one night on board

Halong Bay overnight cruise: what one night on board gives you

Is a Halong Bay overnight cruise worth it? For most first visits, yes: the drive from Hanoi is the same as for a day trip, but one night on board adds the late afternoon, the evening at anchor and the dawn on the water. All in from Hanoi, one night on a mid-range Halong Bay cruise, per person for two sharing a cabin, comes to VND 3,910,000 (about US$153, AUD 222 or GBP 114), with the bay fee and the transfer added where a listing leaves them out.

Sold as two days, one night, a Halong Bay overnight cruise is one night on board. On the two listings below that state both times, the boat leaves the pier at 11:00 and 11:30 and is back at 11:30 and 11:15 the next day; a third states only its pickup time. On Halong Bay (Vịnh Hạ Long) an overnight boat must be inside its overnight area by 18:30 winter / 19:00 summer.

The drive is the same either way: the listed shuttles take 2.5 to 3 hours by road each way. A day cruise spends both drives on one day for a few hours afloat; with one night on board the drive is split over two days. Under Quang Ninh Decision 43/2024, a boat that already has overnight guests may not also take on day sightseeing passengers.

24 hours 30 minutes on board, pier to pier, on the Victorious listing
18:30 winter / 19:00 summer latest anchorage time on Halong Bay, Decision 43/2024
VND 550,000 per visit per person bay fee for one night on route 2, per adult

Written by Rainer Lang Updated 14 November 2026

Some links on this page are affiliate links: the guide earns a commission when you book through them. The partner sets the price; the guide adds no fee.

Cruise boats at anchor between karst islands at dusk.

the clock

The overnight clock: one night on board, hour by hour

Two listings that state both times and one that states its pickup time, each drawn from the morning of day one to the afternoon of day two. The red line is the latest time the boat must be inside its overnight area. Switch between them to see how the hours on the water change with the bay and with what the listing leaves out.

Show the night on Halong BayInto Lan Ha BayWith the Hanoi pickup

Halong Bay: Victorious 2D1N Luxury Cruise: Halong Bay with Sung Sot & Ti Top

Sails Halong Bay; the night is spent on Halong Bay. Pier: Tuan Chau International Marina, Victorious Cruise Lounge, Lot 39.

Before The Hanoi shuttle is not in this listing's price: the listed shuttles take 2.5 to 3 hours by road, so most of the morning is spent getting there.
11:00 The boat leaves the pier, as listed.
Day 1 As the listing names it: Halong Bay, lunch, Luon Cave (kayak or bamboo boat), Ti Top Island, canape party, cooking class, dinner, squid fishing.
18:30 winter / 19:00 summer The latest time the boat must be inside its overnight area, set by Quang Ninh Decision 43/2024 for Halong Bay and Bai Tu Long Bay. From the listed departure that leaves 7 hours 30 minutes in winter, 8 hours in summer of cruising before the anchorage.
Kayaks Paddling and bamboo boats run only between 5:30 and 18:30 under the same decision, so evening paddling ends before the anchorage time and starts again at dawn.
Day 2 As the listing names it: tai chi, Sung Sot Cave, brunch.
11:30 Back at the pier, as listed: 24 hours 30 minutes after the boat left. The road back to Hanoi takes as long as the road out.

Into Lan Ha Bay: Azura 2D1N Luxury Cruise: Halong Bay & Lan Ha Bay Tour

Sails Lan Ha Bay; the night is spent on Lan Ha Bay. Pier: Azura Cruise waiting room, Lot 38 Tuan Chau Marina.

Before The Hanoi shuttle is not in this listing's price: the listed shuttles take 2.5 to 3 hours by road, so most of the morning is spent getting there.
11:30 The boat leaves the pier, as listed.
Day 1 As the listing names it: lunch at Aurea Dining, Ao Ech lagoon guided tour, Lan Ha Bay, sunset party, dinner.
19:00 in summer, 18:30 in winter The latest time the boat must be inside its overnight area, set by Hai Phong Decision 253/2025 for the Cat Ba bays. From the listed departure that leaves 7 hours in winter, 7 hours 30 minutes in summer of cruising before the anchorage.
Kayaks The listing names kayaking; whether kayak services run on the Cat Ba bays is set by the city, see kayaking in the bays.
Day 2 As the listing names it: Lan Ha Bay morning, breakfast, Dark & Bright Cave, check-out, lunch.
11:15 Back at the pier, as listed: 23 hours 45 minutes after the boat left. The road back to Hanoi takes as long as the road out.

With the Hanoi pickup: Halong Bay Luxury Overnight Cruise: Le Journey Elegance

Sails Halong Bay; the night is spent on Halong Bay. Pier: Tuan Chau International Cruise Port.

