Top 10 Best Selling Cruises Halong Bay in Sep, 2023

See our top-recommended cruises from budget to luxury ones for your unforgettable boat tour in Halong Bay. Choose the best cruise and enjoy BestPrice Travel's hot deals for 40% OFF!

  • Top 10 2023
  • Luxury Cruises
  • Bai Tu Long Bay Cruises
  • Lan Ha Bay Cruises
  • Overnight Cruises
  • Day Cruises
Duration
Day tours
2 days 1 night
3 days 2 nights
STAR RATING
NUMBER OF CABINS
TRAVEL STYLES
Price per pax
CRUISE PROPERTIES
DEPARTURE FROM

Top Halong Cruise Package Recommendations

Halong Bay at a Glance

Cruising through Halong Bay is like entering a picture where the azure sky, majestic islands, and emerald sea harmonize. With the unique and amazing experience, Halong Bay is definitely a highlight that can't be missed in your Vietnam tours!

Area
1,553 km²
Caves
59
Islets
1,969
Summer Avg
34°C
Winter Avg
17°C
Local Time
GMT +7
Top places to visit

With numerous stunning islands, caves, and beaches, Halong Bay has many places to visit. The most well-known attractions are Sung Sot Cave, Dau Go, and Luon Cave, where you can witness gorgeous stalactites and stalagmites. If you want a less-visited route, let’s travel to the pristine Lan Ha & Bai Tu Long Bay.

  • Titop Island
  • Bai Tu Long Bay
  • Lan Ha Bay
  • Ba Trai Dao Islet
  • Sung Sot Cave
  • Cua Van Village
  • Thien Cung Cave
  • Luon Cave
  • Dau Go Cave
Map & Itinerary

There are various options for Halong Bay itinerary. You can easily find and choose different cruise duration (one, 2, or 3 days), areas, and departure ports based on your preference.

Classic Halong Bay Route:

  • Visit Titop Island - Luon Cave - Sung Sot Cave for 2D-1N cruise
  • Explore Pearl Farm or Me Cung Cave for the extra day in the 3D-2N cruise

Lan Ha Bay Route:

  • Travel to Ao Ech - Tra Bau - Dark & Bright Cave for 2D-1N cruise
  • Visit Viet Hai Village or Ba Trai Dao in the 3D-2N tour’s extra day

Bai Tu Long Bay Route:

  • Follow the Cong Do - Cap La - Thien Canh Son for the 3D-2N cruise
  • Visit Vung Vieng Village for the 3-day tour extra day.

Halong Bay Itinerary

Halong Bay Map & Itinerary

Weather & Best time to go

7 Days Weather Forecast

27 Sep TODAY
27°C
26°C
28 Sep Thu
29°C
26°C
29 Sep Fri
30°C
26°C
30 Sep Sat
30°C
27°C
01 Oct Sun
30°C
27°C
02 Oct Mon
30°C
27°C
03 Oct Tue
30°C
27°C

Halong Bay weather features humid and tropical monsoon in Northern Vietnam. The temperature fluctuates between 15°C - 35°C, and the annual rainfall is around 2.000mm. This bay has a clear weather division according to the season.

The best time to visit is in March, April, September, and October since the weather is mild at this time with no storms. For more information, you can see the board below:

 

Weather

 Spring

(Feb - Apr)

  • 18°C - 30°C
  • Humid, Drizzy, Calm sea

 Summer

(May - July)

  • 26°C - 38°C
  • Sunny, Hot, High rainfall, Occasional storms

 Autumn

(Aug - Oct)

  • 20°C - 33°C
  • Cool, Mild, Clear sky

 Winter

(Nov - Jan)

  • 12°C - 23°C
  • Cold, Dry, Heavy fog 

Halong Bay weather overview

FAQs

Yes, cruise in Halong Bay is definitely worth a try. As one of the world-famous natural heritage sites, Halong Bay features the best destination for cruising in Vietnam. Why is it worth it?

  • Deeper exploration: Cruising is the best way to go further into the beautiful archipelago of the Gulf of Tonkin
  • Perfect seascape: Stay 2 - 3 days relaxing on the ship, soaking up the fresh air and tranquility of the bay
  • Exciting activities: Retreat by entertaining onboard (mini golf, poker, pool, spa, karaoke) and offboard (kayaking, boat rowing, cave visiting, catamaran, etc.)

For the best travel experience, the best time to go to Halong Bay is March - April and October - November, when the weather is cool (20 - 28°C) and dry (less rainfall).

Also, you can choose other months to visit:

  • May - September: Perfect time to get summer cruise deals and flash sales up to 40% OFF
  • January - April: Enjoyable time to take part in Halong festivals and welcome Tet Holiday onboard

To better plan, please check out Best Time to Visit Halong Bay for Perfect Weather & Great Deals

On average, Halong Bay cruise price 2023 ranges between US $125 - $300/person for a 1-night cruise and US $65 - $120/person for a day trip.

Most cruises do not include the transfer in their package. You have to pay extra for the transfer if you want to be picked up from Hanoi.

Please see the prices table below for your reference about tourist season and duration.

