day trip from halong bay

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Halong bay one day tour – Suggested Itineraries & Price [2024]

Halong Bay one day tour is a must-do experience when visiting Vietnam. With only a 2.5 hour transfer from Hanoi, you can visit Halong Bay on a day boat and back to Hanoi within 1 day. This one-day tour is a perfect option for travelers who have limited but still want to discover the stunning beauty of the World Natural Heritage Site. 

In this article, Vivu Halong will help you choose the best itinerary (4 hours, 6 hours, 8 hours) with suitable cruising boat options (wooden boats, steel boats) at good prices. You also get to know which activities you will experience in a Halong Bay one-day tour.

 >> Vivu Halong is the #1 local travel agency specializing in tours, cruises, and transfers in Hanoi, Halong Bay, and Ninh Binh, f ully licensed by the National Administration of Tourism. Want to know more about us? >> CLICK HERE or read our reviews on TRIPADVISOR

• Address : No 12, 461 Tran Khat Chan Str, Hai Ba Trung, Hanoi ( Map )
• Phone/WhatsApp/Zalo : +84.789.455.888
• Phone/WhatsApp/Zalo : +84 961 250 100
• Email : [email protected]
• FB : facebook.com/vivuhalong

Price of Halong Bay one day tour 

Halong Bay one-day tour is a group tour with a transfer from Hanoi, lunch, entrance fee, and activities. The private tour is also available based on your request.  Here is the price list for the tour, please contact us for the best price and tour available when booking.

Inclusions & Exclusions 

• Lunch with Ha Long seafood dishes with a set menu or buffet meal depending on the tour.
• Shuttle bus / Limousine van from Hanoi to Ha Long
• Boat to visit the bay (4 hours – 6 hours – 8 hours), depending on the cruise you choose.
• Entrance ticket to visit Halong Bay for 1 day (VND 290,000/person)
• Tour guide to escort your trip 
• Not including drinks and personal expenses.

>> In case, you need a shuttle bus from Hanoi to Halong Bay, check out this post for the schedule and rate: https://vivuhalong.com/en/transfer-hanoi-ha-long-bay/

[Deluxe] 6-HOUR Halong Bay cruise from Hanoi

Full-day Halong Bay tour from Hanoi, Limousine bus, Buffet lunch & Kayaking

[Small Group] Halong Bay Full day cruise from Hanoi

Bai Tu Long Bay Full day cruise, Off the beaten track

[8 HOUR] Halong Bay cruise from Hanoi (limousine transfer)

[Luxury] 8-Hour Halong Bay cruise

[Luxury] Lan Ha Bay cruise from Hanoi

Which Halong Bay one day itinerary to choose? 

6-hour cruise tour with transfer from Hanoi

This 6-hour tour is the most popular Halong Bay one-day tour, with a shuttle bus transfer from Hanoi. On this tour, you will visit Amazing (Sung Sot) Cave, the largest cave in Halong Bay, kayak in Luon Cave then get to Titop island for beach relaxation and hiking to the top of the mountain for a panoramic view of Halong Bay. 

• The tour starts at 8:30 am with a shuttle bus pick up at your hotels in Hanoi Old Quarter and ends at 08:30 pm
• Cruise from 12:00 pm to 5:30 pm, 5 – 6 hours boat cruising on Halong Bay 
• Itinerary following Route 2: Habour –  Surprise Cave – Luon Cave (kayaking) – Titop Island (beach & panoramic view) 
• Vietnamese lunch included
• Departure from Ha Long International Port or Tuan Chau International Port

>> Tour details: https://vivuhalong.com/en/tours/halong-bay-one-day-tour-wonder-bay-cruise/ 

For booking, please send us an email or contact us via Phone/ WhatsApp: +84.789.455.888 https://youtu.be/kvyplIXeCYU?si=4_oep3V21fRkWKdA

7- 8 hour cruise tour with transfer from Hanoi 

Halong Bay 7 – 8 hour tour is the longest journey to visit the bay during the daytime. You can have a lot of time to visit caves, and beaches, explore the islands and experience kayaking on the calm water of Halong Bay. 

Unlike other tours departing at noon, this tour departs early at 9:30 a.m., so you will depart from Hanoi at 06:30 a.m. It means you can have enough time for an 8-hour journey. Travellers can visit tourist attractions and experience no less than an overnight cruise. In the past, visitors used to rent a private boat for such long tours. But now there is such an interesting 8-hour tour to from choose. 

• The tour starts from Hanoi at 07:00 am with a shuttle bus pick up at your hotels and ends at 08:30 pm
• Cruise from 10:30 pm to 5:00 pm, 8 hours on the boat to visit the bay
• Itinerary following Route 2: Thien Cung Cave – Fighting cocks Islet – Amazing (Sung Sot) Cave – Titop Island – Afternoon tea 
• Tour includes lunch
• Departure from Tuan Chau International Port

>> Tour details: https://vivuhalong.com/en/tours/halong-bay-day-cruise-8-hour/ For booking, please send us an email or contact us via Phone/  WhatsApp: +84.789.455.888  

4-hour day cruise, ( depart from Halong City ) 

This traditional tour takes you to the most famous spots of Ha Long Bay. 4 hours is a suitable time if you don’t want to be on the boat for too long. The tour is suitable for travellers who stay in hotels in Halong City and want to see Halong Bay on a half-day tour. The tour includes a visit to Thien Cung cave, go kayaking in Ba Hang and a Vietnamese lunch. 

• The cruise schedule is from 12:30 pm to 4:30 pm in the afternoon, or  from 08:00 to 12:00 in the morning
• 4 hours on the cruising boat to visit the bay.
• Itinerary following Route 2: Habour > Cho Da islet > Dinh Huong islet >  Thien Cung cave > Ba Hang fishing village (kayak or bamboo boat ride)
• Lunch included 
• Departure from HaLong International Port (Ha Long Road, Bai Chay, Halong City) 

Morning tour 

• 07:00 – 07:30: Pick up at your Hotel in the Bai Chay area
• 07:40: Arrive at Ha Long International Port to check in on the boat.
• 08:00 – 08:15: The cruise starts visiting Halong Bay – one of the New Seven Wonder world heritage
• 08:50: Passing through Stone Dog islet, Incense burner Islet – the image in the back side of Vietnam currency 200.000d.
• 09:00: Visit the Ba Hang area – where you can do kayaking or bamboo boat to explore the area.
• 09:50: Visit Fighting Cock Islet – a symbol of Halong Bay
• 10:10: Visit Thien Cung Grottos – one of the most beautiful areas of Halong Bay
• 11:10: Have lunch on the boat (Set Menu lunch,  6 person/table)
• 11:45-12:10: Back to Ha Long International Port.
• 12:30: A shuttle bus take you back to your hotel in Bai Chay

Afternoon tour 

• 11h-11h30: Pick up at your hotels in Bai Chay area, Halong City
• 11h40: Arrive at Ha Long International Port.
• 12h00 – 12h15: Ha Binh cruise starts to visit Halong Bay – the World Heritage Site
• 12h30: Have lunch on the boat (Set menu lunch,  6 person/table)
• 13h30: Visit Stone dog islet, Incense burner islet – the image in the Vietnam currency 200.000d
• 13h40: Visit Ba Hang area – where you can go kayaking or bamboo boat or relax on the cruise.
• 14h20: Visit Fighting Cock Islet – a symbol of Halong Bay
• 14h40: Visit Thien Cung grotto – one of the most beautiful caves in Halong Bay
• 16h30: The cruise arrives at Ha Long International Port
• 17h00: Shuttle bus takes you back to the hotels

> Tour details: https://vivuhalong.com/en/tours/halong-bay-day-tour-4-hour-cruise/ For booking, please send us an email or contact us via Phone/  WhatsApp: +84.789.455.888  

Which route to choose? 

There would be different routes for visiting Halong Bay in one day, you can choose to visit the route of Halong Bay, Bai Tu Long Bay or Lan Ha Bay. All the routes have similar natural landscapes with limestone islets on green water. However, each cruising route has its own advantage.

Let’s check which route might suit you!

What you would experience in a Halong Bay one-day tour? 

Join a day tour to visit the bay, in addition to boarding the sightseeing boat, you will experience kayaking for about 30 minutes to 1 hour. It is so interesting to explore the different corners of the bay by yourself. Kayaking is the best way to get closer to the limestone islands in the bay. 

Exploring cave 

Halong Bay is home to many wonderful natural caves, such as Sung Sot Cave , Thien Cung Cave , Trinh Nu Cave, Thien Canh Son Cave … You can climb up the island to go inside the caves. Then you will admire such interesting landscapes bestowed by nature.

Bamboo boat with locals 

If not kayaking, you can choose to take a bamboo boat carried by locals, visit Luon cave , and enter the “lagoon” areas with beautiful scenery, covered by limestone mountains. 

Beach, swimming, hiking on mountain 

The beaches on the bay are not very big but beautiful. You can find a nice beach on Titop island and many small beaches dotted in the bay. On the island, you can relax on the beach, swim, or climb to the top of the mountain to see the whole view of Halong Bay, to save the best selfie photos.

Afternoon tea, cooking lessons

This experience is so relaxing that many travellers want to join in. You can use a cup of coffee, a cup of tea, or a glass of wine to wait for the sunset on Halong Bay. It’s not easy to capture this moment so good luck.

Where to depart for the tour? 

There are two cruise ports in Halong Bay where you embark for cruising

Halong International Port 

Halong International Port is located on Halong Road, right in the centre of the Bai Chay tourist area, providing easy access for both domestic and international tourists coming to visit Halong Bay on a day cruise. You can visit Halong Bay on a day cruise departing from Ha Long International Port following a morning tour or afternoon tour.

• Direction to Halong International Port

Tuan Chau Marina 

Tuan Chau International Port is located on Tuan Chau island, the port is 12.5km from Ha Long city and 150km from Hanoi. Tuan Chau is a popular port for both domestic and international visitors taking a day cruise on Halong Bay and Lan Ha Bay.

• Direction to Tuan Chau Marina

• More details about Halong Bay Cruise Ports 

Food & Drinks 

On a day tour to Halong Bay, you will be served a Vietnamese lunch with some local seafood dishes, the set menu lunch will be served for 6 persons/table, joining the group. Some bigger boats will offer a Buffet lunch with more choice of food served. Check out the typical menu for lunch on a Halong Bay day tour. Drinks are served with beer, soft drinks, and water… at an extra fee.

Set Menu lunch 

• Sweet and Sour Cucumber Salad
• French Fries
• Ha Long Grilled Squid
• Steamed Shrimp With Beer
• Grilled Oyster With Onion Fat
• Sea Bass with Sauces
• Stir-fried Vegetable
• Jasmine Rice
• Seasonal Fruits

Vegetarian Lunch Menu 

• Dumpling Cake
• Vegetable Spring Roll
• Tofu with Sweet and Sour Sauce
• Vietnamese Egg Roll
• Seasonal stir-fried vegetable

Buffet menu (8-hour day cruise) 

• Asparagus soup with seafood
• Rice congee with pork meatballs
• French fries/ fried corn
• Green Papaya salad with dried beef
• Russian Salad
• Pomelo salad with shrimp
• Spring rolls
• Sushi rolls
• Stir-fried noodles with seafood
•  Sauté diced beef
• Grilled shrimp
• Crispy fried squid
• Stir-fried flower clams with basil leaves
• Grilled fish with chilli paste
• Grilled chicken wings
• Salt-roasted mantis shrimp
• Grilled oysters with scallion oil
• Vegetable stir fry
• Mixed fried rice
• Green beans sweet gruel
• Profiteroles
• Strawberry, orange Jam
•  Seasonal fruits
• Pure dumplings
• Pan-fried hot dog

Frequently Asked Questions

Is one day tour enough for Halong Bay?

Yes, it is an option to admire the natural beauty of Halong Bay within one day (4-8 hours on a boat). The tour could be also arranged with a transfer from Hanoi  (2.5-hour transfer) and back. If you have longer time, the 1-night cruise and 2-night cruise are recommended.

Is Halong Bay a day trip from Hanoi? 

The Halong Bay day tour is the most popular day tour from Hanoi. The distance between Hanoi and Halong Bay is 150 km for 2.5 hour’s transfer time

How long do you need in Halong Bay?

You should visit Halong Bay for 1 night or 2 nights. A day tour to Halong Bay is an option if you do not have much time here.

Is the Halong Bay day trip worth it?

Yes, it worth visiting. The trip takes you to visit most highlights of Halong Bay including a cave, and island and experience kayaking or bamboo boat rowing…

Can you swim in Halong Bay?

Yes, swimming is an exciting activity when visiting Halong Bay. The water is calm and clean. You might swim from a small beach or in the middle of the bay. In winter (Nov – Feb), it is too cold for swimming.

