Should I Choose Day Cruises OR Overnight Cruises in Halong Bay?

Thanks to the new highway, Halong is very easy and quick to access, making both a day tour or overnight one possible and equally interesting. However, each type features its own advantages which may suit one visitor but may not suit the others. Let's take a deep dive into the main characteristics of day trips and overnight cruises and find the best match for yourself!

Timing

Sunset on the bay (photo by @peonycruise via Instagram)

Day cruises

Halong Bay day tours last for 4 to 8 hours. 4-hour tours may start in the early morning at 8 am and return at noon 12 pm or start from noon 12 pm and finish at 16:00. Meanwhile, 6 - 8 hour tours usually start from mid-morning and end in late afternoon. These durations are best for those who have a limited time but still want to get a glimpse of the heritage bay.

Overnight cruises

This tour has a longer duration from 2 days 1 night to 5 days 4 nights. The 1 and 2-night itineraries are most popular thanks to the reasonable price and suitable available time while the 3 and 4-night ones are chosen by those who celebrate a special event or returned travelers who want to extend their unhurried vacation.

All overnight tours start at noon between 12:00 - 13:00 and end between 11:30 am - 12:00 pm. In fact, visitors have almost 24 hours onboard for a 2 day/1 night itinerary, 48 hours for 3 day/2 night, and similarly 72 and 96 hours for the 3 and 4-night ones. Longer durations provide more experiences along with rest time in between activities, or travel time between destinations.

Itinerary and activities

Both day tours and overnight tours offer kayaking activity (photo by @peonycruise via Instagram)

Day cruises

Obviously, the more time you spend on the bay, the more activities you can experience. However, rest assured that day trips have a well-planned itinerary so that you can make the most of your time and experience the best of Halong Bay.

Day trips start in the early morning (approximately 6:00 - 7:00 am) when the tour guide and bus pick you up from your hotel in Hanoi center. If you do not stay in Hanoi or use the transfer service, you can just be present at the pier at the appointed time. After checking in onboard, the cruises sail to the bay and cross iconic islands before dropping the anchor at the first attraction.

4-hour day cruises usually include one excursion while the 5.5 - 8 hour cruises offer 2 to 3. Depending on each program, visitors will climb to a cave, kayak or take a sampan boat through a half-underwater cave or visit an island for hiking and swimming. Lunch will be served at noon before you continue the excursions. The longer tours may include a cooking class or sunset party after all excursions are finished and on the way back to the harbor. The tour ends at around 17:00 - 18:00 at the port if you do not use the drop-off service or 20:00 - 20:30 in Hanoi if you do.

Overnight cruises

A more relaxed schedule with less rushed activities is a plus for overnight cruises. The itinerary starts between 8:00 - 9:00 am from Hanoi if guests use the shuttle service or 12:00 - 13:00 from Halong if they do not. After embarking and checking in the cabin, a hearty lunch will be served before joining a wide range of activities on and off the boat.

For offboard activities, 2-day itineraries usually include 2 - 3 excursions while 3-day ones include 5 - 6 excursions. Each excursion is less rushed, and more break time will be provided among activities. The excursions may include a trip to a cave, a fishing village, an island with sandy beach and panorama view, or a local village on the island. You can join kayaking, swimming, climbing, cycling, or a rowing boat trip.

Last but not least, onboard activities like cooking class, sunset party, happy hour, squid fishing, and taichi session are offered daily at specific times so guests can choose to join any day of the overnight trip.

Tour cost

Relax on cruise sundeck (Photo by @fitriertaningsih via Instagram)

Day cruises

Day cruises are divided into budget, mid-level, and luxury levels. The price ranges from $45 to 95/person with a meal, sightseeing fee, tour program, and tour guide included. If you need the transfer service from Hanoi, it may cost you $20-30 per person for a round trip depending on bus type. Transportation or other expenses are optional, hence a day trip is truly an economical way to explore the bay.

Overnight cruises

Overnight tours are surely more expensive than day tours. However, more facilities, activities and services will be included. Depending on cruise categories, a 2 day/1 night cruise costs $115-490 per person and a 3 day/2 night one costs $230-800 per person, applied for the standard cabin. The price is based on double occupancy and includes a well-equipped cabin, all meals onboard (4 meals in 2 days or 7 meals in 3 days), tour guide, sightseeing fee, use of facilities, a bottle of water per person per night. Personal expenses like drinks, spa service, transportation, tips,... are excluded.

Comparison & conclusions

Based on the above advantages and disadvantages, either one-day or a few-day cruises can bring the best experience if they suit your needs and preferences the most. Hence, here is a summary of each cruise type that may help you in planning an unforgettable Halong adventure: