Luon Cave, then back to Tuan Chau. No bus from Hanoi: guests start and finish directly from Ha Long. The trip starts at 11:30 am and ends around 6:00 pm at the harbor.

5-star cruise with a large group bus 07:45 Guide in English or Vietnamese High-end luxury 5-star cruise with quality facilities across 3 floors, buffet lunch, sunset party and live music performances. Duration: 12 hours. The full trip lasts 11 to 12 hours, starting at 8:00 am and ending around 8:30 pm. Buffet lunch: optional onboard buffet with many choices of seafood, Vietnamese dishes, vegetarian and vegan options. Route 2: Tuan Chau, Sung Sot Cave, Titop Island, kayaking at Luon Cave, then back to Tuan Chau. Standard air-conditioned bus with 33 seats: departs from Hanoi on a large group air-conditioned bus with 33 seats, and 2 complimentary bottles of water on the bus (2 bottles per way). Pickup is included.

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4-star cruise with a large group bus 07:45 Guide in English or Vietnamese Premium standard cruise with well-equipped, high-quality and spacious decks for around 65 passengers, buffet lunch and sunset party. Duration: 12 hours. The full trip lasts 11 to 12 hours, starting at 8:00 am and ending around 8:30 pm. Buffet lunch: optional onboard buffet with many choices of seafood, Vietnamese dishes, vegetarian and vegan options. Route 2: Tuan Chau, Sung Sot Cave, Titop Island, kayaking at Luon Cave, then back to Tuan Chau. Standard air-conditioned bus with 33 seats: departs from Hanoi on a large group air-conditioned bus with 33 seats, and 2 complimentary bottles of water on the bus (2 bottles per way). Pickup is included.

4-star cruise with a small group bus 07:45 Guide in English or Vietnamese Premium standard cruise with well-equipped, high-quality and spacious decks for around 65 passengers, buffet lunch and sunset party. Duration: 12 hours. The full trip lasts 11 to 12 hours, starting at 8:00 am and ending around 8:30 pm. Buffet lunch: optional onboard buffet with many choices of seafood, Vietnamese dishes, vegetarian and vegan options. Route 2: Tuan Chau, Sung Sot Cave, Titop Island, kayaking at Luon Cave, then back to Tuan Chau. Limousine bus with 17 seats: departs from Hanoi on a limousine bus with 17 seats for a smaller group, and 2 complimentary bottles of water on the bus (2 bottles per way). Pickup is included.

5-star cruise with a small group bus 07:45 Guide in English or Vietnamese High-end luxury 5-star cruise with quality facilities across 3 floors, buffet lunch, sunset party and live music performances. Duration: 12 hours. The full trip lasts 11 to 12 hours, starting at 8:00 am and ending around 8:30 pm. Buffet lunch: optional onboard buffet with many choices of seafood, Vietnamese dishes, vegetarian and vegan options. Route 2: Tuan Chau, Sung Sot Cave, Titop Island, kayaking at Luon Cave, then back to Tuan Chau. Limousine bus with 17 seats: departs from Hanoi on a limousine bus with 17 seats for a smaller group, and 2 complimentary bottles of water on the bus (2 bottles per way). Pickup is included.

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Step-by-step itinerary

Full day Ha Long Bay cruise and activities

• Pick up from Hanoi hotels
• Drive 3.5 hours to Tuan Chau pier
• Register and board cruise
• Enjoy seafood lunch onboard
• Cruise and view limestone islands
• Visit Surprise Cave
• Stop at Titop Island for swimming or hiking
• Optional kayaking or bamboo boat ride
• Relax on board and enjoy sunset party
• Return to Tuan Chau Island
• Drive back to Hanoi

What’s included

• Round-trip transfer with pickup and drop-off in the Old Quarter.
• 5 to 6 hours on a steel-hulled cruise ship with modern facilities and safety equipment (depending on the option you choose).
• fresh seafood lunch and Vietnamese cuisine onboard with vegetarian meals available.
• English-speaking licensed guide throughout the trip.
• complimentary mineral water on the bus.
• entry to Surprise Cave and access to Titop Island for swimming or hiking.

Times

• Every day 07:45 11:30

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Before you book

Group Up to 70 1 private ›

Live guide English and Vietnamese Another language? ›

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

Book up to 10h before

Ages Adult (9 and older) · Child (4 to 8 years) · Infant (under 4): 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 Stroller-friendly Public transport nearby Not recommended with heart problems Infants must sit on laps

Operated by Go Asia Travel

Prices and times updated today

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The experience

The day starts with a 3.5-hour drive from your hotel in the Old Quarter through the Red River delta on a modern bus, with two stops for restrooms and refreshment. You arrive at Tuan Chau pier by midday, board the cruise ship, and settle in with fresh seafood lunch (vegetarian available) as the boat heads into Ha Long Bay. The limestone bedrock and sheer cliffs of the islets have local names (Stone Dogs Island, Duck Island, Finger Island, Incense Burner Island, Fighting Cocks Island) each one a landmark in the bay's geography.

The afternoon splits between two main activities. At Titop Island, you can swim in the bay or hike to the mountain top for views across the water. Then comes the kayaking: you paddle a two-person kayak (or ride a bamboo boat if you prefer) into the hidden lagoons tucked between the rock formations. The guide will show you how to paddle if you need it. This part is optional and paid separately, but it's the reason most travelers book this trip: the chance to move through the water under your own power rather than watch it from the deck.

After the activities, you have free time on board before heading back to Tuan Chau Island around 6pm. The return bus ride to Hanoi takes about 2.5 hours, and you arrive back in the Old Quarter by 8:30pm. The boat carries safety equipment throughout, and the guide speaks English and holds a license.

Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Vietnamese.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 8 years); Infant (under 4): 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.

How long is the drive from Hanoi to Ha Long Bay?

The drive takes 3.5 hours on an expressway through the Red River delta, with two stops: one 10-minute toilet break and a second 25-minute stop at a Pearl Factory for refreshment before you reach Tuan Chau pier.

What is Surprise Cave and when do you visit it?

Surprise Cave is one of the limestone formations in Ha Long Bay that you visit during the cruise portion of the day. The boat stops there as part of the standard itinerary after lunch.

Can you swim in Ha Long Bay on this trip?

Yes, you can swim at Titop Island, where the ship stops in the afternoon. You can also choose to hike to the top of the island instead if you prefer not to swim.

Is the kayaking included in the price, or do you pay extra?

Kayaking or bamboo boat rides are optional activities you pay for separately at the time of the trip. Two people share one kayak, and the guide can teach you how to paddle if needed.

What meals and drinks are provided during the day?

Fresh seafood lunch with Vietnamese cuisine is served onboard (vegetarian meals available on request). The bus provides complimentary mineral water, two bottles per person, on the drive to and from Hanoi.

What time do you leave Hanoi and return?

Hotel pickups from the Old Quarter start at 8am. The bus departs Hanoi around 8:30am after collecting passengers. You return to the Old Quarter by approximately 8:30pm, depending on which cruise option you book.