Ha Long Bay Tour: 2 Days 1 Night – My Experience

A Ha Long Bay Tour Is An Exceptional Vietnam Experience

I almost didn’t book my Ha Long Bay tour.

The whole thing felt too manufactured, too Instagram-perfect to be real. But something made me pull the trigger on a 2-day, 1-night tour, and I’m genuinely glad I did.

Here’s the thing nobody tells you upfront. Most tours include meals, kayaking, and cave visits in the price. But what they don’t always mention is that the quality varies wildly. Some boats are gorgeous traditional junks with proper cabins. Others are basically floating hostels with paper-thin walls.

The moment I knew I’d made the right choice? Sunset on day one. I sent my drone up as the light turned golden, and the footage I got was absolutely unreal. Those limestone karsts rising out of still water, painted in orange and pink. No filter needed.

Whether you’re travelling solo and want to meet people or you’re there with your partner looking for something romantic, the tour you pick matters more than you’d think.

So which one should you actually book?

Let me break down what I learned from my trip, what’s included in different price points, and whether this whole experience lives up to the hype (spoiler – it does, but only if you choose right).

Make sure you read my 2-week Vietnam itinerary, my where to stay in Ha Long Bay Guide and my 10-day Vietnam itinerary to help plan a great trip.

Discover Whether Ha Long Bay Is Worth It

Disclosure: Some of the links on this page are affiliate links, which means that if you make a booking through them, I may earn a commission. See my Privacy Policy.

Where Is Ha Long Bay Located?

Ha Long Bay is located in northeast Vietnam, about a 2.5-hour drive from Hanoi.

Read My 10 Day Vietnam Itinerary

How Can I Get to Ha Long Bay?

You can easily get to Ha Long Bay in a couple of ways.

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When I visited, I took a shared minibus from Hanoi, which was part of my 2-day, 1-night tour.

I did have a stop-off at Cat Ba Island before making it to Ha Long Bay, but it’s a great way to travel.

You can also hire a private driver to take you there. Any time I rented a driver in Vietnam, they were professional and friendly, so I recommend doing that. You can even have a driver waiting at the airport in Hanoi for you and book him to take you right to Ha Long Bay.

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A much more affordable option is to take a limousine bus from Hanoi to Ha Long Bay.

Hanoi is the capital, so many buses run daily between the bay and the city.

Lastly, if you’re doing a day tour only, you can book that or an overnight tour, which is what I did; you can book right here, which includes transportation.

Explore My 7 Day Vietnam Itinerary

Best Time To Visit?

For the best weather, visit Ha Long Bay in spring or autumn.

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The temperatures will be pleasant, you’ll miss the heavy rain and typhoons, and you’ll have far fewer people.

When I visited, it was July, and while it was in the rainy season, we didn’t have a drop of rain.

The weeks before, there was a sunken boat due to a typhoon, and tragically, many people died. Do not travel when the weather is bad, and cancel on the day if it doesn’t look good.

There’s no point risking your life for the bay.

Discover My 5 Day Vietnam Itinerary

Day Trip Vs Overnight Tour

I did the 2-day, 1-night tour and loved every moment.

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I got to bond with the other travellers and eat with them, which was a lot of fun.

We even did karaoke at night after a great dinner and shared some drinks on the top deck. It was brilliant!

I also got to go kayaking, swim off one of the small islands, and trek up to Ti Tốp Đỉnh núi Đảo. We entered Sung Sot Cave, which was so huge I couldn’t believe it. We also kayaked around one of the lagoons with a few people in it, and the silence was incredible.

I have no doubt the day trip would be heaps of fun, but I couldn’t stomach leaving and watching others stay there.

The only thing I didn’t enjoy was the boats pumping loud music out while we were swimming at the beach. It ruined the calm vibe.

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When I did the tour, there was even one girl who was doing 2 nights and three-day tour, and she left us to do more excursions.

While I was happy for her, I was a little jealous, but in a nice way.

Discover How To Get From Hanoi Airport To Halong Bay

What Is The Cheapest Ha Long Bay Tour I Can Do?

The cheapest tour I could find was this Ha Long Bay Luxury Day Cruise with Food & Kayak.

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I would only recommend this if you’re stuck for time, and even then, you won’t get to see and feel the experience as a whole, in my view.

Yes, you’ll get to tick it off your list and say you were there, but when I stayed overnight, the whole experience was full and packed with fun activities, and the group atmosphere was positive.

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Watching the boats along the bay at night as the sun set was special.

You feel part of a tribe, and you get to all experience the same thing and wake up the following morning and go again.

That’s the magic of these overnight tours as opposed to the day trips.

Key Advice For Ha Long Bay Trip

If you’re coming to Ha Long Bay, here’s what I wish I knew before I went.

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Bring sunscreen, sunglasses, swimming gear, and a protective cover for your phone.

When I was on Cat Ba Island, my phone got wet while kayaking, and it broke because I didn’t have a cover. Don’t make this mistake.

I had to get a new phone in Hanoi when a simple waterproof cover would have done the trick.

Best Ha Long Bay Tour Packages

There are many Ha Long Bay options, from day trips to overnight tours to three-day tours. Below are some good options to consider.