8:00 to 8:30 Pickup in Hanoi's Old Quarter, as listed, then the road to the pier.
11:30 to 12:00 Check-in at the pier, as listed. The listing does not state the departure time.
Day 1 As the listing names it: Hanoi, Halong Bay, Sung Sot Cave, Ti Top Island.
18:30 winter / 19:00 summer The latest time the boat must be inside its overnight area, set by Quang Ninh Decision 43/2024 for Halong Bay and Bai Tu Long Bay.
Kayaks Paddling and bamboo boats run only between 5:30 and 18:30 under the same decision, so evening paddling ends before the anchorage time and starts again at dawn.
Day 2 The return time is not stated in the listing; ask the seller when the boat is back at the pier before you book onward travel.

Drawing: road cruising, as listed between the winter and summer anchorage times at anchor kayak hours on Halong Bay. A hatched block is a time the listing does not state. Times are as each listing states them; the boat's own schedule on the day can differ.

reading it

What the clock says about one night on board

Read the three strips together and the shape of a Halong Bay one night cruise is the same on every boat. The morning of day one goes to the road and the pier. The cruising on day one is the stretch between the listed departure and the anchorage time: on the Victorious listing that is 7 hours 30 minutes in winter, 8 hours in summer, on the Azura listing, which spends the night in Lan Ha Bay, 7 hours in winter, 7 hours 30 minutes in summer. Everything the listing promises for day one, the cave, the island climb, the kayaks, the cooking class, fits into that stretch or happens after the boat has anchored.

Day two is short. Both listings that state a return have the boat back at the pier by late morning, so the second day gives you the dawn on the water, a morning stop and a meal on board. Then the road again. On the Le Journey listing the pickup and the pier check-in are stated, but the departure and the return are not; when a listing leaves a time out, ask the seller before you book a train, a flight or the next night's hotel.

The anchorage time is the same on both sides: 18:30 winter / 19:00 summer on Halong Bay and Bai Tu Long Bay under Quang Ninh Decision 43/2024, and 19:00 in summer, 18:30 in winter on the Cat Ba bays under Hai Phong Decision 253/2025. Both decisions set an earlier time for winter than for summer, so the cruising on day one is shorter in winter, and a boat that leaves the pier earlier in the morning keeps more of the afternoon on the water.

Ti Top Island beach and viewpoint — View from the Ti Top lookout over anchored cruise ships and islands.Photo: Jakub Hałun / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0

the choice

Halong Bay one night cruise or a day cruise?

The same bay, two ways to see it. A day cruise and a cruise with one night on board differ less in what you see than in when you see it.

Day cruise, one night or two nights on board
What you get	Day cruise	One night on board	Two nights on board
The drive from Hanoi	There and back on the same day	Out on day one, back on day two	Out on day one, back on day three
Evening on the bay	No: back at the pier the same day	Late afternoon until the anchorage time	Two evenings
Night at anchor	None	One, in an overnight area	Two
Kayak hours	One window, if the route has a kayak stop	Afternoon of day one and the early morning of day two	Also the whole middle day
Halong Bay fee	The day fee for the route	The one-night fee: VND 550,000 per visit per person on route 2	The two-night fee for the route
Who it suits	Short stays, travelers who sleep badly on boats	Most first visits	Those who want the outer bays and a day without the road

A day cruise suits you if you have one free day in Hanoi or are already staying in Halong City: see Halong Bay day cruises. One night adds the evening and the morning without a second day of transfers. Two nights add a full middle day with no road at all, which the two-night listings on this site use for stops farther out, such as Vung Vieng in Bai Tu Long Bay or Viet Hai village by Lan Ha Bay; see the 2-night cruise guide.

Cruise boat sundeck — Sun loungers on the open upper deck of a cruise boat.Photo: Christophe95 / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

Halong Bay in mist or fog — Karst islands and a wooden junk reflected in still water in early morning mist.Photo: aschaf / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0

per person

What a Halong Bay one night cruise costs

Each total is the middle cruise of a small set of listings, all in from Hanoi: the listed price, plus the bay fee and the Hanoi transfer both ways where the listing leaves them out. Prices are "from" prices, per person, as listed on each listing's read date.

One night on board, all in from Hanoi
Trip	VND	US$, AUD, GBP
2 days 1 night on board, Halong Bay, mid-range, per person, two sharing a cabin	VND 3,910,000	about US$153, AUD 222 or GBP 114
2 days 1 night on board, Lan Ha Bay, mid-range, per person, two sharing a cabin	VND 4,020,000	about US$157, AUD 228 or GBP 117
2 days 1 night on board, Lan Ha Bay, solo with the single supplement the listing states	VND 5,630,000	about US$220, AUD 320 or GBP 165

Each part of these totals, listing by listing, is on Halong Bay cruise prices, where you can switch any cruise to solo or to another currency.

