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

4.98

(317 reviews)

What’s the experience like?

I’ll admit it — we nearly missed our pickup in Hanoi because I thought the “limousine bus” would look fancier (it’s just super comfy, not flashy). Our guide Minh waved us over anyway, grinning like he’d seen this before. The ride out to Halong Bay was smoother than I expected — those new highways really cut down the time — but I still dozed off for a bit. Woke up to that weird anticipation you get when you’re about to see something famous for yourself.

The first thing that hit me stepping onto the boat was this briny tang in the air and the sound of laughter bouncing off the deck. Lunch came quick: heaps of rice, some kind of sweet-sour fish (I never caught the name), and spring rolls that Minh insisted we dip in his favorite sauce. I tried to say “cảm ơn” properly — he laughed and corrected me, which honestly made it feel more real than any fancy service could. Cruising past those rock formations (the stone dog actually does look like a dog if you squint), I kept thinking how unreal it looked compared to all those glossy photos online.

Sung Sot Cave was cooler inside than outside — literally and figuratively. There’s this moment where you squeeze through a narrow passage and suddenly it opens into this huge chamber with ceilings so high your voice echoes back at you. Minh pointed out shapes in the rocks; some looked like animals, others… well, maybe you had to be local to see them. Kayaking later near Luon Cave made me realize how quiet Halong Bay can get once you paddle away from the main boats — just water slapping against plastic and birds overhead. My arms were jelly after but worth it.

Titop Island was busier than I expected but people were friendly — lots of families splashing around or sunbathing with coconuts in hand. We climbed up to the peak (I lost count of the steps), legs burning, but that view over Halong Bay really does stick with you. On the way down I slipped a little; nobody saw except Minh who just grinned again and offered me a hand. Sunset tea on deck felt almost too peaceful after all that movement. Sometimes I still think about that salty breeze and how tired-happy everyone looked heading back toward Hanoi.