Cruise Type

Low season

High season

Day trip

US$ 65 - 95 US$ 75 - 120

2 days 1 night

US$ 120 - 200 US$ 130 - 300

3 days 2 nights

US$ 220 - 400 US$ 240 - 500

Shuttle bus round trip

US$ 30 - 40 US$ 30 - 40

* The price is per person in USD

* Low season: May - Sep, High season: Jan - Apr & Oct - Dec

How long you stay in Halong Bay really depends on your budget and available time. In fact, the 1-night cruise is more popular among most Halong Bay tourists (up to 70%).

  • 1 night: On a budget from US $125/pax, you can visit 1 - 2 attractions and join tai chi, cooking class, kayaking, or boat rowing onboard.
  • 2 nights: With US $225/pax or more, you can add on 1 - 2 hidden places to visit and enjoy more time sightseeing and relaxing on the cruise. 

Still wondering about your plan? Please keep in touch with us via sales@bestpricetravel.com or +84 904 699 428 (WhatsApp).

It is not easy to find the best cruise among over 80 cruises in Halong Bay. Below are 4 small tips for you:

  • Decide itinerary & cruise route: The central (classic route), Lan Ha Bay (new trendy route), Cat Ba Island (combined trip to stay on the island), or Bai Tu Long Bay (less touristy route)
  • Estimate your budget: Different types of cruises from budget (from US$ 120 per person/night), mid-range (from US$ 135 per person/night) to luxury (from US$ 165 per person/night)
  • Check which cruise meets your needs: For a family with kids, private charter, couples, honeymoon, seniors, solo travelers, etc.
  • Choose a reputable agent: Engage with a local agency that has many years of experience in Halong Bay cruises and transparent policy

It takes around 2.5 - 3 hours (including break time) to transfer from Hanoi Old Quarter to Halong Bay by limousine bus or car. For those who transfer from Hanoi airport, it takes about 3 hours of driving to Halong Bay.

The slowest way is by train (7 hours), while the fastest way is by seaplane (45 minutes).

For further information, let’s check 6 Best Ways to Travel from Hanoi to Halong Bay

All cruises in Halong Bay must have permission from the Management Board to stay overnight in the Bay. Based on the weather conditions (high winds, monsoon, thunderstorm, cyclone, storm...), the Management Board has the authority to cancel all cruises on a certain day to guarantee the safety of tourists.

In those cases, the following policies will be applied for the cruise: 

  • If the cancellation is informed before you leave Hanoi (you have not used any service yet): 100% refund
  • If the cancellation is informed during the trip (you have already used some services: transfer, lunch, day trip, hotel,...): Only the fee of these services will be charged and we will refund the whole remaining amount
  • If the trip is cut down from 3 days/2 nights to 2 days/1 night, we will charge as 2 days/1 night trip, plus other services you have already used, and refund the remaining amount

Important notes:  

  • The cancellation is announced ONLY by the Management Board and often on short notice of time. Therefore your understanding of these situations is highly appreciated.
  • The period from May to July is considered stormy weather in Halong Bay with many unpredictable weather conditions. Hence more cruises will be canceled on short notice during this season.
  • In all cases, please contact our consultants directly for any urgent help. We are here to support you with all of our best!

There are 2 main ports where most cruises depart from: Tuan Chau Port and Halong International Port. Additionally, some cruises may leave from Vinashin Port (Hon Gai), Cai Lan and other ports around Halong City and Hai Phong (50 km).

Tuan Chau Port

Halong International Port

Address

Ngoc Chau, Tuan Chau Island

No. 9 Halong Road, Bai Chay Ward

How to get to

From Van Don Airport: 1.2 hours by car

From Cat Bi Airport: 45 minutes by car

From Hanoi: 2.5 hours by limousine/ car

From Van Don Airport: 1 hour by car

From Cat Bi Aiport: 50 minutes by car

From Hanoi: 2.5 hours by limousine/ car

Cruises depart

Mon Cheri, Paradise Elegance, Hermes, Sena, Capella Cruise, see more

Scarlet Pearl, Swan, Athena Luxury, Renea, Signature Cruise, see more

Halong Bay overnight cruise usually returns to the port at 11:00 - 11:30 on the last day of the itinerary. You will get to your hotel in Hanoi by 15:30 - 16:00 in the afternoon. 

For the day cruise trip, the disembarkation time is around 16:00 - 17:00 and the drop-off time in Hanoi is approximately 20:00.

Note: If you want to book a flight on the same day, choose a domestic flight after 17:00 and an international flight after 18:00.

Yes, you are allowed to swim in some areas of the bay, specifically:

  • Halong Bay: You can only swim in Titop Island, where most Halong overnight cruises pass by on the first day of the itinerary.
  • Lan Ha Bay: You are freely swum by the overnight anchor point around Ao Ech and Tra Bau Area.
  • Bai Tu Long Bay: Unlucky, swimming is restricted in this area for safety reasons.

Note: Please wear a life jacket if needed and don’t go swimming alone!