Sightseeing fee for one night, per adult
Bay and route	Fee
Halong Bay route 2	VND 550,000 per visit per person
Halong Bay route 3	VND 500,000 per visit per person
Halong Bay route 4	VND 500,000 per visit per person
Cat Ba bays (adult / child 6 and over)	VND 400,000 / 300,000 per person

The Ha Long Bay Management Board sets out the Halong Bay fees from the Quang Ninh Provincial People's Council resolutions and counts one night as 24 hours from departure (2 nights = 48 hours). A cruise that runs a little longer, like the Victorious listing at 24 hours 30 minutes pier to pier, is still sold and listed as one night; the board's notice does not say how it charges the extra half hour, so ask the seller which fee the price assumes. The Cat Ba bays fee is set by the Hai Phong City People's Council, Resolution 47/2025. Many listings name the fee in their inclusions; where one does not, the cruise cards below add it.

nine cruises, one night each

Overnight Halong Bay cruises to compare

Nine overnight Halong Bay cruises with one night on board, each card naming the bay as the itinerary sails it, not as the title sells it. The first three cover the three ways to spend the night: on Halong Bay, crossing into Lan Ha Bay from Tuan Chau, and in Lan Ha Bay from the Cat Ba side.

1 night
Viator, Bhaya Cruises Company Limited

All inclusive Bhaya Classic cruise 2-Day 1-Night Halong Bay Tour

Sails: Halong Bay route 2 (VHL2). Pier: Bhaya Cruise Center, No. 9 International Port, Ngoc Chau Harbor, Tuan Chau, Quang Ninh.
- 2 days 1 night, 1 night on board
- Bay fee not named in the inclusions: VND 550,000 per adult (Quang Ninh Provincial People's Council, Resolution 51/2025)
- Hanoi transfer at extra cost
- Free cancellation up to 6 days before the experience for a full refund (as listed)
from US$120 per person for the lowest option on the listing, as listed on 14 November 2026

All in from Hanoi: VND 4,230,000 (about US$165)

4.9 from 2,363 reviews

Check dates: All inclusive Bhaya Classic cruise 2-Day 1-Night Halong
1 night
Viator, A Travel Mate And Trading Company Limited

Overnight Halong Bay Cruise on the Starlight

Sails: Halong Bay route 2 (VHL2). Pier: Halong International Cruise Port.
- 2 days 1 night, 1 night on board
- Bay fee not named in the inclusions: VND 550,000 per adult (Quang Ninh Provincial People's Council, Resolution 51/2025)
- Hanoi transfer not named as included
- Kayak or bamboo boat listed
- Free cancellation up to 6 days before the experience for a full refund (as listed)
from US$145 per person for the lowest option on the listing, as listed on 14 November 2026

All in from Hanoi: VND 4,870,000 (about US$190)

4.8 from 756 reviews

Check dates: Overnight Halong Bay Cruise on the Starlight
1 night
Viator, Amanda Cruise Halong

Halong Bay - Hera Cruise - All Inclusive Multi Days Tour

Sails: Halong Bay route 2 (VHL2). Pier: Pier not stated in the listing.
- 2 days 1 night, 1 night on board
- Bay fee not named in the inclusions: VND 550,000 per adult (Quang Ninh Provincial People's Council, Resolution 51/2025)
- Hanoi transfer not named as included
- Kayak or bamboo boat listed
- Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the experience for a full refund (as listed)
from US$53.20 per person for the lowest option on the listing, as listed on 14 November 2026

All in from Hanoi: VND 2,520,000 (about US$98)

4.9 from 2,876 reviews

Check dates: Halong Bay - Hera Cruise - All Inclusive

Show 6 more overnight cruises

1 night
GetYourGuide, BAT Group Trading Transport and Tourism Co. Ltd

Hanoi: 2-Day 1-Night Lan Ha & Halong Bay Cruise with Balcony

Sails: Connecting itinerary from Halong Bay into Lan Ha Bay, sailed since 20 April 2026; route code not stated in the listing. Pier: Tuan Chau Wharf / Tuan Chau Harbor.
- 2 days 1 night, 1 night on board
- Bay fee not named in the inclusions; the fee depends on a route the listing does not state
- Hanoi transfer not in the price
- Kayak or bamboo boat listed
- Free cancellation up to 24 hours before start for a full refund (as listed)
from US$142 per person for the lowest option on the listing, as listed on 14 November 2026

