OVERNIGHT ON JUNK BOAT CRUISING

(3 days, 2 nights cruising)

Booking Code for Junk Boat Cruising: OV40

If you prefer a kayaking cruise in Ha Long Bay, please follow this link.

This is one of the best Ha Long Bay and Cat Ba tours we offer. In just three days, you can enjoy a combination of junk boat cruising, sailing, rock climbing, traditional boating, and motorbiking on Cat Ba Island. Cat Ba is particularly special because its rugged limestone mountains, winding roads, forests, and coastal scenery make it look like a miniature Northwest Vietnam surrounded by the sea.

See how happy our customers have been with their experiences here.

Day 1: Hanoi – Bai Chay – Halong. (~170 km, ~5 hrs)

Drive from Hanoi to Ha Long City (Hon Gai area), with approximately four hours on the road. At Hon Gai Port, our traditional private junk boat will be waiting for us to begin our Ha Long Bay cruise. This port is away from the busiest tourist crowds, giving you a more relaxed start to the journey.

Once aboard, enjoy a delicious fresh seafood lunch while the junk begins cruising into the spectacular limestone landscape of Ha Long Bay. Depending on weather, tides, and local conditions, we may visit Thien Cung Cave, Sung Sot (Amazing) Cave, or a quieter and less-visited cave away from the standard tourist routes.

We may also visit a traditional floating fishing village before continuing through the thousands of dramatic limestone karsts rising from the emerald-green sea. Our route then takes us toward Ba Trai Dao (Three Peach Fruit Islet) or a more restricted and secluded area around Cat Ba National Park.

There will be time to swim and enjoy the peaceful surroundings before dinner and an overnight stay on our private junk boat. This first day is all about getting away from the crowds and experiencing Ha Long Bay by traditional junk boat.

Overnight on a private junk.
Lunch, dinner, permits, and entrance fees.

Day 2: Cat Ba – Boating.

Today we cruise toward Cat Ba Island, located at the southern and more remote end of the Ha Long Bay area. Cat Ba has traditionally depended heavily on the resources of the sea, although tourism has developed considerably and the island now offers a wide range of quality accommodation and services.

The scenery around Cat Ba Bay is remarkable. In many ways, it resembles a miniature Ha Long Bay, with a dense labyrinth of limestone karsts, small islands, hidden coves, and narrow waterways. From the boat, it can be difficult to imagine that you are travelling through the sea rather than a mountain landscape.

One of the special experiences we have developed for this itinerary is a visit to a floating fish farm. The owners are personal friends of ours, and over the years we have developed a close relationship with the local community. Visiting them provides an opportunity to see how families living on the water raise fish and make their living from the sea.

Last but not least, we visit Monkey Island (Cat Dua Islet). This small island has largely been ignored by mass tourism and remains a peaceful place inhabited mainly by monkeys and the forest rangers who look after them. Bananas are usually the best gift for the monkeys. They often come down at around 15:00 to look for food, although seeing them is never guaranteed.

We then hike up through the rugged shark-tooth-shaped rocks to reach the top of the island, where you can enjoy a spectacular panoramic view over Cat Ba Bay and its surrounding limestone islands.

Later, arrive in Cat Ba and check into our hotel.

Overnight in a hotel.
Breakfast, lunch, dinner, permits, entrance fees, and boat trips.

Day 3: Cat Ba – Hanoi. (~120 km, ~3 hrs motorbiking)

After breakfast, get ready for a memorable motorbike ride on Cat Ba Island. We ride through the island’s mountainous interior, following quiet roads surrounded by forests and limestone peaks, before returning along the coast.

The riding distance is approximately 60 km and takes around three hours. The roads are generally quiet, and the landscape is surprisingly similar to the mountain scenery of Northwest Vietnam. With rugged hills, forested slopes, limestone formations, and glimpses of the sea, this is one of the most unusual motorbike experiences in northern Vietnam.

After the ride, take the fast ferry at approximately 14:45 to Hai Phong. From Hai Phong, drive back to Hanoi via Highway 5, taking approximately two hours. We expect to arrive in Hanoi at around 18:00.

Breakfast, lunch, permits, and entrance fees.

A public bus is also an option and will be cheaper than using a private car.

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CRUISING HA LONG BAY

(3 days, 2 nights)

Booking code: OV25

Day 1

08:30 – Depart from Ha Noi for approximately 3.5 hours by private coach to Ha Long City, travelling through the fertile Red River Delta. On arrival, transfer to the junk boat and enjoy a delicious lunch featuring fresh local seafood, with vegetarian meals available on request.

After lunch, begin approximately four hours of cruising through Ha Long Bay, surrounded by spectacular limestone karst formations, forest-covered islands, hidden coves, and emerald-green waters. Check into your cabin and settle in before continuing your scenic cruise.

