Ultimate Guide To Halong Bay Cruise Routes

Halong Bay, one of the most popular tourist spots in Vietnam, offers several cruise tours to explore its breathtaking heritage site. Mesmerizing blue seas, towering limestone islands, enchanting caves, and dreamy beaches are what attract thousands of visitors to the bay each year.

In the following article, Fola Travel will introduce you to 5 cruise routes in Ha Long Bay!

 

The best destinations in the bay

All cruises, large and small, must adhere to one of five routes established by the Halong Management Board. These itineraries are intended to take tourists to the most beautiful and remarkable caves, islands, beaches, and fishing villages in Ha Long Bay, Lan Ha Bay, and Bai Tu Long Bay.

Halong Bay

Ha Long Bay is the largest and closest bay to the mainland, covering approximately 1,500 square kilometers. Recognized by UNESCO as a World Natural Heritage, Ha Long Bay is one of Vietnam’s most famous tourist sites, receiving countless love from visitors across the world. Ha Long Bay offers the striking beauty of the deep blue water winding around giant limestone islands, looking down from above like sparkling pearls in the middle of the sea.

When visiting Ha Long Bay, you cannot forget the beautiful sand beaches of Ti Top Island and Soi Sim Island, the stunning Sung Sot Cave and Luon Cave, along with the Tung Sau Pearl Farm and Fishing Village, where you can learn more about the life of local fishermen.

Lan Ha Bay

Lan Ha is a small bay tucked away in southern Ha Long Bay, belonging to Hai Phong City. With more than 300 charming limestone islands, Lan Ha Bay is honored as one of the most beautiful bays in the world. Though less bustling and vibrant than Ha Long Bay, Lan Ha Bay offers a serene and poetic beauty that is rare to find. 

Coming to Lan Ha Bay, visitors have the chance to relax on the lovely Three Peaches or Tra Bau Beach, explore Dark & Light Cave by kayak, or have a cycling trip among the green rice fields in Viet Hai Village.

Bai Tu Long Bay

A lesser-known bay located in the northeast of Halong Bay, Bai Tu Long Bay still retains its wild and pristine natural beauty. Here, the limestone islands rise dramatically like a solid rampart in the middle of the blue sea, creating a breathtaking panorama. With a charming and tranquil seascape, this place is ideal for swimming and kayaking. 

When talking about Bai Tu Long Bay, one cannot forget Vung Vieng and Cong Dam Fishing Villages, where visitors can experience the life of local fishermen, or the Tung Ang Ecological area, which has a rich and diverse system of animals and plants, including many rare species.

 

Cruise routes in the bay

The Ha Long Bay Management Board has established five bay tour routes: three to visit destinations in Ha Long Bay, one to visit Bai Tu Long Bay, and one to explore Lan Ha Bay.

The most popular tour routes for day cruises are routes 1 and 2 (which reach Ha Long Bay), while overnight cruises prefer routes 2, 3, and 5 (visiting Ha Long Bay and Lan Ha Bay). Route 4 to Bai Tu Long Bay has the least traffic among all of them.

• Route 1: Thien Cung Cave – Dau Go Cave – Cho Da Islet – Ba Hang Fishing Village – Dinh Huong Islet – Trong Mai Islet

This is a quick tour of the bay that can be completed in one morning or afternoon, making it ideal for day cruises.

The boat departs from Tuan Chau Marina and heads to Dau Go Island, where you can visit the stunning Thien Cung Cave and Dau Go Cave. From here, the journey continues to Cho Da Island and Ba Hang Fishing Village, where you can kayak to explore Ha Long Bay.

Before returning to the port, tourists will visit Dinh Huong Island and Trong Mai Island, two of Ha Long’s most iconic attractions.

• Route 2: Soi Sim Island – Ti Top Island – Surprising Cave – Pelican Cave – Luon Cave – Me Cung Cave

A common route for both day and overnight cruises, Route 2 takes you to some of the most stunning locations in Ha Long Bay.

The first destination is either Soi Sim Island or Ti Top Island, where you can relax in the calm blue waters while appreciating the poetic panoramic view of Ha Long Bay. Next, the cruise will take you to Sung Sot Cave, one of the most beautiful and famous caves in the entire bay.

Finally, tourists will explore Bo Hon Island, home of Luon Cave and Me Cung Cave. You will kayak through Luon Cave before returning to the dock.