From Hanoi, before the bay fee: VND 4,280,000 (about US$167) plus a bay fee of VND 400,000 or more per adult

4.7 from 5,656 reviews

Check dates: 2-Day 1-Night Lan Ha & Halong Bay Cruise
1 night
GetYourGuide, Venezia Cruises

Hanoi: 2-Day 1-Night Lan Ha Bay Cruise with Meals & Activities

Sails: Lan Ha Bay. Route not stated in the listing. Pier: Pier not stated in the listing.
- 2 days 1 night, 1 night on board
- Bay fee not named in the inclusions: VND 400,000 per adult (Hai Phong City People's Council, Resolution 47/2025)
- Hanoi transfer not in the price
- Kayak or bamboo boat listed
- Free cancellation up to 24 hours before start for a full refund (as listed)
from US$126 per person for the lowest option on the listing, as listed on 14 November 2026

All in from Hanoi: VND 4,350,000 (about US$170)

4.8 from 912 reviews

Check dates: 2-Day 1-Night Lan Ha Bay Cruise
1 night
GetYourGuide, Halong Bay Lux Cruises - Marvel Travel

Hanoi: 2-Day 1-Night Halong, Lan Ha Bay Cruise with Balcony

Bay unknown: bay, route and pier not stated in the listing; ask the seller which bay it sails.
- 2 days 1 night, 1 night on board
- Bay fee not named in the inclusions; the fee depends on a route the listing does not state
- Hanoi transfer not in the price
- Free cancellation up to 24 hours before start for a full refund (as listed)
from US$126 per person for the lowest option on the listing, as listed on 14 November 2026

From Hanoi, before the bay fee: VND 3,870,000 (about US$151) plus a bay fee of VND 400,000 or more per adult

4.8 from 6,298 reviews

Check dates: 2-Day 1-Night Halong, Lan Ha Bay Cruise
1 night
GetYourGuide, Cat Ba Eco Tours

Lan Ha Bay Cruise with private balcony: biking, kayaking, meals

Sails: Lan Ha Bay. Route not stated in the listing. Pier: Pier not stated in the listing.
- 2 days 1 night, 1 night on board
- Bay fee not named in the inclusions: VND 400,000 per adult (Hai Phong City People's Council, Resolution 47/2025)
- Hanoi transfer not in the price
- Kayak or bamboo boat listed
- Free cancellation up to 24 hours before start for a full refund (as listed)
from US$113 per person for the lowest option on the listing, as listed on 14 November 2026

All in from Hanoi: VND 4,020,000 (about US$157)

4.8 from 156 reviews

Check dates: Lan Ha Bay Cruise with private balcony
1 night
Viator, Halong Bay Lux Cruises

Bai Tu Long Bay 2 Day 1 Night Cruise

Sails: Halong Bay, then Bai Tu Long Bay. Route not stated in the listing. Pier: Pier not stated in the listing.
- 2 days 1 night, 1 night on board
- Bay fee in the price
- Hanoi transfer at extra cost
- Kayak or bamboo boat listed
- Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the experience for a full refund (as listed)
from US$100 per person for the lowest option on the listing, as listed on 14 November 2026

All in from Hanoi: VND 3,170,000 (about US$124)

4.9 from 155 reviews

Check dates: Bai Tu Long Bay 2 Day 1 Night
1 night
Viator, Halong Bay Cruise Hunters

Halong Bay Overnight Cruise All Inclusive 2 Days

Bay unknown: bay, route and pier not stated in the listing; ask the seller which bay it sails.
- 2 days 1 night, 1 night on board
- Bay fee in the price
- Hanoi transfer not named as included
- Kayak or bamboo boat listed
- Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the experience for a full refund (as listed)
from US$44.85 per person for the lowest option on the listing, as listed on 14 November 2026

All in from Hanoi: VND 1,760,000 (about US$68)

4.7 from 3,560 reviews

Check dates: Halong Bay Overnight Cruise All Inclusive 2 Days

Compare the line under each price, not the price itself. The lowest listed prices, even on listings sold as luxury or all inclusive, are "from" prices for the cheapest cabin on the cheapest date, and a low price usually leaves more out: the Hanoi transfer, the bay fee, drinks or a window in the cabin. Each card says what its listing leaves out and adds the fee and the transfer to its total.

