Overnight Cruises From Ha Long
The standard multi-day trip from Ha Long is a cruise of two days and one night, with longer versions of three days and two nights. Some travellers then add Ninh Binh on land. Prices below are in Vietnamese dong (VND), at roughly 26,000 per US dollar. Cruise prices differ by boat, so ask each operator for a written quote.
Two days, one night
A typical overnight cruise boards around midday, serves lunch while sailing into the bay, and stops for a cave, a kayak or a swim at Ti Top. The evening brings dinner, and many boats offer night squid fishing. Morning often starts with tai chi on the deck before a late breakfast and a return to port. Routes VHL2, VHL3 and VHL4 are the overnight routes with official fees.
| Overnight route | 24 hours (VND) | 48 hours (VND) |
|---|---|---|
| VHL2 | 550,000 | 750,000 |
| VHL3 | 500,000 | 650,000 |
| VHL4 | 500,000 | 650,000 |
These sightseeing fees are normally included in the cruise price. The Ha Long Bay Management Board publishes the table. Port charges at the Ha Long International Passenger Port are 80,000 VND return or 40,000 VND one way from 1 July 2026.
Three days, two nights and the Lan Ha link
A longer cruise gives more time in quieter parts of Bai Tu Long or Lan Ha. Overnight link cruises from Ha Long into Lan Ha began on 20 April 2026, and there is no day version. Au Co 1 from Bhaya Cruises and the Ambassador Signature are on this kind of itinerary. Lan Ha charges its own fee of about 120,000 VND per adult and 60,000 VND per child from 2026.
Ha Long and Ninh Binh
Some people continue from the bay to Ninh Binh for its river valleys. The overland leg takes roughly 3.5 to 4 hours, so give it a half day. Hanoi to Ha Long is about 160 km and takes 2.5 to 3 hours on the expressway. Limousine vans start at about 260,000 VND per seat one way. Airports at Van Don and Cat Bi are each about 45 minutes away by road.
Boat safety and weather
The UK Foreign Office asks travellers to consider safety standards carefully before an overnight boat trip and to wear a life jacket when joining any boat (FCDO advice ). In March 2026 the government ordered an inspection of all 508 cruise boats, and the province aims to replace wooden hulls with steel by 2030. Ask the operator for the boat’s registration and safety certificate, and check steel against wood.
Storm season runs from May to November. October to April is the clearest window, and typhoon warnings can halt sailings or cut a cruise short, so keep a spare day around June to October travel.
Plastic
Single use plastic cups, straws and bags have been banned for businesses on the bay since 1 September 2019. Operators supply refillable water, so follow the crew’s guidance.
Read more: Attraction tours in Ha Long lists the day routes for comparison.
Booking
Overnight cruises can be compared on Booking.com . Inspection details are in the VnExpress report .