What is the best month to visit Halong Bay?

April – September is the best time to visit Halong Bay, it is the summertime, with blue water & clear sky.

Is Halong Bay too busy?

Halong Bay is a must-visit so it attracts a lot of visitors during the year. However, the busiest time is in summer month (the peak season for domestic tourists)

How do I book a Halong Bay cruise?

You can book through travel agents, tour operators, and OTAs or book directly with cruise operators. Just check for the best price and trusted service provider 

Are there jellyfish in Halong Bay?

Yes, there are jellyfish in Halong Bay and it could be more jellyfish in the summer months.

With the above information provided by Vivu Halong, hopefully, you have enough information to choose a suitable day tour to visit Halong Bay. If you have any questions or need further advice, do not hesitate to contact Vivu Halong. 

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Book your trip, vivu halong team.

BOOKING INFORMATION

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Halong Bay Day Tour: Which Is Best For You? 2024

Choosing a Halong Bay day tour can be a little overwhelming when you have so many boat options. We’ve picked out the top 10 trips so you can find your favourite to book in just a few minutes!

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Ha Long Bay & Ti Top Island Cruise

We chose this exact Halong Bay day tour because of the great reviews! The trip was great – we enjoyed kayaking, hiking and exploring a cave, plus the boat journey was relaxing and comfortable. The food was decent and we highly recommend that you check it out!

Halong Bay is one of the most popular places to visit when travelling to Vietnam. There are stunning islets to view, caves to explore and hiking trails too – and don’t forget the incredible sunset views here!

Read More: Stay On An Overnight Luxury Cruise in Halong Bay

Taking a day tour to Halong Bay is one of the cheapest and easiest ways to visit this picture-perfect UNESCO World Heritage site, so take your time reading our top tips, recommendations and opinions!

Disclosure: We were guests of Go Asia Travel for this Halong bay day tour, but all opinions are our own!

Our Halong Bay Day Tour With Go Asia Travel Review

Our Halong Bay day tour began with a bus pickup at 8.45 am. We were originally told to be ready at 9:15 am but the bus arrived earlier than this, so do give yourself a bit of extra time to be ready just in case. Luckily we decided against going out for breakfast before our tour and were sat in the hotel lobby anyway when the bus arrived.

It took around another 45 minutes to drive around the Old Quarter collecting all of the other guests, and then we were on our way!

The bus was very comfortable and we had plenty of legroom – yep, even us Daddy Long Legs! Our guide Ivan was fantastic – he gave us lots of information about Vietnam and managed to make us laugh the whole time he was talking.

I think it makes a difference when you feel comfortable asking your tour guide anything, and Ivan really did make everyone feel welcome and was open to all of our questions.

Read More: All Of The Best TWO Night Halong Bay Cruises

After only 20 minutes, we stopped for a toilet/coffee break. We didn’t really think it was necessary as we already knew we’d be stopping again in about an hour. However, it made more sense when we stopped the second time as we realised that the point of this next stop wasn’t to use the bathroom, but to buy pearls from the pearl farm.

We were told that everybody HAD to get off the bus so that the bus driver could drive round to the pickup point. There is no need to stop twice in a 3-hour journey, so I think this was just a way of getting everyone closer to the shop – and I wish that the staff were transparent about this!

Saying that though, we weren’t pressured to buy anything and there were bathroom and toilet facilities to use if you needed them.

Once we arrived at the port, we were taken to our boat and shortly after arriving, we were on our way!

Read More: The Full Guide To Taking The Phu Quoc Cable Car

Lunch was served as we sailed to Halong Bay, and we enjoyed a decent selection of Vietnamese cuisine. I asked for a vegetarian meal, and I was given a whole plate of tofu bits and pieces, noodles, eggs, bread and nuts! I was impressed with the amount of food I had been given, plus there was seafood, rice and vegetables on the table for everyone to share.

Read More: The Best Street Food In Hanoi!

One thing I would say is that although plenty of food is included in the price, drinks are not – even water – and I don’t think that’s fair. We did receive free water on the bus but we’d finished that by the time we arrived to Tuan Chau harbour.

You should have to pay for beer and soft drinks on the cruise, of course, but I think that water should be handed out freely, especially as it can get so hot! A small bottle of water cost 20,000VND which won’t break the bank, but you’ll definitely need more than one so that costs can add up.

Bring a few large bottles but make sure that you keep them on the boat – you won’t be allowed to take plastic bottles onto the island (and rightly so!)

Cruising around Halong Bay was brilliant – it’s such a beautiful place so don’t forget your camera ! Ivan talked to us about some of the different rock formations and showed us the rocks that you can see on a 200,000 VND bank note!

The first stop on our Halong Bay day tour was Ti Top Island (or Titov Island). We had 45 minutes to spend there, with the choice of hiking up to the top of the hill to see the incredible views, cooling off in the sea or relaxing on the beach.

Read More: The BEST Tours on Phu Quoc Island

We chose to climb the hill and the views were stunning from the top, but in hindsight, we wished we had jumped into the sea because it was so insanely hot.

Plus, whilst on the boat, you can look at the rock formations all day, so I think swimming is a better choice because it’s something a little different. We did feel a little rushed as we had to get to the top, enjoy the view and then climb back down again all in 45 minutes, but we managed it!

Read More: How To Get Incredible Tailored Clothes Made In Hoi An

Next was the kayaking or bamboo boat trip. We decided to kayak as that sounded much more fun! We actually did have a great time and I would highly recommend at least getting off the boat (some people chose to stay on rather than taking part in the activity) because the views here are literally mindblowing!

Read More: Your Ultimate Guide To Backpacking Vietnam

You paddle through a cave and out into a bay and I have never seen anything like it! Honestly, we were just taken aback by the beauty of the place, despite the bright little kayaks all floating around nearby.

Again, we only had 45 minutes and this time we felt like we missed out a bit because of the time it took to get everyone onto a kayak or bamboo boat.

Check Availability Of This Exact Tour Here – With Possible Deals!

This actually isn’t something that was in Go Asia Travel’s hands – the problem here is that all of the boats arrived at a similar time (this is to do with the tide) and there just weren’t enough people to manage everyone who wanted to get in the water.

This would be an issue regardless of the boat trip company you chose – it’s just something to be aware of when booking a Halong Bay day tour. Make sure you’re ready to get off the boat quickly, grab a life jacket + paddle, and get to the jetty as quickly as you can!

Even if you don’t want to kayak (or if you have young children) then I’d still highly recommend getting on a bamboo boat to explore the area!

The final stop was to the caves – and we were actually so impressed! We thought that we’d pop into a little cave, look around and leave, but they are HUGE and so fascinating! It’s also much cooler inside the caves so we had a little respite from the heat which was very welcome.

This activity didn’t feel rushed at all – we had a pleasant walk through the caves, stopping to look closer every now and then, and to take photos, and we timed it perfectly to be back on the boat with everyone else.

The cruise back to the port was lovely as we were able to watch the sunset through the rocks – it was such a peaceful and beautiful time to reflect on the day.

Overall, we had a great time on this Halong Bay day tour and would recommend it if you only have one day free for a cruise. There is plenty to squeeze in, but to be honest I think that is to be expected when you have to drive so far to even begin the tour.

My favourite part of our Halong Bay day tour was the kayaking – definitely choose this option if you can! We really enjoyed our day and won’t forget the outstanding beauty of Halong Bay in a hurry!

Read More: Check Out The Best Beaches In Hoi An!

How To Choose The Best Halong Bay Day Tour

Most of the Halong Bay day tours have a similar itinerary, but there are some small differences in what you get for your money, as well as the quality of the boat.

Things like hotel pickup, kayaking and the bamboo boat are sometimes optional extras, which is good if you would prefer not to do them so you don’t pay for something you’re not experiencing.

Most people stay in Hanoi before their Halong Bay day, but if you’re actually staying in the Halong Bay area (Tuan Chau Island for example) then book a tour that doesn’t include pickup to save yourself some money. When you are booking on GetYourGuide or Viator, choose your dates and then you will see the different options to include pickup or not.

Here is a list of the best highly rated Halong Bay day tour types for you to choose from:

Key Information

• Pickup Included: Yes
• Kayaking Included: No
• Need To Take: Water, cash
• Extra Info: Kayak/Bamboo boat $3 pp

Click here to check availability and prices

• Kayaking Included: Yes
• Extra Info: Tour ends 9pm
• Pickup Included: No
• Extra Info: Private tour options

Read More: Try These Awesome Vietnamese Cooking Classes!

Where is Ha Long Bay?

Halong Bay isn’t particularly close to any other tourist destination in Vietnam. It’s in the northeast of the country, about 170km east of Hanoi. It takes around 2.5 hours to drive straight from the Old Quarter to the port – however, the tour buses will stop at least twice for toilet breaks (and Pearl Farm visits!).

Read More: How To Spend 24 Hours In Hanoi

The average journey time for a Halong Bay day cruise from Hanoi is 3 hours. It’s a decent drive – the recent opening of the expressway has cut the time on the road almost in half!

Read More: 9 Fun Things To Do In Vietnam On A Budget

How To Get To Halong Bay

Most Halong Bay day tours offer free pick-up from the Old Quarter of Hanoi as it’s a popular area with travellers. However, if you’d rather make your own way to the harbour instead, or your tour doesn’t offer pickup, there are a few ways to get there.

I’ve listed these in order of ease, but obviously, price is a factor for most people too so I’ve given an approximate cost for each method.

There are public buses but to be honest, it’s not too much cheaper to get a shuttle bus and it’s much simpler!

Read More: How To Check Out The Hanoi Night Market

Shuttle Bus

Speak to your tour company to see if they can pick you up for a fee (if they aren’t including it in your Halong Bay day tour). This applies especially if you’re not staying in the Old Quarter of Hanoi!

If they don’t offer a shuttle bus from where you’re staying, check the form below for a good deal on your journey, or click this link .

Taxi/Private Car

Download Grab as soon as you arrive in Vietnam – it will make your life much easier! You can book a taxi to pick you up in Hanoi and take you all the way to Halong Bay, and you can book one for our return too.

If you’d prefer you can always ask your hotel and they’ll find you a driver. Keep the price above in mind so that you aren’t ripped off!

This is a slow way to visit Halong Bay, and I wouldn’t necessarily recommend it unless you have all the time in the world!

Just turn up to the train station to buy your tickets, and enjoy the pretty views on the way.

Read More: How To Get To Hoi An From Hanoi

What Does A Halong Bay Day Tour Include?

As I mentioned before, most of the Halong Bay day tour trips are similar but be careful that you’re booking a tour that includes everything you need it to.

On a standard day tour to Halong Bay, you can expect:

• Pick up from Hanoi’s Old Quarter
• Water on the shuttle bus
• Lunch (vegetarian options too)
• Island visit
• Kayaking or Bamboo option (pre-paid or not)
• Return to Hanoi’s Old Quarter

If your Halong Bay day tour doesn’t include one or more of these items then I’d recommend finding a different one. Don’t forget that the pickup and kayaking might be optional, but having the choice is a good thing!

Read More: The Gorgeous Hoi An Night Market

What To Pack For A Halong Bay Day Tour

Here are the things that think are most important to bring on your day tour! Plan ahead and check our whole recommended packing list for anything else to bring to Vietnam too!

Jade has used this backpack throughout the world on our travels and we have both been very impressed with the design. It comfortably holds a 3L water reservoir in the specifically designed pouch and contours very nicely over your back to distribute the weight well. I have always had a full camera bag so Jade usually has to take enough for two people which it can do. It's a very reasonable price for a very good day pack.

The Go Pro Hero 12 takes the world-renowned Go Pro formula and hits even greater heights. The best of these has to be the Emmy award-winning HyperSmooth 6.0 for incredibly stable video during your wildest of travel adventures, and the front-facing screen for easy selfie and video capture! Find out even more by clicking through!

If you have a GoPro, you probably love a little bit of adventure! This head strap is perfect for capturing the fun but hands-free! It's waterproof too. You can use it on your head or a helmet if you're wearing one, and is adjustable. This head strap is compatible with all GoPros and even other action cameras!

We have been using Anker portable chargers for years and highly recommend their easy design and reasonable size. This super cool 10,000mAh battery pack has magnetic wireless charging capability to help minimise wires and hassle even further. This makes it extremely versatile and helpful for those long periods away from a socket. A must-buy for any backpacking traveller.

Looking for a stylish, flattering, complimenting swimsuit that shows off all of your best features whilst also being great for swimming and having fun? Then check out all of the incredible styles and colours these tummy control swimsuits come in.

Do not let a brilliant experience be ruined by pesky insects biting you all over your body. Insect repellant is not expensive but not having it can affect much more expensive activities. Pick up a bottle of this Picaridin bug spray and enjoy your travel.