Three cards worth a closer look. All inclusive Bhaya Classic cruise 2-Day 1-Night Halong Bay Tour stays on Halong Bay route 2 and leaves the fee out of the price, so the card adds it. Hanoi: 2-Day 1-Night Lan Ha & Halong Bay Cruise with Balcony boards at Tuan Chau and crosses into Lan Ha Bay; its transfer from Hanoi is an add-on the listing prices itself. Bai Tu Long Bay 2 Day 1 Night Cruise is a Bai Tu Long Bay cruise: its stops sit in Bai Tu Long Bay after leaving Halong Bay, which the title says and the card shows.

overnight areas

Where the boats spend the night

Boats do not anchor wherever they like. The Ha Long Bay Management Board prices overnight stays on Halong Bay only for routes 2, 3 and 4, and names an overnight area for each.

Overnight areas on Halong BayHa Long Bay Management Board, fee page
Route	Overnight area
Route 2 (VHL2)	Trong Cave, Trinh Nu Cave, Ho Dong Tien, Hon Lat 690, Ti Top Island 587
Route 3 (VHL3)	Tien Ong Cave area
Route 4 (VHL4)	Cong Do area

Under Quang Ninh Decision 43/2024 the overnight anchorages are set by the Ha Long Bay Management Board (Halong Bay) or the Bai Tu Long National Park Management Board (Bai Tu Long Bay). The one-night Halong Bay cruises on this page that name their stops sail route 2; each route's stops are on the official routes page, and the piers and anchorages are drawn on the bay map.

Lan Ha Bay is a separate bay in Hai Phong, with its own rules: there the boat must be inside its overnight area by 19:00 in summer, 18:30 in winter, under Hai Phong Decision 253/2025. Cruises that sail from Halong Bay into Lan Ha Bay on the connecting itineraries are all overnight cruises with no day tours, according to the Ministry of Construction, and started on 20 April 2026. Boats that start from the Cat Ba side, such as Hanoi: 2-Day 1-Night Lan Ha Bay Cruise with Meals & Activities, spend the night in Lan Ha Bay without crossing Halong Bay at all. More on that side in Lan Ha Bay cruises.

Overnight cruise boats at anchor in Halong Bay — A cruise boat and tender close to a limestone island in Halong Bay.Photo: Shyamal L. / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

on the water

Kayaks, caves and the early morning

Most one-night listings name a kayak or bamboo-boat stop and a cave. Both run on the bay's clock, not the boat's.

On Halong Bay and Bai Tu Long Bay, kayaks, bamboo boats and other water recreation craft may operate only between 5:30 and 18:30, under Quang Ninh Decision 43/2024. On one night on board that gives you two short windows: the afternoon of day one, before the boat anchors, and the early morning of day two, before the run back to the pier. After dark, the evening activity several listings name is squid fishing from the deck.

On the Cat Ba bays the rules differ and have changed in recent years; where kayaking stands there, and where to paddle on each bay, is on kayaking in the bays. The same Quang Ninh decision bans discharging wastewater and using single-use plastic and plastic bags on tourist boats inside the Halong Bay heritage area.

Kayaks in Halong Bay — Kayaks spread across a green-water cove ringed by limestone islands.Photo: Christophe95 / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

Sung Sot Cave interior — Stalagmites and rock formations lit in the main chamber of Sung Sot Cave.Photo: Jakub Hałun / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0

Luon Cave (boat or kayak through the arch) — The rock arch of Luon Cave seen from the water, with a boat beyond.Photo: Mig Gilbert from Brighton / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0

the listing

Reading a two days, one night listing before you book

Seller titles are written to sell. Seven lines in the listing tell you what a Halong Bay 1 night cruise really holds.

Where the night is spent. Two days, one night should mean one night on board. Some listings sold under the same words put you in a Cat Ba hotel or a village bungalow instead; the cards on this site say which.
The pier. Tuan Chau, the Bai Chay cruise port and the Cat Ba side are different piers. The pier sets the drive and, often, the bay; see Hanoi to Halong Bay.
The transfer. Some listings include the Hanoi shuttle, some sell it as an option, some leave it out. The cards say which and price the gap.
The bay fee. Named in the inclusions or not: Halong Bay - Hera Cruise - All Inclusive Multi Days Tour names its activity tickets but not the bay fee, for example. If the fee is not named, add VND 550,000 per visit per person for one night on route 2.
The cabin. The price is for the cheapest cabin; Overnight Halong Bay Cruise on the Starlight lists a bathtub in its cabin, many do not. A balcony or a bathtub is often an upgrade; see luxury Halong Bay cruises for what each price step holds.
Solo. A single traveler pays a supplement where the listing states one: one night on Halong Bay for a solo traveler, single supplement included, comes to VND 5,630,000.
Cancellation. Read the listing's own terms; they range from free cancellation a day ahead to non-refundable. On the Cat Ba bays, ending a cruise earlier than contracted requires the written consent of the guests' representative, under Hai Phong Decision 253/2025.

