Ha Long Bay is a UNESCO World Heritage site in the Gulf of Tonkin, around 150–170 km east of Hanoi: more than a thousand limestone islands and islets, many with caves, rising from emerald water. To the south lies Lan Ha Bay, off Cat Ba Island, with similar scenery and generally fewer boats.
The expressway has cut the drive to roughly two and a half hours, making a day cruise possible: a boat trip of four to five hours with a cave, kayaking and lunch. But it is a long day, and an overnight cruise — with sunset, an evening on deck and sunrise among the islands — is how most people remember the bay. For Lan Ha Bay and Cat Ba, see our sister site CatBa.com.
What to see and do: Ha Long Bay & Lan Ha Bay
Day cruise from Hanoi
The most popular Ha Long day trip includes transport, a cave visit, kayaking or a bamboo boat and lunch.
Overnight cruise
One or two nights on a cruise ship. Compare the best-rated cruises; cabins with balconies are common now.
Lan Ha Bay and Cat Ba
Quieter waters, kayaking among the islands and Cat Ba National Park. Our sister site CatBa.com covers it in detail, including how to get from Hanoi to Cat Ba.
Caves and viewpoints
Sung Sot cave and the Ti Top island viewpoint are standard stops; routes vary by cruise.
How to get to Ha Long Bay & Lan Ha Bay
- On a tour: almost every cruise includes a shuttle from the Old Quarter — roughly 2.5–3 hours each way.
- By shuttle bus or limousine van: to Ha Long city or Tuan Chau harbour if your cruise does not include transfers.
- Via Cat Ba: combined bus-and-boat tickets run from Hanoi to Cat Ba Island for Lan Ha Bay.
Insider tips
- Cruises can be cancelled by the authorities in storms, especially in the typhoon season (roughly June to October); book a flexible ticket.
- Winter (December–February) is cool and often misty; summer is hot and sometimes stormy.
- Day cruises leave Hanoi early, typically around 7–8 am, and return in the evening.
Best tours & tickets for Ha Long Bay & Lan Ha Bay
These GetYourGuide experiences include Ha Long Bay & Lan Ha Bay or pair well with it:
Day cruise from €35 Hanoi: Ha Long Bay Day Cruise — Swimming, Meal, Kayaking
The most-booked day trip from Hanoi: road transport to Ha Long and several hours among the limestone islands with kayaking, swimming and a meal. Expect a long day with several hours on the road.
- Return transport from Hanoi
- Cruise, kayaking and swimming
- Meal on board
Day cruise from €37 Hanoi: Ha Long Bay Day Trip — Luxury Cruise & Buffet Lunch
A day on a more upscale cruise boat in Ha Long Bay with a buffet lunch and return transport from Hanoi.
- A more comfortable boat
- Buffet lunch
- Transport from Hanoi
Overnight cruise from €128 Hanoi: 2-Day Lan Ha & Ha Long Bay 5-Star Cruise with Balcony
An overnight cruise with balcony cabins in Lan Ha and Ha Long Bay, with transport from Hanoi. A night on board means sunset and sunrise among the islands.
- A night on the bay
- Cabin with balcony
- Over 5,000 reviews
Overnight cruise from €112 Hanoi: 2-Day Elite Lan Ha & Ha Long Cruise with Infinity Pool
An upscale overnight cruise in Lan Ha and Ha Long Bay on a ship with an infinity pool.
- Overnight on an upscale ship
- Infinity pool on board
- Rated 4.9