Ha Long Bay Cruise 1 Night Itinerary

Day 1

I was dropped off at the pier and had to wait for our tour guide (Dragon) to arrive before we hopped onto the cruise boat.

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A small motorboat took us across to our cruise boat, and we had to wear life jackets. It only took a few minutes to get there.

Once on the cruise boat, we were handed keys to our room after our guide told us the itinerary for the next two days. We dropped our bags and quickly went to the top deck to enjoy the views as our boat entered the bay at a slow pace.

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We had 45 minutes before eating lunch together.

There were 12 of us in total on the boat, plus the crew and 4 staff members. For lunch, we had a little bit of everything: chicken, rice salad, egg, seafood noodles, and fruit. All very tasty.

Thankfully, we were allowed one complimentary drink. After eating, everyone kind of did their own thing.

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On the upper deck, there was a bar with an astro turf floor, with chairs and tables. Thankfully, there is a cover from the sun, so lots of people could take shade if they wanted.

We stopped at Surprise Cave (that’s the name). Very interesting, and we took a small boat to the cave. It didn’t take long, about 8 minutes.

We met several hundred people in the cave, and we squeezed past them.

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Later, we made it to the final cave, which at its deepest was 700 metres in depth.

So many stalactites and stalagmites. Back to the boat, and we spent about 45 minutes in the caves.

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We took the small boat to the beach to Ti Top Beach (bring suncream, swimming gear, and sunglasses). Our boat wasn’t going back to the cruise shops at this point.

Amazing beach, but too many people. We trekked to the viewpoint in about 400 steps on a limestone cliff, and the views were worth it all. We had an hour and 15 minutes to explore this tiny island.

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We went back to the cruise boat and started a cooking class where we made spring rolls together and ate with our hands, and it was great! The cocktails started flowing, and soon everyone was up singing their favourite songs.

I flew my drone as the sun set, and it was magical.

Day 2

I woke up at 06.00 AM for sunrise and flew the drone once again.

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Breakfast was filling with many options for fruit, rice, eggs, seafood and noodles. No complaints about the food from me.

We took the small boat again to kayak in a lagoon, and we did it in pairs or singly.

When we entered the lagoon, many monkeys were climbing the cliffs to our right, and people flocked over to get close and take pictures.

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Everyone left, and it was just me, my partner and her parents in the lagoon, and the 360-degree view was super special.

Once back on the boat, we paid our bills for drinks, and we were all done by midday after eating a final lunch. We all took the minivan back to Hanoi.

Day 2 felt short, but all things considered, we did loads over the two days.

Don’t go abroad without comprehensive travel insurance. I have used and trust Safety Wing.

Is a Ha Long Bay Tour Worth It?

My experience on the Ha Long Bay tour was thankfully worthwhile.

I booked this tour from Hanoi, and it had everything I needed: a comfortable bed, life jackets (which were very good to see), a bar, amazing food, an amazing guide, and we did so much. We went kayaking with wild monkeys along the limestone cliffs and got really close. We trekked to the viewpoint and entered the massive caves. I’d never been in anything so big before.

If you want to check out my Southeast Asia packing list, make sure you get travel insurance because I needed it in Da Nang when I became unwell, and it saved almost $800.00 in doctor’s fees and medication.

Finally, join my Facebook group to ask questions, get trip ideas, and see the best of Vietnam.

Any questions? Just drop me a message.

Thanks for reading,

James

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FAQs

Which Ha Long Bay Tour Is The Best?

This depends on what you’re looking for and, most importantly, your budget. This tour is exceptional because it includes both Ha Long Bay and nearby Bai Tu Long Bay. Additionally, you can find this 2-Day Halong & Lan Ha Bay 5-Star Cruise worth considering. You can take a tour from Hanoi to Ha Long Bay that includes meals at a reasonable price. I do recommend staying overnight to make the most of the experience because it’s one of Vietnam’s most impressive natural landscapes.

How Much Does A Ha Long Bay Tour Cost?

A budget Ha Long Bay tour costs from about $40.00 up to $250.00 for higher-end tours. I took a mid-range tour and paid $120, which included transport from Hanoi. I recommend the mid-range budget because lunch was incredible, with many options and big portions. Kayaks were also included, and overall, I was very happy with the tour I chose. Some people are happy with day trips from Hanoi, while others stay for three days. This will depend on your timeframe and budget.

Is Ha Long Bay Worth Doing?

Yes, Ha Long Bay is totally worth doing. I wasn’t sure if it was a tourist trap, but it was exceptional. From the boat to the meals to the activities, I had so much fun. You can do the tour from Hanoi, whether you’re a budget, mid-range, or luxury traveller. My favourite thing was climbing the viewpoint from Ti Tốp Đỉnh núi Đảo and seeing the bay below. The sunset is extraordinary, and everyone gets quiet and sits on the upper deck, watching the sky change colour.

• Ta Van Village: What To Expect From Your Visit
• Getting To Halong Bay From Hanoi Airport: 5 Great Options
• Where To Stay In Halong Bay: My Ultimate Guide
• Is Ha Long Bay Worth It? My Honest Opinion
• Ha Long Bay Tour: 2 Days 1 Night – My Experience