things to do

Things to do in Halong Bay, sorted by the time you have

The things to do in Halong Bay are on the water, and each one sits on an official sightseeing route. On a day trip you see one route: Sung Sot Cave, Ti Top Island and Luon Cave on route 2, or Thien Cung and Dau Go caves on route 1. A night on board adds the anchorages and the far routes, with the Cua Van and Vung Vieng fishing villages. Bai Chay and Ha Long City on land are where the boats leave from.

So start from the time you have. A day trip from Hanoi leaves room for one route (the Sunlight Grand listing gives 6 hours 30 minutes on the bay); a day from the pier lets you pick the route; a night on board gives you two routes' worth of the bay. The picker below sorts every Halong Bay attraction that way, with the hours the Ha Long Bay Management Board sets and the fee for its route.

A day visit pays one route fee and covers three or four things. In Halong Bay, Vietnam (Vịnh Hạ Long), that fee is VND 250,000 per visit per person for a day on route 2, set by the Quang Ninh Provincial People's Council, and the listed day cruises include it.

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.

Limestone peaks rising from open water in the eastern part of Halong Bay, close to Cua Van.

pick your time

Halong Bay attractions by how long you are there

Choose how you are there. Each tab lists the things that fit, three first and the rest below, with the route code (it links to the route on the official list), the board's summer and winter hours, the fee for that route and the board's own line on the place.

How are you there?

Day trip from HanoiDay from the Halong pierA night on boardOn land

A day trip from Hanoi: room for one route

The shuttle from Hanoi to the bay takes 2.5 to 3 hours each way, as the listed shuttles state, and the same back in the evening. The listed day trips from Hanoi all sail route 2: Sung Sot Cave, Ti Top Island and Luon Cave. Halong Bay Day Tour with Sung Sot and Ti Top by Cozy Bay Cruise on Klook offers a Hanoi pickup option and lists admission in the price.

A day from the Halong pier: pick the route, or a half day

Sleeping in Bai Chay or Tuan Chau the night before frees the whole day, so you choose the route: route 1 for Thien Cung Cave close to the ports, route 2 for Sung Sot, or route 3 for the Cua Van floating village. For a half day, Explore Halong Bay on a 4-Hour Scenic Cruise with Kayaking and a Cave Visit lists Thien Cung and a boat at Ba Hang from Tuan Chau International Marina.

With a night on board: the anchorages and the far routes

A night on board adds the anchorages the day boats never reach, and a morning on the water before the day boats arrive. The overnight fee replaces the day fee: VND 550,000 per visit per person for one night on route 2, VND 500,000 per visit per person on route 3 and VND 500,000 per visit per person on route 4. All inclusive Bhaya Classic cruise 2-Day 1-Night Halong Bay Tour on Viator names Trinh Nu Cave on its first day.

On land in Bai Chay and Ha Long City

Bai Chay and Ha Long City are where the cruises start, not a list of sights of their own on this page. Use the day on land to arrive, sleep near the pier and board early.

Where to stay: Bai Chay, Tuan Chau and Cat Ba Island compared as a base.
Hanoi to Halong Bay: the shuttle buses and limousines with their stated times.
Cat Ba Island things to do: the national park, Cannon Fort and Lan Ha Bay by day boat.

VHL2

Sung Sot Cave

A climb from the pier, then a lit path through the chambers.

Hours
7:30 to 17:30 (16 Apr to 31 Oct); 7:30 to 17:00 (1 Nov to 15 Apr)

Day fee
VND 250,000 per visit per person on VHL2

Board note
The board calls it the largest cave discovered in Halong Bay to date

Sung Sot on the caves page
VHL2

Ti Top Island

Day cruises on route 2 list a stop here; the Cozy Bay listing names a summit climb, as listed.

Hours
7:30 to 17:30 (16 Apr to 31 Oct); 7:30 to 17:00 (1 Nov to 15 Apr)

Day fee
VND 250,000 per visit per person on VHL2

Board note
Named by Ho Chi Minh after his visit with Gherman Titov in 1962
VHL2

Luon Cave, through the arch

You change from the cruise boat into a rowing boat or a kayak.

Hours
7:30 to 17:30 (16 Apr to 31 Oct); 7:30 to 17:00 (1 Nov to 15 Apr)

Day fee
VND 250,000 per visit per person on VHL2

Board note
Into the enclosed lagoon by rowing boats or kayaking

kayaking rules
Routes VHL1 to VHL4

Kayak or bamboo boat

Kayaking as each listing states it, inside the hours Quang Ninh Decision 43/2024 sets.

