Halong Bay Tours and Cruises
Halong Bay is one of the world's most astonishing geological wonderlands featuring nearly 3,000 karst limestone peaks jutting up from the serene, placid waters. In this sublime setting, the calmed waters are perfectly suited for easy kayaking, providing close up views and access to the towering formations, caves, empty beach coves, and floating villages. The UNESCO World Heritage Site is dotted with large caves that once served as hidden bunkers for pirates, revolutionaries, and bandits that we will may explore on foot and kayak, or simply laze on deck watching the mesmerizing scenery drift by from the comfortable deckmother ship.
Introduction
If you want an idea of how beautiful Halong Bay is, watch the French film Indochine. Now imagine cruising or kayaking these same placid, emerald waters through caves into hidden lakes and white-sand beach coves, your small kayak gliding beneath towering limestone peaks.
There is no other place like this in the world, a cruising experience on par with the Blue Voyage along Turkey's coast. Indeed, the romantic setting of rugged island peaks and bays dotted with sailing junks has inspired a whole genre of Vietnamese painting.
Highlights of a Halong Bay Cruise
Placid Waters
With over 2,000 karst peaks tame the South China Sea, settling it into a glassy smooth surface — perfect for beginning kayakers, swimming, and of course those who are sensitive to motion.
Attentive Service
During your Halong Bay cruise we dine and overnight on a clean, comfortable replica of a traditional wooden cruiser, the finest boat on Halong Bay — the Huong Hai. Private cabins have lavatories and twin beds. Spacious areas above deck and inside provide solitude when needed.
Lavish Dining
Our Halong Bay tours feature fresh meals prepared by your onboard chef — catch of the day, seafood specialties, and Vietnamese favorites, such as banh xeo and pho. For breakfast, hearty plate-size omelettes, piping hot soups, baguettes, jam, butter, and "depth charge" coffee. We may arrange for private dining on a deserted beach cove,
Comfortable Charters & Cabins
Stylish and spacious cabins feature private lavatories and showers, air conditioning, comfortable beds, and attractive woodwork throughout. Outstanding service is always a highlight of these charters. We lease boats only of the highest quality, please view our current Halong Bay charters.
Activities
Cooking with your chef, learning the art of fruit and vegetable carving, rock climbing, kayaking, caving, island hiking, beach BBQ dining, visiting floating villages, exploring deserted beach coves, fishing, swimming and snorkeling round out the many fun and unique activities on the bay.
Stunning Scenery
Halong Bay is the geographic highlight of Southeast Asia, inspiration for generations of artists and a focus of our annual photography tour.
Family Fun
Our most popular trips are family trips on the bay. Our staff is famously fun with children of all ages and for the perfect honeymoon, a private cruise on the bay is an unforgettable experience of a lifetime.
Honeymoon Bliss
Our specialty: our most popular trips are family and honeymoon trips on the bay. Our staff is famously fun with children of all ages and for the perfect honeymoon, a private cruise on the bay is an unforgettable experience of a lifetime.
Our Halong Bay Tours
Our private cruises of two to four days in length are of the highest quality yet as affordable as many package tours. Our three-day tour is the perfect compliment to a visit to North Vietnam — a short three-hour drive from Hanoi. Meals and long-distance transport are on our "mother ships" — spacious wooden cruisers equipped with comfortable suites, deck and dining rooms. Meals designed by culinary specialist, Diep To, are abundant and delicious highlighting local seafood cooked up fresh. Vegetarians and special diets can be accommodated.
Halong Bay Three-day Example Itinerary
Day 1: Hanoi to Halong Bay via private car. Board your private junk, enjoying lunch as we motor out onto the bay, pausing to sightsee in Hang Dau Go (Hiding the Timber Cave), the largest grotto in the Halong area. In the afternoon, we'll escape the flotilla of other tourist boats, escaping into our own private part of the bay for kayaking and a beautiful sunset over Halong. After, a delicious seafood dinner, followed by drinks under the stars.
Day 2: Full-day on the bay, exploring grottoes, coves, inland lagoons, floating villages, and beach coves by kayak or local sampan. Enjoy a fishing lesson with locals (above). Seafood lunch, dinner and overnight onboard.
Day 3: Morning kayaking on the bay followed by farewell lunch with crew before return to Hanoi by private car.
Kayaking is optional, but enables up close access, through karst into hidden lagoons where no boat can go. We use imported one and two-seat models are perfect for beginners and for more experienced kayakers.
Read more on Halong Bay Luxury Boat Charters
Climate — When to go to Halong Bay
It is possible to visit Halong Bay year-round. Halong weather is typical for tropical coastal climate, with two primary seasons: April to September, when weather is typically hot and humid, and from October through March when drier and cooler.
Halong Bay Climate & Weather FAQS
- The average temperature of Halong Bay is 75 degrees Fahrenheit (23.7 degree Celsius).
- Winter months (from Mid-October through February) features the best weather overall on Halong Bay.
- During summer months (May to September), tropical storms may alter the itineraries depending on conditions.
- Due to hundreds of islands acting as a barrier in the area, Halong is not much affected by heavy storms and features calm, placid waters.
More about our Halong Bay tours
