Halong Bay Day Tour: Explore Limestone Islands & Caves

Discover the secret caves and local life on a kayak or bamboo boat tour of Halong Bay. Experience the beauty of the limestone islands and the daily life of fishermen in a floating village.

Duration: 11 hours
Cancellation: 24 hours
Highlights
  • Old Quarter - 08:30: Guests are picked up from their hotel for departure to Halong Bay by car or van, depending on the group size, via the Express Way. This is one of the finest expressways in Northern Vietnam, offering views of the picturesque countryside with rice fields, rivers, fruit gardens, and the largest port, Hai Phong, along the way. The…
What's Included
  • Email or WhatsApp confirmation after booking
  • 2 free bottles of water in the car
  • Kayaking or Bamboo boat
  • Private air-conditioned car/van/bus
  • Free for children under 3
  • Entry to Halong Bay
  • Lunch included
  • English-speaking tour guide
  • Cruise around Halong Bay
  • Entry to Heavenly Paradise Cave
What's Not Included
  • Drinks on Cruise : Beer, wine, coffee, tea, soft drink, water
  • Tips & gratuities
Additional Information

Halong Bay 1-day tour is for travelers who have little time and want to experience the most beautiful part of the Bay.  We are sure that this is the best option.  We will bring you the experience of visiting and discovering Ha Long Bay with the fewest tourists route but the most beautiful limestone islands shape. Departing Hanoi at 8:30 in the morning,…

