A Night on Ha Long Bay: What the Cruise Is Really Like

A day trip to Ha Long Bay from Hanoi is five hours of road for four hours of boat. Staying the night changes the sum: you are on the water when the day boats have gone home, and again at sunrise before they return.

From Hanoi

About 2.5 hours by road

On board

Around noon until late morning next day

Best months

March to May, September to November

Take care

June to August storms can cancel sailings

Visa for Indian passports

E-visa needed; see our Vietnam page

The 22 hours, in order

• Noon: board, welcome drink, cabin keys. Lunch is served as the boat leaves the harbour.
• Afternoon: a stop at a cave, on foot, with a fair number of steps. Then kayaks or a rowed bamboo boat through the rock arches.
• Evening: the boat anchors. Sunset from the top deck, then dinner. Some boats offer squid fishing or a cooking demonstration.
• Early morning: tai chi on deck for those awake. Coffee, a last cruise through the islands.
• Late morning: brunch, check-out, and the transfer back to Hanoi.

The cabin

On a four-star boat the cabin is a small hotel room: a proper bed, air conditioning and a private bathroom with a hot shower. The bay is sheltered and the boat barely moves at anchor, so seasickness is rare. Pack a small overnight bag and leave the suitcase in Hanoi or on the coach.

What is and is not included

Meals, the cave visit and the kayak or bamboo boat are normally part of the fare. Drinks, tips and spa treatments are not.

If the weather turns

The port authority decides whether boats may stay out overnight. In storm season it sometimes cancels at short notice. When that happens the usual fix is a day cruise with a hotel night on shore, and a refund of the difference. It is worth knowing before you choose your dates.