The 15 Best Hanoi Boat Tours

1.Ha Long Bay Day Cruise – Swimming, Meal, Kayaking

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 7,415 reviews · from $41Our pick

Spend a long, full day cruising Ha Long Bay from Hanoi, with transport, lunch, cave visits, kayaking or bamboo boating, Titop Island, swimming, and a sunset snack included. Guides such as Sunny, Alex, Ken, and Henry are praised for clear information and good humor, though crowds and a long return make this a busy day.

“Sunny was a great guide! We made the most out of the day and enjoyed a relaxing day with great tips and info. We also got vegetarian food on the ship. Highly recommend the tour with Sunny!”

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2.Day Tour from Hanoi to Hoa Lu, Tam Coc & Mua Cave Via Boat & Bike

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 4,384 reviews · from $33Best value

Travel from Hanoi to Hoa Lu, Tam Coc, and Mua Cave with an English-speaking guide such as Sunny, Linh, or Viet. The day combines Vietnamese history, a buffet lunch, a short village bike ride, a bamboo boat trip, and a steep climb to one of Ninh Binh’s best viewpoints.

“It’s a full day trip to Ninh Binh. Nice way to see a different area from Hanoi. Our guide Sunny was knowledgeable about Vietnam culture and history and passionate about sharing it”

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3.Ha Long, Lan Ha Bay – All Inclusive 2D1N & 3D2N

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 4,358 reviews · from $56

You’ll sail from Hanoi through Ha Long or Lan Ha Bay on a 2-day, 1-night Amanda Cruise, with kayaking, caves, Titop Island, meals, Tai Chi, and squid fishing. Guides such as Alex, Dan, Hannah, and Roxanne have earned praise, but confirm your exact boat, route, and cabin before paying.

“Visiting Ha Long Bay was a dream of mine and Roxanne and team deliver a very luxurious experience. Although there were a couple of issues along the way Roxanne and team handle them effectively and professionally! The team in the yacht were exceptional. Thank you for making my dream come true! I would highly recommend their service!!!”

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4.Cozy Bay Halong 5-Star Day Cruise, Buffet, Cave, Kayak, Swimming

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 3,512 reviews · from $48

Spend 11 to 12 hours traveling from Hanoi to Ha Long Bay by shuttle, then cruise for 5 to 6 hours. You’ll visit Sung Sot Cave, Ti Top Island, and Hung Luon by kayak or bamboo boat, with a buffet lunch and sunset party included. Guides such as Minh, Tim, Duc, and Binh are often praised for clear, friendly help.

“Clean boat, great buffet lunch with plenty of food to feed everyone, comfortable bis ride to and from Hanoi. The activities (Surprising Cave, Titop Mountain and kayaking through Hung Luon) were very enjoyable. Our guide, Oliver, was very knowledgeable and made the day run smoothly.”

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5.2-Day Halong & Lan Ha Bay 5-Star Cruise with Balcony

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 3,300 reviews · from $188

Spend one night aboard a 5-star cruise through Ha Long and Lan Ha Bay, with a private balcony cabin, seafood meals, kayaking, caves, swimming, tai chi, and squid fishing. English-speaking guides such as Jackie, Tom, and Mike have helped make the tightly timed program run smoothly.

“the cruise was absolutely amazing! the boat is beautiful and the room very comfortable. the activity were even better than I imagine . the food is delicious and served like in a gastronomic restaurants. finally the crew is adorable and present any time day and night to answer at your demande especially miss hao she is the best!! I recommend you this cruse so much , it worth every penny”

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6.Mon Chéri Cruise 5 star: Unique 2 Days Tuan Chau – Halong bay – Lan Ha Bay

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 2,422 reviews · from $195

You’ll spend two days and one night aboard Mon Chéri Cruise from Got Pier, sailing Lan Ha and Halong Bays. Expect a luxury suite, Vietnamese meals, kayaking, swimming, a bamboo boat through caves, sunset and sunrise views, cooking, and squid fishing.

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7.Doris Cruise 5 star cruise 2 days visiting Halong Bay Lan Ha Bay private balcony

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 2,338 reviews · from $235

Cruise Ha Long and Lan Ha bays from Hanoi in a private-balcony cabin, with kayaking or rowing, swimming, cave visits, tai chi, cooking, and full-board meals. Staff members such as Emily, Mona, Jessica, and Summer are noted for warm, attentive service, especially with vegetarian and special food requests.

“Very nice rooms , vegan food, well planned activities and the sundeck.”

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8.Ninh Binh Day Trip: Hoa Lu-Trang An/Tam Coc-Mua Cave-Cycling-Boat

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,886 reviews · from $43

Travel from Hanoi to Ninh Binh by shuttle for a busy day of temple visits, village cycling, a Trang An grotto boat ride, buffet lunch, and the 500-step climb at Mua Cave. Guides such as Liam, Max, Tim, James, and Jason have led past departures. Expect beautiful scenery, a group of up to 32, and a brisk pace.

“A perfect experience for our huge group of 13! Our tour guide, James (Cung) was amazing. He was a reason why our trip was so memorable. Thank you for the experience!! Shoutout to James!”