A decent pair of polarised sunglasses is difficult to get at a decent price, especially if you want them to look good. These from WOWSUN have lots of different styles (male/female) and colours to choose from and they are very affordable. Click through to see all of your options.

Walking boots are good for some situations but sometimes you don't need heavy, warm, and waterproof shoes to get the job done. These walking shoes by Akk will keep your feet a nice temperature and comfortable for those long days sightseeing and partying in the sun!

This will probably be the last selfie stick you ever buy! It has a sturdy aluminum telescopic 40" range, a tripod for propping your phone up in better locations, a detachable wireless shutter button so you can control when all pictures are taken, and extends down to a brilliantly compact size making it perfect for any type of travel.

This relaxed fit, strapback hat from Adidas is a classic that will keep the sun from your eyes and look decent whilst doing it. There's nothing special to see here, just a well made hat that gets the job done.

Need to change on a crowded beach? No more cowering behind a normal towel whilst someone holds it up! Need a compact towel that fits in your day bag? It's got that covered too. These have genuinely been a lifesaver over the years and there are literally no downsides!

We all know what sunscreen is and we all know how important it is but why go with Sun Bum? They are cruelty-free and are compliant with the Hawaii 104 Reef Act meaning that you will be helping decrease the amount of damage sunscreens have to the environment that you are swimming in. If that hasn't convinced you then click through to find out even more.

This very affordable waterproof fanny pack is perfect for water excursions like kayaking and snorkeling but also for beach days when you don't feel comfortable getting into the water with all your valuables chilling on the sand. This one is a no-frills, 'does the job' pouch that we highly recommend to keep your valuables safe.

If you're into hiking, walking or general outdoor activities, then you need to grab this water reservoir for your backpack. It holds p to 3L of liquid and slides easily into the pouch in the Osprey backpacks. There's a bite valve on the straw part and has a wide opening for easy filling and cleaning.

How Long is a Halong Bay Day Tour?

A typical Halong Bay day tour will last for around 12 hours. It sounds like a long time but you won’t really notice it as there is a good balance of travel time, activities and time to enjoy the views.

Most tours pick you up between 8:30 and 9:30 am depending on where you’re staying. Be ready a little earlier than planned just in case – you don’t want to hold up the bus and the earlier you arrive at the harbour, the better!

You’ll return to the harbour between 5 – 6 pm, and the bus will begin its journey back to Hanoi. There is usually only one stop on the way home, but the time it takes to get back mostly depends on the traffic. Weekdays will take longer, but you’ll usually be back in Hanoi by 9 pm. Don’t book a flight or onward travel for after your Halong Bay day tour though, just in case the travel time changes.

The Best Time To Visit

Vietnam is a great holiday destination all year round, but the best time to visit Halong Bay depends on what you’re looking for!

Our Halong Bay day tour was in June which is the school holiday time! It was fairly busy on Ti Top Island and at the kayaking place, but we were able to enjoy ourselves still. If you want to avoid crowds, go later on in the summer BUT it will be the rainy season!

December – March: Busy time for foreign tourists, cooler weather

April/May – Low rainfall, quiet season

June – August: Rainy season, low season for foreigners, domestic tourists are on their holidays

September – November: Mild weather, still quite busy

Try to avoid national holidays like Tet (Lunar New Year) and the weekends as it gets much busier then.

Tips For Your Halong Bay Day Tour

Before you book your Halong Bay day tour, read my top tips to help you enjoy the day!

• Book in advance. The Halong Bay day tours do really fill up – we travelled during a relatively quiet time compared to other years as foreign tourists aren’t fully back in Vietnam yet, and our boat was at full capacity.
• If you bring any plastic bottles for water, keep them in your bag whilst you visit the islands/caves. You’re not allowed plastic here to protect the environment, but you can buy canned water and snacks on land. The boats serve water in plastic bottles so you should be ok to drink your own whist cruising – just dispose of them in the bin, not the water!
• There are around 60 people on each boat. Even though your tour might only have 25 people on it, you’ll share the boat with another group so it’s just something to keep in mind if you’re only expecting a small group Halong Bay day tour.
• Bring swimwear and a towel for the swimming and kayaking. I would also bring water shoes because the kayaking jetty can get boiling hot and you might be waiting for a while.

Where to stay in Halong Bay

If you’ve decided to stay in a hotel close to the harbour to avoid lots of travel before your Halong Bay day tour, then here are some great options. You can also read our post for more information about where to stay!

Domo Tuan Chau Hotel

More budget-friendly rooms right next to the marina

Golden Palm Halong Hotel

Newly opened with breakfast included and a bar on-site.

Paradise Suites

A bit of luxury in Halong Bay with an outdoor swimming pool and posh whisky bar

Where to stay in Hanoi Old Quarter

Hanoi is full to the brim of cute places to stay, and I’d recommend staying in the Old Quarter before your Halong Bay day tour. It’s a fantastic place to explore, plus it’s easiest to be picked up from there:

Dream Central Hotel

Low-budget, comfortable rooms with excellent customer service

Leah Silk Hotel

Breakfast included, good massages offered

The Oriental Jade Hotel

Rooftop pool, great location, fitness centre

Frequently Asked Questions About A Halong Bay Day Tour

Is a halong bay day tour enough.

If you only have one day then yes, it’s enough time to enjoy Halong Bay and its beauty. It’s a good way to spend a day and the prices are good. However, if you do have a few more days (and pennies!) to spare, then it’s better to stay overnight!

Is a Halong Bay day tour too touristy?

It’s quite a touristy tour but unless you want to fork out for a private tour (where you would still see other tourists because they’d be visiting the same places) then I wouldn’t worry too much! Places are touristy for good reason sometimes – Halong Bay is just beautiful and everyone wants to go there!

How do I get from Hanoi to Halong Bay?

Th easiest way is to ask your tour company for pickup in their shuttle bus. You can get a taxi or take the train too, but I’d recommend getting the bus.

When is the best time to enjoy a Halong Bay day tour?

April and May are relatively quiet times with mild weather, and September – November are lovely too. December to March has the best weather but will be the busiest! June – August will have fewer tourists but more thunderstorms!

How long does a Halong Bay day tour last?

The whole day tour to Halong Bay will last for about 12 hours, including the transfers to and from Hanoi.

Enjoy your Halong Bay day tour and let us know in the comments if you found this post helpful!

Very insightful article, thank you!

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THE 10 BEST Day Trips from Halong Bay

Day trips from halong bay.

• Halong Bay to Hanoi
• Halong Bay to Cat Ba
• Halong Bay to Da Nang
• Halong Bay to Sapa
• Halong Bay to Siem Reap
• Halong Bay to Hoi An
• Halong Bay to Ha Long
• Halong Bay to Uong Bi
• Halong Bay to Hue
• Up to 1 hour
• 1 to 4 hours
• 4 hours to 1 day
• 5.0 of 5 bubbles
• 4.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• 3.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• 2.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• Chinese (Simplified)
• Chinese (Traditional)
• Likely to Sell Out
• The ranking of tours, activities, and experiences available on Tripadvisor is determined by several factors including the revenue generated by Tripadvisor from these bookings, the frequency of user clicks, and the volume and quality of customer reviews. Occasionally, newly listed offerings may be prioritized and appear higher in the list. The specific placement of these new listings may vary.

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Visiting Halong Bay: tips to plan your cruise

Apr 18, 2019 • 7 min read

Dotted with jagged limestone pinnacles,  Halong Bay  is one of Vietnam’s biggest attractions. The vast majority of its 10 million visitors a year arrive aboard day and overnight cruises.

The multitude of trips on offer can be overwhelming: here’s the skinny on Halong Bay to get you started.

Make the most of your visit

Halong Bay retains much of the otherworldly magic conjured up by 1969 jungle-clad islands and islets rising from deep emerald waters. Getting there is increasingly straightforward, thanks to the 2018 building of an expressway connecting Halong City and Hanoi , and the opening of Van Don International Airport (with flights to Ho Chi Minh City , and international flights coming soon) a mere 50km from Halong Bay.

But the bay's popularity has taken its toll. Concerned about overcrowding, water pollution and litter, the Vietnamese government has imposed strict regulations.

Today, boats must follow one of five prescribed routes through the bay, meaning overnight cruises leaving roughly from the same place at the same time play follow-the-leader as they hit the major highlights of the bay almost in frustrating concert. In addition, swimming is only allowed at a few designated beaches, with drones surveilling the skies to make sure boat captains comply.

Especially with these rules in place, your choice of cruise can make or break your Halong Bay experience.

Luxury cruises

Want to spoil yourself? Halong Bay has some sumptuous cruise options that are basically luxury hotels on water. You’re paying for the experience of five-star amenities here – not for any particular divergence from the typical cruise itinerary – but if you want to live it up from a swanky sun-lounger while watching the sun set over a vista of craggy jungle-topped islands, you can’t really go wrong.

For a luxury cruise, bank on spending around US$300–350 for a cabin.

Pros:  It’s a serious treat. While the cost may seem high, it typically includes higher quality meals and amenities on board, such as a spa or gym, as well as entry to Halong Bay.

Cons: Those who are after good value should probably look at midrange options. Overnight trips (marketed as two-day/one-night trips) usually involve 24 hours or less on the actual boat, which can rankle given what you pay for the experience.

Budget and midrange cruises

Most Halong Bay visitors go for midrange or budget cruises, but there is a huge range when it comes to price and value for money. At one end of the scale are some ultra-budget boats where conditions are rustic at best; at the other are some excellent midrange options offering cosy hotel-style cabins, knowledgeable on-board tour guides and kayaking stops. If purse strings are tight, for facilities, comfort and safety considerations, it’s sometimes better to choose a day cruise with a midrange operator rather than a bargain-basement overnight trip.

Budget cruise prices start from US$60 per person for a day trip. Paying between US$110 and US$130 should get you a worthwhile overnight midrange cruise.

Pros: Competition is fierce, which means plenty of operators add freebies into the itinerary, such as kayaking and private minibus transfers from Hanoi.

Cons: You have to wade through a lot of options, which can be confusing. It’s worth doing your pre-trip research.

Day cruises

If you’re pressed for time, do as many locals do and see Halong Bay on a day cruise from Tuan Chau Marina in Halong City . Cruise boats can be rented by the hour (around US$30 per hour for a boat that accommodates up to 20 passengers) or you can join other passengers aboard a four- to six-hour cruise for about US$50 per person. Options vary greatly, so check whether the price includes lunch.

Pros: Day cruises are cheap and easily organised tours right on the spot in Halong City, plus there’s free entertainment on board provided by karaoke.

Cons: Can be crowded and noisy, with only time enough for a few stops. Did we mention the karaoke?

Most decent midrange Halong Bay cruises will offer an hour or so of kayaking (some charging an extra fee). Paddling around the karsts allows you to experience the limestone towers from a completely different angle: up close and without the constant thrum of an engine in the background.

For more experienced kayakers, there are also kayak-only trips. These trips are run by a handful of operators based in nearby Lan Ha Bay (off Cat Ba Island ) rather than Halong Bay itself, though Lan Ha’s islet-scattered sea has as much wow factor as Halong Bay and is much less visited.

Full-day kayaking trips from Cat Ba Island cost between US$25 and US$30 per person.

Pros: In one of Southeast Asia’s most popular tourist destinations, a kayak trip is a way of escaping the crowds.

Cons: On a full kayaking tour, you’re only going to see a sliver of the area. To see more, it’s a better idea to take a cruise that includes a kayaking stop.

One of the most important reasons to steer away from the ultra-budget cruises is safety. After a boat sinking (and the loss of 12 lives) in 2011, new safety regulations were brought in for Halong Bay cruise boats, but scrimping on safety does still go on with some fly-by-night operators.

In particular, check that any kayaking stops are accompanied by a guide. Because of the variable and surprisingly strong currents close to the karst islands, a safety-conscious operator won’t allow kayakers to paddle off from the boat by themselves.

Booking tips

Most trips leave from Hanoi, but you can also base yourself in Halong City. When you're booking, bear these tips in mind:

• The Halong Bay entry fee is US$13 per person for a day cruise and US$25 for an overnight cruise. This is generally included in your ticket, though it's worth double-checking for the cheapest cruises. Activities like kayaking and island bike rides may cost extra.
• When comparing prices, check whether a transfers between Hanoi and Halong Bay are included, and if so, whether it’s one-way or round-trip, and if it uses the new expressway or not.
• While the Ha Long–Hai Phong Expressway has cut travel time between Hanoi and Halong Bay to 2½ hours, that really only applies to private vehicles which don’t stop to pick up any other passengers and which don’t make the usual 30-minute comfort stop halfway through the journey. Aboard a shuttle bus, plan for a three to 3½-hour ride.
• Check closely to see whether overnight cruise rates are priced by cabin or by person. Single travellers should expect to pay 70-80% of the full cabin price.
• The itinerary on a one-night cruise can be very packed, with shore excursions, kayaking, swimming and hiking all included, leaving little time to actually just sit and watch the amazing scenery during daylight hours. If you have the time, a two-night itinerary is much more leisurely, with the bonus of visiting sights with fewer people around.

