Halong bay one day tour – Suggested Itineraries & Price [2024]

Halong Bay one day tour is a must-do experience when visiting Vietnam. With only a 2.5 hour transfer from Hanoi, you can visit Halong Bay on a day boat and back to Hanoi within 1 day. This one-day tour is a perfect option for travelers who have limited but still want to discover the stunning beauty of the World Natural Heritage Site. 

In this article, Vivu Halong will help you choose the best itinerary (4 hours, 6 hours, 8 hours) with suitable cruising boat options (wooden boats, steel boats) at good prices. You also get to know which activities you will experience in a Halong Bay one-day tour.

 >> Vivu Halong is the #1 local travel agency specializing in tours, cruises, and transfers in Hanoi, Halong Bay, and Ninh Binh, fully licensed by the National Administration of Tourism.

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Price of Halong Bay one day tour 

Halong Bay one-day tour is a group tour with a transfer from Hanoi, lunch, entrance fee, and activities. The private tour is also available based on your request.  Here is the price list for the tour, please contact us for the best price and tour available when booking.

Inclusions & Exclusions 

• Lunch with Ha Long seafood dishes with a set menu or buffet meal depending on the tour.
• Shuttle bus / Limousine van from Hanoi to Ha Long
• Cruising boat to visit the bay (4 hours – 6 hours – 8 hours),
• Entrance ticket to visit Halong Bay for 1 day (VND 310,000/person)
• English-speaking tour guide to escort your trip 
• Not including drinks and personal expenses.

> In case, you need a shuttle bus from Hanoi to Halong Bay, check out this post for the schedule and rate:https://vivuhalong.com/en/transfer-hanoi-ha-long-bay/

Which Halong Bay one day itinerary to choose? 

6-hour cruise tour

This 6-hour tour is the most popular Halong Bay one-day tour, with a shuttle bus transfer from Hanoi. On this tour, you will visit Amazing (Sung Sot) Cave, the largest cave in Halong Bay, kayak in Luon Cave then get to Titop island for beach relaxation and hiking to the top of the mountain for a panoramic view of Halong Bay.

• The tour starts at 8:30 am with a shuttle bus pick up at your hotels in Hanoi Old Quarter and ends at 08:30 pm
• Cruise from 12:00 pm to 5:30 pm, 5 – 6 hours boat cruising on Halong Bay 
• Itinerary following Route 2: Habour –  Surprise Cave – Luon Cave (kayaking) – Titop Island (beach & panoramic view) 
• Vietnamese lunch included
• Departure from Ha Long International Port or Tuan Chau International Port

Tour details: https://vivuhalong.com/en/tour/6-hour-halong-bay-deluxe-day-tour-from-hanoi/

For booking, please send us an email or contact us via Phone/ WhatsApp: +84.789.455.888

7- 8 hour cruise tour 

Halong Bay 7 – 8 hour tour is the longest journey to visit the bay during the daytime. You can have a lot of time to visit caves, and beaches, explore the islands, and experience kayaking on the calm water of Halong Bay.

Unlike other tours departing at noon, this tour departs early at 9:30 a.m. so that you will depart from Hanoi at 06:30 a.m. It means you can have enough time for an 8-hour journey. Travelers can visit tourist attractions and experience no less than an overnight cruise. In the past, visitors used to rent a private boat for such long tours. But now there is such an interesting 8-hour tour to choose from.

• The tour starts from Hanoi at 07:00 am with a shuttle bus pick up at your hotels and ends at 08:30 pm
• Cruise from 10:30 pm to 5:00 pm, 8 hours on the boat to visit the bay
• Itinerary following Route 2: Thien Cung Cave – Fighting cocks Islet – Amazing (Sung Sot) Cave – Titop Island – Afternoon tea 
• Tour includes lunch
• Departure from Tuan Chau International Port

Tour details: https://vivuhalong.com/en/tour/halong-bay-day-cruise-8-hour/

For booking, please send us an email or contact us via Phone/ WhatsApp: +84.789.455.888 

4-hour day cruise 

This traditional tour takes you to the most famous spots of Ha Long Bay. 4 hours is a suitable time if you don’t want to be on the boat for too long. The tour is suitable for travelers who stay in hotels in Halong City or depart from Hanoi in the morning and want to see Halong Bay on a half-day tour. The tour includes a visit to Thien Cung cave, kayaking in Ba Hang, and a Vietnamese lunch.

• The cruise schedule is from 12:30 pm to 4:30 pm, or  from 08:00 to 12:00 the morning
• 4 hours on the cruising boat to visit the bay.
• Itinerary following Route 2: Habour > Cho Da islet > Dinh Huong islet >  Thien Cung cave > Ba Hang fishing village (kayak or bamboo boat ride)
• Lunch included 
• Departure from HaLong International Port (Ha Long Road, Bai Chay, Halong City)

Tour details: https://vivuhalong.com/en/tour/4-hour-halong-bay-day-cruise-from-hanoi/

For booking, please send us an email or contact us via Phone/ WhatsApp: +84.789.455.888 

Which route to choose? 

There would be different routes for visiting Halong Bay in one day, you can choose to visit the route of Halong Bay, Bai Tu Long Bay, or Lan Ha Bay. All the routes have similar natural landscapes with limestone islets on green water. However, each cruising route has its advantages.

Let’s check which route might suit you!

What you would experience in a Halong Bay one-day tour? 

Kayaking

Join a day tour to visit the bay, in addition to boarding the sightseeing boat, you will experience kayaking for about 30 minutes to 1 hour. It is so interesting to explore the different corners of the bay by yourself. Kayaking is the best way to get closer to the limestone islands in the bay.