The rule
Water recreation craft may operate only between 5:30 and 18:30

the kayaking guide
VHL1

Thien Cung Cave

Colored lighting on the flowstone; the closest big cave to the ports.

Hours
7:30 to 17:30 (16 Apr to 31 Oct); 7:30 to 17:00 (1 Nov to 15 Apr)

Day fee
VND 250,000 per visit per person on VHL1

Board note
Height above sea level, about 20 m

Thien Cung on the caves page
VHL1

Dau Go Cave

On the same island as Thien Cung, so both fit one stop.

Hours
7:30 to 17:30 (16 Apr to 31 Oct); 7:30 to 17:00 (1 Nov to 15 Apr)

Day fee
VND 250,000 per visit per person on VHL1
VHL1

Trong Mai Islet, the Fighting Cocks

Seen from the boat: a pair of rocks the route passes, not a landing.

Day fee
VND 250,000 per visit per person on VHL1
VHL3

Cua Van floating cultural center

A floating village where people live and fish; you are rowed or paddle between the houses.

Hours
8:00 to 17:30 (16 Apr to 31 Oct); 8:00 to 17:00 (1 Nov to 15 Apr)

Day fee
VND 200,000 per visit per person on VHL3

Board note
Visitors go round by kayak or traditional bamboo boat

floating villages
VHL1

Ba Hang fishing area

The half-day GetYourGuide listing names a kayak or bamboo boat here, as the listing states.

Hours
7:30 to 17:30 (16 Apr to 31 Oct); 7:30 to 17:00 (1 Nov to 15 Apr)

Day fee
VND 250,000 per visit per person on VHL1
VHL4

Vung Vieng

A fishing village on route 4, further from the ports.

Hours
7:30 to 17:00 (16 Apr to 31 Oct); 8:00 to 16:45 (1 Nov to 15 Apr)

Day fee
VND 200,000 per visit per person on VHL4

Board note
On offer: fishing with locals, bamboo boats, kayaking, pearl farm visit

floating villages
VHL4

Hang Co (Thien Canh Son)

The highest cave mouth the board gives a figure for; it closes earliest in winter.

Hours
7:30 to 17:00 (16 Apr to 31 Oct); 8:00 to 16:45 (1 Nov to 15 Apr)

Day fee
VND 200,000 per visit per person on VHL4

Board note
Height above sea level: 40 m
VHL3

Tien Ong Cave

The cave at the overnight area of route 3.

Hours
8:00 to 17:30 (16 Apr to 31 Oct); 8:00 to 17:00 (1 Nov to 15 Apr)

Day fee
VND 200,000 per visit per person on VHL3
VHL2

Trong Cave and Trinh Nu Cave

An anchorage of route 2, reached on a cruise with a night on board.

Fee, 1 night
VND 550,000 per visit per person on VHL2

Board note
The board calls the area a popular overnight stop for Halong Bay cruises
VHL4

Hon Xep park

An overnight area at the far end of route 4.

Fee, 1 night
VND 500,000 per visit per person on VHL4

Board note
The board calls it one of the most attractive destinations for overnight tours
VHL3

Ho Ba Ham lagoon

Three lagoons in a row; the tide decides when boats get in.

Day fee
VND 200,000 per visit per person on VHL3

Board note
Entered by traditional bamboo boat at low tide
VHL3

Ba Men temple

A temple on route 3; boats call at it on the festival days the board names.

Day fee
VND 200,000 per visit per person on VHL3

Board note
Festival on the 19th and 20th of the first lunar month
VHL2

Me Cung Cave

A cave on Lom Bo Island, opening above the water.

Hours
8:00 to 17:30 (16 Apr to 31 Oct); 8:00 to 17:00 (1 Nov to 15 Apr)

Day fee
VND 250,000 per visit per person on VHL2

Board note
The board dates the Soi Nhu culture deposits here to 18,000 to 7,000 years ago

Hours and fees as the Ha Long Bay Management Board and the Quang Ninh Provincial People's Council (Resolution 51/2025) set them. Each listed cruise states whether its price includes the fee.

caves

The caves: Sung Sot, Thien Cung and Dau Go

A cave is on nearly every day trip, and the cave decides the route. Sung Sot Cave on route 2 is the one the Ha Long Bay Management Board calls the largest cave discovered in Halong Bay to date. You climb steps from the pier to the mouth and follow a lit path past the rock formations. Thien Cung Cave on route 1 is smaller, with a base area of about 3,000 m², about 20 m above the sea, and lit in color. Dau Go Cave opens on the same island, so route 1 gives you two caves in one stop.

