| Option | Duration | Price per person (seen) | Included | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basic day trip | 12 to 13 h | about 23 to 40 $ | bus from the Old Quarter, boat, buffet lunch; kayaking and entry fees depending on the offer | tight budget, just one day |
| Standard group excursion | 12 to 13 h | about 40 to 75 $ | transfer, bay entrance fee, lunch, kayaking, Sung Sot Cave, Titop Island | the safe choice for a first visit |
| Premium day cruise, small boat | 12 to 13 h | about 90 to 120 $ | transfer, better meals, smaller boat, guide | those who want fewer people and a better meal |
| Lan Ha from Hanoi | 13 to 14 h | about 80 to 130 $ | transport, boat, lunch, kayaking (depending on the offer) | those who prefer a calmer bay |
| Private transfer + cruise booked separately | 12 to 13 h | private transfer extra, 40 to 80 $ | private car instead of the shared minibus | families, your own schedule |
Prices seen in October 2026 in travel guides and operator listings, varying with the date, the season and the group size.
Basic day trip: the lowest price
This is the cheapest excursion, sometimes around 23 $, but also the one that demands the most compromises. Travellers' reviews describe "rushed" days: a long bus ride, a stop at a shop or a textile factory that "felt mostly like a shopping break", a Sung Sot Cave that was "extremely crowded". Check the entry fees, the lunch and the drinks: anything "optional" is paid for on the spot.
Standard group excursion: the safe choice
For about 40 to 75 $ you usually get the minibus transfer from the Old Quarter (departure around 6:30 to 8:00), the bay entrance fee, a buffet lunch, kayaking and two or three stops: Sung Sot Cave, Titop Island and sometimes a floating village. Back in Hanoi around 20:00. It is the best option for a traveller who has only one day and does not want to do the sums.
Premium day cruise
A smaller boat (check the capacity: fewer than 25 passengers is a good sign), a lunch served at the table, and generally more time on the water. The price rises to about 90 to 120 $: you pay for comfort and calm, not for more sites. If you are ready to pay that much, ask yourself whether a night on board would not be better.
Lan Ha in one day from Hanoi
Lan Ha Bay offers the same scenery with far fewer boats, but it is farther from Hanoi: the round trip takes 13 to 14 hours, almost all of it by bus and ferry. Allow about 80 to 130 $ with transport, boat and return. If Lan Ha appeals to you, the real solution is to sleep a night on Cat Ba Island and book the boat on the spot.
What is included or not: the pitfalls
- The transfer. Almost all excursions include the minibus from your hotel in the Old Quarter. A private transfer costs 40 to 80 $ more.
- The entrance fee. It is calculated per route: 250,000 VND for routes 1, 2 and 5, 200,000 VND for routes 3 and 4 (the bay's official management). It is usually included; check it, and also check port fees.
- Lunch is almost always included; drinks are not: water at 40,000 VND, beer at 60,000 to 80,000 VND.
- Kayaking should be included; a supplement of about 100,000 VND for 30 to 40 minutes is a warning sign.
- The shop stop. Many cheap offers include a shopping stop or a factory: ask.
- The tip. A tip of 50,000 to 100,000 VND per person for the crew is customary.
- The real time on the water. The 12 to 13 hours include the road: on the water there are often only 4 to 5 hours left.
Doing Ha Long Bay on your own?
A bus or minibus reaches Ha Long city in about 2h30 to 3h (15 to 25 $), and you can find day boats there. It is feasible, but you lose time and cannot be sure of the price or the quality of the boat: in high season it is better to book. See our Ha Long Bay page for the routes.
Which offer to choose?
- Tight budget, just one day: the basic day trip, checking what is included.
- First visit: the standard group excursion.
- Couple or small group wanting more calm: the premium day cruise.
- Fewer crowds: Lan Ha, but with a night on Cat Ba.
- Family: private transfer and a boat reserved for your group.
- Two days available: the 2-day, 1-night cruise, far more restful.
Booking at the best time
Book a few days ahead, earlier in October-November and in spring, when the bay is at its best. Preferably choose a departure from Tuesday to Thursday. If a typhoon is forecast, a cancellation is possible at short notice. See our guide to the best time to visit Hanoi, Ha Long Bay and Sapa. Prices and times change: confirm them on the listing before you book.
