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Kayakers paddling between steep karst islands

Bai Tu Long Bay Cruises & Tours

Every sensible way onto the water — overnight cruises, day trips and transfers, compared and bookable in a couple of taps.

There is no single “best” cruise — there is the right one for your time and budget. The list below is grouped by exactly that, from a five-hour day cruise if you are already in Ha Long to a three-day, two-night voyage deep into Bai Tu Long.

Everything here is booked through GetYourGuide, which means live availability, free cancellation on most options and reserve-now-pay-later on many. Prices are indicative “from” prices in euros and vary with season and cabin — tap any card for the live price in your own currency. We include a few Ha Long and Lan Ha tours for comparison, clearly labelled.

Pick by how much time you have

One day

A day cruise from Ha Long into Bai Tu Long, or the classic Ha Long Bay day trip from Hanoi with Sung Sot cave and Ti Top island.

Rowing boats passing a natural rock arch in Bai Tu Long Bay Day cruise from €75
🕒 5 hours 📍 From Ha Long ⭐ 4.9 (29)

Bai Tu Long Bay: Day Cruise to the Untouched Side of the Bay

If you are already staying in Ha Long, this is the best half day you can spend on the water. It heads east away from the main channels into Bai Tu Long; most departures stop at a floating fishing village such as Vung Vieng (check the day’s itinerary on the booking page) and you are back by mid-afternoon.

  • Off-the-beaten-track route through Bai Tu Long
  • A floating fishing village and quiet lagoons
  • Lunch on board
Check price & availability
Stalactites lit up inside the vast chambers of Sung Sot cave Day trip from €34
🕒 1 day (about 12 hours) 📍 From Hanoi ⭐ 4.8 (14,052)

Hanoi: Ha Long Bay Day Cruise with Swimming, Lunch & Kayaking

The classic Ha Long Bay day from Hanoi, and one of the most-reviewed tours in Vietnam. It covers the famous stops — Sung Sot cave, Luon cave and Ti Top island — with lunch on board and expressway transfers. Busy, but efficient and excellent value.

  • Sung Sot (Surprise) cave
  • Kayak or bamboo boat at Luon cave
  • Swim and climb at Ti Top island
Check price & availability

One night on board

The sweet spot. Board around midday, kayak in the afternoon, sunset on deck, back in Hanoi the next evening.

Cruise boats anchored among limestone karsts at sunset Overnight cruise from €118
🕒 2 days, 1 night 📍 From Hanoi ⭐ 4.7 (1,634)

From Hanoi: 2-Day Ha Long Bay & Bai Tu Long Bay Cruise

The most-booked overnight cruise that actually leaves the crowded Ha Long loop. You board at the international cruise port in Ha Long, sail east into Bai Tu Long, kayak and swim in the afternoon, eat a set dinner on board and wake up to karsts with almost nobody else around.

  • Quieter route into Bai Tu Long with fewer boats
  • Kayaking, swimming and a hidden cave
  • Round-trip transfer from Hanoi’s Old Quarter
Check price & availability
A traditional wooden junk with ochre sails cruising between karst islands Luxury overnight cruise from €110
🕒 2 days, 1 night 📍 From Hanoi or Ninh Binh ⭐ 4.9 (258)

Hanoi/Ninh Binh: 2-Day Ha Long & Bai Tu Long Bay 5-Star Cruise

A small, well-run five-star boat that spends its time in Bai Tu Long rather than queuing at Ha Long’s famous stops. Cabins are comfortable, the food is a clear step up from mid-range boats and the 4.9 rating over hundreds of reviews is remarkably consistent.

  • Small five-star boat, well-reviewed cabins
  • Caves, kayaking and a sunset on deck
  • Pickup from Hanoi or Ninh Binh
Check price & availability

Two nights or a combo

Three days for the remote lagoons, or combine the bay with Ninh Binh’s rice-field karsts.