Sale Support
"Traveling is our passion"
Let us help you plan an unforgettable trip! Tailor-made your own trip

Customer Reviews

Overall Rating

Based on 4130 customer's reviews

9.4
Excellent
Traveler rating
  • 3676
  • 430
  • 16
  • 5
  • 3
9.5
Excellent - Ms.Wu
Swan Cruise 2 Days 1 Night | 27/09/2023
Easy to team to work with

I had a great time with Ms. Moon. She is so sweet and very easy to work with. She made sure to meet all of our requirements and was always there for the entire tour.
Thanks to her, our group had a fantastic 2-day trip to Bai Tu Long Bay :D. Swan Cruise is a great budget cruise. Thank you again for everything

9.5
Excellent - Tyler Salazar
Signature Royal Cruise 2 Days 1 Night | 27/09/2023
Perfect journey!

I made a great choice with the Signature Royal cruise. As it sailed into Bai Tu Long Bay, it was not as touristy as Halong Bay. The scenery is outstanding. Our cabin is spacious with a jacuzzi inside. Nice staff on board, too.
I think I'll book a 3-day tour next time as the 2-day trip was pretty short.

9.5
Excellent - Paul R
Victory Star Cruise 3 Days 2 Nights | 26/09/2023
Have a good time

This cruise was an incredible experience for me. The boat is very beautiful and the landscapes are breathtaking. We were lucky to be a small group (only 20 people on the boat). The staff takes great care of us. The food is excellent. The cabins are spacious and well-appointed.
Really nothing to complain… More

9.5
Excellent - Ollie Adkins
Valentine Premium Private Cruise 3 Days 2 Nights | 26/09/2023
Nice and cozy boat

not disappointed. The agency took care of everything, transferred from the hotel to the junk, and organized everything during the tour.
The staff are simply amazing. They take great care of their customers. A big thank you to Eric for his dedication and kindness. They helped make this trip a magical… More

Seafood
Pretty scenery
9.7
Excellent - Mr.Ethan Zhang Weijie
Mon Cheri Cruise 3 Days 2 Nights | 25/09/2023
3D2N cruise on the Mon Cheri

My travel agent Hera was fantastic for the entire process of my Mon Cheri Cruise trip. From the first online booking until the last transportation service back to the Hanoi hotel. Hera and Mon Cheri Cruise 3D2N are highly recommended. 2D1N is insufficient!

Mon Cheri Cruise 3d2n
Mon Cheri Cruises
Pristine Lan Ha Bay
  • 1(current)
  • 2
  • Next
  • Last

Questions & Answers (306)

Ask a Question
26/09/2023

Hello We are coming to Halong Bay by the Celebrity Solstice cruise ship. We don't arrive in port until 11:30 am on February 17,2024 and have to be back at the boat no later than 6:00 PM on February 18. Is there an overnight excursion that can accommodate these times?

Reply
1
27/09/2023
@SHIRLEY:

Yes you can go to Cruise on Sun International like Dragon Pearl Cruise, Dragon Legend Cruise will be back next day at port at 11:45 am

1 Reply
26/09/2023

Hi we (couple)are from India Bangalore, will be on Vietnam tour from 5th nov 20th November, planning to take halong bay cruise tour for 1 night 2 days on 16th November, we will be traveling from Sapa to Bai chay Bus station on 16th early morning 2 AM, please suggest me 1) which is the better location/ hotel to stay for the night, 2. Will the cruise company will pick up from hotel 3. Which cruise company is better, 3. Which route is better 4. We prefer vegetarian food, thanks.  Manjunath

Reply
1
26/09/2023
@Manjunath:

1. You can have a look at Hermes Cruise will very suitable with your request

2. Bus from company just pick up from Hanoi to Halong Bay and if you go from Bai Chay you will need a taxi

3. You can choose Hermes Cruise will suitable with your request

4. Each route will have its beauty

5. You can noted with the cruise before the trip start

1 Reply
22/09/2023

I'm intested in 2d1n cruise on 20th Dec. Which would you recommend for a 60 year old couple that doesn’t eat seafood and won’t go kayaking. Would like to take a bamboo boat to see caves etc but not kayak self

Reply
1
22/09/2023
@Ron:

All the cruise can provide the services that you want if you noted with the cruise before the trip start. I would recommend Stellar of the Sea Cruise and Orchid Cruise

1 Reply
22/09/2023

Hi, I am looking for 1 night Halong Bay cruise for 2 pax on 15 or 16 Oct. 3 or 4 stars. How much will that be?

Reply
1
22/09/2023
@George:

For 3 star cruise you can have a look at Cozy Bay Cruise, price will be 125 USD/person not include transfer. For 4 star cruise, you can have a look at La Regina Royal Cruise with price 198 USD/person not include transfer

1 Reply
21/09/2023

Hello, I’m a dive master and I would like to take the opportunity and perform a scuba diving in Halong bay. My flight arrive at October 7th, around 5am in Hanoi so I have 2 full day (7-8.10), can you please suggest me a 2 full day scuba diving including hotel and transportation?

Reply
1
21/09/2023
@Eldad:

 After covid-19 right now all the scuba diving is not available on Halong Bay, you can change to Nha Trang or Phu Quoc for Scuba Diving

1 Reply