Ha Long International Cruise Port (Bai Chay) — The Bai Chay cruise pier with a large cruise ship and tour boats alongside, from the cable car.Photo: Jakub Hałun / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0

the weather

Season and storms for a Halong Bay one night cruise

One night on board is one night exposed to the weather. When a storm comes close, the port authority stops departures, and the odds of that change sharply with the month.

Jannone recorded in 1991 to 2025
Febnone recorded in 1991 to 2025
Marnone recorded in 1991 to 2025
Aprunder 1%
Maynone recorded in 1991 to 2025
Jun1% to 3%
Jul6% to 8%
Aug4% to 8%
Sep4% to 8%
Oct2% to 5%
Nov0.6% to 1.4%
Decnone recorded in 1991 to 2025

Each bar is the odds that a storm stop overlaps a trip with one night on board, by month, from the international storm track record. A stop for Halong Bay and Bai Tu Long Bay is ordered by the Quang Ninh Inland Waterway Port Authority; the captain moves the boat to shelter. What you get back is set by the operator's and the booking site's terms, as each listing states them.

For month-by-month weather see the best time to visit Halong Bay; for what happens to a booking when a stop is ordered, storm cancellations.

before you go

Safety advisories and the boat

Two governments write about boats on the bay in their travel advice. Read them in their own words.

The UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office advises travelers, before taking an overnight boat trip on Halong Bay, to consider safety standards carefully (FCDO travel advice, dated 21 September 2026). Australia's Smartraveller states that boats, hydrofoils and ferries in Vietnam may not meet Australian safety standards and that vessels have sunk and people have died, including on Halong Bay (Smartraveller, updated 24 September 2026).

Choose a boat whose company you can look up. How to check a company's license is in the questions below, and the full picture, from boat categories to complaints, is on safety on a Halong Bay cruise.

Wide Halong Bay seascape with karst islands — A lone limestone pinnacle with smaller islands behind it on a clear day in eastern Halong Bay.Photo: Christophe95 / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

before you book

Halong Bay overnight cruise questions

Is a Halong Bay overnight cruise worth it?

For most first visits, yes. The drive from Hanoi is the same as for a day cruise, but one night on board adds the late afternoon, the evening at anchor and the early morning on the water. If you sleep badly on boats or have only one free day, a day cruise covers the main caves and islands.

What time does an overnight cruise leave and return?

On the two listings here that state both times, the boat leaves at 11:00 and 11:30 and returns at 11:30 and 11:15 the next day. The boat must anchor by 18:30 winter / 19:00 summer on Halong Bay. Where a listing includes the Hanoi pickup, it states the time: 8:00 to 8:30 in the Old Quarter on the Le Journey listing.

How do I check that a cruise company is licensed?

Search the company's name or license number in the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism's database of licensed travel businesses, quanlyluhanh.vn, by name, license number, province or scope. Booking through a partner site such as GetYourGuide or Viator adds that site's own terms, which each listing shows.

Does the license deposit refund a canceled cruise?

No. A domestic tour operator lodges a bank deposit of VND 100,000,000 under Decree 168/2017, but it is not a refund fund for canceled cruises. After a license is revoked, the deposit goes back to the company if no complaint about its obligations to tourists arrives within 20 days.

Who do I call with a complaint on the bay?

The Ha Long Bay Management Board lists its hotline as 0812488111. For a booking made through a partner site, contact that site first: its terms decide refunds. Keep the listing page and the booking confirmation, which show what the price included.

Choose your night on the bay

Compare every cruise by bay, nights and all-in budget in the Halong Bay cruise chooser. For a second night, read Halong Bay 2-night cruises; for bigger cabins and more included, luxury Halong Bay cruises.

Sunset over the bay — A fishing boat silhouetted against the setting sun among low karst ridges.Photo: Mustang Joe / Wikimedia Commons, CC0