Arranging a tour

Some recommended operators:

• Vega Travel offers good-value overnight and two-night tours with comfortable cabins, and kayaking included. Highly recommended by travellers.
• Cat Ba Ventures runs tours out of Cat Ba Island, taking in both Halong Bay and Lan Ha Bay.
• Indochina Sails has a traditional Chinese junk that’s been fully fitted out with all mod cons.
• Handspan Adventure Travel has a proper sailing ship, so you don’t have to put up with that pesky engine hum. Handspan also runs full kayaking tours in nearby Lan Ha Bay.
• Hai Au Aviation offers Vietnam’s only seaplane flights, including a 25-minute scenic flight over Halong Bay which presents a completely different perspective. From the air, the islands truly do resemble the undulating body of a dragon, the meaning of 'Halong'.
• L’Azalée Private Premium Cruise has the bay’s only single-cabin cruiser for an ultra-luxe experience, but expect to pay dearly for the privilege.

One of the best times to visit Halong Bay is November – there are blue skies aplenty, temperatures are moderate and there’s a good chance of calm seas. From May to September, tropical storms can whip up without much warning. This is also high season in Halong, particularly from June to mid-August when domestic tourism peaks.

February to April is often cool and drizzly, and the fog can make visibility low, though also adds an ethereal atmosphere. Year-round, cruises and tourist boats sometimes need to alter their itineraries, or trips can be cancelled with little warning depending on the weather and sea conditions. If you’re booking a cruise, check the fine print for the refund procedures.

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14 Best Day Cruises in Halong Bay

• Jade Sails Daily Cruise
• Ambassador Day Cruise
• Paradise Delight Day Cruise
• Emeraude Min
• Alova Premium Day Cruise
• Phoenix Day Cruiser
• La Casta Daily Cruise
• Amazing Sails
• The Halong Catamaran
• La Regina Day Cruise
• Pamela Cruise
• Amethyst Cruise
• Iris Cruise
• Cozy Bay Premium Cruise

A vast range of Halong Bay day cruises with different traveling time (4 - 8 hours) brings many chances for tourists with limited time to capture the splendor of the bay.

Most day cruises are traditional wooden ones with decent amenities. However, there are also some ultra-luxurious day cruises with top-of-the-range facilities of larger ships. In addition, itinerary options are also various and usually come to the most popular destinations on Halong Bay and Lan Ha Bay . The article below will help you to figure out the 8 best day cruises.

1. Jade Sails Daily Cruise

• Type: Metal
• Operating area: Lan Ha Bay

Itinerary: Tuan Chau Marina – Lan Ha Bay – Dark & Light Cave – Ao Ech Area

Activities: A local bamboo rowing boat gently glides above jade-green water through the magical Dark & Light Cave . You’ll see amazing stalagmites, wonderful rock formations, and a hidden lagoon. Get close to nature with a short excursion to Ao Ech area to try swimming & kayaking.

Highlights:

• Jade Sails is the newest and most luxurious day cruise with a unique modern yacht style on Halong Bay.
• It takes only a 2.5-hour drive by limousine from Hanoi to Tuan Chau Marina on the new highway instead of 4 hours.
• The ship offers the longest 7-hour day tour program deeply exploring Lan Ha Bay.
• Join the exciting cooking demonstration, sunset party, and Happy Hour on the boat.

2. Ambassador Day Cruise

• Operating area: Halong Bay

Itinerary: Halong International Cruise Port – Halong Bay - Sung Sot Cave - Ti Top Island - Luon Cave

Activities: Hike the 450-step path to reach the peak of Titop Island, swim at Ti Top Beach, discover Sung Sot Cave, kayak or relax on a sampan boat rowed by a local to explore Luon Cave, enjoy live music show or watch a cooking class.

• The first 5-star day cruise in Halong Bay with a capacity of 500 passengers.
• 600-m2 twin sundeck offering second-to-none sightseeing experience on the bay.
• A sumptuous buffet lunch with plenty of Asian-European dishes.
• A large open-air pool, two luxurious restaurants, and a glass bridge to capture the beauty of Halong Bay.
• Signature attractions are included in the itinerary namely Sung Sot Cave, Titop Island, and Luon Cave.

3. Paradise Delight Day Cruise

• Operating area: Halong bay

Itinerary: Halong Bay – Passing by Thien Cung Cave, Dau Go Cave, Reu island, Sun Wheel Ha Long, Hang Ma islet, Vung Oan islet

Activities:  This 1-day program of Paradise Delight is well-suited for leisure travelers looking for natural indulgence and utmost relaxation. You can admire the giant limestone island, savor sumptuous canapes and fine dining, and enjoy a live band performance in the serene backdrop of the bay.

• Paradise Delight offers a new level of grandeur with spacious cabins, hi-end services, and superior amenities.
• Guests can relax with a full range of spa treatments, chill on the large sundeck, and savor the best meal in the top-notch bar & restaurant.
• Enjoy a live band performance while the cruise passes landmarks of the bay.
• Watch the visual spectacle show "Choreography of the Sea", to know more about Halong Bay's origins.

4. Emeraude Min

• Type: Wooden

Itinerary: Tuan Chau Marina – Halong Bay – Sung Sot Cave – Luon Cave

Activities: Have lunch while the ship passes through multiple famous sites such as Fighting Cock Island, Ba Hang Floating Village, and Dog Island. Stop at Sung Sot Cave, an amazing cave with hundreds of stone steps, then kayak at Luon Cave.

• Round trip shuttle bus on the new Hanoi – Halong Highway to save half of the transfer time.
• The boat has many years of experience in operating the day tour program on Halong Bay.
• The 5.5-hour tour visits several prominent attractions like Sung Sot Cave and Luon Cave.
• Emeraude Min Cruise is well-appointed with a restaurant & bar and a lounge.
• Enjoy leisure time with spa & beauty services (optional with charges).

5. Alova Premium Day Cruise

Itinerary: Tuan Chau Harbor – Halong Bay - Sung Sot Cave - Luon Cave - Titop Island

Activities: Discover the biggest and most beautiful cave in Halong, kayak or take a sampan boat trip through Luon Cave, immerse in the seawater at Titop Beach or climb up to the top of the mountain to capture the 360-degree view of the bay, enjoy sunset party and admire the magnificent bay view./

• Alova day boat is spacious, suitable for families and small groups.
• The ship features a modern design and ensures a high safety level.
• The extraordinary itinerary sails you to the 3 most famous attractions in Halong Bay including Sung Sot Cave, Luon Cave, and Titop Island.
• Buffet lunch with a variety of local dishes.

6. Phoenix Day Cruiser

Itinerary: Tuan Chau Marina – Halong Bay - Sung Sot Cave - Luon Cave - Titop Island

Activities:  Admire the thousand-year-old stalagmites and stalactites inside Sung Sot Cave; a bamboo boat ride or kayaking at Luon Cave Area, swimming or hiking on Titop Island.

• Phoenix Day Cruise is designed in a Vietnamese traditional wooden junk style with a capacity of up to 48 guests.
• The ship offers a compact 6-hour itinerary to visit Sung Sot Cave, Titop Island and Luon Cave.
• A sumptuous seafood lunch is served (vegetarian meals available).
• You have a chance to take stunning photos of the Fighting Cock Island, Incense Burner, and Stone Dog Islet.

7. La Casta Daily Cruise

Activities: Activities: Visit Sung Sot Cave - the largest cave with amazing stalactites and stalagmites, kayak at Luon Cave area, hike at Titop Island, and enjoy Sunset Party with tea, coffee, and finger food.

• La Casta Daily Cruise’s design is a perfect combination of modernity and traditional touches.
• The boat provides a unique 6-hour sailing route to Sung Sot Cave, Luon Cave, and Titop Island.
• Savor a hearty buffet lunch with featured Vietnamese cuisine while watching the captivating view of Halong Bay.
• Enjoy Sunset party with finger food, tea and coffee.

8. Amazing Sails

Itinerary: Halong International Cruise Port – Halong Bay – Sung Sot Cave - Luon Cave - Titop Island

Activities: Stopover Sung Sot Cave, the largest cave with spectacular stalactites and stalagmites to take photos and learn more about the cave’s cultural and historic values. Discover Luon Cave on a kayak or a bamboo boat. Visit Titop Island to swim at the sandy beach or hike to the top of the mountain.

• Formerly an overnight cruise, this newly-renovated day cruise stands out with a large sundeck, a spa & massage, and a gym.
• Tourists, especially families with children can take a nap in the comfortable cabins.
• Amazing Sails has first-hand knowledge and experiences about Halong Bay.
• The itinerary allows tourists to access the most signature destinations of the bay.

9. The Halong Catamaran

• Operating Area: Lan Ha Bay

Itinerary: Tuan Chau Port - Lan Ha Bay - Bright Cave - Ao Ech

Activities: Take a sampan boat or kayak to discover Bright Cave - a tranquil area with stunning view of forested mountains and a lagoon, have fun with trampoline and water slide, swim at Ao Ech Area, watch the cooking demonstration, and enjoy Sunset ceremony.

• Modern design with a large capacity of up to 99 passengers.
• Sumptuous buffet with diverse cuisine.
• Unique facilities for entertainment and relaxation such as trampoline, waterslide, hammock
• Less-touristic route with highlights: Bright Cave and Ao Ech Area.
• Cooking class with a Vietnamese traditional dish - fresh spring roll, and sunset party with tea, coffee and cookies.

10. La Regina Day Cruise

Itinerary: Tuan Chau Port - Halong Bay - Sung Sot Cave - Luon Cave - Titop Island

Activities: Explore the magnificent Sung Sot Cave, visit Luon Cave by kayak or rowing boat, swim at Titop Beach, or conquer the peak to admire Halong Bay's panoramic overview.

• Elegant design with modern and luxury interior.
• A hearty buffet lunch is served in the beautiful ocean-view restaurant.
• 8-hour tour stops at 3 most famous spots: Sung Sot Cave, Luon Cave, and Titop Island.
• Chance to take the best photos of signature islets such as Cong Troi, Hon Cho Da, Hon Ga Choi, Dinh Huong,…
• Witness gorgeous sunset while enjoying a Sunset party with tea, coffee, snacks, and fresh fruit.

11. Pamela Cruise

Activities: Be amazed by the giant stalactites and stalagmites in Sung Sot Cave, get through Luon Cave by kayak or bamboo boat, climb up more than 400 steps to get a 360-degree view, laze on the beach and dip in the seawater, join Sunset party.

• Pamela Cruise offers a 7.5-hour itinerary with diverse activities: kayaking, swimming, hiking, etc.
• Enjoy a fresh seafood buffet lunch with plenty of options or drinks in the panoramic bar (extra fee).
• Enjoy snacks from Sunset party and grab some drinks while dipping in the mini pool.
• A dedicated team who is always willing to assist.

12. Amethyst Cruise

Activities: Cruising through the highlights of Halong Bay, stop at Sung Sot Cave - the largest cave in the bay, discover Luon Cave by kayak or rowing boat, relax on the beach or hike to the mountain at Titop Island, Sunset party with snacks and tea, coffee, watch the magnificent sunset on the bay.

• The modern and spacious ship with a capacity of up to 99 guests.
• Savor a sumptuous buffet lunch with a variety of Asian and European dishes.
• Relax in the 4-season outdoor jacuzzi pool on the sundeck and admire the stunning view.
• Spacious lounge on the sundeck with a fully stocked bar.
• 7.5 hours cruising with 3 signature stopovers: Sung Sot Cave, Luon Cave, and Titop Island.

13. Iris Cruise

Itinerary: Halong International Cruise Port - Halong Bay - Sung Sot Cave - Luon Cave - Titop Island

Activities: Explore Sung Sot cave - the largest cave with an area of 10,000 sqm, kayaking/sampan boating (extra fee), visit Titop Island, enjoy live music with canape on sundeck, relax in the jacuzzi pool and admire the bay view.

• Luxurious design with large capacity of 99 guests.
• Modern facilities: 2 restaurants, 2 bars, outdoor jacuzzi pool.
• Enjoy buffet lunch with premium Asian - European cuisine.
• Various activities: swimming, kayaking, hiking, visiting a cave, etc.

14. Cozy Bay Premium Cruise

Activities: Discover the largest cave with thousand-year-old stalactites and stalagmites, enjoy the serenity at Luon Cave area by rowing boat or kayak, visit Titop Island with swimming and hiking activities, join Sunset Party on the sundeck.