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9.3-Day Ninh Binh, Ha Long, & Lan Ha Bay 5-Star Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 1,401 reviews · from $313

Travel from Hanoi to Bai Dinh, Trang An, and Mua Cave, then spend a night aboard a 5-star Lan Ha Bay cruise with a private balcony. Expect kayaking, swimming, cave visits, Vietnamese meals, Tai Chi, and careful WhatsApp coordination from the operator.

“Everything was wonderful. Thank you so much. Jessica’s attention and care, in particular, were absolutely amazing. Thank you. The staff was excellent. The trips and tours over the past two days were fantastic. It was a wonderful birthday gift for me. Also, thank you for celebrating my birthday yesterday. Thank you very much. I felt great. The organization, transportation, and communication are amazing—very professional and helpful. I eagerly look forward to meeting you again!”

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10.Islands & Caves Ha Long Cruise with Lunch & Kayaking

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 1,317 reviews · 4 - 13 hours · from $34

Spend a full day cruising Ha Long Bay from Hanoi, with a seafood lunch, Thien Cung Cave, limestone islands, and 45 minutes of kayaking or bamboo boating. Guides such as Harry, Benjamin, Linh, and John are praised for clear English, humor, and keeping the day moving.

“Thoroughly enjoyed our day out in Halong Bay. The kayaking was a lot of fun going at our own pace looking around the rocks - alternatively you could go on a boat ride with a small group. The guide was informative when walking through the caves explaining the history and pointing out some of the imagery you could find from the formations. The food was alright; I felt like there was a lot of food waste at the end as we couldn't finish it all. They were very accommodating for my partner who was vegetarian.”

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11.2-Day Lan Ha & Halong Bay 5 Stars Cruise with Balcony

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 1,147 reviews · from $162

Spend one night aboard a five-star cruise through Ha Long and Lan Ha Bay. You’ll have a private balcony cabin, meals, kayaking, swimming, cave visits, Tai Chi, and a cooking class. Lucas handles trip coordination, while onboard hosts such as Lee, Dan, Tommy, or Henry may lead activities.

“Celebrated a great birthday with my partner on board. Beautiful room and views.”

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12.Ha Long – Bai Tu Long Bay 2-Day 1-Night Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 1,113 reviews

Travel from Hanoi to Bai Tu Long Bay on a small overnight cruise with ocean-view cabins, kayaking at Cap La Island, Thien Canh Son Cave, Vietnamese cooking, Tai Chi, and meals on board. Guides such as Cong, Hung, Duc, and Peter are known for keeping the trip lively and well organized.

“An EXCEPTIONAL tour!! The entire staff was extremely kind, professional, and attentive, especially our cruise manager, Peter, who made the entire experience exceed our expectations. He was friendly, hard working, had a great sense of humor, and went above and beyond to make it a special experience for everyone on board. All of the activities were scheduled with a perfect amount of rest and fun— We especially loved the 6am Tai Chi led by Peter on the top deck! This trip is perfect for everyone: solo travelers, families with kids, couples, groups, and more. We HIGHLY recommend booking this for your visit to Halong Bay where you can truly experience…”

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13.3-Day Ninh Binh Trip and Ha Long Bay 5-Star Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 884 reviews

Start with Hoa Lu, Trang An, and Hang Mua in Ninh Binh, then travel by shuttle to a 5-star Ha Long or Lan Ha Bay cruise. Expect private-balcony cabins, a bathtub, kayaking, bamboo boats, cooking lessons, Tai Chi, and attentive guides such as Ha, Alex, and Nancy.

“Tour guides all very friendly & helpful. All very well organised, organisers went above and beyond and made it very special trip for us celebrating special occasion.”

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14.2-Day: Hanoi – Ninh Binh – Halong Bay Luxury Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 842 reviews · from $110

This fast-paced two-day trip pairs Ninh Binh’s temples, river caves, and Mua Cave climb with a luxury Ha Long Bay cruise. Guides such as Sunny, Ken, and Alex lead the excursions, while the boat adds lunch, kayaking or a bamboo ride, Titop Island, Sung Sot Cave, and a sunset party. No hotel night is included.

“Perfect! The guide Ken was very kind and helpful! Thank you Vietnam!! 🇻🇳🇨🇱”

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15.Tam Coc Boat Trip and Hoa Lu & Mua Cave Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 733 reviews · 1 day · from $43

Travel from Hanoi to Ninh Binh with an English-speaking guide, visiting Hoa Lu’s royal temples, climbing Mua Cave for sweeping views, and floating through Tam Coc’s three caves. Guides vary, with names such as Loi, Thomas, Brian, and Tony appearing on recent departures.

“The trip started a bit hectic, as on the day when I wanted to go, the bus broke down, and on the same day it was raining so much that a car that supposed to take me to Ningh Binh couldn't be found. However, I was amazed by Andy's flexibility to solve this issue and not to cause me any inconvenience - so I could join the tour on the following day. Tony, our tour guide was amazing. He told us a lot of interesting stories about each places, but also about Vietnam in general. He gave us a lot of suggestions what to do or what not to do.…”

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