The 15 Best Boat Trips from Hanoi

1.Ha Long Bay Day Cruise – Swimming, Meal, Kayaking

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 7,415 reviews · from $41Our pick

Spend a full day cruising Ha Long Bay, with visits to Sung Sot Cave, Luon Cave, and Titop Island. Expect a long but well-organized day, lively English-speaking guides such as Sunny, Alex, and Ken, a Vietnamese lunch, kayaking or a bamboo boat, swimming, and sunset wine on board.

“My partner and I had a great time! Our guide, Sunny was amazing! He gave us lots of informations about the Vietnamese culture, which we loved. The cruise was really fun! The view is amazing and all the activities were really cool. The only thing which wasn’t as amazing was the food on the cruise… But other than that, I would highly recommend it! Thank you, Sunny!”

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2.Ninh Binh Full-Day Tour from Hanoi to Hoa Lu, Tam Coc & Mua Cave Via Boat & Bike

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 4,384 reviews · from $33Best value

This 12 to 13-hour group tour takes you from Hanoi to Hoa Lu, Tam Coc, and Mua Cave by air-conditioned bus. An English-speaking guide such as Sunny may lead the day, with a buffet lunch, short village bike ride, bamboo boat trip, and nearly 500-step climb to a panoramic viewpoint.

“Fun excursion would recommend and do again! My guide was great and the others on the tour made the trip fun”

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3.Amanda Cruise – Ha Long, Lan Ha Bay – All Inclusive 2D1N & 3D2N

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 4,358 reviews · from $56

Spend 2 days and 1 night aboard Amanda Cruise, with Hanoi pickup, meals, a private sea-view cabin, kayaking, swimming, cave visits, Ti Top Island, Tai Chi, and squid fishing. Check your boat and route carefully, since Amanda and Amanda Luxury offer different experiences.

“Pick up was as per planned. We arrived at a waiting terminal for an hour and a half before boarding boat. Had lunch which was nice and then we got our keys to our room. Room was okay but not five star. We went on our excursion for thRead more”

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4.Cozy Bay Halong 5-Star Day Cruise, Buffet, Cave, Kayak, Swimming

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 3,512 reviews · from $48

Spend 11 to 12 hours traveling from Hanoi to Halong Bay by shuttle bus and modern cruise boat. Guide names vary, with Minh, Tim, Duc, Binh, and others praised for clear service. Expect Sung Sot Cave, Ti Top Island, kayaking or a bamboo boat, buffet lunch, and a sunset party.

“Magnificent scenery and well scheduled itinerary. Bamboo boat riding was a memorable activity of whole trip”

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5.2-Day Halong & Lan Ha Bay 5-Star Cruise with Balcony

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 3,300 reviews · from $188

Cruise from Hanoi through Ha Long and Lan Ha Bay in a private balcony cabin with meals, kayaking, cave visits, swimming, tai chi, spring-roll making, and squid fishing. Your guide may be Mr Dong, Jackie, Mike, or Tom, depending on the boat assigned.

“The activities were great really good mix. A little bit more time for swimming and kajaking would have been awesome.”

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6.Mon Chéri Cruise 5 star: Unique 2 Days Tuan Chau – Halong bay – Lan Ha Bay

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 2,422 reviews · from $195

Spend two days aboard Mon Chéri Cruises between Lan Ha Bay and Halong Bay, with an overnight suite, Vietnamese meals, kayaking, bamboo boats, cooking, squid fishing, and sunrise views. The cruise departs from Got Pier, with Hanoi limousine transfers available for an added fee.

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7.Doris Cruise 5 star cruise 2 days visiting Halong Bay Lan Ha Bay private balcony

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 2,338 reviews · from $235

Cruise Ha Long Bay and Lan Ha Bay aboard Doris Cruise, with a private balcony, onboard meals, kayaking or rowing, swimming, a cave visit, tai chi, and a cooking class. Emily, Mona, Jessica, and other English-speaking staff help keep the trip organized from Hanoi to the bay and back.

“Mona was really helpful and sweet with us and food was excellent in quality. We like our guide mona the most ❤️. View was excellent. Rooms were great and luxurious. We felt best here . And our guide Mona was really cooperative and sweet . Management was really great .”

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8.CozyBay Cruise-The Best Small Group 2D/1N inHalong-All inclusive

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 2,199 reviews · from $122

Spend one night aboard Cozy Bay Cruise with a maximum of 23 passengers. From Hanoi, you’ll visit Sung Sot Cave and Titop Island, kayak, cook spring rolls, watch sunset, fish for squid, and return by expressway. Guides such as Tam, James, Michael, and Tony lead the trip.

