Halong Bay Day Tour from Hanoi, from $34

Overview

Leave Hanoi after breakfast and you are back in the Old Quarter the same night, with about six hours on the water in between. This Halong Bay day tour runs the VHL2 sightseeing route out of Tuan Chau Harbour — the central bay around Bo Hon Island, taking in Sung Sot Cave, Luon Cave and the Ti Top viewpoint.

At $34 it already covers the two things most day trips charge extra for at the pier bay entrance ticket and the kayak through Luon Cave. All you carry is spending money and a swimsuit in season.

Highlight

Walk through Sung Sot Cave, the largest cave open to visitors in the bay, on a one-way loop that comes out above the water Paddle into Luon Cave through a tunnel low enough that engines cannot follow Climb Ti Top Island for the view that put Halong Bay on every postcard, or stay on the beach below Pay nothing more at the pier — bay ticket and the kayak are already in the price Eat a Vietnamese buffet on deck while the boat is under way, not tied up Sleep in your own bed in Hanoi, with hotel drop-off by 21:00

Details Itinerary

8.00-8.45: Get picked up at the hotel in Hanoi Old Quater/ Opera House to depart for Halong Bay Our journey follows Hanoi – Haiphong- Tuan Chau Highway (about a 3 hour- drive) On the way, we stop for a short break for 30 minutes to relax

12:00: Arrive at Tuan Chau Harbor, get on Luxury Cruise with our crew’s warm welcome Enjoy the welcome drink then start the excursion to discover the beauty of the world heritage site

12:30: Enjoy Vietnamese lunch on the boat .While having lunch, the boat will pass by the beautiful scenery on both sides with thousands of limestone such as Fighting Chicken and Incense Burner Islets – 2 symbols of Halong Bay

14.00: Arrive at Bo Hon Island, and you will visit Sung Sot Cave – the most beautiful cave with a lot of stalagmites and stalactites

14.45: Do kayaking or bamboo boat through Luon Cave to discover the beautiful lagoon.

15.15: Visit TiTop Island with its sandy beach. You can go swimming here or trek up to the top of the island for sightseeing all of Halong Bay

16.30: Back to the boat for the sunset party (with wine, tea, fruits, and biscuits) meanwhile the boat is cruising back to the harbor

18.00-18.15: Arrive back to the harbor. Get on the bus and return to Hanoi

21.00 : Get dropped off at the hotel. Tour ends

Important info

Include

Limousine 17-19 seats or Thaco 35 seats
A bottle of water per person on transfer
English speaking guide during the trip
Entrance fees
Kayaking or bamboo boat at Luon Cave
Buffet Lunch + Sunset party
Towel (for beach activity)

Exclude

Drinks,Travel insurance, tax
Tips for tour guide and personal expense
Holiday surcharge

Important Notes Before Booking

Cancellation Policy

Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start time
100% charged for cancellation with in 24 hours before departure or no show

Children Policy

From 1-4 years old: Free of charge, sharing the service with parents (Surcharged 20 usd/seat if request a private seat for child from 1-4 years old)
From 5-8 years old: 75% of charge (Appy for 1 child, the second child will be charged 100% of adults)
From 9 years old and up : 100% of adults

Notes for guests

The order of itinerary may be changed depending on weather or Halong Bay management department
For a markup-free price, book the day tour directly with Beka Travel, and we can add your Hanoi pickup.

Important notes before booking

This is a long day, not a half day. Pickup starts at 08:00 and the last guests are back at their hotel around 21:00. Do not book a night train, an airport transfer or a show for the same evening.
The route is fixed by licence. This tour runs VHL2 from Tuan Chau Harbour. Thien Cung Cave and Dau Go Cave are on VHL1 and are not visited. The Management Board can reorder or suspend stops for weather, and the operator has no say in that decision.
Sung Sot Cave involves stairs. There are around 100 steps up to the entrance and a further set inside. The path is paved and lit but uneven in places, and it is one-way once you are in.
Ti Top Island is optional. The summit is roughly 400 steps. Guests who skip it swim or wait on the beach, and the boat leaves when everyone is back on board.
Swimming depends on the season. From roughly November to March the water is cold enough that most guests stay dry. Bring a swimsuit anyway between April and October.
Cash is worth carrying. Drinks on board, the tender to Ti Top beach and tips are not in the tour price. Small Vietnamese dong notes are easier than cards on the water.
Seasickness. The central bay is sheltered and the crossing is short, but the boat does move. Take medication before boarding rather than after, if you know you are affected.
Holiday surcharge. Tet and the 30 April and 2 September holidays carry a surcharge that is not in the $34 price.
Planning the wider trip. The Halong Bay travel guide covers ports and seasons, and the Halong Bay trip cost breakdown shows where a day trip sits against an overnight cruise.
Prefer swimming and a quieter bay. Look at the Lan Ha Bay day tour to Cat Ba instead.

What to bring

Passport or a photo of it. Harbour staff check identity documents before boarding.
Shoes with grip. Cave floors are wet year-round and the Ti Top steps are worn smooth.
A light layer. Wind on deck is noticeably cooler than Hanoi, especially between October and March.
Sun protection. Hat, sunglasses and sunscreen from April onwards; there is little shade on the upper deck.
Swimsuit and a quick-dry towel if you are travelling between April and October.
A dry bag or zip pouch for your phone during the kayak leg.
Cash in Vietnamese dong for drinks, the beach tender and tips.
Motion sickness tablets if you are prone to it, taken before departure.
A power bank. Sockets on board are limited and the day is long.

FAQS

The day tour includes round-trip transfer from Hanoi (about 2.5 hours each way), a boat cruise on the bay, a visit to Sung Sot Cave, Luon Cave by kayak or bamboo boat, the Titop Island viewpoint, kayaking, swimming and lunch on board. Our Halong Bay travel guide covers entrance fees and what to bring.

A day tour gives you the headline sights in around six hours on the water, which is perfect if time is tight. To reach quieter areas and enjoy sunset and sunrise, an overnight cruise is better — consider the calmer Lan Ha Bay, where Beka Travel runs its own boats.

Kayaking is included, and so is the bamboo boat if you would rather be rowed than paddle. The kayak leg happens at Luon Cave at around 14:45 and lasts about half an hour. Many operators sell this as a paid extra at the tender boat, so it is worth checking when you compare prices.

No. Thien Cung Cave and Dau Go Cave sit on sightseeing route VHL1, which departs from a different set of moorings. This tour runs VHL2 and visits Sung Sot Cave and Luon Cave instead. If Thien Cung is your priority, the Halong Bay caves guide explains which routes reach which caves.

Yes, at Ti Top Island beach between roughly April and October. The stop lasts about an hour, which is enough for a swim and a change of clothes. From November to March the water is usually too cold to be enjoyable, so most guests use the time for the summit climb instead.

It works for children who can handle a long day in a vehicle. Infants aged 1 to 4 travel free on a parent's lap, or $20 for their own seat. Children aged 5 to 8 pay 75%, and a second child pays full price; from 9 years old the adult fare applies. The cave stairs are the main obstacle, so a carrier is easier than a stroller.

The Ha Long Bay – Yen Tu World Heritage Management Board suspends sailing when conditions require it, usually during storms between June and September. When that happens the tour does not run and you are offered another date or a full refund. Cancellations you make yourself are free more than 24 hours before departure, and charged in full inside 24 hours.