Ha Long Bay Boat Trips: 15 Ways to Get on the Water

1.Ha Long Bay Day Cruise – Swimming, Meal, Kayaking

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 7,415 reviews · from $41Our pick

You’ll leave Hanoi early for a full day on Ha Long Bay, visiting Sung Sot Cave, kayaking or taking a bamboo boat at Luon Cave, and swimming or hiking on Titop Island. Guides such as Sunny, Alex, Ken, and Henry are known for keeping the long day lively. Expect a busy, well-priced cruise with lunch, transport, and sunset drinks included.

“Sunny really showed all the places very well and his humorous is very funny and keep us very lively. Thank you Sunny.”

Check availability →Read our full review

2.Amanda Cruise – Ha Long, Lan Ha Bay – All Inclusive 2D1N & 3D2N

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 4,358 reviews · from $56Top rated

Spend two days and one night aboard Amanda Cruise, sailing from Hanoi through Ha Long Bay or Lan Ha Bay. Expect Ti Top Island, Hang Luon kayaking, Sung Sot Cave, Tai Chi, cooking, squid fishing, meals, and a seaview cabin. Guide quality, boat condition, and route can vary, so confirm your exact ship and cabin before paying.

“It is a wonderful experience to travel by a cruise like Amanda.value for money.Courteous people on board to assist you”

Check availability →Read our full review

3.Cozy Bay Halong 5-Star Day Cruise, Buffet, Cave, Kayak, Swimming

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 3,512 reviews · from $48

Spend a full day exploring Ha Long Bay from Hanoi by comfortable shuttle bus and five to six-hour cruise. You’ll visit Sung Sot Cave, climb Ti Top Island, kayak or ride a bamboo boat, and eat a buffet lunch. Guides such as Minh, Tim, Duc, and Tony are praised for clear explanations and good group care.

“So much that is good but we were super impressed with our tour guide (Minh) who made contact with everyone the night before departure and so no last minute worries about pick up points and times”

Check availability →Read our full review

4.2-Day Halong & Lan Ha Bay 5-Star Cruise with Balcony

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 3,300 reviews · from $188

Travel from Hanoi to Halong and Lan Ha Bay aboard a 5-star cruise with a private balcony cabin, full meals, kayaking, swimming, cave visits, tai chi, cooking, and squid fishing. Guides such as Jackie, Mike, Tom, Hao, and Duy have helped make the trip personal and well organized, but the exact cruise and day-two stop can vary.

“The ship , food and accomodation excellent. Did not enjoy trip to the hospital cave- waste of 2 hours, wish I had stayed on the boat”

Check availability →Read our full review

5.Mon Chéri Cruise 5 star: Unique 2 Days Tuan Chau – Halong bay – Lan Ha Bay

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 2,422 reviews · from $195

Spend two days aboard Mon Chéri Cruises, sailing from Got Pier through Lan Ha and Halong bays. You’ll have an overnight suite, meals, cave visits, kayaking, swimming, a bamboo boat ride, sunset views, a cooking class, and squid fishing. Hanoi transfers cost extra, and the cruise accepts up to 35 people.

Check availability →Read our full review

6.Doris Cruise 5 star cruise 2 days visiting Halong Bay Lan Ha Bay private balcony

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 2,338 reviews · from $235

Travel from Hanoi to Doris Cruise for two days among Ha Long and Lan Ha Bays. You get a private balcony cabin, meals, kayaking or a rowboat, swimming, Tai Chi, a cooking class, and a Dark and Bright Cave visit. Hosts including Emily, Mona, and Jessica are praised for attentive service, though the boat is not the most luxurious in its class.

“Very nice rooms , vegan food, well planned activities and the sundeck.”

Check availability →Read our full review

7.Halong Bay – Hera Cruise – All Inclusive Multi Days Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,967 reviews · from $56

Spend two days aboard Hera Cruise in Halong Bay, with Hanoi pickup, meals, a junior ocean-view cabin, kayaking or a bamboo boat at Luon Cave, Ti Top Island, cave visits, Tai Chi, cooking, and swimming. The cruise suits first-time visitors who want a simple all-inclusive plan, though the schedule is tightly packed.

“Great experience with the team of HERA cruise-everything perfectly organized and streamlined to make it a memorable event.”

Check availability →Read our full review

8.2-Day Luxury Halong Bay Aspira Cruise from Hanoi

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,517 reviews · from $178

Spend one night aboard the 5-star Aspira Cruise, sailing from Tuan Chau through Halong and Lan Ha Bay. Your stay includes a private balcony cabin, four meals, kayaking or a bamboo boat ride, cooking class, Tai Chi, sunset drinks, squid fishing, and a traditional music performance. Hanoi transfers are available at an extra cost.