The board sets the same hours for all three: 7:30 to 17:30 from 16 April to 31 October and 7:30 to 17:00 from 1 November to 15 April. The closing time matters most if you book a late half day.

Me Cung Cave, also on route 2, is older in human terms: the board dates the Soi Nhu culture deposits found there to 18,000 to 7,000 years ago. Its hours start half an hour later, at 8:00 to 17:30 in summer. Hang Co on route 4 has the highest mouth the board measures, at 40 m.

One day cruise sees one route, so Sung Sot and Thien Cung are rarely on the same trip. The Halong Bay caves page compares every cave side by side, with a drawing of the cave mouths to the board's heights.

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

Colored lighting on flowstone inside Thien Cung Cave.Photo: xiquinhosilva from Cacau / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0

Ti Top Island

Ti Top Island and the stops of route 2

Ti Top Island is the other fixed stop of route 2, and every listed day cruise from Tuan Chau that names Sung Sot names Ti Top too. The board states that Ho Chi Minh named the island after his visit with the Soviet cosmonaut Gherman Titov in 1962. Its visiting hours are 7:30 to 17:30 in summer and 7:30 to 17:00 in winter, the same as Sung Sot.

What you do there depends on the boat. Halong Bay Day Tour with Sung Sot and Ti Top by Cozy Bay Cruise on Klook names a climb to the summit of Ti Top, as listed, and Best Seller Halong Bay Day Cruise on Viator lists swimming and hiking on the island. Plan for a climb in the heat between April and October, and carry water.

Route 2 packs a cave, an island and a lagoon into one day: Sung Sot, Ti Top and Luon Cave in whichever order the boat takes them. Soi Sim Island lies on the same route; the board gives its area as about 66,300 m², and it is on fewer itineraries. All of it costs the one route 2 fee, VND 250,000 per visit per person for the day.

Ti Top and Sung Sot lie about 2 km (1.3 mi) in a straight line, which is why boats pair them. The Halong Bay day cruise page compares the day boats on this route by what is in the price.

kayaking

Kayaking and bamboo boats in Halong Bay

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

Luon Cave (boat or kayak through the arch) — Rowing boats passing through the low arch of Luon Cave.Photo: Jakub Hałun / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0

The boat trip inside the boat trip is the part most people remember: a kayak or a rowed bamboo boat through an arch into a lagoon walled by cliffs. Kayaks and bamboo boats count as water recreation craft, and under Quang Ninh Decision 43/2024 they may operate on Halong Bay and Bai Tu Long Bay only between 5:30 and 18:30. Inside those hours, kayaking is as each listing states it.

Three places on the routes have a boat activity the board names. At Luon Cave on route 2 visitors enter the lagoon by rowing boats or kayaking. At the Cua Van floating cultural center on route 3 the board names kayak or traditional bamboo boat. At Vung Vieng on route 4 it lists fishing with locals, bamboo boats, kayaking, pearl farm visit. Ho Ba Ham lagoon on route 3 is entered by traditional bamboo boat at low tide, so the tide sets the time.

In the listings: Sunlight Grand Day Cruise: Halong Bay, Sung Sot and Ti Top Island lists a kayak or bamboo boat in the price, and Diamond Era Luxury Day Cruise: Halong Bay, Sung Sot, Ti Top lists one with a tip required for the bamboo boat, as listed. The half-day GetYourGuide cruise names a kayak or bamboo boat at Ba Hang.

If you would rather not paddle, the bamboo boat is rowed for you through the same arches. The kayaking guide covers the rules for all three bays, including Lan Ha Bay, where the rules differ.

fishing villages

Floating villages, pearl farms and Ba Men temple

The fishing villages are where people live and work on the water, on houses built on floats, with fish pens beside them. Two are on the official routes. The Cua Van floating cultural center is on route 3, with visiting hours of 8:00 to 17:30 in summer and 8:00 to 17:00 in winter. Vung Vieng is on route 4, open 7:30 to 17:00 in summer and 8:00 to 16:45 in winter.

At Vung Vieng the board's list of activities includes fishing with residents and a pearl farm visit, and both villages are seen from a bamboo boat or a kayak rather than on foot. Keep to the boat, keep your voice down near the houses, and ask before you photograph people at work.

Ba Men temple is a stop on route 3, a small temple on an island rather than in a village. The board gives the festival dates as the 19th and 20th of the first lunar month.

