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Ha Long Bay cruise price: from day boats to 3-day suites
The Ha Long Bay cruise price you see first is a starting figure. Transfers, solo supplements and seasonal surcharges decide what you actually pay. Here is the full picture, tier by tier, with a calculator for your group.
Check availabilityfrom $135 · cancel without a fee
Editorial team, halongovernightcruise.comUpdated October 18, 20266 min read2 sources
The numbers in brief
- 01Day cruise
- The most reviewed day cruise starts from $41 per person.
- 02Budget night
- For a Ha Long Bay budget cruise, the 2-day Ha Long and Lan Ha Bay trip with meals starts from $107.
- 03Booked cruise
- Balcony cabin, all meals and entry fees, from $135.
- 04Transfer
- Often extra: $25 per person round trip on several listings.
- 05Surcharges
- Up to $40 per person on listed holidays.
What the starting figure covers
Every Ha Long Bay cruise price on GetYourGuide is a from-price per person, usually for the lowest cabin on the cheapest date. On the booked cruise that figure is $135, and it covers a lot: a private balcony cabin, all meals on the boat, all entry fees and tickets, kayaking, tai chi, squid fishing and a cooking class.
Entry fees are worth checking on any listing. The Ha Long Bay Management Board has charged entrance fees for its visitor routes since April 1, 2017, and overnight stays have their own ticket category.12 The booked cruise includes all entry fees, and one Lan Ha Bay cruise states that entrance and government fees are already in its price.
What the starting figure usually leaves out is the road. Drinks, travel insurance and the transfer from Hanoi are the common gaps, and on the booked cruise all three appear in the list of exclusions. Treat the from-price as the floor of your budget, then add the lines that apply to you.
Price tiers, from day boats to suites
At the bottom sit the day trips. The most reviewed Ha Long Bay day cruise starts from $41 and holds 4.80 from 13,162 reviews. A full day from Cat Ba Island through Lan Ha and Ha Long bays with biking and kayaking starts from $23, though you have to reach Cat Ba first.
Overnight cruises start around the next step. A 2-day Ha Long and Lan Ha Bay cruise with meals starts from $107 with 4.81 from 442 reviews, and the 4-star Cozy Grand overnight from $116. The booked balcony cruise, the Elite cruise with an infinity pool and their sister listing all start from $135.
Higher up, the 2-day luxurious cruise with balcony starts from $203, the 3-day cruise with Viet Hai cycling from $266, and the 3-day Capella cruise from $515. The spread is wide, and a higher figure buys more space or more time rather than a different bay.
Price and quality
Guest ratings across the price tiers
rating out of 5
Price ladder
From a day boat to a 3-day suite
| Option | Duration | Rating | From |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cat Ba full day | 9 hours | 4.84 | from $23 |
| Day cruise from Hanoi | 1 day | 4.80 | from $41 |
| 2-day cruise with meals | 2 days | 4.81 | from $107 |
| Balcony cruise, booked here | 2 days | 4.81 | from $135 |
| Luxurious, with balcony | 2 days | 4.84 | from $203 |
| 3-day with cycling | 3 days | 4.81 | from $266 |
| Capella, 3 days | 3 days | 5.00 | from $515 |
From-prices per person as listed, before transfers and surcharges; not exact quotes.
Three budgets
Three price points for one night
Lower budget
Booked here
Upper tierDecision helper
Where your money goes furthest
Choose the line that matches your budget
A day cruise
From $41 with 13,162 reviews.
The cruise with meals
From $107, rated 4.81.
The booked cruise
Balcony, meals, entry fees and activities.
Ask about single rooms
Supplements run from $40 to $90.
Travel outside holidays
Holiday supplements reach $40 per person.
Currently, there are 05 tour routes in Ha Long bay. Since April 01, 2017, Ha Long bay Management Department has applied the entrance fee for visiting routes of Ha Long bay
Transfers from Hanoi: included or extra?
The transfer is the line that changes most comparisons. The booked cruise shows pickup times in Hanoi and Ninh Binh and a pickup label, but its exclusions price the round-trip transfer at $25 per person. Its sister listing states that transportation is not included in any booking option and sells shared transfers as an extra.
Other listings price the bus themselves. The Elite cruise and the 2-day private balcony cruise list a round-trip shuttle from Hanoi Old Quarter at $25 per person. A Lan Ha Bay balcony cruise charges $12 per ticket each way between Hanoi and the harbor.
If you would rather arrange the road yourself, a limousine bus between Hanoi and Ha Long Bay starts from $16, and a private car from $72. A private car also lets you leave when you choose, which matters with children or an early flight.
Checklist
Add these lines to any starting price
01
Often extra
- Round-trip transfer from Hanoi
- Single room supplement
- Drinks on board
- Travel insurance
02
Sometimes extra
- Peak-season charge, October to April
- Holiday or gala dinner supplement
- Entry fees, if not included
- Government VAT shown separately
Cost calculator
Price your group across four options
Starting totals for your group before transfers and surcharges.