• Cozy Bay Premium Cruise offers a 6-hour day itinerary that goes to as many destinations as overnight cruises.
• Witness the breathtaking view of Halong Bay while savoring the buffet lunch.
• Enjoy a tea break with fruits, snacks, and drinks before disembarking the ship.
• Kayak or bamboo boats are included.

Questions and Answers (6)

Hello, which daycruise leaves Halong Harbor the earliest in the day?

Dear T, Thank you so much for contacting us. The earliest levis Halong Harbor is Ambassador Day Cruise: https://www.halongbaytours.com/day-cruise/ambassador-day-cruise.html. Please let me know if you need further information. Regards, Hazel

We will be in Ha Long from 01-04 March 2024 and we would like to take Ambassador 1 Day Cruise. Could we have an Itinerary in details, including the transportation from Ha Noi - Ha Long (1 way). Thank you in advance and regards. Sandee

@Vo Sandee, Thank you for your inquiry and we are so happy to hear about your trip plan! The Ambassador Day Cruise is still available from 01-04 March 2024 with cost of $77/person + $15/person for shuttle bus one way Hanoi-Halong. Please check the itinerary I have sent to your mail. Please consider and let us know if you have any questions. I look forward to hearing from you soon. Best regards, Helen  

My wife and I will be in Hanoi from 25 - 28 May. We would like to travel to Halong Bay on 27 May 2024. Is it feasible to travel from Hanoi early in the morning to Halong Bay and then return to Hanoi in the evening. We would like to do a 4 Hour Cruise & Kayaking on 27 May.

@David Brian Blake, Thank you for contacting us. You can surely make a Halong Bay tour from Hanoi within a day. Per your request, we suggest you Phoenix Day Cruise which lasts for 5 hours and includes kayaking at Luon Cave in the itinerary. You will also visit Surprise Cave - the biggest cave in Halong and Titov Island - the largest island with a 360-degree view from the top of the mountain. If you need further information, do not hesitate to ask. Regards,

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Halong Bay Day Trip Or Overnight: Which One Is Better?

Halong Bay is always one of the most popular tourist destinations in Vietnam. With plenty of various and interesting activities, the bay attracts a huge number of tourists. Most tourists spend 2 or 3 days here to fully enjoy this beautiful area. But if you don’t have enough time but still want to enjoy its charming beauty, you can consider choosing a Halong bay day trip or overnight . In this article, we will tell you about the highlights of each option so you can choose the most suitable one for you.

I. Factors to Decide Halong Bay Day Trip or Overnight Stay

Your decision should be definitely based on your goal, your budget, and your time . So, the very first thing you need to do is consider these factors.

1. Your Goal

So what exactly do you want for this trip to Halong Bay? Are you looking for relaxing moments or waiting to see the unique and gorgeous beauty of the sea and caves? For those who love to see charming caves with your own eyes and taking part in some recreational activities like swimming, kayaking, and snorkeling, etc, an overnight trip will be an ideal choice. Halong offers quite a lot to see especially in some islands so an overnight trip will give you a chance to see a wider part of it. But, if you have already visited the bay and this time you just want to see a certain island or cave, a day trip will be enough. You will have more time for other activities.

2. Your Budget

Your budget is definitely a great matter to consider before choosing day trip or overnight trip. Generally, a day trip with lots of activities and traveling to different islands will cost quite a lot as you need to rent a boat to move from this island to another. Besides, you also need to pay for some activities like kayaking. The price for a day trip is surely cheaper than the price for an overnight stay in Halong bay. 

For an overnight cruise, it often includes a package tour so you don’t need to pay for hotel fee or activities. There are many types of cruise categorized by many criteria like styles (charming, oriental, traditional or modern), by sizes (few cabins or many cabins), and by materials (metal or wooden), which leads to various prices. 

3. Your Time

If you have limited time , a day trip would be a wise choice. Generally, you will be picked up in the early morning from your hotel in Hanoi and drive around 4 hours to Halong bay. Upon arriving, lunch will be served on a boat before you spend your time cruising some islands and islets and participating in some activities. At 5 pm, you will depart from Halong bay to Hanoi and end the day trip.

If you have 2-day or 3-day time for Halong bay, we would recommend an overnight cruise . It will allow you to see and experience more of the bay and a wider range of excursions, as well as get a deeper insight into this UNESCO World Heritage site . 

II. Highlights of Halong Bay Day Trip

Most visitors choose a day trip due to limited time. However, to make your trip worth it, the most important thing you need to do is choosing the right tour . Taking a wrong tour will ruin your whole trip. If you are expecting gorgeous sails that you saw on travel blogs, one day trip may disappoint you because you will not have a chance to step on those sails. A day trip normally involves a couple of activities. 

• Visit a cave

Among thousands of peaks rising out of the water in Halong Bay, there are picturesque hidden caves, illuminated caves, and isolated grottos of all shapes and sizes. Landing on the bay, you can rent a boat to explore one of these caves in Halong . Among these caves, Thien Cung , also known as Heavenly Palace Cave, is standing out with its stalagmites and stalactites. Visiting one cave will give you more time to enjoy other activities like kayaking or swimming. But if you only expect to see grottos and caves, you surely can visit 1 or 2 more caves in a day.

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• Go kayaking

While some visitors enjoy discovering the bay in a relaxing pace , others prefer kayaking for something more adventurous. It is a type of padding and uses a kayak to move across the water. With clean and calm water, Halong Bay is an ideal place for this activity. The most common spots for kayaking are Dark and Light Cave , Monkey island, and Peaches islets. The perfect time to enjoy this activity is from August to March as there is not much rain and the weather is quite nice. Trying kayaking in the bay takes around 30 minutes or 1 hour but it makes your trip more memorable and interesting.

III. Highlights of an Overnight Trip in Halong Bay

For an overnight trip, there are many options for you to choose from. You can choose a luxury or budget cruise. And, the longer the cruise is, the more activities are. Below are some activities that are included in the itinerary of 2 nights and 3 days option.

• Watching sunrise over the limestone karsts

Sunrise in Halong bay is one of the most attractive scenes that you should not miss. You can witness it with an overnight cruise. Waking up early, a spectacular scene is in front of your eyes. It’s the sun rising up over the limestone karsts and the immense sea. The emerald waters of the sea and red color of the rising sun bring a great feeling. This beautiful picture will bring you unforgettable peaceful moments .

• Visiting Cua Van floating village by bamboo boat

Most overnight cruises will not miss this largest floating fishing village located in the calm Halong bay surrounded by small islets and limestone mountains. The fishing village is home to nearly 180 households . Local people here all live on floating houses and mainly make their living by fishing. Cua Van floating village has been voted as one of the 15 most beautiful ancient villages in the world. Coming here, you not only witness the beauty of the village but also feel a sense of responsibility in keeping the surrounding environment clean. Everyday, local people often collect floating waste and garbage to protect the water from pollution.

• Explore some caves in Halong bay 

Booking an overnight cruise will offer you a chance to explore many hidden secrets of this famous bay. An amazing thing you can’t miss in this area is its caves. There are plenty of caves with mysterious legends from thousands of years ago. To name a few, it would be Sung Sot Cave , Me Cung Cave , Thien Cung Cave , Dau Go Cave , Trong Cave , and Trinh Nu Cave – the most visited caves in this area. In a 3 days 2 night tour, you will have a chance to visit most of these caves. Each cave has its own beauty and features, so your trip is not boring at all. Colorful stalactites in the caves in different shapes and sizes under the light make you feel like entering a magical world. And for those who are interested in science, these unique caves are worth researching also. 

• Taking a Vietnamese cooking class

Vietnam is famous for its fine and delicious cuisine . So in the overnight cruise, it often combines a cooking class in the itinerary to make the trip more interesting and help visitors get to know Vietnamese cuisine. On the cruise, the chef will instruct you step by step about the ingredients and Vietnamese cooking techniques. After cooking, you can enjoy the delicious dish cooked by yourself. So if you are a food lover, an overnight trip with a cooking class is for you.

• Enjoying Tai Chi exercises on the sun deck

Getting up early in the morning, it is a great time to experience Tai Chi exercise. Being an outstanding gem of Chinese culture, Tai Chi is a good exercise to get good health, improve your concentration as well as many other skills. Referring to the complete relaxing state of mind and body, the exercise is better done in a peaceful time and tranquil atmosphere with fresh air so your body can get the balance state. And, nowhere is better than a cruise on the sea in the early morning.

• Trying night squid fishing with locals

Halong Bay squid fishing is one of the most expected for those who choose overnight trips. After a long day of cruising, swimming, or kayaking, etc, squid fishing at night is an unique activity that can bring a refreshing travel experience. In recent years, this activity has become more popular and gained popularity among travelers to Halong bay. After learning basic information on squid fishing, you can go squid fishing yourself under the instruction by friendly locals. The squids you caught will be cooked into yummy night snacks after.

IV. How to Choose Between a Halong Bay Day Trip and Overnight Trip?

It is quite a tough decision to choose between these 2 interesting trips. So, here comes the tips for you:

• If you choose the day trip, there are some options for you: four (04), six (06), or eight (08) hours. Your decision should be determined by the time.
• It’s better to book through the boat or with the operator to get the best boat and most useful guide.
• Vietnamese ports take quite high rates right from the parking lot. You can save up to 30$ by telling your reservation agent to meet outside the pier area.
• It is necessary to read the itinerary carefully and check whether it can meet your expectations for the trip.
• Going in small groups costs higher than going in larger ones. 

Generally, there are both advantages and disadvantages when choosing a Halong bay day trip or overnight cruise. If you have enough time, we suggest 2 days 1 night trip to enjoy the best highlights of Halong bay and try some fun activities here. 

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Day Trip Itinerary To Halong Bay: A Travel Guide Blog

Last updated on April 5th, 2024

Planning a trip to Ha Long Bay and don’t know how to start? This Halong Bay Travel Guide will tell you everything you need to know in this detailed itinerary. Learn when to go, where to stay, what to do, and a must-see attraction during your trip.

When visiting Vietnam, a trip to the stunning Halong bay or Ha Long Bay is absolutely unmissable by all those traveling in Northeast Vietnam and the Hanoi area. The UNESCO World Heritage Site is home to emerald waters and infinite towering limestone isles, islets, and caves topped by lush rainforests. All aging 20 million years! This is Vietnam’s most popular attraction and it attracts thousands of visitors for a day trip or multiple-day trips from around the world.

For a first-time visitor , it can be a bit confusing if you planning a trip to Ha Long Bay especially since there are an overwhelming number of tours to choose from. We were lucky and visited Halong Bay twice for my past travel experience.

Our first visit to Halong Bay is on a few years back when we backpacked in Vietnam. It was a rush trip as we only find our overnight tour when we landed in Hanoi. As we didn’t do many surveys before our visit, the money we paid was quite expensive although the journey is very memorable and joyful. With this experience, my recent visit to Halong Bay is a day trip cruise with everything well organized. Both trips gave me different experiences but one thing for sure is we have a wonderful time in Halong bay with its breathtaking scenery.

Below you can check out my Halong Bay travel guide details with some of the recommended Ha Long Bay tours from Hanoi to help you plan your Ha Long Bay itinerary!

Table of Contents

Pre-Trip Essential

As usual, I am planning for a self-DIY Halong bay itinerary . But looking through all the information and resource, I ended up deciding to join the Halong Bay cruise tour. The reason is very straightforward. It is hassle-free and save me tons of traveling time and money.

Here are a few facts and tips when planning a Halong bay itinerary:

We recommended getting to Halong bay by joining a tour. The public transport is not well-connected where you need to transfer and ride a taxi in order to get to the pier. It will be ended with an extremely long traveling time and it cost you even more compared with joining the tour.

A day trip to Ha Long Bay is possible, but in my opinion, it’s best enjoyed on an overnight cruise, either 2 days or 3 days. Despite the long journey to get there, Halong Bay deserves to be explored at a slow pace and get out of the most.

Definitely worth it for the scene! This is a must to do excursion in Vietnam especially when you are visiting the Northern region to Hanoi.

Cruise Tour in Halong Bay

Cruising in Halong Bay is the most popular way to experience this wonder of nature. Being the most popular attraction in Vietnam, this is a fact that there are many local tours available, and all the tours provided you’ll find in the Vietnam travel agencies. You can choose to reserve online, from local or home country travel agencies, and even from the hotel where you stayed in Hanoi.

While getting to Halong bay twice in my experience, my sincere advice and tip are to book your tour from a trustworthy tour company. We booked our Halong Bay Day Cruise from Hanoi through Klook . The tour agency is running the tour many years of experience with great reviews and happy customers. Most important, the fair is good and all the expenses and services are clearly stated.

