Ha Long and Bai Tu Long Bay 2 Day Overnight Cruise Hanoi
Overview
Spend a night on the water in Ha Long Bay and the quieter Bai Tu Long Bay on a two-day cruise, with a choice of deluxe, 5-star or 6-star cabins and of starting from your Hanoi hotel or from the Ha Long port. You kayak, visit floating-village and cave stops on the higher options, enjoy a sunset gathering on deck and eat all meals on board, with an English-speaking guide. The cabin class, cruise ship and transfer depend on the option you choose.
Highlights
- One night on the bay, in an ocean-view or private-balcony cabin depending on the option
- Cruise Ha Long Bay and the quieter Bai Tu Long Bay
- Kayaking among limestone islands, and a sunset gathering on deck
- 6-star options add Thien Canh Son Cave, Vung Vieng floating village and a cooking demonstration
- All meals on board: two lunches, one dinner and one breakfast
- Choose a Hanoi bus transfer or meet at the Ha Long port
Full Description
Ha Long Bay, the famous limestone bay
Ha Long Bay is a UNESCO World Heritage Site of roughly 1,600 limestone islands and islets in Quang Ninh province, and it is the reason most travellers come to northern Vietnam's coast. On an overnight cruise you have time to see it properly: the first afternoon among the karst towers, the sunset on deck and the quiet start of the next morning.
The bay lies about 150 kilometres from Hanoi, roughly two and a half hours on the expressway. Many visitors ask whether a Ha Long Bay overnight cruise is worth it. If you want a slower pace, cabin sleeping and sunrise views, it is much better than the day version. The best time to visit is spring and autumn, when skies are clearest.
Bai Tu Long Bay, quieter waters to the north-east
Bai Tu Long Bay lies north-east of Ha Long Bay and has similar limestone islands, but far fewer boats. Its name is often translated as the bay of the dragon's children, and much of it is protected as a national park. The water is clear, the islands are green and the routes here feel much more peaceful than the busiest parts of Ha Long Bay.
This cruise route mixes both bays, so you see the classic scenery and the calmer side in one trip. It is a good pick if you want a Bai Tu Long Bay cruise from Hanoi without long days of travel. Kayaking near islands such as Cong Do and Cap La shows how tranquil this side of the bay is.
Thien Canh Son Cave and Vung Vieng floating village
The 6-star options add two special stops. Thien Canh Son is a cave whose name means the Heavenly Peak Mountain, and it is known for its shaped stalactites and high, quiet chambers. Vung Vieng is a floating fishing village where families live on the water on small houses, and visiting it gives you a look at a way of life that has shaped the bay for generations.
On the deluxe and 5-star options you focus on kayaking, the scenery and time on deck instead. Both are relaxed, and the guide adapts the plan to the weather and tide. If a cave visit and a village stop matter to you, choose one of the 6-star options.
Life on board: cabins, meals and sunset
Every cabin has an ocean view. The deluxe option has a window, the 5-star option a private balcony, and the 6-star options a luxury cabin with a private balcony and a bathtub. A welcome drink and a bottle of water per person are included, and tea and coffee are served at breakfast.
You eat all meals on board: two lunches, one dinner and one breakfast, based on traditional Vietnamese dishes. The 6-star options add a cooking demonstration, a traditional dress experience and a dinner with lobster. Extra drinks, tips and the single-cabin supplement are not included, and a seasonal supplement may apply on peak dates.
Itinerary
- Pickup or port meetingHanoi options: bus pickup at around 7:30 to 8:00 AM. Port options: meet at Ha Long port at the time shown for your option.
- Board and welcomeCheck in, get the safety briefing, receive your welcome drink and settle into your cabin.
- Lunch and cruisingLunch on board while the ship sails between limestone islands into Bai Tu Long Bay.
- KayakingPaddle in sheltered water beside the cliffs; 6-star options also visit Thien Canh Son Cave and Vung Vieng floating village.
- Sunset and dinnerA sunset gathering on deck, then dinner on board (with a cooking demonstration and a lobster dinner on 6-star options).
- Morning on the bayBreakfast with tea and coffee, and a last stretch of cruising in the calm morning light.
- ReturnLeave the ship at the port; Hanoi options return by bus to the Old Quarter, usually in the afternoon.
What's included
- 1-night cruise in Ha Long and Bai Tu Long Bay with an English-speaking guide
- Cabin with ocean view
- Welcome drink and 1 bottle of water per person
- Entrance fees for Ha Long and Bai Tu Long Bay
- Kayaking and sunset party on the bay
- All meals on board (2 lunches, 1 dinner, 1 breakfast) with tea and coffee at breakfast
Not included
- Extra drinks
- Single-cabin surcharge
- Surcharge on Christmas, New Year and national holidays
- Tips
- Transfer from Hanoi
Not suitable for
- Wheelchair users
- Guests with serious mobility difficulties
- Travellers prone to seasickness on longer sailings
Meeting point
Hanoi options: bus pickup from hotels in the Old Quarter at around 7:30 to 8:00 AM, with the exact time confirmed within 24 hours of booking. Port options: meet at the Ha Long port at the time shown for your option, and the exact meeting point is confirmed within 24 hours. Port options do not include transport from Hanoi.
Important information
- Bring your passport or ID card, swimwear, sunscreen, sunglasses and a hat.
- Do not bring plastic bottles on board.
- Confirmation details are sent within 24 hours of booking and again 24 hours before departure by email or WhatsApp.
- Itineraries may change without notice because of cruising conditions and weather.
- A supplement may apply on Christmas, New Year and national holidays, and seasonal supplements may apply on peak dates.
- Single travellers pay a supplement for a single cabin; tips and extra drinks are not included.
- Tell us in advance about a birthday or honeymoon so the crew can prepare a set-up.
Good to know
Frequently Asked Questions
Straight answers to what travellers ask us most, before they book.
How much does the Ha Long and Bai Tu Long Bay cruise cost?
The price depends on the option you choose, that is the cabin class (deluxe, 5-star or 6-star) and whether you start from Hanoi or the Ha Long port. The booking panel on this page shows the current price for each option, adult and child.
Is hotel pickup included?
On the From Hanoi options, yes: a return bus transfer from the Old Quarter is included. On the From Ha Long options you meet us at the port and there is no Hanoi transfer.
How long is the cruise?
It is a two-day, one-night cruise with four meals on board: two lunches, one dinner and one breakfast.
What is the difference between the options?
The options differ in the cabin (ocean-view window, private balcony, or luxury balcony with a bathtub), the starting point, and the extras: the 6-star options add Thien Canh Son Cave, Vung Vieng floating village, a cooking demonstration and a lobster dinner.
What is the difference between Ha Long Bay and Bai Tu Long Bay?
Ha Long Bay is the classic, busier bay. Bai Tu Long Bay is next to it, with similar scenery and fewer boats. This cruise visits both.
Is the cruise suitable for children?
Yes, children can join. Child rates depend on age and appear in the booking panel, and younger children need supervision on deck and in kayaks.
What should I wear and bring?
Swimwear, sunscreen, sunglasses, a hat, comfortable clothes, a warm layer for the evening and your passport or ID.
Can I book for today or tomorrow?
Sometimes, if places remain, but book as early as you can because overnight cruises fill up.
Are drinks included?
A welcome drink and one bottle of water per person are included, with tea and coffee at breakfast. Extra drinks are not included.
Is Bai Tu Long Bay worth visiting?
Yes, if you want limestone scenery with fewer boats and a more relaxed pace than the busiest part of Ha Long Bay.