Location
Old Quarter
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
5.0
(815 Ratings)
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T5373nhericb
Mar 27, 2025
Full service - Full service from the airport to the boat and to my hotel. Excellent views and experiences. Fantastic food. I had one day in Hanoi and this was hr best way to spend it.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Nomad26958047299
Mar 27, 2025
Private one day tour to Halong Bay - We had limited time in Hanoi so opted for the private one day tour from Hanoi to Halong Bay. The tour was very well organised and both Hai our guide and our driver were excellent. The drive was very comfortable and on arrival there was a visit to a Pearl Factory which was interesting. Following this we boarded the boat and were fortunate in that we were one of the first boats to leave that morning so our first stop at an amazing cave resulted in us being the only visitors there at the time. Lunch was very tasty but there was far too much food! We counted 13 plates of food on the table at one stage for 2 people. We opted for the bamboo boat rather than the kayak and spent around 20 minutes being rowed around. The scenery in general was spectacular but beyond anyone’s control was the weather. It was damp and misty so although atmospheric it would have been lovely to visit on a sunny day. Our guide Hai was very attentive and imparted a huge amount of information during the trip. We were happy that we opted for the one day tour as this was entirely sufficient to appreciate the wonder of Halong Bay. We did not realise however that such a large boat would be allocated for a private tour and would have been perfectly happy with a much smaller boat. The boat crew were however very friendly and helpful.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Barb
Mar 26, 2025
Unbelievable "lucky" private tour. - We could not have had a better day with our guide, Louis. If you can swing getting a private tour, we highly recommend it. We beat the lines at the cave, had a lovely leisurely lunch aboard and bathrooms and guide to ourselves for asking questions. Louis was very funny and informative. The car ride to and from the marina was about 2 1/2 hours. Besides the awesome caves, there is a stop to either kayak on your own (a bit of exercise to work off lunch!) or be rowed in a dampen within a small cove. The rower took photos and offered us an umbrella for the sun, which was nice. Definitely a trip worth taking.
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Richarddt8874kz
Mar 24, 2025
Wonderful Guide! Great Tour! - What a wonderful day with our guide Hai. He was one of the best guides we’ve had anywhere in our travels. His efforts and information sharing made the entire experience totally enjoyable all day. The boat that was selected was very nice, the food was great (great) and the time spent in ha long bay was a once in a lifetime event. Hai helped with all aspects of the tour and should be recognized for his tourism skills. His English was very very good and he treated my wife and I almost like family. Thanks so much!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
I4590tqkevinf
Mar 23, 2025
Incredible Private Experience - Absolutely loved the private tour. My wife and I were the only two people on the charter which made it extra special. It was great not being bound by a large group and the a set timeline. Jackie was our guide and he was fantastic. He arranged pickup and drop off from our hotel in Hanoi. Jackie was very knowledgeable about Vietnam history and was great to walk with. We stopped at an Oyster making place prior to our chartered boat which was really cool to see and shop at. We then arrived at the dock and got right through to our boat. The cruise through the bay was breathtaking. Words cannot describe it. We had the opportunity to go Kayaking which was awesome. We also stopped to walk through a few caves which we were the only people in the cave at the time which was awesome. The lunch provided was great as well. If you are looking for a private tour without a group, then this is your tour! Highly recommend.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Y9671fylucym
Mar 23, 2025
Beautiful Halong Bay - What an amazing day! We had the best day at Halong Bay with Hai as our guide. His knowledge of this wonderful place really enhanced the experience. We did a small group tour and it was perfect. It allowed us to leave a bit earlier to beat the big crowds. The scenery, food on the boat, the transport were all on point. Thank you Hai and Duc for a wonderful and unforgettable day.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Melhl8662sg
Mar 23, 2025
Awesome experience - Such a great experience! A must do on your holiday. Hai was a fantastic tour guide, we would definitely use him again. Thank you
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Arleen
Mar 18, 2025
Great Day in Halong Bay with Louis! - Our full day (9:00 am - 6:30 pm) private tour of Halong Bay with Louis was the right choice for us! We were picked up on time from our hotel in Hanoi’s Old Quarter. Louis had a good sense of humor and told us interesting stories of Vietnam’s history during the Mongolian invasions. Before reaching Halong Bay, we made a stop at a Pearl Farm called Legend. Although I would call it a bit touristy, the pearls (Akoya, South Seas, Tahitian) were gorgeous ranging from low end to very expensive ($100’s to $2,000’s+ depending on quality and type). Worth the stop if you’re interested in buying pearls. Reaching Halong Bay was impressive, we were awed by the beauty. Louis told us there are almost 2,000 islands scattered in the area. We were led to a private boat and first whisked away to the Dong Thien Cung Caves. Due to Louis’s experience and a bit of luck, we were the only ones in the caves. Getting to the caves earlier than the other tourists was key. I have never seen anything so amazing - the caves were filled with stalagmites and stalactites which were indescribable. An added bonus, Louis pointed out shapes that resembled various animals (elephant, crocodile, elephants, etc.) due to the rock formations. After the cave visit, we had a delicious seafood lunch on board the boat. One of the highlights of the day was kayaking in one of the calm bays. We owe a lot to Louis who organized such a great trip for us. We did not have to worry one bit because he planned our day to a tee. We had so much fun, I would highly recommend this tour with Louis and our driver, Hung, to anyone visiting Hanoi.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Brian
Mar 18, 2025
Very private, comfortable, calm tour (away from large crowds) and gorgeous views - Went with my partner. This was a genuinely phenomenal experience. Very peaceful and calm - away from large crowds. Paid for private driver and tour guide. Our guide, Hai, was excellent. Very knowledgeable and fluent in English. He made it a point to make sure we were comfortable while staying engaged with our tour. We had a chance to have our own boat. Great views going into the bay and cruising around. Food service was great - lots of food for 2 (more than enough). Aside from boat views, we visited Thien Chung Cave (very striking views inside and well developed for walking) and went kayaking in a secure calm bay of water with lagoons for phenomenal views. There’s an option for bamboo boat but we wanted to burn some calories after a big lunch. Overall, I’d do this again if I’m ever back in Ha Long Bay. Great for a single day trip - super easy and comfortable.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jimpw2118tv
Mar 17, 2025
Best way to see Halong Bay in one day, by far - Cannot recommend this tour highly enough!! Louis, our host, was so knowledgeable and went above and beyond. Every detail was thoughtful and complete and we got to tour the caves basically in private! Wonderful day. Highly recommend.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
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