“Excellent! Staffs are friendly and helpful, cant be better. Food is great and large portions. Dont eat snack or drink too much before dinner because they will give you a full set with a lot of food for dinner. Pick up is on time. Worth the money and must go”

Check availability →Read our full review

9.Renea Cruises – Best Small Boat in Bai Tu Long & Halong Bay

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,485 reviews · from $139

Travel from Hanoi to Bai Tu Long Bay aboard a small Indochina-style cruise boat. You’ll kayak or swim near Cap La Island, visit Thien Canh Son Cave, enjoy Vietnamese meals, and sleep in a seaview cabin. Guides including Hung, Cong, and Vic have been praised for warm, informative service.

“It was a wonderful experience to wake up in Bai Tu Long Bay. The team was also wonderful ! If you have time, an overnight cruise is a must.”

Check availability →Read our full review

10.2-Day Halong Sapphire Cruise with Balcony Cabin

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 1,447 reviews

Sail from Tuan Chau through Halong and Lan Ha Bays in a comfortable balcony cabin. Expect seafood meals, swimming in open water, a spring-roll class, sunset activities, morning Tai Chi, and kayaking or a rowing boat visit to Dark and Bright Cave. Guides such as Luc, also called Power, are lively and attentive.

“Power is a wonderful host. Very hospitable and lively. Enjoyed our stay thoroughly Good food and relaxing atmosphere. Recommended.”

Check availability →Read our full review

11.3-Day Ninh Binh, Ha Long, & Lan Ha Bay 5-Star Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 1,401 reviews · from $313

This three-day trip links Ninh Binh’s temples, Trang An’s river caves, and a 5-star Lan Ha Bay cruise. Guides such as Peter, James, Leo, and Dat may lead the Ninh Binh portion. Expect comfortable transfers, strong food choices, kayaking, swimming, Tai Chi, and one night in a private-balcony cabin.

“Such a fun trip, seeing a variety of sites from the Trang An River, Ninh Binh temple complex, and Ha Long bay. It was worth every second. Our first night we stayed at a hotel complex where we ate dinner family style, learning from other travelers their experiences and Vietnam stories. Transportation was comfortable and quick to our destinations. On our first day Leo, our guide, was full of information and willing to answer any questions we had about the surrounding area. If you’re thinking about booking this trip, DO IT.”

Check availability →Read our full review

12.Islands & Caves Ha Long Cruise with Lunch & Kayaking

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 1,317 reviews · 4 - 13 hours · from $34Best value

You’ll cruise Halong Bay aboard the Dragonfly, eat a seafood lunch, walk through Thien Cung Cave, and kayak or ride a bamboo boat through coves and water tunnels. English and Vietnamese guides lead the day, with guides such as Harry, Benjamin, and Hoi praised for their humor and care. Hotel pickup is available in Hanoi’s Old Quarter.

“It was a pleasant experience. The food on the ship was yummy and the crew were nice.”

Check availability →Read our full review

13.Halong Bay Day Tour By Diamond Era Cruise,Titop,Sung Sot & kayak

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,301 reviews · from $48

Spend a full day traveling from Hanoi to Ha Long Bay aboard the Diamond Era Cruise. You’ll visit Sung Sot Cave, kayak or take a bamboo boat through Hang Luon, and hike or swim at Titop Island. English-speaking guides such as Richie, Johnny, Tom, and Andy lead the day. The $48 price includes transport, lunch, tickets, and activities.

“We had an amazing experience on this well planned tour. Our guide was “Johnny” who was very attentive from the moment we met to the time we said goodbye. He made sure that we followed the time schedule and not miss the pick uRead more”

Check availability →Read our full review

14.Ha Long Bay Cruise Day Tour – Cave, Kayaking, Swimming & Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,244 reviews · from $42

This 12-hour Ha Long Bay outing combines Sung Sot Cave, kayaking or a bamboo boat at Hang Luon, swimming or hiking on Ti Top Island, a Vietnamese lunch, and sunset snacks. Hanoi pickup is included, and guides such as Alex, Hoang, Ken, Nam, and Sunny are often praised for keeping the long day organized.

“Austin is very funny alway try the best yo help us have a good ezp. You should do it when you come to viet nam”

Check availability →Read our full review

15.Best seller Halong Bay Day Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,233 reviews · from $37

Cruise Ha Long Bay from Hanoi with an English-speaking guide, seafood buffet, Sung Sot Cave, Titop Island, and optional Luon Cave kayaking or bamboo boat rides. Round-trip Old Quarter transfers are included, but entrance and Luon Cave fees cost extra. Guides may include Milano.

“Great experience Organised very well, thoroughly enjoyed the tour, good value for money Highly recommend the tour.”

Check availability →Read our full review