Routes 3 and 4 head east, away from the busiest anchorages, and their day fee is lower: VND 200,000 per visit per person on route 3 and VND 200,000 per visit per person on route 4. The floating villages page sets the villages of all three bays side by side.

Trong Mai Islet (Fighting Cocks Islet) — The pair of rocks known as Ga Choi, the Fighting Cocks or Kissing Rocks, off Bai Chay.Photo: Jakub Hałun / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0

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

visitor fees

What each Halong Bay route costs to visit

One sightseeing fee per route and visit, set by the Quang Ninh Provincial People's Council (Resolution 51/2025) and collected by the Ha Long Bay Management Board at the ports. A route with nights on board has its own overnight fee, which replaces the day fee.

Halong Bay sightseeing fee by route, per personDay fee for every route; the 1-night fee only where the route allows nights on board. Converted at the State Bank of Vietnam rate.
Route	What it takes in	Day fee (VND)	In other currencies	1 night on board (VND)
VHL1	Thien Cung and Dau Go caves, Ba Hang, Trong Mai Islet	250,000	about US$9.8, AUD 14 or GBP 7.3	Day visits only
VHL2	Ti Top Island, Sung Sot Cave, Luon Cave, Me Cung Cave	250,000	about US$9.8, AUD 14 or GBP 7.3	550,000
VHL3	Cua Van floating village, Tien Ong Cave, Ho Ba Ham lagoon	200,000	about US$7.8, AUD 11 or GBP 5.9	500,000
VHL4	Hang Co, Vung Vieng, Cong Do, Hon Xep	200,000	about US$7.8, AUD 11 or GBP 5.9	500,000
VHL5	The route 1 sights, ending at Gia Luan pier on Cat Ba Island	250,000	about US$9.8, AUD 14 or GBP 7.3	Day visits only
VHL6	Towards Lan Ha Bay	150,000	about US$5.9, AUD 8.5 or GBP 4.4	Day visits only
VHL7	Routes 1 to 4 in one, exploration boats only	600,000	about US$23, AUD 34 or GBP 18	Day visits only
VHL8	The coast from Tuan Chau to the Ha Long International Cruise Port	70,000	about US$2.7, AUD 4 or GBP 2	Day visits only

A day on the water from the pier. A day cruise on route 2 from the Halong pier, per adult, comes to VND 1,070,000 (about US$42, AUD 61 or GBP 31), for travelers already staying in Bai Chay or Tuan Chau.

Children. The board waives the fee for children under 7 years and reduces it by 20% for children aged 7 to under 16; exemptions are issued at the Ha Long Bay Management Board ticket counters in the tourist ports.

overnight

Things to do at Halong Bay with a night on board

A cruise with one night on board spends its first afternoon on the same sights as the day boats, then anchors where day boats do not go. On route 2 that is the Trong Cave and Trinh Nu Cave area, which the board calls a popular overnight stop for Halong Bay cruises. On route 4 it is Hon Xep, which the board names one of the most attractive destinations for overnight tours. The night itself is the thing to do: the bay after the day boats leave, and the morning before they come back.

The morning is when the kayaks go out on many cruises, allowed between 5:30 and 18:30 under the province's rule, before the caves fill. The board counts one night on board as 24 hours from departure (2 nights = 48 hours), and the overnight fee replaces the day fee: VND 550,000 per visit per person on route 2, VND 500,000 per visit per person on route 3 and VND 500,000 per visit per person on route 4.

Two places on the far routes are not open yet: Cap La Cave on route 4 is in investment and infrastructure development (not yet open), and the Bamboo Forest area on route 3 is not open to visitors, as the board states. A listing that names them is selling a view from the boat.

The Halong Bay overnight cruise page sets out what one night adds hour by hour, and the 2-night cruise page covers a second night. Since 20 April 2026, cruises with nights on board on routes 3 to 6 may carry on into Lan Ha Bay, a separate bay with its own rules; the things to do on its island side are on Cat Ba Island things to do.

on land

A night on land before the boat

Bai Chay waterfront and Ha Long City — Palms on the Bai Chay beach at the Ha Long waterfront.Photo: Jakub Hałun / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0

Bai Chay on the west side of the channel and Hon Gai on the east side make up the waterfront of Ha Long City, joined by the Bai Chay Bridge. Bai Chay has the beach and the waterfront; Tuan Chau, further west, has the marina where the listed day cruises on this page board. Bai Chay and Hon Gai lie about 6.1 km (3.8 mi) in a straight line.

What a night on land does well is set up the day on the water: arrive the afternoon before, sleep near the pier, and board the first boat without the drive from Hanoi in the morning. That turns a day trip into a full day on the route you choose.