Exploring cave 

Halong Bay is home to many wonderful natural caves, such as Sung Sot Cave, Thien Cung Cave, Trinh Nu Cave, … You can climb up the island to go inside the caves. Then you will admire such interesting landscapes bestowed by nature.

Bamboo boat with locals 

If not kayaking, you can choose to take a bamboo boat carried by locals, visit Luon cave, and enter the “lagoon” areas with beautiful scenery, covered by limestone mountains.

Beach, swimming, hiking on mountain 

The beaches on the bay are not very big but beautiful. You can find a nice beach on Titop island and many small beaches dotted in the bay. On the island, you can relax on the beach, swim, or climb to the top of the mountain to see the whole view of Halong Bay, to save the best selfie photos.

Afternoon tea, cooking lessons

This experience is so relaxing that many travelers want to join in. You can use a cup of coffee, a cup of tea, or a glass of wine to wait for the sunset on Halong Bay. It’s not easy to capture this moment so good luck.

Where to depart for the tour? 

There are two cruise ports in Halong Bay where you embark on cruising

Halong International Port 

Halong International Port is located on Halong Road, right in the center of the Bai Chay tourist area, providing easy access for both domestic and international tourists coming to visit Halong Bay on a day cruise. You can visit Halong Bay on a day cruise departing from Ha Long International Port following a morning tour or afternoon tour.

• Direction to Halong International Port

Tuan Chau Marina 

Tuan Chau International Port is located on Tuan Chau island, the port is 12.5km from Ha Long city and 150km from Hanoi. Tuan Chau is a popular port for domestic and international visitors taking a day cruise on Halong Bay and Lan Ha Bay.

• Direction to Tuan Chau Marina

• More details about Halong Bay Cruise Ports

Food & Drinks 

On a day tour to Halong Bay, you will be served a Vietnamese lunch with some local seafood dishes, the set menu lunch will be served for 6 persons/table, joining the group. Some bigger boats will offer a buffet lunch with more choice of food. Check out the typical menu for lunch on a Halong Bay day tour. Drinks are served with beer, soft drinks, and water… at an extra fee.

Set Menu lunch 

• Sweet and Sour Cucumber Salad
• French Fries
• Ha Long Grilled Squid
• Steamed Shrimp With Beer
• Grilled Oyster With Onion Fat
• Sea Bass with Sauces
• Stir-fried Vegetable
• Jasmine Rice
• Seasonal Fruits
• Ice Tea

Vegetarian Lunch Menu 

• Sweet and Sour Cucumber Salad
• French Fries
• Dumpling Cake
• Vegetable Spring Roll
• Tofu with Sweet and Sour Sauce
• Vietnamese Egg Roll
• Seasonal stir-fried vegetable
• Jasmine Rice
• Seasonal Fruits
• Ice Tea

Buffet menu

• Asparagus soup with seafood
• Rice congee with pork meatballs
• French fries/ fried corn
• Green Papaya salad with dried beef
• Russian Salad
• Pomelo salad with shrimp
• Spring rolls
• Sushi rolls
• Stir-fried noodles with seafood
•  Sauté diced beef
• Grilled shrimp
• Crispy fried squid
• Stir-fried flower clams with basil leaves
• Grilled fish with chilli paste
• Grilled chicken wings
• Salt-roasted mantis shrimp
• Grilled oysters with scallion oil
• Vegetable stir fry
• Mixed fried rice
• Green beans sweet gruel
• Bread
• Profiteroles
• Cream cake
• Butter
• Strawberry, orange Jam
•  Seasonal fruits
• Pure dumplings
• Pan-fried hot dog

Frequently Asked Questions

Is one day tour enough for Halong Bay?

Yes, it is an option to admire the natural beauty of Halong Bay within one day (4-8 hours on a boat). The tour could be also arranged with a transfer from Hanoi  (2.5-hour transfer) and back. If you have longer time, the 1-night cruise and 2-night cruise are recommended.

Is Halong Bay a day trip from Hanoi? 

The Halong Bay day tour is the most popular day tour from Hanoi. The distance between Hanoi and Halong Bay is 150 km for 2.5 hour’s transfer time

How long do you need in Halong Bay?

You should visit Halong Bay for 1 night or 2 nights. A day tour to Halong Bay is an option if you do not have much time here.

Is the Halong Bay day trip worth it?

Yes, it is worth visiting. The trip takes you to visit most highlights of Halong Bay including a cave, and island and experience kayaking or bamboo boat rowing…

Can you swim in Halong Bay?

Yes, swimming is an exciting activity when visiting Halong Bay. The water is calm and clean. You might swim from a small beach or in the middle of the bay. In winter (Nov – Feb), it is too cold for swimming.

What is the best month to visit Halong Bay?

April – September is the best time to visit Halong Bay, it is the summertime, with blue water & clear sky.

Is Halong Bay too busy?

Halong Bay is a must-visit so it attracts a lot of visitors during the year. However, the busiest time is in summer month (the peak season for domestic tourists)

How do I book a Halong Bay cruise?

You can book through travel agents, or tour operators, or book directly with cruise operators. Just check for the best price and trusted service provider 

Are there jellyfish in Halong Bay?

Yes, there are jellyfish in Halong Bay and there could be more jellyfish in the summer months.

With the above information provided by Vivu Halong, hopefully, you have enough information to choose a suitable day tour to visit Halong Bay. If you have any questions or need further advice, do not hesitate to contact Vivu Halong.