The route takes you through Bai Tu Long Bay, passing Hon Cap De, Dong Tam Cung, and Hang Trinh, where you can see a traditional floating fishing village and gain a glimpse into the unique lifestyle of communities that have lived on the water for generations.

Continue toward Titop Island, where you can relax on the beach and enjoy a swim at your leisure. Later, the junk cruise heads toward a quiet firth where you can enjoy a beautiful sunset and a delicious dinner.

As darkness falls, relax beneath the starlit sky of Ha Long Bay before retiring to the comfort of your private cabin.

Day 2

There are two options to choose from today:

Option 1: (Relaxing) After breakfast, transfer to a smaller boat for a scenic cruise toward the barbecue beach. Relax on the beach, swim, sunbathe, or simply enjoy the peaceful surroundings while waiting for the sea kayaking group to arrive.

The two groups meet at the beach and share lunch together. If weather conditions are unsuitable for eating outdoors, lunch will be served on the boat instead. After lunch, visit a floating fishing village to see more of the traditional life of Ha Long Bay before returning to the junk boat.

This option is ideal for travellers who want to enjoy the scenery of Ha Long Bay without a demanding activity, while still having the opportunity to explore some quieter areas of the bay.

Option 2: (Adventure – Sea Kayak Discovery) After breakfast, take a smaller boat to the Ha Long Bay kayaking area, where our expert guide will provide a lesson on kayaking safety, equipment, and basic paddling techniques. Once you are comfortable on the water, set off to explore the mystical bay by kayak. Depending on the tides and weather conditions, you may visit secluded beaches, paddle into a fascinating lagoon cave, or stop for a refreshing swim in the calm emerald waters.

Meet the group after the relaxing option at the barbecue beach and enjoy a great lunch together. After lunch, continue paddling through the spectacular limestone karsts of Ha Long Bay, exploring more of the quiet waterways and hidden corners of the bay before returning to the junk boat. This sea kayaking adventure offers a more active and intimate way to experience Ha Long Bay, away from the routes followed by larger tourist boats.

Day 3

(Brunch): 07:00 to 08:00 – Fresh fruit, tea, coffee, and Vietnamese pastries will be available for an early morning snack. At 07:30, start cruising toward Sung Sot (Amazing Cave), one of the most impressive caves in the Ha Long Bay area, before continuing to a quiet fjord where you can enjoy a relaxing morning swim.

After your swim, a delicious brunch buffet will be served on board while you continue cruising through the spectacular limestone landscapes of Ha Long Bay on the way back to Ha Long City. Take your time to enjoy the final views of the islands, karst formations, and emerald-green waters before checking out after 11:30.

Return to the jetty and transfer to the private coach for the journey back to Ha Noi. Arrival in Hanoi is expected at around 16:00, bringing your 3-day Ha Long Bay cruise and kayaking adventure to an end.

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JUNK CRUISING IN HA LONG BAY

(2 days, 1 night)

Booking code of 2 days junk boat cruising: OV26

Day 1

08:30 – Depart from Ha Noi for approximately 3.5 hours by private vehicle to Ha Long City, travelling through the scenic Red River Delta. On arrival, transfer to the traditional junk boat and enjoy lunch with fresh local seafood. Vegetarian meals can also be arranged.

After lunch, begin a four-hour junk boat cruise through Ha Long Bay, travelling among the incredible limestone karst formations and emerald-green waters. Check into your cabin and settle in while taking in the spectacular scenery surrounding the boat.

Continue cruising through Bai Tu Long Bay, passing Hon Cap De, Dong Tam Cung, and Hang Trinh, where you will have the opportunity to see a traditional floating fishing village and learn more about life on the water.

Continue to Titop Island, where you can relax, swim, or simply enjoy the beautiful surroundings. Later, cruise to a quiet firth where you can watch the sunset over the limestone islands before enjoying a delicious dinner on board.

Spend the evening relaxing beneath the stars before retiring to the comfort of your cabin for the night.

Day 2

(Brunch): 07:00 to 08:00 – Fresh fruit, tea, coffee, and Vietnamese pastries will be available to start the morning.

07:30 – Begin cruising toward Sung Sot (Amazing Cave) before continuing to a quiet firth for a refreshing morning swim. After the swim, enjoy a brunch buffet while the junk boat continues its scenic journey through Ha Long Bay toward Ha Long City.

Check out after 11:30 before returning to the jetty. Transfer to the private coach for the journey back to Ha Noi, with arrival expected at approximately 16:00.

This 2-day Ha Long Bay junk boat cruise is a good choice for travellers who want to experience the spectacular scenery of the bay without committing to a longer itinerary.

Contact us at [email protected] if you need more details about our Vietnam cruising tours from Hanoi, including Ha Long Bay junk boat cruises, Cat Ba Island tours, private cruises, and combined cruising and motorbike adventures in northern Vietnam.