Alternatively, you can also check out Viator – a TripAdvisor company with those reputation companies I can vouch for!

Next, you might be debating how many days should I spend in Halong bay . Should I get the luxury cruise or just a simple cruise? Well, it is depending on you. In general, a Halong bay trip usually goes for 1, 2, or 3 days. You can choose from a day trip from Hanoi, 2-day or 3-day overnight cruise for a basic tour or luxury tour if you wish. The services is depending on how much you are ready to spend.

We will explain in detail what you should be expecting when booking a tour to Halong bay to help you make up your decision.

Day Trip To Halong Bay

If you are on a tight budget or don’t have a lot of time, my advice for you is to go on a Ha Long Bay day tour instead. It is very totally feasible and easy to take a 1 day Ha Long Bay tour from Hanoi. In fact, this is the most popular day trip from Hanoi with many people are departing to Halong Bay every day.

If this is your decision for a day trip to Halong Bay, here is our recommendation:

• Small Group Halong Bay Day Tour from Hanoi [Route 1] – Most Popular!
• Halong Bay Deluxe Cruise from Hanoi [Route 2]

Halong Bay Travel Guide : Bear in mind that the journey from Hanoi to Halong Bay took up to 3 hours each way which means a total of 6 journeys in total for a return within one day. So basically you merely have around 4 to 5 hours on the cruise if you are doing a day trip.

Halong Bay Overnight Tour

So if you have a little more time, you might want to check my sections below on multiple-day tours! For me, 2 days is fairly enough on a trip to Halong Bay unless you truly want a serene time for an additional day. But it is really up to your decision and interest.

• All-Inclusive 2 Day/1 Night Cruise in Halong Bay – Reputation Customer Review in TripAdvisor !
• 5 Stars Halong Bay Cruise with private balcony and bathtub .

Halong Bay Travel Guide : Beware that some the overnight cruise can offer very cheap prices. But always remember what get what you paid. That cruise is usually dirty and most activities and food are not included. You will need to pay extra to enjoy the activities and meals that are usually more expensive. So it might end up you are feeling getting scammed. We truly advise you understand what is included in the package to avoid an unhappy journey.

Things To Do in Halong Bay

There are many activities to do in Halong Bay that are offered as part of Ha Long Bay Cruises selected. Some tours offer many stops and keep you moving the whole trip whereas others allow you to rest and take in the views. Let’s take a look at what to do when you are visiting Ha Long Bay.

Cruising through the serene Ha Long Bay is definitely a must-do. There are well over 1,600 islands and islets, which offer spectacular seascape views of limestone mountains surrounded by emerald green water.

Swimming – We swam in the water in Halong Bay on my trip a few years back. That is truly a fun time that I still remember now. Unfortunately, this is not somewhere you’ll want to swim as there is quite a bit of garbage in the water. So we ended up giving up this option my the recent trip. Maybe this is a better option if you are doing the overnight cruise when you will cruise into a deeper area.

Don’t forget your swimwear if you planning to get into the water. It’s very easy to get changed on the tour boats.

Kayaking in Halong Bay

If you’re feeling adventurous, you can choose kayaking. This is one excursion you will never regret! Please note that your things can get wet, or you may lose your items in the water.

Some of the tours will be stated that kayaking is included as part of the activities, else you might need to pay extra if you want to have this activity.

Cave Visiting in Halong Bay

Caving visit is one of the popular activities usually included on the excursion tour. The steps aren’t as challenging as they appear and there are stages where you can rest and catch your breath. You can climb to the top of the mountain and enjoy the splendid view.

Truly a must-do for your Halong Bay visit. Take note that a cave visit is not permitted due to the weather condition and high tide.

My Trip To Halong Bay

My day trip to Halong bay was a surreal experience. Our journey started in the early morning when the tour was organized to pick up us from the Hanoi hotel with a tour bus. It is a weekday but there are half full for the minibus with approximately 12 people together with us. The journey took us about 3 and half hours before we joined the others and boarded the cruise ship.

A cruise through gigantic limestone karsts was like a dreamy escape. The cruises include several activities, such as kayaking, cave visits, and the opportunity to climb to the peak of Titop Island for breathtaking views and photo opportunities.

During the cruise, we were taken through the most beautiful Bay spots to enjoy the beautiful view. The cruise was soothing. We also stopped on the bay for kayaking and a cave visit to explore the limestone karsts.

For the food, they offered a Vietnamese lunch and afternoon tea which are included in the package. It was very delicious and filling with variety of choices. We have a very satisfying lunch and it’s also the best time to meet new friends from other countries too! Our guide can speak very good English and he is very accommodating and approachable.

Sunset in Halong Bay

Sharing my overnight cruise in Halong Bay with picture captured during sunset.

A day cruise is too rushed as the day cruise will try to pack your time with tons of activities. We enjoyed the time on the sundeck, soaking up the atmosphere, and the sunset. The bay during the sunset is extremely beautiful. Probably that is the reason you might think of an overnight cruise in Halong Bay.

Handy Halong Bay Travel Guide Tips

It’s honestly a must-visit in Vietnam even though it is touristy and it can get crowded. Again, the best way to explore Ha Long Bay is on a cruise. I wholeheartedly recommend doing thorough research before booking yours. Make sure to read reviews because there are really a lot of bad tour companies.

Prepare in advance with the change of clothes and swimwear for swimming. Sunblock, waterproof bags, and something to secure your phones if you planning for kayaking. Lastly, bring a good sneaker if you are joining the cave visit and hiking activities along the cruise journey.

Overview: A Visit To Halong Bay

That’s it for my comprehensive Halong Bay travel guide blog. In short, a trip to Halong bay was truly essential and wonderful when visiting Vietnam. It is a truly remarkable place and you should make every effort to see it. The breathtaking view deserves to be explored at a slow pace. But if a day is all you have, you may as well give it a go and try to make the most.

It was an amazing trip to Ha Long Bay and highly recommended . We were hesitating due to the money and time spent on the traveling but turned out that is the best experience that we had when visiting Vietnam. And that’s the reason we visited twice and still looking to come back another round!

Lastly, if you need more travel inspiration for Northern Vietnam, here you can find the best articles to plan your trip including Sapa, Hanoi, and Ha Long Bay.

Related Travel information to Sapa:

Things To Do in Sapa Itinerary: A Travel Guide Blog

• Where To Stay in Sapa: Best Hotels and Homestays

Related Travel information to Hanoi:

• Things To Do in Hanoi Itinerary: A Travel Guide Blog
• Where To Stay in Hanoi: Best Areas and Hotels
• Hanoi Food Guide: Where and What To Eat

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How to Make a Perfect Halong Bay Day Trip from Hanoi?

A day trip from Hanoi to Halong Bay is a great idea that you should not miss if you come to Hanoi for a few days. Only about 150 km from Hanoi center, it only takes about 2-3 hours to go from Hanoi to Halong Bay.

Until now, Ha Long Bay is one of the most attractive destinations and is the first choice among various tourist destinations stretching from North to South of Vietnam.

Table of Contents

Halong Bay is one of the 7 natural wonders of the world and is considered a must-visit destination for foreign tourists visiting Vietnam. It consists of nearly 2000 islands and islets as well as magnificent cave systems. Therefore, tourists can relax and immerse themselves in the picturesque scenery and breathtaking beauty of the mountains and the sea.

Perhaps you will find it difficult to travel to Halong Bay in just one day because there are so many interesting things to explore. However, you can definitely have a great day trip from Hanoi to Ha Long with the tips and itineraries below.

Let’s explore Ha Long Bay in a day with Hanoi Explore Travel

Overview Halong Bay Day Trip from Hanoi

• What to do 1 Day in Halong Bay?
• Top 21 Incredible Day Trips from Hanoi – Best Ideal for A Day Trip

Halong Bay is listed as one of the most prestigious tourist destinations in Vietnam with spectacular scenery and limestone. Nearly 2000 islands and islets, as well as mysterious cave systems, make it a natural wonder of the world.

In fact, yachts on Ha Long Bay will include other beautiful bays such as Bai Tu Long Bay, Lan Ha Bay, Cat Ba Bay and Ha Long Bay. Nowadays, as a tourist hotspot, Halong Bay welcomes more than 6 million tourists each year.

Taking a day trip of Ha Long Bay, tourists can not only visit Ha Long Bay but also explore other destinations such as Bai Tu Long Bay, Lan Ha Bay and Cat Ba, which are equally attractive. Besides sightseeing, visitors can also participate in active outdoor activities, including hiking, rock climbing, kayaking or even yoga sessions on the beach.

>>> CONTACT US for this exciting Best Halong Bay Day Trip! <<<

Hotline/What’s app: + 84 974 805 797

Halong Bay Day Trips – Is worth being visited?

Many people ask us is they should travel to Ha Long Bay in a day?

Halong Bay has a spectacular view and exploring it within a day seems impossible. But if you lack the time and budget, you can still visit Ha Long Bay for a day. There are many travel companies in Hanoi offering day trips at very low prices, especially when compared to the price of a 1-night cruise or a 2-night cruise in Halong Bay.

Halong Bay is 160 km from Hanoi. It used to take people about 4- 5 hours to take a ride from Hanoi to Halong Bay. However, thanks to the new motorway and limousine transfer, it now takes only 2 -3 hours to reach Ha Long Bay, which means we have more time to explore the beauty of the bay. There are also some other reasons to choose a short trip to Halong Bay. For example, you are seasick but still want to witness the beauty of the UNESCO World Heritage Site, or You have children and you are afraid that they can be bored when staying for too long on a train.

If you choose a 1-day schedule, you will be picked up at around 8 a.m. from your hotel in Hanoi Old Quarter or other designated rendezvous, sitting in an about 3-hour drive to Ha Long – with comfortable 30-minute stop time. Lunch will be served on the boat while you take a boat on the island and islet. You can enjoy activities such as kayaking or cave tours, swimming – in the afternoon. You will leave Halong Bay at around 5 p.m. and return to Hanoi at around 9:00 p.m.

Pick up 1 suitable itinerary of Best Halong Bay Day Tours for you:

Right time to visit Halong Bay

• As with other tourist destinations, the summer in Ha Long Bay will have ideal weather. The weather from April to August here is quite beautiful and as cool as a cucumber. It’s sunny from early morning until the end of the day with a very little rainy day.
• Autumn in Ha Long Bay is also pleasant. The weather from September to November is mostly sunny and not very cold, so you can swim. There are also fewer storms at this time. If you travel to Ha Long in June-July, there are usually storms hitting the North. It rains a lot, so the landscape on the bay will be gloomier, even be banned from the sea for tourist ships to take guests to the bay and stay overnight in the bay.

Favorite places for day trips in Ha Long Bay from Hanoi

Although one day is a short time to explore such a wonderful natural wonder, you can still fully enjoy the best day in Ha Long with a variety of different activities and sightseeing places in the bay. However, for your limited time, you should choose some of the following activities instead of participating in all.

List of interesting activities you can participate in:

Kayaking in Ba Hang fishing village

You can kayak or simply sit on a bamboo boat paddled by the locals in a Ba Hang village to explore this beautiful village. Fishermen there, struggling with ups and downs, with tidal waves and even big storms, still keep their optimism.

• Read more: Kayaking in Halong Bay – The Completed Guide to Explore Amazing Bay

Visiting Floating Village

• There are four remaining fishing villages: Cua Van, Vung Vieng, Dam Cong and Ba Hang. Although people do not live there all the time, the locals still carry out a lot of activities and work duties such as fishing, weaving and making pearls.
• Coming to these villages, you can learn more about the culture and typical lifestyle of Vietnamese fishermen. For those who wish to enjoy the tranquil and peaceful atmosphere of Ha Long, Ba Hang fishing village is definitely your ideal choice. This idyllic village is home to many households with traditional careers passed down from generation to generation.

Observing the beautiful islet in Ha Long Bay

• In Halong Bay, tourists can have a great opportunity to enjoy the breathtaking views of this bay. Ha Long is noted for thousands of limestone formations and green beaches. There, tourists can visit the unique and exotic islets in Ha Long Bay, which is famous for its special shapes and colors. If you’re lucky, you might hear an interesting legend about the origins of these small islands.

Taking photos

• If you are a photography enthusiast, a camera is an indispensable item. Don’t let yourself regret not taking the camera away because it has such a beautiful view there. Ha Long is always the place that gives visitors the opportunity to “give birth” to many impressive sets of photos.
• Some famous photo spots such as Fishing Village on the Bay, Photographing Ha Long Bay from Seaplane, Stunning caves in Halong Bay.