“This trip was absolutely breathtaking, the views of the islands were stunning. The boat we stayed on was lovely, rooms were nice and clean, food on the boat fantastic and what to say about the staff friendly, polite and Charlie our guide was brilliant. Don’t miss a trip it’s well worth it.”

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9.Hera Cruise – All Inclusive Multi Days Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,967 reviews · from $56

Spend two days aboard Hera Cruise from Hanoi, with round-trip transfer, an ocean-view cabin, meals, Luon Cave kayaking or bamboo boats, Ti Top Island, swimming, Tai Chi, cooking, and cave visits. Guide Minh is praised for an upbeat, entertaining style.

“We got the grand luxury cruise and luxury cabin, it was beautiful. We unfortunately didn’t have time for the bath but it was a lovely room and a great cruise with lots of activities. Staff were friendly and helpful from organising pickups and drRead more”

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10.Ninh Binh Day Trip: Hoa Lu-Trang An/Tam Coc-Mua Cave-Cycling-Boat

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,886 reviews · from $43

Spend 11 to 12 hours exploring Ninh Binh by shuttle, bicycle, bamboo boat, and foot. Visit Hoa Lu’s royal temples, row through Trang An grottoes, and climb about 500 steps at Mua Cave. Guides such as Liam, Max, James, Tim, and Jason are praised for clear English and good group care.

“The tour guide hit on me via WhatsApp the minute he saw me arriving at by the pick-up point. Unsolicited & unprofessional. I felt like we were rushing through the activities & moving from one location to the next without the oppoRead more”

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11.2-Day Luxury Halong Bay Aspira Cruise from Hanoi

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,517 reviews · from $178

Spend one night aboard the 5-star Aspira Cruise, sailing Halong and Lan Ha bays from Tuan Chau. Expect a private balcony, sea-view bathtub, four meals, kayaking or a bamboo boat ride, Tai Chi, cooking, squid fishing, and an English-speaking guide. Hanoi transfers cost extra.

“Large spacious cabin with jacuzzi bath and large balcony area Excellent food , lots of choice and plentiful food Staff helpful and welcoming”

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12.Renea Cruises – BEST Small Boat in Bai Tu Long & Halong Bay

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,485 reviews · from $139

Spend one night aboard Renea Cruises in Bai Tu Long Bay, with Hanoi pickup available, Vietnamese meals, a seaview cabin, Cap La kayaking, Thien Canh Son Cave, Tai Chi, squid fishing, and a cooking class. Guides such as Hung, Cong, and Vic lead the trip.

“If you want a peaceful, chill, quieter experience of the Hà long Bay area, this is the cruise for you. Thoroughly enjoyed my time even though it was cloudy.”

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13.3-Day Ninh Binh, Ha Long, & Lan Ha Bay 5-Star Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 1,401 reviews · from $313

Travel from Hanoi to Bai Dinh, Trang An, and Mua Caves, then spend a night in a private-balcony cruise cabin on Lan Ha Bay. Expect kayaking, swimming, Tai Chi, squid fishing, Vietnamese meals, and careful WhatsApp support from the operator. Guides may include Peter, James, Leo, or Dat.

“Ninh Binh was super, bus was very clean and communication was super. On the cruise the team on board (La Casta) were so passionate about our enjoyment. Everything was on time, well arranged and simply wonderful. Would definitely recommend this trip”

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14.Islands & Caves Ha Long Cruise with Lunch & Kayaking

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 1,317 reviews · 4 - 13 hours · from $34

Spend a full day cruising Ha Long Bay from Hanoi, with hotel pickup, seafood lunch, a 45-minute visit to Thien Cung Cave, and kayaking or a bamboo boat through island coves. Guides such as Harry, Benjamin, Linh, and John are praised for friendly commentary, though the long bus ride makes this a busy day.

“It was a pleasant experience. The food on the ship was yummy and the crew were nice.”

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15.Halong Bay Day Tour By Diamond Era Cruise,Titop,Sung Sot & kayak

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,301 reviews · from $48

Spend a long day from Hanoi on the Diamond Era Cruise, with expressway transfers, a buffet lunch, Sung Sot Cave, kayaking or a bamboo boat at Hang Luon, and Ti Top Island. Guides such as Richie, Johnny, Tom, Andy, and Vincent are noted for keeping large groups on schedule.

“Thoroughly enjoyed the experience from start to finish. We had to make our way to the pick up location despite being only 10mins away which was fine (give extra time as it’s rush hour). The drive to the bay was comfortable but being the last on the bus, our family was split up. Seats not the most comfortable as last pickings. The bamboo boat ride to the cave was beautiful, saw some monkeys and crabs :) The second cave was a short walk (up stairs) but also just as magical. Final stop was the island, we didn’t hike but spent time swimming and on the beach which although was crowded,…”

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