Sources

The Ha Long Bay Management Board states the overnight sightseeing fee for Halong Bay route 2 with 1 night as VND 550,000 per visit per person. Ha Long Bay Management Board (halongbay.com.vn), 'Mức phí tham quan vịnh Hạ Long', citing Quang Ninh Provincial People's Council Resolutions 62/2017/NQ-HĐND and 51/2025/NQ-HĐND, 31 March 2025.
The Ha Long Bay Management Board states the overnight sightseeing fee for Halong Bay route 3 with 1 night as VND 500,000 per visit per person. Ha Long Bay Management Board (halongbay.com.vn), 'Mức phí tham quan vịnh Hạ Long', citing Quang Ninh Provincial People's Council Resolutions 62/2017/NQ-HĐND and 51/2025/NQ-HĐND, 31 March 2025.
The Ha Long Bay Management Board states the overnight sightseeing fee for Halong Bay route 4 with 1 night as VND 500,000 per visit per person. Ha Long Bay Management Board (halongbay.com.vn), 'Mức phí tham quan vịnh Hạ Long', citing Quang Ninh Provincial People's Council Resolutions 62/2017/NQ-HĐND and 51/2025/NQ-HĐND, 31 March 2025.
For Halong Bay overnight fees, the Ha Long Bay Management Board counts one night as 24 hours from departure (2 nights = 48 hours). Ha Long Bay Management Board (halongbay.com.vn), 'Mức phí tham quan vịnh Hạ Long', citing Quang Ninh Provincial People's Council Resolutions 62/2017/NQ-HĐND and 51/2025/NQ-HĐND, 31 March 2025.
The Ha Long Bay Management Board's fee page prices overnight stays on Halong Bay only for routes 2, 3 and 4. Ha Long Bay Management Board (halongbay.com.vn), 'Mức phí tham quan vịnh Hạ Long', citing Quang Ninh Provincial People's Council Resolutions 62/2017/NQ-HĐND and 51/2025/NQ-HĐND, 31 March 2025.
The Ha Long Bay Management Board names the overnight areas on Halong Bay route 2 as Trong Cave, Trinh Nu Cave, Ho Dong Tien, Hon Lat 690, Ti Top Island 587 overnight areas. Ha Long Bay Management Board (halongbay.com.vn), 'Mức phí tham quan vịnh Hạ Long', citing Quang Ninh Provincial People's Council Resolutions 62/2017/NQ-HĐND and 51/2025/NQ-HĐND, 31 March 2025.
The Ha Long Bay Management Board names the overnight area on Halong Bay route 3 as Tien Ong Cave area. Ha Long Bay Management Board (halongbay.com.vn), 'Mức phí tham quan vịnh Hạ Long', citing Quang Ninh Provincial People's Council Resolutions 62/2017/NQ-HĐND and 51/2025/NQ-HĐND, 31 March 2025.
The Ha Long Bay Management Board names the overnight area on Halong Bay route 4 as Cong Do area. Ha Long Bay Management Board (halongbay.com.vn), 'Mức phí tham quan vịnh Hạ Long', citing Quang Ninh Provincial People's Council Resolutions 62/2017/NQ-HĐND and 51/2025/NQ-HĐND, 31 March 2025.
Under Quang Ninh Decision 43/2024/QĐ-UBND, water recreation craft (such as kayaks) may operate on Halong Bay and Bai Tu Long Bay between 5:30 and 18:30 local time. Quang Ninh Provincial People's Committee, Decision 43/2024/QĐ-UBND of 8 Oct 2024 (in force 20 Oct 2024), Regulation on managing inland waterway vessels serving tourists on Halong Bay and Bai Tu Long Bay, 8 October 2024.
Under Quang Ninh Decision 43/2024/QĐ-UBND, an overnight boat that already has overnight guests may not also take on day sightseeing passengers. Quang Ninh Provincial People's Committee, Decision 43/2024/QĐ-UBND of 8 Oct 2024 (in force 20 Oct 2024), Regulation on managing inland waterway vessels serving tourists on Halong Bay and Bai Tu Long Bay, 8 October 2024.
Quang Ninh Decision 43/2024/QĐ-UBND bans discharging wastewater and using single-use plastic and plastic bags on tourist boats inside the Halong Bay heritage area. Quang Ninh Provincial People's Committee, Decision 43/2024/QĐ-UBND of 8 Oct 2024 (in force 20 Oct 2024), Regulation on managing inland waterway vessels serving tourists on Halong Bay and Bai Tu Long Bay, 8 October 2024.
Smartraveller states that boats, hydrofoils and ferries in Vietnam may not meet Australian safety standards and that vessels have sunk and people have died, including in Ha Long Bay. Australian Government DFAT, Smartraveller, Vietnam travel advice (updated 24 Sep 2026, still current 14 Nov 2026), 24 September 2026.
Under Hai Phong Resolution 47/2025/NQ-HĐND the fee for touring the Cat Ba bays with 1 overnight stay(s) on the bays is (adult / child 6+) VND 400,000 / 300,000 per person. Hai Phong City People's Council, Resolution 47/2025/NQ-HĐND (10 Dec 2025), full text as reproduced by thuvienphapluat.vn, 10 December 2025.
Under Hai Phong Decision 253/2025/QĐ-UBND, overnight boats on the Cat Ba bays must be inside the overnight area by 19:00 in summer, 18:30 in winter local time. Hai Phong City People's Committee, Decision 253/2025/QĐ-UBND (31 Dec 2025), Regulation on tourism and tourist boats on the Cat Ba bays, full text as reproduced by thuvienphapluat.vn, 31 December 2025.