Exploring the famous cave: Thien Cung Cave, Sung Sot Cave

• Thien Cung Cave, also known as Heaven Cave, is one of the must-visit destinations in the trip to Halong Bay. Thien Cung is proud of diverse stalactites and stalagmites with many strange shapes. The name of this cave is derived from the unique stalactites inside the cave such as dragons, phoenixes and the four pillars, which remind us of the wonderful heaven.
• The Sung Sot Cave is situated on Bo Hon island, together with Trinh Nu (Virgin Cave), another well-known cave in Halong Bay. Visitors must ascend 50 steps from the dock to the cave’s mouth, which is only 25 meters above sea level. This is the largest cave in Halong Bay, with an area of up to 10,000 meter square.

Swimming in Monkey Island

• Monkey Island is located right near Ha Long Bay, so it can be an ideal choice for you to go swimming. On this island, tourists can swim on the surface of transparent emerald water with great wallpaper.
• Moreover, you can also take memorable photos with breathtaking scenery and lovely monkeys on this romantic island, or just lie on the beach and enjoy the fresh air.

>>> Read More: Swimming in Halong Bay: Best Tips for Swimming in Halong Bay

Visiting Pearl Farm

• This place is the most famous pearl farming village in HaLong Bay and also a tourist attraction where you can visit and learn the whole process of harvesting and producing pearl products. The craft village is located in a lagoon, surrounded by undulating limestone islands. Visiting the pearl craft village is a very special experience which you should to try.

Trying Unique Experiences of Halong Bay from Above

• Nowaday, tourists have had an additional fascinating experience of Halong Bay – sightseeing over the dazzling natural attraction from seaplane.
• Seeing Halong Bay from a seaplane is one of the best things to do in Halong Bay. It brings amazing and unusual experiences in Vietnam. It allows you to soar through the sky above clear waters, green rainforests of UNESCO-listed landscape and emerging limestone islands.
• Depending on the duration of the thrilling but comfortable ride you choose for seeing Halong Bay from a seaplane, you can get different unique experiences.
• This activity is really ideal for those people who are seeking thrilling trips to Halong Bay.

Visiting Titop Island

• Ti Top Island is favored with the enchanting scenery and pleasant weather. These elements make Ti Top Beach a not-to-be-missed destination for tourists in the journey of exploring Halong Bay, especially those who love nature in Vietnam.
• TiTop Island where you can do Swimming or Climbing up to the top of the island where there is a best place to overview the beauty of Ha Long bay. With a beneficial reason: for many this is one of the highlights of their Halong Bay experience. Even more, after climbing, you can reward yourself with a cool, refreshing dip in the waters of Halong Bay.
• Otherewise the beach on the island is one of the most organised in all of Halong Bay for tourists, with deck chairs, cool drinks, souvenirs, and fresh water showers available. You can swim or sunbathe, or spend some time relaxing in deck chair, sipping on a coconut and people watching. “

Ha Long tourism suggests some sightseeing tours by boat

To visit Ha Long Bay, you can choose one of the following routes- the longer, the more expensive.

• Route 1 (4 hours): Tourist Port – Thien Cung – Dau Go – Dinh Huong – Ga Choi – Ba Hang.
• Route 2: (6 hours): Tourist ship port – Dinh Huong – Ga Choi – Sung Sot – Ti Top.
• Route 3 (8 hours): Tourist Port – Thien Cung – Dau Go – Sung Sot – Ti Top – Hang Luon.

Explore >>> Halong Bay Day Cruise – 8 Hours Cruising

• Route 4 (8 hours): Tourist Port – Sung Sot – Ti Top – Cua Van Fishing Village – Ba Trai Dao.
• Route 5 (10 hours): Tourist ship port – Sung Sot – Ti Top – Bai Tu Long Bay.

So will you go on a date with Halong Bay? EXPLORE MORE NOW!

• Duration: 1 Day
• Hot Deal: 56 USD
• Tour Type: Deluxe Cruise & Small Group
• Transportation: Limousine Bus

• Hot Deal: 48 USD
• Tour Type: Deluxe Cruise
• Transportation: Model Bus
• 10 Best Hanoi Travel Agency for Halong Bay
• TOP BEST Halong Bay Travel Agency – Which is BEST ONE?

Quick Tips for Halong Bay 1 Day Trips

• The best time to go for a trip to Ha Long Bay is when the weather is dry, not too hot and especially without rain or storm. Spring and summer are the best times to visit Ha Long Bay.
• You may find it difficult to arrange a trip from Hanoi to Ha Long Bay by yourself. Booking a Halong Bay tour for a day is a reasonable choice. You just need to enjoy the journey and can save your time and money.
• Choose the right travel agency: You may be a foreign tourist with well-prepared plans, but a wrong decision with the wrong travel agency can ruin an entire trip. For the best day trip, my advice is to go with a travel agency from Hanoi, which picks up and drops off tourists at their hotel. You should search the internet for professional tour operators and read reviews from other customers. You can email them before departure to ask for necessary information such as tour prices, itineraries, etc.
• If you chose Halong Bay for a day (1-day trip), choose a 6-hour (even 8-hour) itinerary on the bay instead of 4 hours when many old yachts are running. You will have more time to enjoy the wonderful scenery!
• What should you wear during the Ha Long day trip? Clothing: You will need at least 3 sets of clothes: for regular day wear, evening wear and swimming wear if you plan on doing so. If you travel between May and October, you can bring shorts and skirts and a short-sleeved shirt. For the rest of the year, bring additional sweaters and coats because Ha Long Bay can be quite cold.

How to book a Halong Day Trip from from Hanoi?

You might like to read more:

>>> Halong Bay Luxury Cruise – How To Choose The BEST one!

>>> How To Choose Your BEST Halong Bay 1 Day Cruise Tour

• Booking a Day Trip through online booking websites

You should read information in forums like TripAdvisor and Lonely Planet . You can read from others about the experience and know a list of reputable company names from these forum pages. On these forum pages , you can find the schedule yourself. Some customers may even bookmark or mention the websites of reputable travel companies they have experienced.

• Booking Halong Bay through Travel Agencies

It will definitely be easier if you search for a reputable travel agent in Hanoi through the Google. Then you can go directly to their office in Hanoi for direct advice. Therefore, you will always receive the most useful information and the best prices.

• Buy tickets directly through cruise operators

In case you have chosen your favorite cruise before coming to Halong Bay, you can easily buy tickets directly through the cruise operator. Remember to bargain for the affordable price and check what has included in the ticket as well as the itinerary before paying.

However, you have chosen a few alternative cruises because in case all tickets of the most favorite cruise are sold out, you can immediately buy another one.

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THE 10 BEST Day Trips from Halong Bay

Day trips from halong bay.

• Halong Bay to Hanoi
• Halong Bay to Cat Ba
• Halong Bay to Da Nang
• Halong Bay to Sapa
• Halong Bay to Siem Reap
• Halong Bay to Hoi An
• Halong Bay to Ha Long
• Halong Bay to Uong Bi
• Halong Bay to Hue
• Up to 1 hour
• 1 to 4 hours
• 4 hours to 1 day
• 5.0 of 5 bubbles
• 4.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• 3.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• 2.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• Chinese (Simplified)
• Chinese (Traditional)
• Likely to Sell Out
• The ranking of tours, activities, and experiences available on Tripadvisor is determined by several factors including the revenue generated by Tripadvisor from these bookings, the frequency of user clicks, and the volume and quality of customer reviews. Occasionally, newly listed offerings may be prioritized and appear higher in the list. The specific placement of these new listings may vary.

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World  /  Asia  /  Vietnam  / Halong Bay, Vietnam

Halong Bay, Vietnam

Halong Bay (or Ha Long Bay) in Vietnam is one of the most beautiful and breathtaking places on the planet. In 1994 it was added to the list of UNESCO Heritage Sites. In 2011 the magnificent landmark of Vietnam was declared one of the "New Seven Natural Wonders of The World" beating serious "competitors" like Vesuvius Volcano in Italy, Great Barrier Reef in Australia, and even Baikal , the deepest lake in the world.

Local people have a very colorful story about creation of the bay. It is told that once upon a time, when ancestors fought with the Chinese, Gods sent dragons to help Vietnamese warriors. Trying to make a barrier, these fearsome creatures spitted precious stones that turned into islands. These islands created a wall that protected Vietnamese people from their aggressors. Dragons liked the rocky islands and decided to leave them behind after the war. Vietnamese named the place, where Mother Dragon landed, Ha-Long, which means "a place where the dragon descended into the sea".

Halong Bay area is not just the bay, but also 120 kilometers of a shoreline, as well as over 3 thousand islands bathing in the emerald water. Over a thousand islands have their own names.

Almost all islands of Halong Bay are rocky, and there is a countless number of caves and grottos of all sizes and shapes, filled with small waterfalls, stalactites and stalagmites. Some of the caves became a tourist attraction. Lit up with colorful lights, they look like fairy tale underground castles.

This peculiar shape of the mountains is caused by rainwater working its way through the limestone. Year after year heavy tropical rains washed out limestone, carving magical shapes and creating caves and grottos. Geologists call this phenomenon a tower karst. There are other tower karst formations around the world, such as in Madagascar and in China near Guilin city. However, unlike any other place, land formations of Halong Bay are standing in the water, and ocean waves continue carving the shoreline, deepening caves, and changing face of cliffs and grottos.

Hang Dau Go cave is one of the most famous sites of Halong Bay. Exactly 90 steps make a stairway to the cave entrance, where one can find numerous rocks of most peculiar shapes. A narrow wall divides the cave, creating 2 chambers. At the end of the cave, there is a well with a drinking water surrounded by ancient walls. Khai Din, the penult emperor of Vietnam, visited this place in 1917 and left his autograph on one of the walls.

Another cave called Kuang Han sets a new record in depth — it is 1300 meters deep. No wonder that it is called "the tunnel cave"...

One of the grottos is famous for its acoustic phenomenon: when the wind is blowing through numerous stalactites and stalagmites, one can hear distant drums from the inside of the cave. What if it's the echo of the ancient war between Chinese, Vietnamese and the dragons?

Stanislav Sedov will tell you a few words about the photo shoot.

It is impossible to photograph Halong Bay from the shore. This is why my colleague Dima hired a boat tour in advance. One of my childhood dreams was to sail away in a junk, so here we were — making my dream come true.

There are several travel agencies who offer boat tours in the bay. Halong Bay and the islands are "privatized" by these companies. Depending on the length of your trip (one or more nights) and a boat company of your choice, you end up going to different parts of the bay.

The boats vary in size and occupancy. The smallest one (they are really not that small) can take only 2 passengers and a crew. A larger boat can take 20 to 140 people. What a "cruise ship"! We didn't want a crowd, so Dima was looking for a small boat for two. Those type of vessels are usually reserved for newly weds, so it was very hard to find accommodation with separate beds. Well, Dima found it :)

After a short preparation, we finally sailed out of Hon Gai port and set our course to the Halong Bay. I was slightly disappointed by the fact that famous scarlet sails of all junks were a fake. However, every time we needed the bright spot in our photo, our captain asked nearby boats to open the sails and they did.

A two-day boat trip includes caves, sea kayaking, visit to the floating village and romantic dinner for two on the uninhabited island. Highly recommended! You won't be disappointed.

However, the main attraction of this trip was a sight of thousands rocks of all shapes and sizes, emerging from crystal clear ocean water hundreds of meters high.

We invite you to fly with us over this natural wonder!

It goes without saying that Halong Bay is main and most beautiful landmark of Vietnam. To tell you the truth, there is a story or a legend about every corner of Halong Bay. This is why it's time to stop reading and turn our eyes to the legendary Dragon legacy, famous natural wonder of Vietnam from a bird's eye view.

Photography by  Stanislav Sedov  and  Dmitry Moiseenko

26 June 2012

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Virtual Travels in 360°

niceeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

vanshraaj jain, India

Brilliant Halong Bay Cruises - we enjoyed these photos so much, you did a great job ever and we also visited Halong Bay few days ago and it was brilliant.

Katie Fox, USA

This is AWESOME! Halong Bay is at the top of my list now.

Grant Duan, China

Thanks, i love it

Bikts Tinh, Vietnam

Sem dúvidas este é um dos lugares mais lindos deste planeta !

Walter Ortlepp, Brazil

We booked our cruise through "Brilliant Halong Cruises". We stayed overnight in Halong Bay for 3 days. it was incredible. Relaxing on the sundeck, kayaking through the grottoes and floating villages. This is a must-see place so far

Alax Chew, Singapore

Thank a lot, great job for great place... I am proud of Vietnamese, live in this country, a beautiful country

Tinh Lee, Vietnam

waw i am going to halong this febuary and from what i can see i am not going to be dissapointed

grace buttigirg, Malta

i love such places!

praveena chelladurai, India

Beautiful job:-) what is the title of the amazing asian music playing in the background?? Thank You for sharing this !

