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Looking for a fantastic tour to Halong Bay? We’ve got you covered!
Vietnam’s Halong Bay is without a doubt one of the natural wonders of the world, but the right tour can really make or break your experience. Trust us, we know! We’ve done a ton of different Halong Bay tours during our travels through Vietnam, and they’re definitely not all created equal.
The right Halong Bay tour should include a comfortable boat, a great crew, and some fun activities to boot! With that in mind, we’ve rounded up our top 5 picks for Halong Bay cruises to help you have the best experience possible.
Quick Pick: Our Favorite Tour
Don’t have time to read the full article?
Our personal FAVORITE tour is this overnight cruise on Halong Bay. This tour gives you tons of options, whether you’re a luxury or budget traveler, and is full of fun activities – it’s the best way to see the most!
Check out the 2,800+ 5-star reviews and book this tour here!
Tip: This tour is very popular, so book your spot in advance and get FREE cancellation 24 hours before you set sail.
- Quick Pick: Our Favorite Tour
- Best Halong Bay Tours
- 1. Full-day tour from Hanoi – kayaking, swimming, hiking, and lunch
- 2. Day trip to Halong Bay from Hanoi, including an onboard jacuzzi
- 3. Halong Bay overnight cruise with multiple options
- 4. 3 days, 2 nights in Halong Bay, including cooking classes, fishing, and more
- 5. Overnight luxury Halong Bay Cruise
- Where to Stay in Hanoi, Vietnam
- Thanks for reading!
- Why We Book Tours with Viator
- Don't Forget Travel Insurance!
Best Halong Bay Tours
1. Full-day tour from Hanoi – kayaking, swimming, hiking, and lunch
- Price: $56 – $66 USD
- Duration: 6 – 12 hours
- Time: 8:30 am or 12 pm (depending on starting point)
- Highlights: sailing through thousands of limestone islands, kayaking through tunnels and caves, swimming at the beach, visiting Titop Island and enjoying panoramic views
- Inclusions: transport from Hanoi (if option selected), boat cruise, Halong Bay entrance fee, use of kayaks, English-speaking guide, lunch on board
- Rating: 4.9 stars (check 2,100+ reviews)
- Free cancellation: yes
If you’re short on time and only have a single day to explore Halong Bay, then we definitely think that this boat tour is the best choice. In fact, you can even make things extra easy by including round-trip transport from Hanoi for just $10 USD extra. Not bad!
What we love about this tour is that even though it’s fairly short, it delivers the full Halong Bay experience. We got to go kayaking around gorgeous limestone islands and beneath tunnel-like caves, and go swimming at a pristine beach.
Another major highlight of the day was visiting Sung Sot Cave, which is Halong Bay’s largest cave. Exploring this cave made us feel as though we were on another planet! We also loved the shore excursion on Titop Island, where we got to trek to the top and enjoy panoramic views of Halong Bay. Needless to say, it was pretty epic up there, but those who didn’t want to hike were free to stay on the beach.
The boat itself was also super comfortable, with an old-school Vietnamese-style dining room and a spacious viewing deck with armchairs and sun loungers. We got a delicious local lunch on board, and there was a ton of variety, which we really appreciated. The spring rolls were especially yummy!
This is a great option if you only have one day to enjoy Halong Bay. Plus, if you book this tour with transport included, you can be back in Hanoi by the evening!
Reserve this tour here and get FREE cancellation 24 hours before you set sail.
2. Day trip to Halong Bay from Hanoi, including an onboard jacuzzi
- Price: $65 USD
- Duration: 12 hours
- Time: 8:30 am
- Highlights: kayaking around the bay and through caves, exploring Surprise Cave, visiting Titop Island, watching the sunset over Halong Bay, sunset party, hot tub on the boat
- Inclusions: round trip transfers from Hanoi, Surprise Cave admission, dry bag, kayak equipment, bamboo boat ride, English-speaking guide, lunch
- Rating: 4.9 stars (check 1,110+ reviews here)
- Free cancellation: yes
I must say, I think this full-day tour has one of the best boats that we’ve been on in Halong Bay! Sitting on the grassy top deck and taking in the views was a truly spectacular experience, and there was even a hot tub on board – how cool is that?
We loved relaxing on board the boat, but what was even better was the fact that we got to go kayaking through Halong Bay. We also took a bamboo boat ride into Surprise Cave, which was so much fun. The cave is spectacular so it’s a real must-see in our book!
We had a buffet lunch on board, which was delicious and involved so much local seafood. We loved the shrimp, oysters, and prawns, but there were plenty of vegetarian options, too. Then, with full bellies, we visited Titop Island. We had already done the trek to the top, so we just relaxed on the pristine beach and enjoyed the views of the bay from down there.