The shuttle from Hanoi to the bay takes 2.5 to 3 hours, as the listed shuttles state. Hotels in Bai Chay and Tuan Chau, with the listed prices per room, are on where to stay, and every way from Hanoi is on Hanoi to Halong Bay. For the land side of the archipelago, with a national park and a fort, go to Cat Ba Island; see the Cat Ba Island guide.

listed trips

Trips that cover the Halong Bay attractions

The listed trips that name these things in their itinerary, with the bay and route as the itinerary sails them, what the price includes and the listed price with its read date. Three show; the rest open below.

Day
Klook, Cozy Bay Cruise

Halong Bay Day Tour with Sung Sot and Ti Top by Cozy Bay Cruise

Sails: Halong Bay route 2 (VHL2). Pier: Cozy Vietnam Travel - Halong Cruises, Tuan Chau Harbor.
- Day cruise, no night on board
- Bay fee in the price
- Hanoi transfer at extra cost
- Kayak or bamboo boat listed
- Free cancellation 24 hours before (as listed)
from about US$42 listed as AUD 60.75 per person for the lowest option on the listing, on 14 November 2026

All in from the pier: VND 1,070,000 (about US$42)

4.9 from 7,000 reviews

Check dates: Halong Bay Day Tour with Sung Sot
Day
Klook, Sunlight Grand Cruise

Sunlight Grand Day Cruise: Halong Bay, Sung Sot and Ti Top Island

Sails: Halong Bay route 2 (VHL2). Pier: Tuan Chau International Marina.
- Day cruise, no night on board
- Bay fee in the price
- Hanoi transfer at extra cost
- Kayak or bamboo boat listed
- Free cancellation 24 hours before (as listed)
from about US$47 listed as AUD 69.05 per person for the lowest option on the listing, on 14 November 2026

All in from the pier: VND 1,220,000 (about US$47)

4.9 from 4,100 reviews

Check dates: Sunlight Grand Day Cruise
Day
Viator, Sunlight Travel & Cruise

Best Seller Halong Bay Day Cruise

Sails: Halong Bay route 2 (VHL2). Pier: Meeting point chosen at booking.
- Day cruise, no night on board
- Bay fee not in the price: VND 250,000 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$25.95 per person for the lowest option on the listing, as listed on 14 November 2026

All in from the pier: VND 920,000 (about US$36)

4.9 from 1,233 reviews

Check dates: Best Seller Halong Bay Day Cruise

Show 4 more trips

Day
Klook, Diamond Era Cruise

Diamond Era Luxury Day Cruise: Halong Bay, Sung Sot, Ti Top

Sails: Halong Bay route 2 (VHL2). Pier: Tuan Chau International Marina.
- Day cruise, no night on board
- Bay fee in the price
- Hanoi transfer not in the price
- Kayak or bamboo boat listed
- Free cancellation 24 hours before (as listed)
from about US$45 listed as AUD 64.99 per person for the lowest option on the listing, on 14 November 2026

All in from the pier: VND 1,150,000 (about US$45)

4.9 from 6,200 reviews

Check dates: Diamond Era Luxury Day Cruise
Day
Viator, Viland Travel

Halong Bay and Lan Ha Bay Luxury Day Cruise by The Halong Catamaran

Sails: Halong Bay and Lan Ha Bay in the title, but day boats do not cross between them: ask the seller which bay you sail. Route not stated in the listing. Pier: Tuan Chau Marina.
- Day cruise, no night on board
- Bay fee in the price
- Hanoi transfer at extra cost
- Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the experience for a full refund (as listed)
from US$67.15 per person for the lowest option on the listing, as listed on 14 November 2026

All in from the pier: VND 1,720,000 (about US$67)

5.0 from 870 reviews

Check dates: Halong Bay and Lan Ha Bay Luxury Day
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
Day
GetYourGuide, Authentic Travel DA NANG

Explore Halong Bay on a 4-Hour Scenic Cruise with Kayaking and a Cave Visit

Sails: Halong Bay route 1 (VHL1). Pier: Tuan Chau International Marina.
- Day cruise, no 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 start for a full refund (as listed)
from US$56 per person for the lowest option on the listing, as listed on 14 November 2026

All in from the pier: VND 1,440,000 (about US$56)