Tall limestone karsts rising from calm water in Bai Tu Long Bay Multi-day cruise from €259
🕒 3 days, 2 nights 📍 From Hanoi ⭐ 4.6 (151)

Hanoi: 3-Day Cruise Stay in Ha Long and Bai Tu Long Bay

The version to book if you can give the bay a proper amount of time. The middle day is spent entirely on the water — usually a day boat to the far side of Bai Tu Long for kayaking and a beach — while the day-trippers are still on the expressway.

  • Two nights on board, deep in Bai Tu Long
  • More kayaking, caves and a beach day
  • Unhurried pace with a full middle day
Check price & availability
A lone limestone pillar and distant islands in Bai Tu Long Bay Boutique overnight cruise from €200
🕒 2 days, 1 night 📍 From Hanoi (boarding at Ao Tien port, Van Don)

Oris Cruises: Ha Long to Van Don Pioneering Bai Tu Long Route

A newer boutique cruise that boards at Ao Tien port on Van Don island and explores the northern reaches of Bai Tu Long that Ha Long-based boats rarely reach. New to the platform, so there are few reviews yet.

  • Departs from Van Don, not Ha Long
  • The far, rarely visited side of Bai Tu Long
  • Small boutique boat
Check price & availability
Live availability

Book now — real-time prices

Straight from GetYourGuide, updated continuously.

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The full list

Every tour we recommend

Eighteen experiences we would happily book ourselves, from a €13 limousine transfer to a three-day cruise.

Cruise boats anchored among limestone karsts at sunset Overnight cruise from €118
🕒 2 days, 1 night 📍 From Hanoi ⭐ 4.7 (1,634)

From Hanoi: 2-Day Ha Long Bay & Bai Tu Long Bay Cruise

The most-booked overnight cruise that actually leaves the crowded Ha Long loop. You board at the international cruise port in Ha Long, sail east into Bai Tu Long, kayak and swim in the afternoon, eat a set dinner on board and wake up to karsts with almost nobody else around.

  • Quieter route into Bai Tu Long with fewer boats
  • Kayaking, swimming and a hidden cave
  • Round-trip transfer from Hanoi’s Old Quarter
Check price & availability
A traditional wooden junk with ochre sails cruising between karst islands Luxury overnight cruise from €110
🕒 2 days, 1 night 📍 From Hanoi or Ninh Binh ⭐ 4.9 (258)

Hanoi/Ninh Binh: 2-Day Ha Long & Bai Tu Long Bay 5-Star Cruise

A small, well-run five-star boat that spends its time in Bai Tu Long rather than queuing at Ha Long’s famous stops. Cabins are comfortable, the food is a clear step up from mid-range boats and the 4.9 rating over hundreds of reviews is remarkably consistent.

  • Small five-star boat, well-reviewed cabins
  • Caves, kayaking and a sunset on deck
  • Pickup from Hanoi or Ninh Binh
Check price & availability
Rowing boats passing a natural rock arch in Bai Tu Long Bay Day cruise from €75
🕒 5 hours 📍 From Ha Long ⭐ 4.9 (29)

Bai Tu Long Bay: Day Cruise to the Untouched Side of the Bay

If you are already staying in Ha Long, this is the best half day you can spend on the water. It heads east away from the main channels into Bai Tu Long; most departures stop at a floating fishing village such as Vung Vieng (check the day’s itinerary on the booking page) and you are back by mid-afternoon.

  • Off-the-beaten-track route through Bai Tu Long
  • A floating fishing village and quiet lagoons
  • Lunch on board
Check price & availability
Stalactites lit up inside the vast chambers of Sung Sot cave Day trip from €34
🕒 1 day (about 12 hours) 📍 From Hanoi ⭐ 4.8 (14,052)

Hanoi: Ha Long Bay Day Cruise with Swimming, Lunch & Kayaking

The classic Ha Long Bay day from Hanoi, and one of the most-reviewed tours in Vietnam. It covers the famous stops — Sung Sot cave, Luon cave and Ti Top island — with lunch on board and expressway transfers. Busy, but efficient and excellent value.

