What a Halong Bay tour includes
The words "Halong Bay tour" cover very different trips. Some are eight-hour day cruises from Hanoi with a buffet. Some are overnight cruises that stop at the same caves on the second morning. What you see depends on the route, and the bay is run as numbered routes, VHL1 to VHL8, each with its own stops and fee.
Not every day trip reaches every attraction, and kayaking is not always part of it. Read the program and ask. The Ha Long Bay Management Board reported visits to Sung Sot, Ti Top and Luon on VHL2 and to Thien Cung and Dau Go on VHL1 in a report dated August 31, 2026.
Routes and visit fees
Fees per person from a table dated March 31, 2025. Confirm the current amount with your operator.
| Route | Stops named in the table | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| VHL1 | Thien Cung, Dau Go, Ba Hang, Trong Mai | VND 250,000 |
| VHL2 | Ti Top, Sung Sot, Me Cung, Luon | VND 250,000 |
| VHL3 | Cua Van, Tien Ong, Ba Ham, Ba Men | VND 200,000 |
| VHL4 | Thien Canh Son, Thay, Cap La, Vung Vieng, Cong Do | VND 200,000 |
| VHL5 | Thien Cung and Dau Go with Gia Luan | VND 250,000 |
| VHL6 | Chan Voi, Ba Cua, Tung Lam, Cap Bai | VND 150,000 per day |
| VHL7 | Combination of VHL1 to VHL4, discovery cruises only | VND 600,000 |
| VHL8 | Coastal route from Tuan Chau past the International Cruise Port | VND 70,000 |
The stops are examples, not a guaranteed itinerary. Soi Sim appears in the VHL2 catalog, but a June 2026 report says its beach has been closed to visitors since 2020, so do not expect a swim there. For kayaking in the neighboring waters, see Lan Ha Bay.
Our picks: Ha Long Bay tours
Day tours with kayaking and caves, one of them including the Hanoi shuttle.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Ha Long Bay day cruise with buffet lunch
An English-speaking guide, entry fees, Sung Sot Cave and kayak or bamboo boat; the Hanoi bus comes only with that option. The buffet and whirlpool are on the luxury boat only, the standard boat serves a set menu.
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Ha Long Bay day cruise from Hanoi
The Hanoi shuttle, lunch, entry fees and an English-speaking guide are included. Kayak or bamboo boat and drinks cost extra.
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Ha Long Bay day cruise with lunch and kayaking
An English-speaking guide, boat trip, lunch, kayak or bamboo boat and a sunset party. A Hanoi transfer comes only with the option you choose; other drinks and meals are extra.
Check availability →Halong Bay tours
Day cruises with caves and kayaking, and overnight cruises, from Hanoi and Ha Long, with live prices and availability.
Caves, islands and kayaking
The usual building blocks of a day tour.
Sung Sot Cave
One of the large caves open to visitors, with karst and stalactite chambers. It sits on route VHL2 with Ti Top and Luon. Visit length is not fixed, so follow your program.
Sung Sot Cave guide →Ti Top Island
A small beach for a swim and a climb of more than 400 stone steps to a viewpoint a little over 100 m high. The climb is not suited to everyone, and safe swimming conditions are not guaranteed.
Luon and kayaking
The Management Board describes exploring Luon by boat or kayak when the tide allows. Monkeys live nearby. The rule is simple: do not feed, chase, catch or provoke them, and the rule names no set distance, so keep well back.
Thien Cung and Dau Go
Both lie on Dau Go Island and share one visitor area on route VHL1. They are not an automatic add-on to Sung Sot, so check which route your tour follows.
Life jackets
One operator recommends life jackets for excursions, kayaking and swimming. That is a recommendation, not a rule that covers every activity, so ask for one in your size.
Opening hours
Hours posted in November 2024 were 7:30 am to 5:30 pm from April 16 to October 31 and 7:30 am to 5:00 pm from November 1 to April 15. Check the current hours before you go.
What to check before you book
Descriptions differ more than prices do.
Which route and which stops
Ask for the route number or the list of stops. A tour that starts in Tuan Chau does not by itself prove a visit to Sung Sot or Ti Top.
Kayak: included or extra
Kayak or bamboo boat may be part of the price or paid on the spot. Kayak areas vary, so ask where you will paddle.
What is in the price
The day cruise example includes breakfast and lunch buffets, visit fees, insurance, taxes and service charges. Drinks and tips are usually separate. Check the final total.
Cancellation terms
That example asks for full prepayment and charges $10 per person up to 7 days before arrival, with no refund later. Another operator may differ, so read the terms.
Weather suspensions
A booked ticket does not override a storm suspension. On August 22, 2026 departures were suspended from 7:00 am because of storm no. 4. See weather and best time.
Rules on the bay
Published visitor rules (September 2024) ask you to bring no single-use plastic, leave no trash in the water, never damage plants or stalactites, write no graffiti in caves and buy nothing from boats that pull alongside.
Plan the rest of your trip
Cruises, access and the quieter bay.
Halong Bay tours: frequently asked questions
Is a day trip from Hanoi worth it?
It works if you accept about 5 to 6 hours on the road, based on an operator estimate of 2.5 to 3 hours each way, plus the boat time. An overnight cruise saves some of that travel. The Hanoi guide has the details.
Does a Halong Bay tour always include kayaking?
No. Some offers include kayaking or a bamboo boat and others charge for it or leave it out. Check the program for the stop at Luon.
How much is the visit fee?
A table dated March 31, 2025 lists VND 250,000 for routes VHL1 and VHL2, VND 200,000 for VHL3 and VHL4 and VND 150,000 per day for VHL6. It is a per-person visit fee, not the price of the boat.
Can children visit and are there discounts?
An older rule dated 2024 exempted children under 1.20 m or 7 years and gave 20 percent off for ages 7 to under 16. The current rule is not confirmed, so ask your operator and bring passports as proof of age.
Are the caves open after the 2024 typhoon?
The Management Board reported visits to Sung Sot, Ti Top and Luon in a 2026 report, but open days are never guaranteed. Ask your operator which stops run on your date.