Under Hai Phong Decision 253/2025/QĐ-UBND, ending a Cat Ba bays cruise earlier than contracted requires written consent of the guests' representative. Hai Phong City People's Committee, Decision 253/2025/QĐ-UBND (31 Dec 2025), Regulation on tourism and tourist boats on the Cat Ba bays, full text as reproduced by thuvienphapluat.vn, 31 December 2025.
Decree 168/2017/NĐ-CP Art. 14 sets the bank deposit for a domestic tour operator at VND 100,000,000. Government of Vietnam, Decree 168/2017/NĐ-CP Art. 14 and Decree 94/2021/NĐ-CP, texts as reproduced by thuvienphapluat.vn, 31 December 2017.
The UK FCDO advises travelers before taking an overnight boat trip on Halong Bay to consider safety standards carefully. UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, Foreign travel advice: Vietnam, 21 September 2026.
The Vietnam National Authority of Tourism runs the official online database of licensed travel businesses (search by company name, license number, province and scope) at quanlyluhanh.vn. Vietnam National Authority of Tourism (Cục Du lịch Quốc gia Việt Nam), travel business database quanlyluhanh.vn.
Under Circular 06/2017/TT-BVHTTDL as amended (consolidated 2026), after a travel license is revoked the deposit is released to the company only if, counted from publication of the revocation, no complaint about obligations to tourists arrives within 20 days. Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, consolidated text (VBHN 2026) of Circular 06/2017/TT-BVHTTDL as amended to Circular 21/2025/TT-BVHTTDL.
The Ha Long Bay Management Board lists its hotline (đường dây nóng) as 0812488111. Ha Long Bay Management Board (Ban Quản lý vịnh Hạ Long), halongbay.com.vn, 'Số điện thoại cần biết', 27 August 2025.
Ha Long Bay to Lan Ha Bay connecting cruises (itineraries VHL3, VHL4, VHL5 and VHL6 to Lan Ha Bay) are all overnight cruises with no day tours, according to the Ministry of Construction, and started on 20 April 2026. Ministry of Construction news, 'Chính thức vận hành tàu chạy tuyến kết nối Vịnh Hạ Long - Vịnh Lan Hạ', 21/04/2026, 21 April 2026.
Overnight cruise boats on Halong Bay and Bai Tu Long Bay must be inside the overnight anchorage by 18:30 in winter and 19:00 in summer, under Quang Ninh Decision 43/2024/QD-UBND 18:30 winter / 19:00 summer local time. Quang Ninh Provincial People's Committee, Decision 43/2024/QD-UBND, Article 14(3), 8 October 2024.
Under Quang Ninh Decision 43/2024/QD-UBND a boat carrying overnight guests may not also take on day-sightseeing passengers, and the overnight anchorages are set by the Bay Management Board, which is the Ha Long Bay Management Board (Halong Bay) or the Bai Tu Long National Park Management Board (Bai Tu Long Bay). Quang Ninh Provincial People's Committee, Decision 43/2024/QD-UBND, Articles 3 and 8(3), 8 October 2024.
Headline costs. Added up from the listed prices, bay fees and fares each cost names; each part has its own source in this list
Times and inclusions of overnight cruises. Each partner listing's itinerary, inclusions and cabin text as read on its read date, set against the latest anchorage time in Quang Ninh Decision 43/2024/QD-UBND (Halong Bay, Bai Tu Long Bay) and Hai Phong Decision 253/2025/QD-UBND (the Cat Ba bays)
Partner listing details. Each partner listing page as read on its read date (pier, cancellation terms, rating)

Photographs

Overnight cruise boats at anchor in Halong Bay. Photo: lumoplank / Wikimedia Commons, CC0
Ti Top Island beach and viewpoint. Photo: Jakub Hałun / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0
Cruise boat sundeck. Photo: Christophe95 / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Overnight cruise boats at anchor in Halong Bay. Photo: Shyamal L. / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Halong Bay in mist or fog. Photo: aschaf / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
Kayaks in Halong Bay. Photo: Christophe95 / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Sung Sot Cave interior. Photo: Jakub Hałun / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0
Luon Cave (boat or kayak through the arch). Photo: Mig Gilbert from Brighton / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0
Ha Long International Cruise Port (Bai Chay). Photo: Jakub Hałun / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0
Wide Halong Bay seascape with karst islands. Photo: Christophe95 / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Ti Top Island beach and viewpoint. Photo: Steffen Schmitz (more photos) / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Sunset over the bay. Photo: Mustang Joe / Wikimedia Commons, CC0