Halong Bay Cruise: 2D1N Swim, Kayak & Hanoi Pickup Options

4.96

(442 reviews)

What’s the experience like?

We were already yawning when the driver pulled up outside our little hotel in Hanoi’s Old Quarter — it was barely 8am and the city was just shaking off its morning haze. The ride out to Halong Bay zipped by faster than I thought (expressway helps), but I’ll admit I dozed off once or twice. When we finally stepped onto the boat, there was this salty tang in the air and a low hum of engines mixed with laughter from other travelers. Our guide, Minh, handed us cold towels and grinned like he’d done this a thousand times but still enjoyed it.

The first time I saw those limestone islands up close, I caught myself just staring — they’re jagged and green-topped, way more dramatic than any photo. We got our cabin keys (ours had a window that looked right out over the water — still not sure how we lucked out) and then lunch happened: sticky rice, grilled fish, something with lemongrass that I kept going back for. After that it was all motion — paddling kayaks into these silent blue-green coves where even the birds seemed to whisper. My arms ached but in a good way. Minh pointed out a cave called “Surprising Cave” (he made us guess why before we went in; I won’t spoil it). Swimming at Titop Island was colder than expected — one of those moments you just have to go for it.

That night on the deck felt almost too quiet after Hanoi’s chaos. Some folks tried squid fishing (I didn’t catch anything except maybe embarrassment), others sang karaoke inside. I ended up just sitting on a lounge chair watching the lights from other boats flicker across the bay. The air smelled faintly of seaweed and engine oil — not unpleasant, actually kind of grounding.

Woke up early for Tai Chi on the sundeck (I mostly wobbled around), but watching the sun come up over Halong Bay made me forget how stiff my back was. Breakfast was strong coffee and pastries before we packed up and drifted slowly back toward port. Minh checked in with everyone about transfers — some heading back to Hanoi, others off to Ninh Binh or Tam Coc. It all felt weirdly communal by then, like we’d shared something small but real.