Ha Long Bay Tours &
Things to Do
Discover the best Ha Long Bay tours and cruises, the UNESCO wonder of northern Vietnam: thousands of limestone karst islands rising from emerald water, explored on luxury day cruises and overnight cruises with kayaking, swimming and caves, the quieter Lan Ha and Bai Tu Long bays, the vast Sung Sot Cave, Titop Island, and scenic seaplane flights. Compare top-rated activities and plan your perfect bay adventure.
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Explore Ha Long Bay by interest
Whatever brings you to Ha Long Bay — world-class museums, the river, or a long lunch — start with the experiences travellers love most.
Day cruises
The bay in a day.
ExploreOvernight cruises
Sleep among karsts.
ExploreLan Ha Bay
Quieter and stunning.
ExploreKayaking & caves
Sung Sot and Titop.
ExploreBai Tu Long Bay
Pristine and peaceful.
ExploreSeaplane flights
The bay from the sky.
ExploreLuxury cruises
Balcony cabins and dining.
ExploreDay trips
Hanoi and Ninh Binh.
ExploreTop attractions in Ha Long Bay
The landmarks that define the city — and the tickets and tours that get you in, often skipping the line.
Karst Islands
The UNESCO wonder.
Overnight Cruises
Sleep among karsts.
Lan Ha Bay
Quieter beauty.
Sung Sot Cave
Vast karst cave.
Titop Island
Panoramic viewpoint.
Bai Tu Long Bay
Pristine waters.
Seaplane
The bay from the sky.
Ninh Binh
Ha Long on land.
Ha Long Bay day cruise
- 1Limousine from Hanoi
- 2Cruise the karsts
- 3Kayak & cave
- 4Seafood lunch
Ha Long Bay 2-day cruise
- 1Board the cruise
- 2Sung Sot Cave
- 3Sunset on deck
- 4Dawn Tai Chi
Full day awayDay Cruise
The bay in a day.
2–3 days awayOvernight Cruise
Sleep among karsts.
Cruise awayLan Ha Bay
Quieter beauty.
On the bay awaySung Sot Cave
Vast karst cave.
25 min awaySeaplane
The bay from the sky.
Day trip awayNinh Binh
Ha Long on land.
Know before you go
Short, straight answers to the questions every Ha Long Bay visitor asks before booking.
The sweet-spot months
October to April brings cool, dry, clear weather — the prime time to cruise Ha Long Bay, with March–April and October–November especially pleasant.
Autumn (Oct–Nov)
Cool, dry and clear with calm seas — one of the best times to cruise.
Winter (Dec–Feb)
Cool and sometimes misty, which can lend the karsts an atmospheric beauty; pack warm layers.
Spring (Mar–Apr)
Mild and pleasant with fresh, green scenery — excellent for cruising.
Summer (May–Sep)
Hot and humid with the best swimming but a risk of storms; cruises can be cancelled in bad weather, so allow flexibility.
Watch the weather
Cruises may be cancelled in storms, especially in summer — keep your plans flexible and book reputable operators.
One day
A luxury day cruise from Hanoi.
Two days
An overnight cruise among the karsts.
Three days
The sweet spot: Ha Long and Lan Ha bays.
Combine with Hanoi
Pair the bay with the capital and Ninh Binh.
Longer trips
Add Bai Tu Long Bay and Cat Ba Island.
Travelling with kids
A day cruise or one-night family cruise.
Cruises
The bay itself is explored entirely by cruise boat, with kayaks and bamboo boats for getting closer to the karsts and caves.
From Hanoi
Most cruises include transfers from Hanoi by limousine bus or car, about 2.5–3 hours via the expressway.
Seaplane
A scenic seaplane offers a fast, spectacular transfer between Hanoi and the bay with aerial views.
Tender boats
Cruises use small tender boats to ferry guests from the harbour to the larger cruise ships.
On the islands
Stops like Titop Island and the caves involve short walks and steps, so wear comfortable shoes.
Cat Ba Island
Lan Ha Bay cruises connect with Cat Ba Island, reached via Haiphong or by boat.
Vietnamese dong
Vietnam uses the dong; carry some cash for tips, drinks and extras on board, though cruises and bigger venues accept cards.
Choose your cruise
Compare day vs overnight, and standard vs luxury cruises, checking cabins, route (Ha Long, Lan Ha or Bai Tu Long) and what’s included.
Weather flexibility
Cruises can be cancelled in storms, especially in summer — keep a flexible day in your plans.
Pack smart
Bring swimwear, sunscreen, a light jacket for cool evenings, and comfortable shoes for caves and island climbs.
Pick the quieter bays
For fewer crowds, choose a cruise on Lan Ha or Bai Tu Long Bay with the same stunning scenery.
Book reputable operators
Quality and safety vary, so book a well-reviewed cruise — Excurgo compares trusted options.
Overnight cruises
Luxury overnight cruises sell out — book well ahead.
Day cruises
Popular day cruises from Hanoi fill up — reserve early.
Lan Ha Bay
Quieter-bay cruises are in demand — pre-book.
Seaplane flights
Limited seats — book ahead.
Bai Tu Long Bay
Pristine-bay cruises have limited boats — reserve early.
Peak season
October–April is busy — plan ahead.
Day cruises
Around €40–90 for a luxury day cruise with lunch and transfers.
Overnight cruises
About €130–350+ for a 2-day/1-night cruise.
3-day cruises
Roughly €250–600+ for a 3-day/2-night cruise.
Seaplane
Around €200–280 for a 25-minute scenic seaplane flight.
Lan Ha & Bai Tu Long
Similar to Ha Long cruises, varying by standard and length.
How to save
Choose a day cruise or standard cabin, travel in the shoulder season, and compare operators.
Ha Long Bay through the seasons
What's best, how busy it gets, and one booking tip for each time of year.
- Best for
- Mild, fresh, green.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Excellent for cruising.
- Best for
- Best swimming.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Hot; storm risk.
- Best for
- Cool, dry, calm seas.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Best; book ahead.
- Best for
- Atmospheric mist.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Cool; pack layers.