An overnight cruise on Ha Long Bay
Sleep aboard a boat among nearly two thousand limestone islands, kayak into hidden lagoons and wake to mist rising off the emerald water.
- Area
- Ha Long & the coast
- Start from
- Hanoi
- Distance
- about 170 km east
- Time needed
- 2 days
- Best season
- March – May and September – November; summer has storm risk
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Transport
- Expressway shuttle from Hanoi, then a cruise boat
- Tickets & rules
- Bay entry fees and cave tickets usually included in cruise prices
Why go
Ha Long Bay is famous for good reason. Seen from a boat at dawn, with the islands fading in layers into the mist, it is one of the most extraordinary landscapes on earth. Its popularity means crowds, but an overnight cruise gives you the bay as the day-trippers leave, when the boats spread out and the water goes quiet.
Most cruises include kayaking or a bamboo-boat ride, a cave visit, a swim when the weather allows, and a cooking demonstration.
Choose your route wisely; some cruises head into quieter neighbouring areas such as Bai Tu Long Bay.
The story
Ha Long means descending dragon. The legend says that when the Viet people were threatened by invaders from the sea, the gods sent a family of dragons who spat out jewels and jade. These fell into the sea and became the islands, forming a wall against the enemy ships. The dragons liked the place so much they stayed.
Geologists tell a story of hundreds of millions of years: thick beds of limestone laid down in ancient seas, lifted and then eroded by rain and the sea into towers and caves. UNESCO inscribed the bay in 1994. There are roughly 1,600 to 2,000 islands, most uninhabited and too steep to land on.
Sung Sot, the Surprise Cave, is one of the largest, with chambers that open one after another. Ti Top island, with a small beach and a viewpoint, is named after the Soviet cosmonaut Gherman Titov, who visited in 1962.
Fishing families once lived on floating villages in the bay, in houses built on rafts. Many were resettled on land in the 2010s, though some floating communities and fish farms remain.
Getting there
Most cruises include a shuttle from the Old Quarter; the drive takes around 2.5–3 hours via the expressway. Boats leave from Tuan Chau or other harbours near Ha Long city.
Prices and quality vary hugely. Read recent reviews carefully and check exactly what is included.
A suggested plan
- Day 1, 8:00Shuttle from Hanoi.
- Day 1, 12:00Board the boat, lunch as you sail into the bay.
- Day 1, afternoonKayaking or a bamboo boat ride; a cave or beach visit.
- Day 1, eveningSunset on deck, dinner, and squid fishing from the boat.
- Day 2, 6:00Tai chi on deck at sunrise, then a cave visit.
- Day 2, afternoonReturn to the harbour and back to Hanoi.
Where to stay
The cruise boat is the stay. If you want an extra day, Ha Long city has plenty of hotels, but the bay is better seen from the water.
Good to know
- Book a cruise that visits less-crowded areas; ask which route it takes.
- Bring a warm layer from November to March; it can be chilly on deck.
- Drinks on board are expensive; check the policy on bringing your own.
- Bring seasickness tablets if you’re sensitive, though the water is usually calm.
- From July to September typhoons can cause cruises to be cancelled at short notice; keep your plans flexible.
- Very cheap cruises often cut corners on food and safety; choose carefully.
- Wear a life jacket when kayaking.