4.5 from 2 reviews

Check dates: Explore Halong Bay on a 4-Hour Scenic Cruise

Halong Bay and Lan Ha Bay Luxury Day Cruise by The Halong Catamaran names Halong Bay and Lan Ha Bay and lists the Dark and Bright Cave; day boats do not cross between the bays, so ask the seller which bay you sail. The Bhaya Classic cruise is the one card with a night on board. The half-day GetYourGuide cruise has few reviews so far.

seasons

Plan the things to do around the seasons

Two sets of hours. The board's visiting hours change on 16 April and 1 November. In winter most sights close half an hour earlier, at 7:30 to 17:00 for Sung Sot; Hang Co closes earliest, 8:00 to 16:45.
Boats keep to daylight on the water. Kayaks and bamboo boats only between 5:30 and 18:30, whatever the season.
Storms stop boats. In storm season the port authority can stop departures when a storm comes, and a cruise that does not sail visits nothing. Look at the months on the best time to visit page and the refund lines on storm cancellations.
Holidays cost a little more. Several listings add a holiday surcharge on set dates, as listed: the Cozy Bay, Sunlight Grand and Best Seller day cruises among them.

For the bay as a whole, with every sight by route on one map, start with the Halong Bay guide or the map.

questions

Questions about things to do in Halong Bay

What is there to do in Halong Bay in one day?

One route. Day cruises on route 2 visit Sung Sot Cave, Ti Top Island and Luon Cave, with a kayak or bamboo boat at Luon; day cruises on route 1 visit Thien Cung and Dau Go caves near the ports. From Hanoi the listed shuttles take 2.5 to 3 hours each way, so the time on the water is about six hours.

What are the opening hours of the Halong Bay attractions?

The Ha Long Bay Management Board sets two seasons. Sung Sot Cave, Thien Cung Cave and Ti Top Island open 7:30 to 17:30 from 16 April to 31 October and 7:30 to 17:00 from 1 November to 15 April. Me Cung, Tien Ong and Cua Van open half an hour later; Hang Co and Vung Vieng close earliest in winter.

Can you kayak in Halong Bay?

Yes, on many cruises, as each listing states. Under Quang Ninh Decision 43/2024 kayaks and bamboo boats may operate only between 5:30 and 18:30. The board names kayaking at Luon Cave, at the Cua Van floating cultural center and at Vung Vieng. The kayaking guide covers the rules in all three bays.

Is there anything to do in Halong Bay on land?

Not much compared with the water. Bai Chay has the beach and the waterfront, and the Bai Chay Bridge joins it to Hon Gai. A night there before the cruise is mostly useful to board early. For land sights with a national park and a fort, Cat Ba Island is the place, on the other side of the bay.

How much is the Halong Bay entrance fee?

It depends on the route. A day visit costs VND 250,000 per visit per person on routes 1, 2 and 5 and VND 200,000 per visit per person on routes 3 and 4, set by the Quang Ninh Provincial People's Council in Resolution 51/2025. One night on board on route 2 costs VND 550,000 per visit per person instead. Most listed day cruises include the fee; check the inclusions.

