Ha Long Bay day trip: the best day cruises
7 activities compared. The most booked: Hanoi: Ha Long Bay day cruise with swimming, lunch and kayaking, rated 4.8/5 by 14,631 travellers.
If you are short on time, a day trip from Hanoi lets you see the bay, but expect about 5 hours on the road there and back for a few hours on the water. From Cat Ba Island, the day at sea is longer and quieter, in Lan Ha Bay.
Ranked by number of traveller reviews
Hanoi: Ha Long Bay day cruise with swimming, lunch and kayaking
4.8/5 · 14,631 reviews 1 day
See and bookCat Ba: Lan Ha and Ha Long Bay day tour with cycling, kayaking and lunch
4.8/5 · 1,693 reviews 9 hours
See and book
Ratings and reviews: GetYourGuide, collected on 1 November 2026. Price and availability are shown on the booking page.
Frequently asked questions
Is a Ha Long Bay day trip worth it?
Yes if you only have one day: it is the most-booked activity in Vietnam. But the road takes about 5 hours there and back: with a night on board the experience is far more complete.
What does a day trip include?
Usually: transfer from Hanoi, a cruise of a few hours, lunch on board, a cave and kayaking or a bamboo boat. Check the details on each offer.
Can you cancel a booked activity?
Most activities on GetYourGuide can be cancelled free of charge up to 24 hours before departure. Check the conditions on each activity page.
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