Ha Long Bay Cruises: Routes, Ports and Planning
Compare Ha Long Bay cruise routes, check your departure port (Tuan Chau or Ha Long International Passenger Port) and see which port tickets are separate from a cruise package.
Contents
UNESCO describes Ha Long Bay - Cat Ba Archipelago as a spectacular seascape of limestone islands and islets in northeast Viet Nam, within Quang Ninh Province and Hai Phong City.[1] For a visit to Ha Long Bay, start with the stops you want to see, then check the port, boat and inclusions in the offer you are considering.
The Ha Long Bay - Yen Tu World Heritage Management Board is a public service unit under the Quang Ninh Provincial People's Committee. It says its remit includes advising on management, protection, conservation and promotion of natural, cultural and geological values, and organizing tourism and services in named areas.[2]
Choose a route by its stops
The Board's three published routes are a concrete way to choose, better than picking by boat category alone. Decide which places matter to you, then ask the operator to confirm the route and the time at each stop.
| Route page | What the published itinerary emphasizes | Plan around |
|---|---|---|
| Itinerary 1 | Thiên Cung Grotto, Đầu Gỗ Cave, Ba Hang Caves and the Trống Mái and Đỉnh Hương islets.[3] | Boarding is at Tuan Chau International Marina or Ha Long International Cruise Port between 07:00 and 08:00, and the stops run until about 12:00.[3] |
| Itinerary 2 | Soi Sim and Ti Top islands, Sửng Sốt Cave, Luồn Cave and Mê Cung Cave, among other stops. Ti Top is the only island in the bay named by Ho Chi Minh.[4] | The boat leaves from Tuan Chau International Marina and returns to the mainland after Mê Cung Cave, the last stop.[4] |
| Itinerary 3 | Cửa Vạn Floating Cultural Center, Tiên Ông Cave, Ba Hầm Lake and Bà Men Temple.[5] | The boat leaves from Tuan Chau International Marina. The Board’s page lists the Bamboo Forest area as closed to visitors and Dù Lagoon as under renovation.[5] |
Things to Do
Offers are only loaded from GetYourGuide after you click. GetYourGuide can then process your IP address and set cookies. Privacy Policy
GetYourGuide partner offers. GoAsia may earn a commission if you book through these offers. Check whether tickets or transfers are included, and follow the attraction's official booking and admission rules.
Confirm the port and separate costs
All three routes start at Tuan Chau International Marina, and Itinerary 1 also names Ha Long International Cruise Port.[3][4][5] Make sure your booking names the same port, the meeting point and the pickup. A Hanoi transfer is included in some offers and sold separately in others, so compare the total journey.
Ha Long International Passenger Port charges a passenger ticket of VND 80,000 round trip or VND 40,000 one way per person, including VAT, since July 1, 2026.[6] This is a port charge, not the cruise price. Ask whether your booking includes it and request an itemized total for any other charges.
Book through a clear channel
The Board's visitor note, updated September 6, 2024, advises against accepting unsolicited boat offers outside passenger ports and directs visitors to the port information center for route and ticket guidance.[7] Get the operator name, port, route, inclusions and cancellation terms in writing, including what happens if weather or a port decision changes the sailing.
For more trip ideas, browse our Vietnam travel guides.
Sources and background
Numbers in the text such as [1] refer to these sources.
- [1] UNESCO World Heritage Centre: Ha Long Bay - Cat Ba Archipelago, UNESCO World Heritage List entry. Retrieved October 25, 2026.
- [2] Ha Long Bay - Yen Tu World Heritage Management Board, official website: Introduction to the Management Board of Ha Long Bay - Yen Tu World Heritage Site. Retrieved October 25, 2026.
- [3] Ha Long Bay - Yen Tu World Heritage Management Board, official website: Ha Long Bay Itinerary 1. Retrieved October 26, 2026.
- [4] Ha Long Bay - Yen Tu World Heritage Management Board, official website: Ha Long Bay Itinerary 2. Retrieved October 26, 2026.
- [5] Ha Long Bay - Yen Tu World Heritage Management Board, official website: Ha Long Bay Itinerary 3. Retrieved October 26, 2026.
- [6] Ha Long Sun Company Limited, Ha Long International Passenger Port Branch; notice published on the official Management Board website: Adjusting passenger ticket prices through Ha Long International Passenger Port from July 1, 2026. Retrieved October 25, 2026.
- [7] Ha Long Bay - Yen Tu World Heritage Management Board, official website: Note when visiting Ha Long Bay. Retrieved October 25, 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
Start with the stops you most want to see. Itinerary 1 focuses on Thiên Cung Grotto, Đầu Gỗ Cave and nearby islets; Itinerary 2 lists Ti Top Island, Sửng Sốt Cave and Luồn Cave; Itinerary 3 includes Cửa Vạn Floating Cultural Center and Tiên Ông Cave. Ask your operator to confirm the route and which stops are open.
All three Board routes start at Tuan Chau International Marina, and Itinerary 1 also names Ha Long International Cruise Port. The route page titles say “International Cruise Port” or “International Port”, while the itinerary text names Tuan Chau. Check the exact port, address and check-in time on your own booking.
The price depends on the operator and boat. Ask for an itemized total covering the boat, transfers, meals, activities and any port tickets. Ha Long International Passenger Port charges a separate passenger ticket of VND 80,000 round trip or VND 40,000 one way per person, including VAT, since July 1, 2026. Confirm whether your booking includes it.
No. The VND 80,000 round-trip or VND 40,000 one-way charge is a passenger ticket through Ha Long International Passenger Port, in force since July 1, 2026. It is separate from the cruise fare. Ask the seller whether it is included and what other charges apply.
The Board’s Route 3 page says the Bamboo Forest area is not open to visitors and Dù Lagoon is being renovated. Ask the operator which stops are open on your date and what replaces any unavailable stop.
Use a booking channel that names the operating company, departure port, itinerary, included services and cancellation terms. The Board's visitor note, updated September 6, 2024, advises against unsolicited boat offers outside ports and directs visitors to the port information center for route and ticket guidance.
Transfer times depend on your pickup point and the offer. Compare the written pickup time, arrival port, check-in deadline and return transport in the offer you are considering.
Before paying, ask the operator how route changes, port suspensions or cancellations are handled and read the refund or rebooking terms. Conditions and sailing decisions are date-specific, so confirm them close to departure.