Sources

The Halong Bay sightseeing fee for day route VHL2 (Ti Top, Sung Sot, Luon Cave, Me Cung), set by the Quang Ninh Provincial People's Council and collected by Ha Long Bay Management Board (now named the Ha Long Bay - Yen Tu World Heritage Management Board), is VND 250,000 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 Halong Bay sightseeing fee for day route VHL3 (Cua Van, Tien Ong Cave, Ho Ba Ham), set by the Quang Ninh Provincial People's Council and collected by Ha Long Bay Management Board (now named the Ha Long Bay - Yen Tu World Heritage Management Board), is VND 200,000 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 Halong Bay sightseeing fee for day route VHL4 (Hang Co, Vung Vieng, Cong Do, Hon Xep), set by the Quang Ninh Provincial People's Council and collected by Ha Long Bay Management Board (now named the Ha Long Bay - Yen Tu World Heritage Management Board), is VND 200,000 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 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 waives the Halong Bay and Bai Tu Long Bay sightseeing fee for children (Vietnamese or foreign) shorter than 1.2 m or under age 7 years. Ha Long Bay Management Board, 'Miễn, giảm phí tham quan vịnh Hạ Long', applying Resolutions 62/2017/NQ-HĐND and 131/2018/NQ-HĐND, 2 November 2024.
The Ha Long Bay Management Board reduces the Halong Bay and Bai Tu Long Bay sightseeing fee for children of any nationality aged 7 to under 16 by 20%. Ha Long Bay Management Board, 'Miễn, giảm phí tham quan vịnh Hạ Long', applying Resolutions 62/2017/NQ-HĐND and 131/2018/NQ-HĐND, 2 November 2024.
Fee exemptions and reductions on Halong Bay are issued at the Ha Long Bay Management Board ticket counters in the tourist ports. Ha Long Bay Management Board, 'Miễn, giảm phí tham quan vịnh Hạ Long', applying Resolutions 62/2017/NQ-HĐND and 131/2018/NQ-HĐND, 2 November 2024.
The Ha Long Bay Management Board states visitor hours at Sung Sot Cave in summer (16 Apr to 31 Oct) as 7:30 to 17:30 local time. Ha Long Bay Management Board, 'Thời gian đón khách tham quan' (visitor hours at attractions), 6 November 2024.
The Ha Long Bay Management Board states visitor hours at Sung Sot Cave in winter (1 Nov to 15 Apr) as 7:30 to 17:00 local time. Ha Long Bay Management Board, 'Thời gian đón khách tham quan' (visitor hours at attractions), 6 November 2024.
The Ha Long Bay Management Board states visitor hours at Ti Top Island in summer (16 Apr to 31 Oct) as 7:30 to 17:30 local time. Ha Long Bay Management Board, 'Thời gian đón khách tham quan' (visitor hours at attractions), 6 November 2024.
The Ha Long Bay Management Board states visitor hours at Ti Top Island in winter (1 Nov to 15 Apr) as 7:30 to 17:00 local time. Ha Long Bay Management Board, 'Thời gian đón khách tham quan' (visitor hours at attractions), 6 November 2024.
The Ha Long Bay Management Board states visitor hours at Me Cung Cave in summer (16 Apr to 31 Oct) as 8:00 to 17:30 local time. Ha Long Bay Management Board, 'Thời gian đón khách tham quan' (visitor hours at attractions), 6 November 2024.
The Ha Long Bay Management Board states visitor hours at Cua Van floating cultural center in summer (16 Apr to 31 Oct) as 8:00 to 17:30 local time. Ha Long Bay Management Board, 'Thời gian đón khách tham quan' (visitor hours at attractions), 6 November 2024.
The Ha Long Bay Management Board states visitor hours at Cua Van floating cultural center in winter (1 Nov to 15 Apr) as 8:00 to 17:00 local time. Ha Long Bay Management Board, 'Thời gian đón khách tham quan' (visitor hours at attractions), 6 November 2024.
The Ha Long Bay Management Board states visitor hours at Hang Co (Thien Canh Son) in winter (1 Nov to 15 Apr) as 8:00 to 16:45 local time. Ha Long Bay Management Board, 'Thời gian đón khách tham quan' (visitor hours at attractions), 6 November 2024.
The Ha Long Bay Management Board states visitor hours at Vung Vieng in summer (16 Apr to 31 Oct) as 7:30 to 17:00 local time. Ha Long Bay Management Board, 'Thời gian đón khách tham quan' (visitor hours at attractions), 6 November 2024.
The Ha Long Bay Management Board states visitor hours at Vung Vieng in winter (1 Nov to 15 Apr) as 8:00 to 16:45 local time. Ha Long Bay Management Board, 'Thời gian đón khách tham quan' (visitor hours at attractions), 6 November 2024.
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.
Thien Cung Cave lies at about this height above sea level, per the Ha Long Bay Management Board 20 m. Ha Long Bay Management Board, Halong Bay route pages (halongbay.com.vn/en/tours).
The Ha Long Bay Management Board gives the base area of Thien Cung Cave as about 3,000 m². Ha Long Bay Management Board, Halong Bay route pages (halongbay.com.vn/en/tours).
The Ha Long Bay Management Board calls Sung Sot Cave, about 20 m above sea level on the Bo Hon island range, the largest cave discovered in Halong Bay to date. Ha Long Bay Management Board, Halong Bay route pages (halongbay.com.vn/en/tours).
The Ha Long Bay Management Board gives the area of Soi Sim Island as about 66,300 m². Ha Long Bay Management Board, Halong Bay route pages (halongbay.com.vn/en/tours).
The Ha Long Bay Management Board states Ti Top Island was named by Ho Chi Minh after his visit with Soviet cosmonaut Gherman Titov in 1962 year. Ha Long Bay Management Board, Halong Bay route pages (halongbay.com.vn/en/tours).
At Luon Cave the Ha Long Bay Management Board names these visitor activities in the enclosed lagoon rowing boats or kayaking activities. Ha Long Bay Management Board, Halong Bay route pages (halongbay.com.vn/en/tours).
The Ha Long Bay Management Board dates the Soi Nhu culture deposits at Luon Cave, Trong Cave and Me Cung Cave to 18,000 to 7,000 years ago. Ha Long Bay Management Board, Halong Bay route pages (halongbay.com.vn/en/tours).
The Ha Long Bay Management Board names the Trong Cave and Trinh Nu Cave area as a popular overnight stop for Halong Bay cruises. Ha Long Bay Management Board, Halong Bay route pages (halongbay.com.vn/en/tours).
At Cua Van floating cultural center the Ha Long Bay Management Board names these visitor boats kayak or traditional bamboo boat activities. Ha Long Bay Management Board, Halong Bay route pages (halongbay.com.vn/en/tours).
The Ha Long Bay Management Board states the Bamboo Forest area on route VHL3 is not open to visitors. Ha Long Bay Management Board, Halong Bay route pages (halongbay.com.vn/en/tours).
The Ha Long Bay Management Board states visitors enter Ho Ba Ham lagoon by traditional bamboo boat at low tide. Ha Long Bay Management Board, Halong Bay route pages (halongbay.com.vn/en/tours).
The Ha Long Bay Management Board gives the Ba Men Temple festival dates as 19th and 20th of the first lunar month dates. Ha Long Bay Management Board, Halong Bay route pages (halongbay.com.vn/en/tours).
Hang Co (Thien Canh Son) lies at this height above sea level per the Ha Long Bay Management Board 40 m. Ha Long Bay Management Board, Halong Bay route pages (halongbay.com.vn/en/tours).
The Ha Long Bay Management Board states Cap La Cave (about 3,000 m2) on route VHL4 is in investment and infrastructure development (not yet open). Ha Long Bay Management Board, Halong Bay route pages (halongbay.com.vn/en/tours).
At Vung Vieng the Ha Long Bay Management Board names these visitor activities fishing with locals, bamboo boats, kayaking, pearl farm visit. Ha Long Bay Management Board, Halong Bay route pages (halongbay.com.vn/en/tours).
The Ha Long Bay Management Board names Hon Xep Park on route VHL4 as one of the most attractive destinations for overnight tours. Ha Long Bay Management Board, Halong Bay route pages (halongbay.com.vn/en/tours).
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.
Distances in a straight line. Measured on the site from OpenStreetMap coordinates (great circle, 6,371 km earth radius). A straight line between two points, not a sailing or road distance. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).
Exchange rates. VND per unit of each currency. USD: State Bank of Vietnam (Ngân hàng Nhà nước Việt Nam), Tỷ giá page, 14 November 2026; AUD: State Bank of Vietnam (Ngân hàng Nhà nước Việt Nam), Tỷ giá page, 12 November 2026; GBP: State Bank of Vietnam (Ngân hàng Nhà nước Việt Nam), Tỷ giá page, 12 November 2026
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