The day ended on a massive high note with a spectacular sunset over the bay – and better, yet, a fun sunset party! With music, dancing, and some very reasonably priced drinks, we had a blast saying goodbye to Halong Bay as the sun went down.
This tour is a fantastic all-rounder. It was a very wholesome adventure during the day, and then the sunset party was so much fun! There were all types of travelers on board our boat, from couples and families to groups of friends and even solo travelers.
Book this tour with over 1,000 5-star reviews here!
3. Halong Bay overnight cruise with multiple options
- Price: $145 – $999 USD
- Duration: 2 days, 1 night
- Time: 8 am
- Highlights: Sung Sot Cave and Tiptop Island in Halong Bay; Cat Ba Island and Dark and Bright Cave in Lan Ha Bay; Thien Cahn Son Cave and Vung Vien Floating Village in Bai Tu Long Bay; kayaking, bamboo boat ride, swimming, Vietnamese cooking class, and Tai Chi
- Inclusions: overnight stay on the cruise, all activities, admission to caves and bays, meals
- Rating: 4.8 stars (check 3,250+ reviews here)
- Free cancellation: yes
What’s great about this overnight cruise is that there are so many different options available! There’s the option to explore Halong Bay, but you could also visit Lan Ha or Tu Long, both of which are quieter and less touristy than their famous neighbor.
As well as a choice of destinations, we also had a bunch of options in terms of the accommodation that we wanted. The choices range from a typical 3-star Halong Bay experience with kayaking, squid fishing, and a cooking demo, to 6-star digs with huge panoramic windows, a king-sized bed, a sunset dinner on deck, and Tai Chi. These are the bookends, but there are over 20 options between them, so you should definitely be able to find one that fits your needs.
We went for the 4-star cruise because it seemed like a happy medium. Our cabins were very comfy and modern, but the best part was all of the activities that we got to do. Squid fishing was a lot of fun, we loved Taichi, and the cooking class was great, but my personal favorite experience was the sunset party with karaoke!
Really, the best way to experience Halong Bay is to do an overnight trip if you can. This gives you more time to travel deeper into the bay and explore quieter areas that are much less crowded.
So if you have the time and the budget to treat yourself to an overnight cruise, we highly recommend booking one of these many excellent options!
Check out all the options and reserve your top pick here, before it sells out!
Why We Book Tours with Viator
Viator is a trusted online booking system for tours around the world! We almost always book our tours using Viator for a couple of reasons:
- Free cancellation on most tours – Most of the tours on Viator allow you to cancel and get a full refund up to 24 hours in advance. This is handy in case plans change, or if booking an outdoor activity, the weather forecast is looking grim.
- Reserve now and pay later – You can secure your spot on some of the most popular tours well in advance and not pay until closer to the day of the tour.
- Lowest price guarantee – If you happen to find the same tour at a lower price elsewhere, Viator will refund you the price difference.
- Pay in your chosen currency – Avoid costly international transaction fees by choosing to pay in your home currency.
- Peace of mind – When booking with tour operators you find in person on the street or in small booking offices, you are often promised one thing and given another. This online platform holds tour operators accountable with a written description of inclusions as well as the opportunity for customers to leave reviews.
Check out the Viator website here! Or, for more info, read our detailed review about Viator here.
4. 3 days, 2 nights in Halong Bay, including cooking classes, fishing, and more
- Price: $290 – $350 USD
- Duration: 3 days, 2 nights
- Time: 8 am
- Highlights: Surprise Cave, Titop Island, Vietnamese cooking class, squid fishing, kayaking, visiting a pearl farm, swimming, sunset party, luxurious 5-star boat
- Inclusions: private cabin, balcony (if selected), all activities, kayak equipment, pearl farm admission, welcome drink, 2 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 2 dinners
- Rating: 4.8 stars (check 300+ reviews here)
- Free cancellation: yes
What’s better than spending a night in Halong Bay? Spending two nights – duh!
We love this 3-day, 2-night cruise because it allows us to tick off the bay’s tourist highlights, such as Surprise Cave and Titop Island, as well as visiting more far-flung corners of the region. In fact, on the second day, we sometimes didn’t see another boat for hours at a time, which was crazy! So if you’re looking to see Halong Bay at its most untouched and beautiful, this is the cruise for you.
But although Halong Bay was gorgeous and quiet, there was plenty of fun to be had on board. We loved the sunset party or you enjoy a relaxing sunset kayak. We also learned how to make rice rolls during the Vietnamese cooking class, and visiting a pearl farm was super interesting, too.
If you choose the Lan Ha Bay cruise, which also includes Taichi and a cycle tour through a local village. Bai Tu Long cruises are also available, but Halong Bay is of course the most iconic!
