Halong Bay: 6-Hour Cruise, Kayaking & Titop Island Day Trip

4.90

(221 reviews)

What’s the experience like?

Chopsticks clattered as our guide, Linh, set down the steaming plates—shrimp with ginger, something crispy I couldn’t name, and the smell of lemongrass everywhere. We’d just left Tuan Chau harbor and the boat was gliding past these wild rock formations—one shaped like a dog? Linh pointed it out with a laugh. The air had that salty heaviness you get near the sea, but it felt good after hours in the van from Hanoi. I kept sneaking glances at the water—so green it almost looked fake.

I didn’t expect to like Sung Sot Cave so much. You step inside and it’s suddenly cool, damp—the ceiling weirdly high and full of these stone “curtains” that drip if you listen. Linh told us stories about dragons and ancient fishermen (I only caught half of it over everyone’s echoes), but honestly I was just watching how the light made everything look blue around the edges. We came back out squinting into daylight and then it was time for kayaking—my arms still ache thinking about it. Paddling under those low arches felt like sneaking into some secret place.

Titop Island was busier than I thought—families in bright hats, kids chasing each other into the shallows. I tried climbing to the top for that big Halong Bay view (totally worth my wobbly legs), but ended up sitting on a step halfway up just catching my breath and listening to people laughing below. Later I watched an old man slice open coconuts for tourists on the beach; he winked when he handed me one. There’s something about salt on your skin after swimming here that sticks with you longer than you think.