Wide Halong Bay seascape with karst islands. Photo: Christophe95 / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Sung Sot Cave interior. Photo: Jakub Hałun / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0
Ti Top Island beach and viewpoint. Photo: Jakub Hałun / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0
Luon Cave (boat or kayak through the arch). Photo: Jakub Hałun / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0
Kayaks in Halong Bay. Photo: Christophe95 / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Thien Cung Cave. Photo: xiquinhosilva from Cacau / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
Dau Go Cave. Photo: Mustang Joe / Wikimedia Commons, CC0
Trong Mai Islet (Fighting Cocks Islet). Photo: Jakub Hałun / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0
Sunset over the bay. Photo: Mustang Joe / Wikimedia Commons, CC0
Ti Top Island beach and viewpoint. Photo: Steffen Schmitz (more photos) / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Bai Chay waterfront and Ha Long City. Photo: Jakub Hałun / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0
Bai Chay bridge. Photo: Martin Lewison from Forest Hills, NY, U.S.A. / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0

Things to do in Halong Bay, sorted by the time you have

Halong Bay attractions by how long you are there

A day trip from Hanoi: room for one route

A day from the Halong pier: pick the route, or a half day

With a night on board: the anchorages and the far routes

On land in Bai Chay and Ha Long City

Sung Sot Cave

Ti Top Island

Luon Cave, through the arch

Kayak or bamboo boat

Thien Cung Cave

Dau Go Cave

Trong Mai Islet, the Fighting Cocks

Cua Van floating cultural center

Ba Hang fishing area

Vung Vieng

Hang Co (Thien Canh Son)

Tien Ong Cave

Trong Cave and Trinh Nu Cave

Hon Xep park

Ho Ba Ham lagoon

Ba Men temple

Me Cung Cave