This is definitely the Halong Bay cruise we would choose if time and budget weren’t huge issues. Although it’s one of the more expensive choices on this list, there still aren’t many places in the world where you can enjoy a 2-night, 5-star luxury cruise for $290 – $350 USD!
Reserve your spot on this cruise here and access FREE cancellation options.
5. Overnight luxury Halong Bay Cruise
- Price: $609 – $826 USD per couple
- Duration: 2 days
- Time: 12:15 pm
- Highlights: staying on a luxurious and traditional wooden boat, option to go kayaking, cooking demonstration, Sung Sot Cave, squid fishing, option to visit Titop Island
- Inclusions: air-conditioned private cabin, en-suite bathrooms, breakfast, lunch, and dinner, Tai Chi session, cooking demonstration
- Rating: 5 stars (check 1,500+ reviews here)
- Free cancellation: yes
If you’re a luxury lover who’s short on time, then this overnight Halong Bay cruise is absolutely perfect! The boat itself was gorgeous and so luxurious, and we loved our private en-suite cabin. It felt like staying in a floating 5-star hotel. We have to give a shout-out to the staff, too, because they were simply incredible!
As for the setting, there are very few places that can rival Halong Bay in terms of dramatic beauty. We had so much fun exploring the Sung Sot Cave and trekking to the top of Titop Island to enjoy insane views over Halong Bay. However, since the boat was so nice and we opted for a room with a private balcony, we also enjoyed some time relaxing by ourselves and just soaking it all in!
The food on board was incredible too, and there were plenty of both Western and Vietnamese options. Personally, I loved all the fresh seafood. There was also live music after dinner, which we enjoyed with a few cocktails in hand, and there was a hot tub on the deck of the boat. Honestly, we couldn’t have asked for more!
We think that this overnight cruise is the perfect option for couples looking for a romantic trip. It was such a special experience and one that we’ll remember for a long time to come. If you’re in Halong Bay to celebrate an occasion such as an engagement, a birthday, or an anniversary, then we highly recommend that you book this tour.
Don’t miss out – book this tour here to secure your spot.
Where to Stay in Hanoi, Vietnam
Hanoi is the most popular place to stay if you’re visiting Halong Bay. Most of these tours offer transportation from Hanoi, so it is an easy base to explore! Here are a few recommendations for a great place to stay before you set sail.
Luxury – $$$
We often love staying at the JW Marriott Hotel when we travel abroad because you always know what you’re going to get – high quality! The JW Marriott hotels always offer the nicest rooms, super comfortable and clean, and friendly staff that meet all our needs. It’s just a quick tuk tuk ride from Hanoi’s top sights, and you can enjoy the 5 on property restaurants, spa, and pool.
They offer a range of room options, so prices can range from about $230 USD up to $800 USD. Check availability and book your stay on Booking.com!
Mid-range – $$
Aviary Hanoi Hotel & Travel is located right in Hanoi’s Old Quarter so you’re close to some of the best city sights. The staff stands out here, making sure all of your needs are met and they can help set up transportation around the city. You can get double or twin rooms, suites, or family rooms, and some come with a city view!
Prices range from $135-$215 USD but if you book early you can snag a good deal. Book this stay on Booking.com.
Budget – $
Would you believe a name like Hanoi Posh Boutique Hotel is our budget option? It is! This hotel offers excellent quality at an affordable price, with rooms ranging from $40-$90 USD per night. It’s located in Hanoi’s Old Quarter, near the markets and Long Bien Bridge so it’s easy to get around the city. Check out all the options and book this stay on Booking.com.
For more options, check out all the hotels in Hanoi here!
Don’t Forget Travel Insurance!
If you’re looking to save money on travel insurance, we currently use and recommend SafetyWing. We’ve been using their coverage since 2018 and they’ve had our backs when we needed emergency flights and got sick overseas.
SafetyWing is one of the cheapest providers out there and covers everything from medical costs to lost luggage, travel delays, and emergency flights. A huge difference we’ve found between them and other companies is that they let you take out a policy AFTER leaving your home country. We’ve also found it handy that it’s a monthly payment rather than a lump sum, and you can get a refund for unused time.
SafetyWing has helped us out in some scary situations before and their affordable coverage has given us peace of mind. You can read our honest review of SafetyWing for all the pros and cons.
Thanks for reading!
Halong Bay is such a magical place, I know you’ll have a fantastic time no matter what tour you go on! Although, if you have the time and budget to take an overnight cruise, I definitely recommend it. It truly is an unforgettable experience and the best way to see every corner of Halong Bay.
Thanks for reading our blog! If you found this guide helpful, be sure to check out our other Southeast Asia blogs. We’ve been long-term travelers for years and years, so we have a lot of exciting places and travel tips to share with you – I’ll leave a few other recommendations below!
10 BEST Things to do in Hanoi, Vietnam