Tours out of Ho Chi Minh City and across Vietnam
Cruises and boat journeys
Two nights, and the morning that makes them worth it
A two-night cruise in Ha Long Bay, built around the middle day when the one-night boats have gone home and you have the outer islands largely to yourself.
Overview
What the second night changes
A one-night cruise in Ha Long is a transfer with a view: the boat leaves at midday, visits the same cave as fifty others, anchors, and turns back after breakfast. It is pleasant, and it is not really a day in the bay. The two-night version is. On the middle day the boat, or a smaller day boat from it, goes out to the far islands, and by afternoon you are kayaking in places the one-night boats never have time to reach.
The second morning is the reason this trip exists. Nobody has to pack. The light comes up on an anchorage with a handful of boats in it, and breakfast is slow.
In the north we book through a long-standing partner operator in Hanoi. We choose the boat ourselves, and you will know which one it is when you book.
- Length
- 3 days, 2 nights aboard
- Start and finish
- Hanoi
- Road
- About 2 hours 30 minutes each way
- On the water
- About 46 hours
- Cabins
- Private, with bathroom
- Best months
- October to December, March to May
Nights
Where you sleep
Day by day
Day by day
Day 1
Hanoi to the bay, a cave and the first anchorage
Your driver collects you in Hanoi at about 08:00. The expressway gets you to the pier in about two and a half hours, and you board around 11:30. Lunch as the boat sails out among the islands, then an afternoon visit to Sung Sot, the largest of the show caves, and a climb to a viewpoint or a swim from a small beach, depending on the route and the month. Sunset, dinner, and a night at anchor.
Day 2
The outer bay, by kayak and day boat
A lagoon by kayak with no other boats
After breakfast the one-night passengers leave, and the boat heads further out — on some boats you switch for the day to a smaller vessel that can reach shallower water. You kayak into enclosed lagoons through low arches, visit a floating fishing village, and stop for lunch on board among islands that see few visitors. Swimming from the deck in the warm months. Back to your cabin boat by late afternoon for a cooking demonstration and dinner.
Day 3
The quiet morning, and back to Hanoi
Tai chi on deck at 06:15 for those who want it, then a long breakfast as the boat cruises slowly back. Brunch before you disembark at around 10:30. Your driver has you in Hanoi by about 14:00.
Price
Price
| Travellers | Tier 1 — simple | Tier 2 — comfortable | Tier 3 — the good ones |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 travelling | from 495 | from 620 | from 940 |
| 4 travelling | from 405 | from 505 | from 770 |
| 6 travelling | from 365 | from 460 | from 695 |
As with any cruise, the boat is the price. The top tier buys a newer boat with larger cabins and private balconies; the simple tier is a well-run older boat with less space. Weekends, public holidays and the New Year period cost more, and single travellers pay a cabin supplement.
Included
What is included
What the price includes
- Two nights in a private cabin with bathroom, at your chosen tier
- All meals on board, from lunch on day 1 to brunch on day 3
- Private car and driver between Hanoi and the pier
- Kayaks, the cave visit, the day boat and the floating village
- Bay entrance fees and the boat’s English-speaking guide
What it does not include
- Drinks on board
- Tips for the crew
- Visas and travel insurance
Practical
Closures and the best months
Clear, calm weather comes in October to December and March to May. January and February are cool and often misty. July to September is typhoon season, when the authorities close the bay to all overnight boats several times each summer; a closure can come a few hours before departure. We offer a new date or a night in Ninh Binh instead, and a refund if neither suits. Two-night trips carry a slightly higher risk of a shortened itinerary in those months.
Swimming is comfortable from about April to October. In the cooler months the kayaking still runs.
Not for everyone
Who this does not suit
Two full days on a boat is a long time for people who get restless without a town to walk in; Lan Ha, with a day on Cat Ba island, is the better two-night choice for them. If crowds on the first afternoon will spoil it for you, Bai Tu Long is quieter from the start. And if your travel dates fall between July and September and you cannot move them, consider building your trip around Ninh Binh and treating the bay as a bonus.
Common questions
Questions travellers ask most
Do we change boats on day 2?
On some boats, yes: two-night guests spend the middle day on a smaller day boat and return to the same cabin in the evening. We tell you which applies when we confirm the boat.
Is it too much for children?
Children who like water do well; kayaks and swimming fill the middle day. Very young children may find two nights long.
Can we start from Hanoi airport?
Yes. We can collect you at Noi Bai and drive straight to the pier if your flight lands early enough.
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Or talk to us:+84 766 045 399