People
Total from$81
per traveler from $41
Check availabilityfree cancellationEach total starts from the lowest per-person fare GetYourGuide lists, converted with the euro reference rate; the booking page shows the exact sum for your date and cabin.
Video
THE TRUTH & COST of a Halong Bay Cruise [Know BEFORE You Go!]
The clip stays off until you tap play.
Surcharges by season and holiday
Several listings add a peak-season charge for the cooler months. The 2-day 5-star Halong and Bai Tu Long cruise adds $13 per person from October 1 to April 30, and lists a government VAT of $19. The 3-day private balcony cruise adds $20 per person in the same months and lists a government VAT of $25 per person.
Holidays bring their own lines. The 2-day luxury Lan Ha Bay cruise charges $40 per person on December 24, December 31, Lunar New Year and other national days. The 3-day cruise from Lan Ha Bay adds a gala dinner supplement of $40 per person on Christmas Eve, New Year's Eve and Lunar New Year.
The booked cruise mentions an extra surcharge for New Year, Christmas and national holidays without stating the amount, and says taxes are included for bookings made from June 26, 2026. If your dates fall on a holiday, ask the seller for the exact figure before you book.
Solo travelers and children
Traveling alone usually costs more per head. On the booked cruise a private single room carries a surcharge of $90. A 2-day Lan Ha Bay cruise charges $50 extra for a single traveler, and the Halong Explorer 3-day cruise $40 in cash for a private cabin.
Children are cheaper on many boats, but the rules differ. On the 2-day private balcony cruise one child aged 0 to 4 stays free per room, children aged 5 to 10 pay 75% of the adult price, and from 11 they pay the adult price with their own bed. On the luxury Lan Ha Bay cruise one child aged 0 to 3 is free.
Cabin size matters for families too. The Elite cruise sleeps up to 3 guests per cabin, and larger families book more than one. Run the numbers for your exact group in the calculator, then add the child rates and any second cabin by hand.
Finding Ha Long Bay cruise deals
The honest truth about Ha Long Bay cruise deals is that the starting prices on the most reviewed listings are already close together. The flexibility is often the better deal: the booked cruise holds your cabin with nothing paid today and refunds everything if you pull out 24 hours or more before departure. That lets you lock a cabin early and keep watching.
Look for value in what is included rather than in a lower headline. A listing that bundles entry fees, all meals and kayaking can beat a cheaper one that charges for each. The booked cruise rates 4.7 for value for money, and the 2-day private balcony cruise 4.8.
If you want the lowest outlay overall, compare the cheapest overnight options against a well-rated day cruise plus a night in a hotel on shore. The day cruise with 13,162 reviews starts from $41. You trade the evening and the sunrise on the water for a lower total, which suits some trips perfectly.
Building your own budget, line by line
Start with the per-person from-price of the cruise you like, multiplied by your group. Then add the road: either the transfer the listing sells or your own bus or car. Add any single supplement, any child rates, and a surcharge if your dates fall in a peak period or on a holiday. Only then compare the total with the next listing on your shortlist.
Leave room for the things no listing prices. Drinks on board are excluded on the booked cruise, and a cold beer at sunset or a bottle of wine at dinner adds up over an evening. Tips for the crew and guide are a personal choice, but it is worth setting aside something for them, and a little cash is handy for small purchases at floating villages and caves.
Finally, check the date before you check the price. The same cabin can cost noticeably more on a holiday weekend, and a midweek departure in a shoulder month often comes in close to the from-price. If your plans are flexible, try several dates in the booking calendar before you settle, and hold the best one with the reserve-now option while you decide.
Plan your night
Two days among the karsts, one night aboard
Keep a balcony cabin on hold, settle the bill later, and change your mind until the day before.
You ask,we answer.
What does a 1-night cruise cost?
From about the price of the booked cruise. The booked balcony cruise starts from $135 per person.
Is the transfer from Hanoi included?
Often not. The booked cruise lists the round-trip transfer as an exclusion at $25 per person.
Are entry fees extra?
Not on the booked cruise. It includes all entry fees and tickets.
Do prices rise in winter?
On some listings. The 3-day private balcony cruise adds $20 per person from October 1 to April 30.
How much more do solo travelers pay?
It depends on the boat. On the booked cruise, a private single room costs $90 extra.
What is the cheapest way to see the bay?
A day cruise. A full day from Cat Ba Island starts from $23.
Can I pay later?
Yes, on the booked cruise. Payment can wait, and you get every cent back if you drop out with a full day, 24 hours, still to go.
Sources
Where the information comes from
- 1Ha Long Bay Management BoardEntrance fee for visiting Ha Long bay↩
- 2Ha Long Bay Management BoardEntrance fee for visiting Ha Long bay↩
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