A K, Poland

HaLong &#273;&#7865;p nh&#7845;t là vào gi&#7919;a mùa thu ho&#7863;c vào &#273;êm tr&#259;ng sáng cu&#7889;i mùa Hè. Hình &#7843;nh trong trang này b&#7883; m&#7901; vì s&#432;&#417;ng , hay do tác gi&#7843; mu&#7889;n c&#7843;nh hi&#7879;n ra nh&#432; trong m&#417; ch&#259;ng ?

Binh Minh, Vietnam

maravilhosooooooo!Deus foi generoso com esse lugar!!!

ana lucia santos, Brazil

Brilliant Halong Cruises, Brilliant Halong Photos, Brilliant Halong landscapes, i am wondering how you were so brilliant with incedible photos ? did you use fly-cam?

Anna Hatton, United Kingdom

HaLong Bay is so beautiful and majestic. According to legend, thousands of years ago when Heaven and Earth are One, fairies and celestrial animals such as dragons ascended from heaven and lived at HaLong Bay.

My McDonald, USA

One of the most beautiful places I've travelled! It really takes your breath away...Been there this February. Thanx to you I'm there again!!!

Sotiris Alexiou, Greece

hi . tnx a lot for usefull site ... i have a suggest pls put on ur site download link (direct) for download amazing music in site ... this musics is memorial ... cuz for first time is that i see this pics ... and listen this musics with images ... this is memorial ... and wanna have this musics with best quality .. pls give me to my emails :) and sorry for my bad english

RAMTIN MAHMOOD, Iran

Simple beautiful. Many Thanks.

Fred Feuerstein, Germany

Beautiful need I say more.

liz seager, Australia

Amazing stuff of dreams!! Please inform how to download . Million thanks !

Susan D, India

Dit wordt mijn volgende reis: zeer mooi en rustgevend!

jeannine schraeyen, Belgium

I've had the good fortune to visit Halong Bay and while seeing its beauty from the water, the perspective you have provided has added to my joy of seeing this wonderful heritage area. Thank you to the team for all their hard work.

Coral Callaway, Australia

Thanks Airpano for beautiful images and wonderful music.

Vitor almeida, Portugal

Thank you so much for have shared all these beauty around the world! Really an extraordinary work. Made me feel more connected with all humanity.

Isaura Mashiko, Japan

Este lugar é simplemente fabuloso... obrigada por nos darem a conhecer estes lugares maravilhosos... muitas pessoas não tem possibilidade de viajar, com o vosso site é como se estivessem a viajar constantemente:) Parabéns pelo vosso magnifico trabalho... continuem a fazer-nos sonhar...

Paula Cardoso, Portugal

saizayyar tun, Myanmar

great work.only very few can do this.thank you for showing the beauty of this world's beautiful places.thanks again,marykutty

marykutty thomas, USA

grazie per queste stupende immagini, ho volato per tutto il tempo anche io.

nicoletta rezzonico, Italy

What a wonderful and mystic place. I Love Mother Nature.

Ivo Marques, Portugal

Es un lugar increiblemente maravilloso!!!!

Jesica Cabañas, Mexico

zhang jiayi, China

Absolutely Amazing! I'm fixated on this! Spend hours watching this. Thank you so much for your contribution and your technology to share with the world! Thousand Thanks!

Soon Ja Tice, New Zealand

Exquisite photography of a beautiful part of our world

Gayle Levy, South Africa

Absolutely lovely! I was a chaplain in Vienam in 1968-69 in I Corps [Quang Tri, Phu Bai, Hue, etc]. I returned in the late 1990s with my wife who is improving the quality of nursing care and education in Vietnam. We visited Ha Long Bay and were just breathless...the spiritual quality of such natural beauty cannot be matched. Thank you for your exquisite photography! We recommend everyone to make Ha Long Bay the first priority on your trip to Vietnam...then go to Hue and Nha Trang.

CHAPLAIN [LTC] JAMES C. BERBIGLIA, USA

This does not look like the VietNam that I visited in 1968 and 1969. What part of VietNam is this? Considering that when I was there I was in 1V corps. Better known as the Mekong Delta. I have often thought of returning but for some reason have not.So much for time healing all wounds.

mike thompson, USA

Great work..Thanks for sharing..

Dev Hanu, India

jarka noskova, Czech Republic

What an excellent job of capturing the amazing images of the world we live! Thanks for sharing.

Tom Soon, USA

I had been in Halong Bay. It's simply amazing. Thanks to AirPano for this beautiful presentation Faisal, Bangladesh

Amir Faisal, Bangladesh

un souvenir pour toi ,ma grosse tante chinoise

petit robert grosse tante, Belgium

excillent very good job so keepet up

jeet kumar, India

Terrific images by Stanislav Sedov and Dmitriy Moiseenko!It seems few music comes from mainland..balala~

david tsui, China

Breathtaking views, great photo work as well. This is the next place to visit in my list

Anachal Rajkumar, Bahrain

Very beautiful

vedashree G

The images were interesting and attractive .Please keep Iran from producing these images interesting and beautiful place we have here

saeed m, Iran

We just ret'd. from Viet Nam and did the junk trip on HALONG BAY. Due to severe fog, we were limited to time on the bay. I did get some wonderful photos in the fog.. They look surreal. These are so much more colorful..Thanks

Kay Preston, USA

Simply marvelous. Just back from Hanoi and Halong Bay last week. Your videos captures the 2000 islands in the best of angles and timing of the day. There is only so much we can captures the pix from the Junk. Thank you for bringing us the Best.

Edmund Chan, Singapore

Many thanks!

Varvara, AirPano

'A THING OF BEAUTY IS A JOY FOREVER',ABSOLUTELY BREATHTAKING VISUALS.THANK YOU PLANET EARTH FOR SHARING YOUR BEAUTY WITH THE "INSATIABLE BEAST "MAN".IT IS MAGNIFICENT.MUSIC SOOTHES THE SOUL TOO

christian ravi, India

What an amazing place and wonderful photography. This one will go on my bucket list!

alison bass, Australia

nice..nice..niceeeeeeeeeeeee

homayoon memari

Breathtaking; you should receive support from the entire world for your project. I had no idea these places were so beautiful. Thank you so much.

Doris Pavelich, Canada

Absolutely breathtaking. The music was a perfect selection, Hoa Tau Dan Nhi. Thank you so much.

Dori Naerbo, Norway

very nice photos

krishna murthy, India

I was there a few years ago. Just beautiful

david coombes, Canada

its excellent, great pictures i feel i am in HALONG BAY.Hats off to u.

milind karnik, India

Thanks for your kind comment.

Saw Halong Bay on a Top Gear special and thought it a magical place. Now thanks to Airpano, I know it is magical. Brilliant!!!!

barny miller, United Kingdom

I watch with admiration work. Music been very good with. I congratulate you. What is the name of this music?

Yusuf Cantali, Turkey

Dear Yusuf, thanks for your kind words! There are control buttons in the left bottm corner. Put your mouse over the "sound" button or over the "change melody" button and you will see the title of the melody and its author http://www.airpano.com/FAQ.php

VERY BRILLIANT PHOTOSHOP JOB !!!!!

huhuhi jnk, Albania

Wonderful photos of the Halong Bay. Would like to visit the place with family and friends soon.

RATILAL SHAH, India

Salute to Airpano for beautiful photographs of Halong Bay. Great memories (1994) of Vietnamese friends.

Anupam Singh, India

great sight. salute you and mother nature for the bounty, keep up the good work.

jemboonath muralidhar, India

so beautiful and nice explanation ,

Mahdi Hashemi, Iran

You have refreshed so many outstanding memories of Vietnam and the people. The peace and grandeur of Halong Bay that you have shared is a signature from God.

Joseph Lone, Canada

Nagyon szép!Gratulálok!

József Nagy, Hungary

As always, your panoramas never cease to amaze. Beautiful photography accompanied by beautiful music; an almost blissful experience. Bravo!

Macy Walsh, USA

Very nice ... Thank you!

Morteza Fallah, Iran

Nice images and music

PASCU IOAN, Romania

Beautiful. I'm glad the long war did not (appearantly) upset this prestine area. The historical data was very interesting. Well done.

Ed Nelson, USA

Great Job! Nice pictures and music.

Jovani Costa, Brazil

• CruiseMapper
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Halong Bay (Vietnam, Ha Long City)

Cruise port schedule, live map, terminals, news.

Region Asia

Local Time 2024-04-09 23:24

Port Halong Bay cruise ship schedule shows timetable calendars of all arrival and departure dates by month. The port's schedule lists all ships (in links) with cruises going to or leaving from Halong Bay, Vietnam, Ha Long City. To see the full itineraries (ports of call dates and arrival / departure times) and their lowest rates – just follow the corresponding ship-link.

Halong Bay (aka Ha Long Bay) is a cruise port and popular travel destination located in Vietnam's Quang Ninh province, approx 110 km (70 mi) from Hanoi (the country's capital city). The region administratively belongs to Ha Long City.

Note: CruiseMapper's Halong destination combines both Halong Bay (Cai Lan) and Ha Long City (province's capital) which has population around 300,000.

Ha Long Bay is the center of a bigger area that additionally includes Cat Ba Island (to the southwest) and Bai Tu Long Bay (to the northeast). These zones share similar geological, cultural and climate characteristics. The Bay's signature features are the numerous limestone karsts, caves and cute islands of various shapes and sizes.

Halong Bay's core has an area of approx 334 km2 (129 mi2) with around 770 islets. The region's geo-diversity has developed biodiversity, including sea, shore and oceanic biosystems, as well as tropical evergreen biosystem. The Bay is also home to many faunal and floral endemic species.

Unfortunately, with the increasing tourism, many of the bay's mangroves and seagrass beds were cleared and resorts were built. Numerous jetties and wharves were constructed for mooring tour boats and docking of cruise ships. Game fishing near its coral reefs threatens many of the endangered marine species.

Halong Bay was designated a UNESCO Site in 1994. It is also among Vietnam's Renowned National Landscape Monuments, and member of the "Club of the Most Beautiful Bays of the World".

A tour ship went on fire on the night of March 6, 2016, in Halong Bay, forcing 2 guards to leave the vessel. The fire broke out in the cabin at midnight when the wooden boat was docking at Tuan Chau International Port, but the 2 crew members managed to escape. It was built in 2008 and capable of carrying 48 passengers.

In January 2017, 14 foreigners, 6 crew members and a tour guide were rescued after their cruise ship went on fire as it was returning to port after a night trip. In February 2017, an anchored cruise ship went on fire while waiting for 7 tourists, including 5 foreigners, who had just left for kayaking. Local authorities announced plans to replace all wooden boats and tour ships (that are highly flammable) with metal vessels by the year 2023. In 2016, they also considered banning cruise ships from staying overnight on waters in both Ha Long Bay and Bai Tu Long Bay for safety reasons.

In July 2018, Van Don International Airport (also serving Ha Long Bay) received its first aircraft. The new airport was officially opened on December 30 (2018) and is located approx 50 km (31 mi) from Ha Long City, approx 20 km (12 mi) from Cam Pha (city and a major coal export port) and 220 km (135 mi) from Vietnam's capital Hanoi .

• The Van Don airport has total area 325 hectares/800 acres, one single runway (length 3,6 km, width 45 m), 7 aircraft parking stands, 1 traffic control tower (height 42 m / 138 ft) and one passenger terminal building.
• The airport serves the planes of Vietnam Airlines and VietJet Air, with direct domestic flights to and from Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) .
• Van Don is Vietnam's first international airport developed by a private company (Sun Group, specializing in entertainment, tourism and leisure development projects). The facility cost VND 7,463 billion (USD 310M) and was built with the assistance of Netherlands Airport Consultants. The airport has annual capacity 2,5 million passengers plus 10,000 freight tons.

Also on December 30 (2018), Sun Group unveiled 2 more infrastructure projects in Quang Ninh province - Halong International Cruise Port and Halong-Van Don Highway. The new highway (4-lane, length 60 km) will reduce travel time from the airport to Halong City to under 50 min.

By the budgeted VND 1,032 billion (USD 43 million) "Halong International Cruise Port" project will be constructed cruise terminal with modern amenities and capacity to handle international passenger ships. The new facility is located in Halong City's Bai Chay ward and can berth 2 of the world's largest cruise liners in Royal Caribbean's Oasis-class (up to GT 225,000 tons each) simultaneously. The Terminal's max capacity is 8460 tourists (passengers and crew). The new cruise terminal is designed by Bill Bensley.

In December 2019, the cruise port (via Ha Long Sun LLC) signed a 15-year management deal with Global Ports Holding Plc (2004-founded, London UK -based port operator company). The company Ha Long Sun LLC also manages the Sun World Halong Complex (2017-opened amusement park with outdoor playgrounds, rides, trains, live shows).

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