  • Sung Sot (Surprise) cave
  • Kayak or bamboo boat at Luon cave
  • Swim and climb at Ti Top island
Check price & availability
Tall limestone karsts rising from calm water in Bai Tu Long Bay Multi-day cruise from €259
🕒 3 days, 2 nights 📍 From Hanoi ⭐ 4.6 (151)

Hanoi: 3-Day Cruise Stay in Ha Long and Bai Tu Long Bay

The version to book if you can give the bay a proper amount of time. The middle day is spent entirely on the water — usually a day boat to the far side of Bai Tu Long for kayaking and a beach — while the day-trippers are still on the expressway.

  • Two nights on board, deep in Bai Tu Long
  • More kayaking, caves and a beach day
  • Unhurried pace with a full middle day
Check price & availability
Green karst islands and calm water seen from a boat in Lan Ha Bay Luxury overnight cruise from €98
🕒 2 days, 1 night 📍 From Hanoi ⭐ 4.7 (4,980)

Hanoi: 2-Day Lan Ha & Ha Long Bay 5-Star Cruise with Balcony

Not Bai Tu Long — this one heads south-west into Lan Ha Bay, the other quiet alternative to Ha Long. We include it because it is one of the best-reviewed five-star cruises in the region and remarkably good value for balcony cabins.

  • Private balcony and bathtub in every cabin
  • Kayaking and swimming in Lan Ha Bay
  • Cooking class and sunset party
Check price & availability
Floating fishermen’s houses moored beneath karst cliffs in Bai Tu Long Bay Overnight cruise from €106
🕒 2 days, 1 night 📍 From Hanoi or Ha Long ⭐ 4.0 (12)

From Hanoi/Ha Long: La Regina 4-Star Cruise in Bai Tu Long Bay

A mid-range four-star cruise from the La Regina fleet that works the Bai Tu Long itinerary, including Vung Vieng. Useful if you are already in Ha Long and want to join at the pier rather than ride the shuttle from Hanoi.

  • Four-star boat on the Bai Tu Long route
  • Vung Vieng floating village
  • Join from Hanoi or directly in Ha Long
Check price & availability
A lone limestone pillar and distant islands in Bai Tu Long Bay Boutique overnight cruise from €200
🕒 2 days, 1 night 📍 From Hanoi (boarding at Ao Tien port, Van Don)

Oris Cruises: Ha Long to Van Don Pioneering Bai Tu Long Route

A newer boutique cruise that boards at Ao Tien port on Van Don island and explores the northern reaches of Bai Tu Long that Ha Long-based boats rarely reach. New to the platform, so there are few reviews yet.

  • Departs from Van Don, not Ha Long
  • The far, rarely visited side of Bai Tu Long
  • Small boutique boat
Check price & availability
Plan your night on the bay

Make Bai Tu Long Bay the highlight of your Vietnam trip

The quieter half of Vietnam’s great karst seascape is 2.5 hours from Hanoi. Compare overnight cruises, day trips and transfers and book in a couple of taps.

Browse Bai Tu Long cruises Compare all tours
Good to know

Booking questions

Frequently asked questions

Which Bai Tu Long cruise is best value?

The most-booked two-day Ha Long & Bai Tu Long cruise from Hanoi starts around €118 including transfers, meals and kayaking, with 4.7 stars from over 1,600 reviews. For a step up in comfort, the five-star Bai Tu Long boat rated 4.9 starts around €110.

Are transfers from Hanoi included?

Most overnight cruises include a shared shuttle from the Old Quarter; some charge it as an option. Each listing spells it out. If not, a limousine van costs from about €13 each way.

Do “Ha Long” cruises actually go to Bai Tu Long?

Some do, some do not. Read the itinerary: Vung Vieng village and Thien Canh Son cave mean Bai Tu Long; Sung Sot cave, Ti Top and Luon cave mean central Ha Long.

What is included in the price?

Usually the cabin, all meals on board, kayaking, cave and village entrance fees and an English-speaking guide. Drinks, tips and sometimes transfers are extra.

What happens if the cruise is cancelled for weather?

When the port authority suspends sailings, operators cancel or reschedule. Listings with free cancellation refund you in full; check each tour’s terms before booking.