• Route 3: Cua Van Fishing Village – Bamboo Forest – Tien Ong Cave – Ba Ham Lake – Ang Du Lake – Ba Men Temple

This is the last route to Ha Long Bay, ideal for a 7-8 hour day trip that focuses on experiencing the bay’s culture.

First, we are heading to Cua Van Fishing Village to learn about the everyday lives of Ha Long fishermen. From here, we will visit nearby sites such as Bamboo Forest, Tien Ong Cave, Ba Ham Lake, and Ang Du Lake to see the stunning natural environment of Ha Long Bay.

The final stop of Route 3 will be the Ba Men Temple, a spiritual and cultural center for local fishermen with a history spanning over 200 years. 

• Route 4: Thien Canh Son Cave – Cong Do Island – Tung Ang Ecological Area – Da Xep Nature Park – Vung Vieng Fishing Village

With only a handful of day and overnight cruise options, Route 4 is the sole route to visit Bai Tu Long Bay. Therefore, this itinerary is suitable for those seeking a private and peaceful vacation.

With this itinerary, visitors will visit Thien Canh Son Cave and Cong Do Island, and admire the magical beauty of the limestone system here. You will next sail to Da Xep Nature Park, an icon in the heritage bay, and the Tung Ang Ecological area.

The final destination is Vung Vieng Fishing Village, where you can kayak around to explore the daily activities of local fishermen, and even participate in fishing experiences.

• Route 5: Dau Go Island – Dinh Huong Islet – Trong Mai Islet – Cat Ba Island – Viet Hai Village – Three Peaches Beach

This is the only route that reaches Lan Ha Bay and Cat Ba Island, concentrating on Lan Ha Bay’s unique activities, including cave exploration, kayaking, and cycling, making it a popular choice among overnight cruises.

The first stop is Dau Go Island, where you can explore two stunning caves: Dau Go Cave and Thien Cung Cave. Afterward, you will board a boat to Cat Ba Island, passing by Dinh Huong Islet and Trong Mai Islet, two iconic rocks of the bay.

Visitors will next spend time on Cat Ba Island, exploring Viet Hai Village, Trung Trang Cave, Quan Y Caves, and Three Peaches Beach. Cycling through the fields and admiring the beautiful natural surroundings is a popular activity in Viet Hai Village.

The list above summarizes the five cruise routes in the bay. Please keep in mind that these are standard routes offered by the Halong Management Board. Each cruise will have its own itinerary based on the available route, which may skip certain places or change visiting orders.

For detailed schedules and booking information on Halong Bay cruises, please visit the Fola Travel website or contact us via hotline at 0986.332.366.

 

How to choose the best Halong cruise route for you?

• Time & Budget

If you are limited on time or budget in Ha Long Bay, day trips following Route 1 or Route 2 will be a suitable choice to get a well-rounded experience in the most beautiful areas of Ha Long Bay.

Otherwise, overnight cruises are well worth considering because they allow you to not only tour more places in Halong Bay, but also participate in additional activities on and off board.

• Personal Preference

Each Ha Long boat route has its unique beauty that is worth exploring.

Routes 1, 2, and 3 will guide tourists to Ha Long Bay’s most stunning and well-known attractions. These are also the busiest routes, hence they are best suited for guests who don’t mind heavy crowds at the stops.

The routes to Lan Ha Bay and Bai Tu Long Bay will have far lower cruise popularity, making them ideal for visitors who want a leisurely, peaceful, and uncrowded trip. This is also an excellent choice if you enjoy outdoor activities like kayaking and swimming.

 

FAQs

• What is the difference between 1-night and 2-night itineraries?

For most cruises in the bay, the 2-night itineraries just have one extra day added in the middle of the 1-night itinerary. Therefore, you have the chance to enjoy every destination of the 1-night tour and more. The extra day usually includes visiting islands, caves, and another kayaking/ bamboo boat section.

• Can we go to many bays on the same cruise?

Yes. Even though each cruise can only follow one tour route, which means it can visit one bay at a time, it is possible to visit two bays on the same cruise.

This is a luxury you get when booking a 3-night trip with overnight cruises. On the second day, many cruises offer day boats for you to discover a different bay area visiting caves and islands, before returning to the main cruise. For the exact itinerary of each boat, please check out Fola Travel’s cruise catalog.

• What is the most popular route in the bay?